The herald descended, its twisted form shimmering with the essence of the Void. Florence could feel the weight of its gaze on him, even as Andre and Johmarrian stood their ground, preparing to fight.
Before anyone could act, a shadowy figure stepped out from behind the trees, as if it had been watching all along. A woman—tall, with raven-black hair and eyes that shimmered like molten silver. She moved with a deadly grace, her presence as commanding as the storm itself. Her lips curled into a cruel smile as she regarded Florence.
"Is this him?" she asked, her voice dripping with dark amusement. "The one the Void has been waiting for?"
Andre moved to stand in front of Florence, his sword raised. "Who the hell are you?"
The woman chuckled, her silver eyes gleaming. "Names have little meaning in the Void, but you may call me Morganna. I've come to see the boy for myself."
Johmarrian's grip on his staff tightened, his eyes narrowing. "You're one of the Void's servants."
Morganna's smile widened. "Servant? No. I am something far greater. The Void is merely a means to an end." Her gaze shifted back to Florence. "You have no idea what power you hold, do you?"
Florence felt his blood run cold. There was something terrifyingly familiar about Morganna—as if he had seen her before, perhaps in a dream, or maybe in the darkest corners of his mind.
Andre's voice was low and dangerous. "Stay away from him."
Morganna laughed, the sound echoing unnaturally in the storm. "Oh, brave little soldier. You cannot protect him from what's coming. The storm is here, and Florence... he is its heart."
The sky above cracked with another burst of lightning, and Florence could feel the pull of the book in his hands growing stronger. The voice from the storm—distant but ever-present—called to him, urging him to step forward, to embrace his destiny.
"I can help you, you know," Morganna said softly, her voice taking on a more seductive tone. "You don't have to face this alone. The Void can give you the power to control it—to control everything."
Florence shook his head, backing away from her. "No... I don't want this."
Her smile faded, replaced with a look of cold indifference. "You don't have a choice."
Before anyone could react, Morganna raised her hand, and the creatures surrounding them surged forward.
YOU ARE READING
Whispers of Astoria
Fantasy"Whispers of Astoria" is a captivating fantasy romance that follows Florence, a man who is mysteriously transported from his mundane life into the enchanting world of Astoria-a realm between worlds, where destinies intertwine. Lost and searching for...
