Eternal desire

Chapter 20

**Chapter 20: The Final Choice**

The days grew colder as the storm Amara and Lucien had feared crept closer. They prepared tirelessly, honing their powers and seeking out old legends that spoke of the sorceress' demise. But despite all their efforts, a sense of inevitability hung over them, as if fate had already laid out its final test.

One evening, as the sun sank behind the trees, Lucien stood at the edge of the woods, staring out at the horizon. Amara approached, her steps soft, but he sensed her before she even reached him.

“Thinking about the sorceress?” she asked, wrapping her arms around herself as a cool breeze swept past them.

Lucien nodded, not taking his eyes off the distance. “I can feel her. It’s like she’s waiting for the right moment to strike.”

Amara sighed, leaning against his shoulder. “Do you think we’re ready? Can we win?”

“We’ve done everything we can. Whatever happens next, we face it together.”

Amara found comfort in his words, but the tension in her chest didn’t ease. There was still the question of the curse—whether the sorcerer’s curse on Lucien could truly be broken without giving in to his demands. They hadn’t seen the cloaked messenger again, but his words about choosing between power and love lingered in Amara’s mind like a bitter reminder of the stakes.

As the sky darkened, a gust of wind tore through the trees, bringing with it an unnatural chill. Amara’s senses heightened, and she could feel it—the sorceress' presence. She was coming.

“Lucien,” she whispered, fear creeping into her voice.

“I know,” he replied, his hand tightening around hers. “It’s time.”

Without another word, they ran back to the clearing where they had prepared for this moment. The air crackled with anticipation, the trees rustling as if they too sensed the approaching battle.

Out of the darkness, the sorceress appeared. She looked more menacing than ever, her dark robes flowing as if she were one with the night itself. Her eyes, gleaming with a cruel, cold light, locked onto Lucien.

“You’ve come,” Lucien growled, stepping forward protectively in front of Amara.

The sorceress' lips curled into a mocking smile. “Did you think you could hide forever? You’ve barely tasted victory, and yet here you stand, hoping to challenge me again.”

“We’re not afraid of you,” Amara said, her voice steady despite the fear tightening in her chest.

“Oh, I don’t need you to fear me,” the sorcerer replied, his voice like silk. “I need you to make a choice.”

Amara’s heart pounded. The choice. She had known it was coming, but hearing it spoken aloud filled her with dread.

The sorceress turned her piercing gaze to Lucien. “The curse on you still lingers. I can remove it entirely—set you free so you would be with the person you love . But I require something in return.”

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”

The sorceress' gaze shifted to Amara, and a sinister smile spread across her face. “Her power. If you give me Amara’s strength, I will lift your curse and leave you both in peace. You’ll live as you wish, without the shadow of my magic looming over you.”

Amara froze. Her power—her strength—was the very thing that had allowed them to defeat the sorceress in the first place. Without it, they were defenseless against the sorceress.

Lucien’s jaw tightened, his hands balled into fists. “You can’t ask that of her.”

The sorceress raised an eyebrow. “I can. And I am.”

For a long moment, silence hung in the air. Lucien turned to Amara, his eyes filled with pain and conflict. “I won’t let her take your power,” he whispered.

Amara’s heart ached. She could see the struggle in him, the part of him that wanted to be free from the curse and the part that knew the cost was too high. But she also knew that this was her choice.

“I’m not afraid of losing my power,” she said softly, stepping forward. “Lucien, we’ve faced worse than this together. But I need you to believe in us.”

The sorceress chuckled darkly. “Ah, love—so pure, so naive. You would sacrifice your power, Amara? For what? A fleeting moment of happiness?”

Amara lifted her chin, her voice unwavering. “No. I won’t give you my power. Because I know now that my power isn’t something you can take. It’s not just magic. It’s love. And that’s something you’ll never understand.”

A sudden rush of warmth surged through her, a light so bright and powerful it seemed to emanate from within her. Lucien’s eyes widened as he felt it too—their bond, their love, was more than just a connection. It was their strength.

The sorceress' smile faltered, her expression darkening. “What have you done?”

Amara raised her hand, and the light intensified, flooding the clearing with warmth and energy. The sorceress recoiled, her dark magic flickering and waning in the face of their combined power.

“I won’t let you take him from me,” Amara said firmly, her voice resonating with newfound confidence. “You’ve lost.”

Lucien stepped beside her, his eyes blazing with the same light. “Together, we break the curse.”

With one final surge, the light from their bond exploded outward, engulfing the sorcerer in a blinding flash. She screamed, her form disintegrating into the night, her dark magic unraveling as the power of love overpowered the darkness.

As the light faded, the clearing fell silent. The sorceress was gone.

Lucien turned to Amara, his eyes soft, filled with gratitude and love. “You saved me.”

Amara smiled, her heart racing. “We saved each other.”

He pulled her into his arms, holding her close as the weight of everything they had been through finally lifted. The curse was broken. The sorcerer was gone. And they were free.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s embrace, Amara knew that this was their new beginning. Together, they would face whatever came next—not as two souls cursed by darkness, but as two hearts bound by love.

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The story was slowly coming to a close, but their love had only just begun.

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