The night was alive with the hum of magic, the air thick with an ancient energy that seemed to pulse with every breath she took. Aria stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing out into the vast expanse of the Faerie Realm, her heart racing as the wind tousled her dark hair. The world beneath her feet felt like a dream she could never quite escape.
For years, she had been haunted by strange dreams, dreams of a faerie prince a shadowed figure whose eyes burned with an intensity that matched her own longing. But it was not just the dreams that troubled her. It was the mark that had appeared on her wrist a week ago, the ancient sigil that pulsed with magic she couldn't comprehend.
A burning sensation spread across her skin as she lifted her hand to touch the mark. The sigil was glowing softly, its intricate design shifting beneath her fingertips.
"Why me?" she whispered into the night, but the wind stole her words, leaving only silence in its wake. Her fingers trembled as she traced the symbol again. She knew it was no ordinary marking. It was an invitation summons from the fae, one that she had been running from for as long as she could remember.
Suddenly, the ground beneath her seemed to tremble, the pulse of magic growing stronger, more insistent. A voice, low and commanding, broke through the stillness.
"You've felt it too, haven't you?"
Aria spun around, her heart hammering in her chest. She hadn't heard anyone approach. Her eyes searched the darkness, the shadows of the trees swirling with the unsettling energy of the night. Then, stepping from the depths of the forest, he appeared.
The faerie prince.
His appearance was striking his tall frame cloaked in shadows, eyes glowing an unnatural shade of green that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of the night. He was unlike any man she had ever seen. His skin shimmered with an otherworldly glow, his wings the color of midnight folded elegantly behind him. A presence like his was not something one could ignore.
"You," she gasped, taking a step back.
"Yes, me," he replied, his voice smooth and powerful, carrying an undercurrent of something ancient and dangerous. "I see the mark has finally chosen you."
Aria's pulse quickened as his gaze locked onto hers. Her mind raced this was the prince from her dreams, the figure whose name she had never known, yet whose face had haunted her every restless night.
"What do you want from me?" Aria asked, trying to steady her breathing. She took another step back, but he was too fast, his movements like a blur as he closed the distance between them.
"I want you to understand," he said, his voice a low murmur that sent chills down her spine. "You are the key to ending the curse that binds our worlds. Without you, the fae will be lost forever."
Aria's breath caught in her throat. She shook her head, trying to make sense of his words. "A curse? What are you talking about?"
He didn't answer right away, his gaze drifting to the glowing mark on her wrist. She felt a pull an urge to reach out, to let him take her hand, to trust him. But her instincts screamed at her to resist.
"You're not the first human to bear the mark," he said after a pause, his voice laced with sorrow. "But you are the last. The one who has the power to either save us or destroy everything."
Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. "I don't want anything to do with this," she snapped, her voice wavering despite her resolve. "I'm not a hero. I'm not anyone special."
The prince stepped forward, his eyes softening slightly, though his tone remained firm. "You are more special than you realize, Aria. You've been chosen. This mark is not just a curse; it's a gift a bond that ties you to the Faerie Realm. And whether you accept it or not, the time has come for you to choose your path."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. The weight of his words hung in the air like a thick fog, suffocating in its intensity.
"How do you know my name?" she asked, still stunned by the revelation that he knew her so intimately. She had never met him, never even heard of a prince who could command such power. Her life had always been ordinary, confined to the small village where she had grown up. She had no idea how she was connected to a world that felt like a myth.
The prince hesitated, as though debating whether to reveal more of the truth. "I've been watching you for a long time. I knew the moment you were born that you were destined for this."
Aria's breath caught. "What are you talking about?"
His gaze softened. "The curse that binds our worlds was cast centuries ago. Only a human with the mark could break it. But to do so, you must come with me. You must step into the Faerie Realm, where you will learn the truth of who you are and what you are capable of."
Aria shook her head, stepping back again. "I can't. I don't belong in your world."
"You belong in mine," the prince said, his voice softer now, almost pleading. "It's your destiny, Aria. I won't let you face it alone."
The night air thickened, the wind picking up again, swirling around them like a tempest. The magic of the Faerie Realm was all around them now, tangible in its force. Aria felt it the pull, the warmth of the magic calling her, inviting her in.
But she hesitated. She didn't know him, didn't know the realm he came from, and the idea of stepping into the unknown terrified her.
"Please," he said again, this time his voice breaking. "You are the only one who can save us."
For the first time, Aria saw the vulnerability in his eyes, the weight of a thousand years of secrets pressing on his shoulders. The walls she had built around herself began to crumble, and she knew, deep down, that this was no ordinary encounter. This was fate.
"Okay," she whispered, the words barely audible, but the decision was made. "I'll go with you."
A slow smile spread across his face, but it was fleeting. "You've made the right choice," he said, extending his hand toward her.
Aria hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his. The moment their skin touched, a surge of energy shot through her, almost overwhelming in its intensity. She gasped as the world around them seemed to dissolve.
"Prepare yourself, Aria," the prince whispered. "You've just crossed the threshold into a world that is both your destiny and your curse.