Secret in the Heart ||Descendants|| (♡Ben)

28

Kara knelt down and brushed the leaves aside, revealing a small wooden door nestled in the earth. Heart racing, she opened it and peered inside, discovering a small rectangular box. With trembling hands, she lifted the box from the ground and closed the door behind her. This must be it. The dagger had to be inside.

Suddenly, a voice echoed around her, startling her. "Kara." She looked around but saw no one. "Open it," the voice urged, and she realized it was coming from the box. Taking a deep breath, she removed the lid, and her breath caught in her throat.

Inside lay the dagger, resplendent in its beauty. The hilt was black, adorned with a striking red stone, and the blade curved elegantly, tapering to a sharp point. Its silver surface glimmered, accentuated by intricate black details. As she turned it in her hand, she noticed the side facing her bore no name. A surge of anticipation coursed through her, but when she flipped the dagger over, her heart sank. The other side was equally devoid of a name.

Before she could fully process this unsettling realization, a shock shot up her right arm, causing her to drop the dagger in alarm. Her hand tingled as she stared at it, turning it over, examining it for any signs of injury. It looked perfectly fine, but when she picked up the dagger again, a powerful jolt coursed through her entire body, leaving her breathless.

As she inhaled, a warmth radiated from the dagger, seeping into her very being, invigorating her like a surge of electricity. It was intoxicating, yet terrifying, as if the dagger itself pulsed with a life force that intertwined with hers. She felt an overwhelming sense of strength envelop her, filling the hollow spaces within her with confidence and power.

But as she gazed at the blade, her eyes widened in disbelief. Inscribed on the side was her name—Kara. A gasp escaped her lips. No. This couldn't be true. If her name was on the dagger, it meant she was tied to its dark legacy. She couldn't be the Dark One. Panic clawed at her insides. What had she done?

Memories of her father's warnings flooded her mind—tales of how the dagger's power could consume its wielder, turning them into a vessel of darkness. A knot of fear tightened in her chest. She imagined the chaos that would ensue if anyone discovered she had found it. Harry had been right. All hell would break loose.

Frustration surged through her as she let out an angry sigh. She felt so foolish for even thinking she could control it. What was she supposed to do now? The weight of the dagger's legacy hung heavy over her, and as the forest around her seemed to close in, she realized she was standing at the precipice of a dangerous path—one that could lead to her ruin.

Kara's phone buzzed in her pocket, breaking the silence of the woods. She pulled it out and saw Evie's name flashing on the screen. Pressing the call button, she brought it to her ear. "Hey," she said.

"Kara, where are you?" Evie's voice came through, a mixture of curiosity and slight impatience.

"In the woods, clearing my thoughts," Kara replied, glancing at the trees surrounding her.

"Well, Doug and I finished bringing the dresses around, and Mal and I are already dressed," Evie informed her. "Are you coming back?"

Kara blinked, pulling herself from her thoughts. "Right, I'm on my way," she assured, already turning her body back toward the school. "See you soon." She hung up, her hand still gripping the phone tightly as she stared at the empty space where the dagger had once lay in the box.

I have to hide the dagger. But where? Where could she possibly stash something that now held her very life, something so dangerous and entwined with her fate? Taking it back to Auradon Prep would be reckless. The chances of someone finding it there were too high.