LAST BLOODLINE STANDING

The Green-Eyed Child

The settlement elder's name was Torvald.

He stood in the doorway of the largest building, his arms crossed, his face hard as stone. Behind him, other faces peered through frost-covered windows—watching, waiting, judging.

"You're not welcome here," Torvald said. "Not with that child."

Mara stepped forward, Astrid's hand still in hers. "We've traveled for weeks. We have children, elderly, wounded. We just need shelter for a few nights."

"There's an inn two miles east. They might take you. We won't."

"Why? Because of her?"

"Because she carries the god's mark." Torvald's eyes flicked to Astrid. "I've seen it before. Children with green eyes. Children who speak in whispers. Children who bring death wherever they go."

"She's not bringing death. She's a victim."

"She's a beacon." Torvald's voice was hard. "We had a child like her once. Ten years ago. A boy. We took him in, fed him, protected him. Within a month, half our settlement was dead. The god's servants came in the night. They took him. And they took everyone who'd tried to protect him."

Mara felt Astrid's grip tighten. "I'm sorry that happened. But Astrid isn't that boy. She's different."

"How?"

"She's trying to resist. She's fighting the god's call every day."

"And how long before she loses that fight?"

Mara had no answer.

They found the inn two miles east.

It was a small building—barely more than a cabin—but it was warm. The owner, a woman named Helga, took one look at them and ushered them inside without question.

"You look half-dead," she said. "Sit. Eat. I'll bring blankets."

"Thank you." Mara collapsed onto a bench, her legs trembling with exhaustion. Astrid curled up beside her, her eyes already closing.

Helga returned with bread, dried meat, and a pot of weak tea. "Not much, but it's what I have."

"It's more than we've had in days."

They ate in silence. The food was simple but filling. The warmth of the fire seeped into their bones. For the first time in weeks, Mara felt something like safety.

"The settlement," Niko said. "Why do they hate the god-touched so much?"

Helga's expression darkened. "Because they've seen what happens. The god's servants. The children it uses. The destruction it leaves behind." She looked at Astrid. "The girl. She's one of them, isn't she?"

"She's a child."

"She's a weapon. A weapon the god will use to destroy us all." Helga stood. "I'll let you stay the night. But in the morning, you leave. And you take her with you."

"We will."

Mara looked at Astrid. The girl was asleep now, her face peaceful, her breathing even. She looked so small. So innocent.

But she's not. She's something else. Something the god created.

That night, Mara dreamed.

She stood in a place that was not a place—a vast, dark expanse lit by distant stars. The void between worlds. The place where Eira had gone.

"Eira?" she called.

No answer.

But something moved in the darkness. A shape—familiar, yet not. A woman, her form translucent, her face blurred.

"Eira?"

"Not quite."

The voice was not Eira's. It was older. Vaster. A voice that existed in dimensions beyond hearing.

"She is here. But she is... changed."

"What do you mean?"

"She is part of me now. As I am part of her. We are one. We are the door."

"You're the god."

"I am what remains. A fragment. A memory. The rest is contained, but I linger here, in the space between."

"Why are you showing me this?"

"Because you carry the child. The one I created. The one I used."

"She's not yours anymore."

"She will always be mine. As long as I exist, she exists. As long as she exists, I can reach her."

"Then I'll find a way to free her."

"There is a way. The journal speaks of it. A life for a life. A soul for a soul."

"What does that mean?"

"The child's soul is bound to mine. To free her, someone must take her place. Someone must become the vessel. Someone must sacrifice themselves."

Mara felt cold. "You want me to volunteer."

"I want nothing. I am beyond want. I am simply... telling you the truth."

The dream shifted. She saw Astrid, older now, her eyes burning green. She saw the girl standing over a field of corpses. She saw herself, kneeling, offering something.

"The choice is yours. Save the child and damn yourself. Or save yourself and damn the child. There is no third path."

The dream ended.

Mara woke gasping.

The inn was dark. The fire had burned down to embers. Astrid was still asleep beside her, peaceful and small.

But something was wrong.

The door was open.

Niko was gone.

