Radio to the heart

The shadows of the past 

The forest pressed in around me, thick with shadows and silence, but the cold sensation clawing at the back of my mind was impossible to ignore. It slithered through my thoughts like a serpent, freezing everything it touched, until the past resurfaced—sharp and unforgiving. My stomach twisted with dread.

"I have a bad feeling, Alistair," I whispered, rubbing my arms as if I could brush the chill away. "Something doesn't feel right."

He was beside me in an instant, concern knitting his brow. "What's wrong, dear? Tell me everything." He rested a hand on my shoulder, grounding me as he always did, his presence unwavering.

I exhaled, knowing the weight of my story but needing to say it aloud. "It's Ebony. I can feel her again... she's back." The name felt venomous on my tongue. Memories unfurled, and I could almost hear her voice—taunting, cruel. "You see, Alistair, when I was younger—just starting as a dragon rider—I trained with Aragon himself."

Alistair gave a small, encouraging nod, so I kept going. "It should've been the greatest time of my life, but Ebony... she ruined it. She's tall, with skin pale as moonlight and these—these crimson eyes. They reminded me of Crowley from Good Omens, you know? That serpentine gleam, like she could see all the worst parts of me." I shivered. "She tormented me for so long, Alistair. Kept telling me I didn't deserve to train under Aragon, that I wasn't worthy of being a dragon rider." My voice wavered, old wounds bleeding into the present.

"She sounds vile." His voice was low, and I caught a flicker of something dangerous beneath it. Alistair had always been protective, but the tension in his jaw now hinted at something deeper. "Tell me more, Tess. We need to be ready for her. I need to be ready."

I bit my lip, forcing down the bitterness. "There was one day... I was doing so well, but she grabbed me by the arm—dragged me away from Aragon and said I should quit before I embarrassed myself. I got so angry that I stormed off, and Aragon had to come find me." I smiled faintly at the memory of his calm voice, the way he'd reassured me. "'You'll be a great rider, Tess,' he told me. 'Don't listen to her.' But no matter how much he encouraged me, Ebony wouldn't stop. She made my life hell."

Alistair's hand slid from my shoulder to my back, his touch steady. "If she's back, she won't get away with it this time." His voice was calm, but the edge of resolve in it made my heart race. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

Before I could respond, Alistair stood abruptly, his eyes scanning the forest. "Wait... do you see that?" He pointed toward a nearby tree, where strange glyphs glowed faintly on the bark—symbols etched with eerie precision. "She's here. I can sense her watching us."

My heart slammed against my ribcage. "She's always followed me," I muttered bitterly. Rage welled up, hot and sharp, and I whirled toward the shadows. "Get the hell away from me, Ebony!" I shouted into the night. "Leave me the fuck alone! You hear me? Stay away from Alistair too, or I swear—" My voice cracked, but I didn't care. "You hated me because I trained with Aragon? Because I became everything you never could? Well, guess what? I did become a great rider—and I'm fucking fabulous. Deal with it."

Alistair chuckled softly beside me, his lips curving into a smile. "That's my Tess," he whispered. "Brave as ever."

I turned toward him, still trembling with fury. "I... I just couldn't take it anymore," I confessed. "She won't ruin this—us. I won't let her."

He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his expression tender. "You don't have to explain yourself to her. She never deserved to know the incredible person you are." His words sank into me, soothing the ache Ebony's memory had left behind. "It's her loss for not seeing your worth. She could've had a friend in you, but she threw that chance away."