Ember's Shadow: A love that defies darkness

Chapter Three; The Eyes Of Ancients

Kayliah's POV

Kayliah trudged into the dimly lit kitchen, the air thick with the scent of decay and darkness.

The walls seemed to closing in on her, the shadows cast by the flickering candles dancing like malevolent spirits.

Her aunt Oya stood tall, her presence commanding attention, her dark eyes blazing with an inner fire. Her full lips pursed in a disapproving line, her hand on her waist, accentuating the curve of her hip.

"Aunt Oya, she—" Kayliah began, her voice laced with a mix of frustration and desperation.

"What did you do, Kayliah?" Oya interrupted, her tone sharp as a razor's edge. "You hesitated? You, a dark witch, a descendant of the great Ekwensu, hesitated?"

Kayliah winced, the memory of the previous day's failure still fresh. The slab of meat on her swollen eye throbbed in time with her pulse, a constant reminder of her mistake. She paced the kitchen, the wooden floor creaking beneath her feet, trying to shake off the feeling of inadequacy.

"I don't know what happened, Oya," Kayliah exclaimed, her hands spread wide in a gesture of helplessness. "I've never hesitated before. But it won't happen again."

Oya's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing through Kayliah like a cold wind. She grasped Kayliah's shoulders, her fingers digging deep, the piercing blades she called fingernails drilling into her skin like ice picks. Kayliah bit back a gasp, her eyes fixed on Oya's, refusing to look away. She knew better than to show weakness.

"Hmp," Oya scoffed, her breath hot against Kayliah's face. "I bet Xylara gave you a good beating for your failed attempt yeah?"

Kayliah closed her eyes, the memory of the punishment still fresh. The sting of the lash, the crack of the whip, the feel of her own blood dripping down her back. She opened them again, her gaze locking onto Oya's, a fierce determination burning within her.

"Yes, she did," Kayliah admitted, her voice steady. "And like all my other punishments, I've learned from them. And as I said before, it won't happen again."

Oya's grip on Kayliah's shoulders tightened, her nails digging deeper, the pain a burning fire that threatened to consume her.

Kayliah gritted her teeth, her eyes never leaving Oya's, her resolve hardening like steel.

She would not fail again. She would not disappoint her aunt, her mother, or herself. The darkness within her stirred, responding to the pain, to the challenge. Kayliah embraced it, letting it fuel her determination. She would rise again, stronger, more powerful, and more ruthless than ever. This wasn't a punishment but motivation.

Oya's hand shot up, her fingers closing around Kayliah's jaw like a vice. Kayliah's heart skipped a beat as her aunt's grip tightened, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. "What's wrong with your eyes?" Oya hissed, her voice low and menacing, like a snake slithering through the grass.

Kayliah's gaze faltered, her eyes darting downward like a trapped animal. She stuttered, "W-what do you mean? I looked in the mirror this morning, and they were fine..." But her words trailed off as Oya's fingers dug deeper into her cheek, her grip bordering on painful.

Oya's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing through Kayliah like a cold wind. "It's off," she whispered, her voice dripping with suspicion. "They don't look right. The color's... different. Muted. Slightly....Browner."

Kayliah's heart raced as Oya's words sent a shiver down her spine. She felt like a small creature being scrutinized under a microscope, her every flaw and imperfection magnified.