"Sofia!"
Rohgah slammed both hands against the stone door.
Nothing happened.
He hit it again.
"Sofia!"
The door didn't move.
Nicole grabbed his arm.
"Rohgah, stop!"
"Let me go!"
"You'll hurt yourself!"
"I don't care!"
He shoved her hand away and struck the door again.
A sharp pain shot through his palm.
Blood appeared.
The seven circles on his skin flickered.
One.
Two.
Then darkness.
Rohgah stared at his hand.
"Why isn't it working?"
Machir stepped closer.
"Because the seal doesn't respond to force."
Rohgah turned on him.
"Then tell me what it responds to!"
"Memory."
The word hung in the air.
Rohgah's face hardened.
"Then I'll give it memories."
Machir shook his head.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain!"
Machir looked toward the sealed door.
"The second seal is different from the first."
"How?"
"The first seal protects the Hollow from the outside."
He swallowed.
"The second protects something inside it."
Rohgah stared at him.
"What?"
Machir didn't answer immediately.
Seraya did.
"Sofia."
Rohgah's heart dropped.
"The seal took her because she is the key?"
Seraya nodded slowly.
"But not just because of her blood."
"Then why?"
"Because she remembers."
Rohgah frowned.
"Remembers what?"
Seraya looked at the door.
"Her first life."
Everyone went silent.
Nicole's eyes widened.
"First life?"
Seraya nodded.
"Before Sofia was Sofia… before Liora was separated from her brother… there was something she knew."
"What?"
Seraya's voice became almost a whisper.
"The truth about the Hollow."
A cold wind swept through the chamber.
Bella tightened her grip.
"So you're saying Sofia has memories she doesn't even know she has?"
"Yes."
"And the seal took her to unlock them?"
"Yes."
Rohgah looked at the door.
"Then I'm going in."
"No."
Seraya stepped in front of him.
"You cannot."
"She's my sister."
"I know."
"Then move."
Seraya shook her head.
"The second seal was designed to separate the key from the heir."
Rohgah's expression changed.
"What does that mean?"
"The Hollow knows that together, you are powerful."
Machir answered.
"So it separated you because your bond can destroy the seals."
Rohgah looked toward the door.
"And if I'm alone?"
"The Hollow can manipulate you."
A voice suddenly echoed from behind the stone.
"Rohgah."
Everyone froze.
It was Sofia's voice.
Rohgah stepped closer.
"Sofia?"
"Don't come."
His eyes widened.
"Where are you?"
No answer.
"Sofia!"
Her voice returned.
"I'm not alone."
Seraya's face went pale.
"Who is with you?"
Silence.
Then another voice spoke.
A woman's voice.
Soft.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
"I am."
Seraya staggered backward.
"No."
Rohgah turned.
"Mother?"
Seraya was trembling.
"I know that voice."
"Who is she?"
Seraya looked at the door.
"The woman from the vision."
The woman who created the first seal.
Rohgah's blood ran cold.
"Who is she?"
Seraya didn't answer.
Machir did.
"Her name was Elyra."
Vaelor's voice echoed from somewhere beyond the chamber.
"Was?"
Everyone turned.
Vaelor stepped from the shadows.
"She is very much alive."
Rohgah immediately moved toward him.
"You knew her."
Vaelor smiled.
"I knew her better than anyone."
Bella attacked.
Vaelor lifted one hand.
A wave of dark magic threw Bella across the chamber.
"Bella!"
Nicole rushed toward her.
Ashbel surrounded Vaelor with a wall of water.
He walked straight through it.
Ashbel stared.
"That isn't possible."
Vaelor smiled.
"Your magic is beautiful."
He flicked his fingers.
Ashbel was thrown backward.
Nicole transformed instantly.
Her eyes burned crimson.
She moved faster than anyone could see.
But Vaelor caught her wrist.
"You have courage."
Nicole struggled.
"Let me go!"
Vaelor tossed her aside.
Rohgah stepped forward.
"You're not touching my friends."
Vaelor laughed.
"You have no magic."
Rohgah clenched his fists.
"I don't need it."
Vaelor's smile disappeared.
For the first time, he looked genuinely interested.
"Perhaps you don't."
Rohgah charged.
Vaelor raised his hand.
But before he could strike—
Rohgah's palm flashed.
The second circle glowed.
