Chapter 1: The Hunt Begins
Kiros had been trained to kill since the moment he could hold a blade.
He had hunted men, beasts, and creatures that lurked in the darkest corners of the world. But this time, it was different.
This time, he was hunting a girl.
His hands tightened around his daggers as he moved silently through the dense forest, his cloak barely making a whisper against the cold wind. His mission was clear: find the last living descendant of Apollo... and end her life.
His tribe had waited centuries for revenge. The gods had destroyed their ancestors, driven them into the shadows like animals. Now, Kairos would bring justice. He would strike where it hurt the most.
And yet, as the moonlight filtered through the trees, an uneasy feeling settled deep in his chest.
Why? He didn't know.
She's just another target. Nothing more.
A distant howl shattered the silence. His senses sharpened. The air had shifted, thick with something unnatural. Danger was near.
Then, the ground shook.
A monstrous roar split through the night.
Damn it.
Kairos barely had time to react before a Drakon-a massive, serpent-like beast with molten eyes-burst through the trees, its scales glinting in the moonlight.
"Of course," he muttered, rolling to the side just as the beast's claws slammed into the earth, missing his head by inches.
His ribs ached as he scrambled to his feet. The Drakon hissed, its long tail whipping through the air. This wasn't a coincidence. The gods had sent this thing after him.
Kairos grinned. "You think this will stop me?"
He lunged. Fast. Precise. Deadly. His blade met the Drakon's thick scales, but the creature was faster than he expected. A powerful tail strike sent him flying backward, his body crashing against a tree.
Pain exploded through his ribs. He gasped, struggling to stand. Blood trickled down his temple. The world blurred for a second.
Move, Kairos. Move.
But before he could get up, the Drakon let out a final, deafening screech-and then, suddenly, fell silent.
Kairos blinked. What...?
A single golden arrow protruded from the monster's skull.
The Drakon collapsed in a heap. Dead.
And that's when he saw her.
A girl stood atop the fallen beast, her golden hair tumbling down in soft waves. She was holding a bow-no, not just any bow. A golden bow that shimmered with divine power.
Kairos felt his heart stop.
It's her.
The granddaughter of Apollo.
His target.
She was nothing like he had imagined. Not a warrior hardened by battle. Not a goddess with cold, cruel eyes.
She was... beautiful.
Her eyes-bright, warm, and impossibly deep-locked onto his. They reminded him of sunlight reflecting on water, golden and endless.
She took a step forward, her expression unreadable. "You're lucky I was passing by."
Kairos tensed. His grip on his blade tightened. He should kill her now. Strike before she had the chance to fight back.
But his body... wouldn't move.
"I had it under control," he said, forcing his voice to sound steady.
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So getting crushed by a Drakon was part of the plan?"
Kairos clenched his jaw. Smart mouth.
A small, amused smile played on her lips as she crouched beside him. She was close now. Too close.
Kairos could smell the faint scent of something sweet-like honey warmed by the sun.
"You're hurt," she murmured.
Her fingers barely brushed against his wrist, but the warmth of her touch sent an unnerving jolt through him. What is this? Why is my heart-?
He swallowed hard. "I'm fine."
"You're bleeding."
"It's nothing."
She sighed, shaking her head. "Stubborn."
For the briefest moment, Kairos forgot who she was. Forgot why he was here. Forgot that she was supposed to be his enemy.
But then reality slammed back into him.
She was the granddaughter of Apollo. The girl his tribe had sworn to kill.
And she had just saved his life.
Damn it.
This was not how it was supposed to go.
Kairos had two choices now:
1. Fulfill his mission. Kill the girl before she realized who he was.
2. Let her live... and risk betraying everything he had ever known.
For the first time in his life, he didn't know what to do.
To be continued...
