MY GOLDEN BLOOD - JossGawin FanFiction

CHAPTER 38: REVELATION

The air is heavy with the weight of centuries-old secrets. Lyra's expression was a mix of pity and dread as she stepped closer to Mark and Tong. 

Her gaze lingered on Mark, her golden eyes reflecting a history he couldn't yet comprehend.

"You're both standing at the edge of a truth that will change everything," Lyra began, her voice steady but laced with gravity. "Mark, you've always wondered what you truly are. And Tong..." 

She turned to him briefly, her expression softening. "You deserve to know what you've been pulled into."

Mark clenched his fists, impatience flickering in his crimson eyes. "Enough with the buildup, Lyra. Just tell me."

Lyra hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "The truth lies in the ancient war between angels and demons. Aeon was no ordinary healer, Mark. He was an angel—a being of divine light, capable of miracles, and far older than humanity itself."

Tong's eyes widened. "An angel? Like... the ones from religious stories?"

Lyra nodded solemnly. "Yes, but not in the way mortals understand. Angels like Aeon walked among humans, guiding and healing, but they also fought against the forces of darkness. And demons..." She looked at Mark, her gaze piercing. "...are the cursed descendants of the Ventore family."

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap.

Mark took a step back, his breath catching. "Demons... You're saying I'm a demon?"

Lyra's expression didn't falter. "Not in the way you think. The Ventore family was once mortal, but their greed and thirst for power led them to strike a deal with forces they didn't understand. They were granted immortality and immense strength, but at a cost: their souls were cursed, twisted into something dark and unholy. Over time, they became what mortals would call demons."

Mark's jaw tightened. Memories of his family, their pride, their rituals, flashed through his mind like fragmented pieces of a nightmare.

"So the Ventore bloodline wasn't just cursed—it was damned," he muttered.

Lyra nodded. "But you're different, Mark. When the Ventore family was wiped out, you were the only one to survive because of what happened at the altar."

Tong stepped forward, his voice breaking the tense silence. "Wait. What's the connection between Mark and Aeon? Why did Kael say Mark was a mistake from another era?"

Lyra's gaze darkened. "Because Aeon's death... changed Mark in ways no one could predict. The altar was meant to transform you into a weapon, Mark—a true demon who could dominate even the angels. But Aeon's sacrifice interrupted the ritual. His blood mixed with yours, creating something new. You're not just a cursed descendant of Ventore. You carry the essence of an angel."

Mark's head spun as the weight of Lyra's words settled on him. "You're saying I'm both?"

"Yes," Lyra said. "An abomination in the eyes of angels and demons alike. That's why Kael can't kill you the way he did your ancestors. You're stronger than them, but also more vulnerable. The conflicting forces inside you are constantly at war, and Kael knows it. His plan isn't just to destroy you, Mark—it's to use your instability to destroy everything you love."

Tong stepped closer to Mark, his hand resting on his arm. "But... how does this tie back to Aeon?"

Lyra's eyes softened as she turned to Tong. "Aeon's death wasn't just a tragedy; it was a catalyst. His blood gave Mark his unique powers, but it also tethered Mark to the angelic realm. That's why the curse of the Moon Drop exists—to ensure Mark's suffering, to keep him tethered to pain and loss."

Mark's voice was low, barely a whisper. "So that's why Kael wants me to kill Aeon again."

Lyra nodded. "If Aeon's essence is fully destroyed, the balance inside you will shatter. You'll become the monster the Ventore family wanted—a true demon, unstoppable and uncontrollable. And Kael... he'll use you to tear down both angels and humans alike."

Mark's fists clenched, his mind racing. Every piece of the puzzle fell into place, each one more horrifying than the last. "He doesn't just want to kill me. He wants to use me to end everything."

Lyra stepped closer, her voice firm. "You have to stop him, Mark. But you can't do it alone. You need to embrace what you are—both the light and the dark. Only then can you fight him on equal ground."

Tong looked between Mark and Lyra, his heart pounding. "But how? How does he do that?"

Lyra hesitated. "The Moon Drop curse was created to suppress your angelic side, Mark. To end it, you must return to the altar where it began. Only there can you truly reclaim what was taken from you."

Mark's eyes burned with resolve. "Then that's where we'll go. I won't let Kael win. Not this time."

Tong placed a hand on Mark's chest, his touch grounding him. "I'll go with you"

Mark looked down at Tong, his gaze softening despite the storm inside him. "I don't deserve you," he said quietly.

Tong smirked, his usual mischief shining through. "You're damn right you don't. But you've got me anyway."

A faint smile tugged at Mark's lips, but it was fleeting. The battle ahead loomed large, and the truth they had uncovered was only the beginning.

Far away, Kael watched his forces gather, a cold smile on his lips. He could feel the tides shifting, the pieces falling into place.

"Run as much as you like, Mark," he whispered to himself. "But there's no escaping what you are—or what I'll make you become."