A shockwave exploded through the chamber.
Vaelor was thrown backward.
Everyone stared.
Rohgah stared at his own hand.
"I thought I lost my magic."
Machir shook his head.
"You did."
"Then what was that?"
"Not magic."
Seraya whispered:
"Authority."
Rohgah looked at her.
"Authority?"
"The Hollow recognizes your blood."
She swallowed.
"You didn't regain your power."
"You gained access."
Vaelor slowly stood.
Blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
His eyes gleamed.
"That is exactly what I wanted."
Rohgah's expression hardened.
"What?"
Vaelor smiled.
"I needed to know whether the Hollow still recognized its heir."
Rohgah realized something.
"You wanted me to attack you."
"Exactly."
Machir's face changed.
"He was testing Rohgah."
Vaelor nodded.
"And now I know."
The floor beneath them began shaking.
The second seal was cracking faster.
Rohgah looked at the door.
"Sofia."
A voice whispered from behind it.
"Brother…"
Rohgah froze.
The word was barely audible.
But he heard it.
His eyes filled with fear.
"Sofia?"
"I'm remembering."
Rohgah stepped toward the door.
"What are you remembering?"
Her voice trembled.
"Mother."
Seraya's eyes filled with tears.
"Sofia?"
"Not you."
Seraya froze.
"What?"
Sofia continued.
"Another mother."
Everyone stared at one another.
Rohgah's heart pounded.
"Who?"
There was a long silence.
Then Sofia said:
"The Hollow."
The chamber went completely still.
Seraya shook her head.
"No."
Machir whispered:
"That can't be."
Vaelor smiled.
"Oh, but it can."
Rohgah turned toward him.
"What does that mean?"
Vaelor walked closer.
"The Hollow isn't merely an ancient force."
He looked toward the door.
"It was born."
Rohgah's eyes narrowed.
"Born from what?"
"From magic."
Vaelor paused.
"And from a woman."
Seraya whispered the name.
"Elyra."
Vaelor nodded.
"She was the first wielder of Hollow magic."
Machir's expression was grim.
"She sacrificed herself to seal it."
"No."
Vaelor smiled.
"She became it."
A deafening roar erupted from behind the door.
The entire underground chamber shook.
The river rose.
The seven circles on Rohgah's palm burned.
Sofia screamed.
"ROHGAH!"
He ran toward the door.
This time, Seraya didn't stop him.
He placed his bloody palm against the stone.
"Sofia, listen to me."
No response.
"I don't know what you're seeing."
Silence.
"But you're not alone."
The door pulsed.
Rohgah continued.
"You're my sister."
His voice cracked.
"You're my family."
A small sound came from the other side.
A sob.
"I know."
Rohgah closed his eyes.
"I'll find you."
Sofia whispered:
"Don't."
"Why?"
"Because she wants you here."
Rohgah opened his eyes.
"Who?"
Sofia screamed.
"ELYRA!"
The door exploded.
A wave of black energy blasted through the chamber.
Everyone was thrown backward.
Rohgah hit the stone wall.
When he looked up, the door was gone.
Instead, there was a massive opening.
Beyond it was a vast black world.
No river.
No walls.
No ceiling.
Only darkness.
And in the center stood Sofia.
Her hair floated around her.
Her eyes were glowing silver.
Behind her stood a woman.
Long silver hair.
Pale skin.
Silver eyes.
A black stone hanging from her neck.
Elyra.
She placed one hand on Sofia's shoulder.
Rohgah stood.
"Sofia!"
Sofia looked at him.
For a moment, she looked like herself.
Then her expression changed.
A strange calmness settled over her face.
"Rohgah."
He stepped forward.
"Come back."
Sofia shook her head.
"I can't."
"Why?"
She looked at Elyra.
"Because I finally remember."
Rohgah's heart sank.
"Remember what?"
Sofia's eyes filled with tears.
"The Hollow isn't trying to escape."
She looked directly at her brother.
"It is trying to come home."
Elyra smiled.
And behind her, something enormous opened its eyes.
Seven circles appeared in the darkness.
The second one glowed.
Then the third.
Rohgah stepped backward.
"No."
Elyra looked at him.
"Welcome back, heir."
The darkness began moving toward him.
And for the first time since surrendering his power…
Rohgah felt the Hollow calling his name.
"KING."