Cursed By Fate

The Weight of Chains

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: The Weight of Chains

Aria returned home, her mind racing with thoughts of the Academy and the future that lay ahead. The excitement of being chosen was still fresh, but as she approached the familiar doorstep, a sense of dread washed over her. The reality of her home life loomed heavy, a dark cloud that threatened to eclipse her newfound hope.

Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Her stepmother, Mira, was pacing the floor, her eyes wild with anger. Lila stood nearby, a smirk playing on her lips, clearly enjoying the chaos.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Mira spat, her voice laced with venom. “You think you can just run off to some Academy? You think I’ll allow it?”

Aria clutched her acceptance envelope tightly, a sense of foreboding settling in her stomach. “I was chosen, Mira. I have to go.”

“Chosen?!” Mira laughed harshly, a sound devoid of any warmth. “You think you’re special now? You’re nothing but a pathetic girl who lost her parents and needs to be reminded of her place!”

Without warning, Mira grabbed a whip from the wall, her expression twisted with rage. Aria’s heart raced as her stepmother advanced, but she stood her ground, refusing to show fear. This wasn’t the first time she had faced this kind of brutality.

With a swift motion, Mira cracked the whip, the sharp sound slicing through the air. It connected with Aria's arm, stinging like fire, but she remained unfazed, her expression stone-cold. She had endured worse; the pain was familiar. But then she saw Lila reaching for her acceptance envelope, her fingers gripping the edges, ready to tear it apart.

“No!” Aria shouted, a primal instinct surging through her. “Don’t!”

Something inside her snapped. The air around her seemed to shift, a dark energy pooling at her fingertips. In that moment of raw desperation, she felt her power ignite like a wild flame. It surged through her veins, and she unleashed it without hesitation.

Mira gasped as blood began to pour from her mouth, the whip dropping from her hand. She stumbled back, eyes wide with shock and fear, unable to comprehend what was happening. Aria watched, a mix of horror and satisfaction flooding her senses as her stepmother collapsed to the floor, unable to stop the blood that poured from her lips.

“Aria, what have you done?” Lila shrieked, her expression shifting from amusement to terror.

“Get away from me!” Aria’s voice was cold and unyielding, echoing with an authority that felt foreign yet powerful. The darkness that had engulfed her surged and throbbed, each pulse feeding off her anger and pain.

As Mira lay on the ground, gasping for breath, the realization of her power began to sink in. It wasn’t just a defense mechanism; it was something far more dangerous, something that could unleash chaos.

Aria stood tall, her expression unwavering, as the adrenaline coursed through her. “I won’t let you control me anymore. I’m going to the Academy, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

With that, she turned on her heel and walked toward her room, leaving Mira writhing on the floor, blood staining her lips, and Lila watching in shock. Aria felt liberated, a weight lifted from her shoulders, as if she had finally claimed her own identity. She had crossed a line, but for the first time in her life, she felt truly powerful.

As she packed her belongings, the image of her stepmother's suffering flashed in her mind, mingled with the intoxicating rush of her own strength. This was only the beginning; the Academy awaited her, and with it, the opportunity to harness the dark powers that had chosen her.

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