Mara stood, grabbing her knife. She moved to the door, her heart pounding.

Outside, the world was white. Snow had fallen during the night, covering everything in a fresh layer. The sky was black, the stars hidden behind clouds that never moved.

And in the snow, fresh tracks led away from the inn.

Toward the settlement.

Mara followed the tracks.

She found Niko at the edge of the settlement, standing in the snow. Torvald was with him, along with three other men. They were talking quietly, their breath fogging the air.

"—need to be sure," Torvald was saying. "If she's truly connected, we can use her. If not…"

"She's connected," Niko said. "I've seen it. The green in her eyes. The way the god speaks to her."

"And you want us to take her?"

"I want you to help us. Together, we can use her to control the god. To direct its power. To make sure it never harms anyone again."

Mara's blood ran cold.

She stepped out of the shadows. "Niko."

He turned. His expression didn't change.

"Mara. I was hoping you'd understand."

"Understand what? That you're selling us out?"

"I'm being practical. The god can't be destroyed. It can only be controlled. And Astrid is the key to that control."

"She's a child."

"She's a weapon. A weapon we can use."

"A weapon you can use. For what? Power? Control?"

"For survival." Niko's voice was hard. "I've watched people die for weeks. Good people. People who didn't deserve it. If there's a way to stop that—even if it means using the girl—I'll take it."

"Then you're no better than the god."

"I'm worse." Niko smiled—that familiar, sharp smile. "The god doesn't know what it's doing. I do. And I'm willing to do it anyway."

Mara didn't remember drawing her knife.

She only remembered the snow, the cold, the faces of the men watching. Niko, standing across from her, his own knife in hand.

"You don't want to do this," he said.

"Don't tell me what I want."

"She's not worth dying for."

"She's worth everything."

They circled each other. The settlement men watched, their faces unreadable. Torvald stepped back, giving them space.

"You can't win," Niko said. "Even if you kill me, the settlement won't let you leave. They'll take the girl. They'll use her."

"Then I'll kill them too."

"There are too many."

"Then I'll die trying."

Niko lunged.

Mara dodged, slashing with her knife. The blade caught his arm, drawing blood. He grunted, stumbling back.

"You've gotten better," he said.

"I've had practice."

They circled again. The cold bit at Mara's fingers. Her breath fogged the air. She could feel her strength fading—weeks of hunger, exhaustion, grief.

But she couldn't stop. Not now.

"You don't have to do this," Niko said. "We can work together. Use the girl to control the god. Build something new. Something better."

"I'd rather die."

"Then you will."

He lunged again.

This time, Mara was ready. She sidestepped, grabbed his arm, and twisted. His knife fell. She kicked it away.

"Yield," she said, pressing her blade to his throat.

Niko laughed. "You won't kill me. You're too good."

"You're wrong."

She pressed the blade deeper. A thin line of blood appeared on his neck.

"Last chance," she said.

Niko looked at her. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—fear, maybe. Or respect.

Then he smiled.

"You're going to need me," he said. "The road to Dunhaven is long. The god's servants are everywhere. You can't do it alone."

"I'll manage."

"Will you?" He looked past her, toward the settlement. "Ask yourself: what happens when the god wakes? When it comes for the girl? Who will protect her then?"

Mara hesitated.

"I can help you," Niko said. "I know things. Secrets. The god's weaknesses. The locations of its servants. The path to Dunhaven."

"And what do you want in return?"

"The girl. When this is over—if we survive—she comes with me."

"Never."

"Then we're at an impasse."

They stood frozen, the snow falling around them. The settlement men watched. The world held its breath.

Then Astrid's voice cut through the silence.

"Mara?"

She stood at the edge of the settlement, her small figure silhouetted against the snow. Her eyes glowed green.

"Let him go," she said. "I'll go with him."

Niko has betrayed Mara, planning to use Astrid as a weapon to control the god. Now Astrid has offered to go with him willingly, sacrificing her freedom to save Mara's life. Should Mara accept this sacrifice, knowing it might save them both? Or should she fight for Astrid, even if it means dying and leaving the girl defenseless? When someone offers to sacrifice themselves for you, do you let them?