Single for Eternity
Chapter 74: Heroine

Chapter 74: Heroine

The pests infesting Tauriel’s legs had already detached, forced away by the sheer volume of blood pouring from her open wounds.

She looked down at her battered legs, skin gnawed away, flesh dangling in grotesque strands. Blood seeped freely, pooling around her like crimson canals carved into the earth. A weak, bitter chuckle escaped her lips—an ironic sound given the agony wracking her body.

BAM!

A deafening crack shattered the silence as a thick tree trunk exploded into fragments under a single, devastating blow. Splinters flew in all directions, the force alone sending a tremor through the earth. Tauriel’s breath hitched as her wide, pain-clouded eyes flicked upward, locking onto the hulking figure before her.

The orc loomed, red eyes burning with insatiable fury. His monstrous frame towered over her, blocking out even the faint starlight that filtered through the dense canopy. His lips curled back, revealing jagged canines dripping with saliva, his breath coming in heavy, animalistic huffs.

She tightened her trembling fingers around the hefty shard of wood she had hidden behind her. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but she knew there was no escape.

The orc’s predatory gaze bore into her, his muscles coiling like a beast ready to pounce. The moment stretched unbearably, an eternity of impending doom—until, with a roar, he lunged.

Tauriel braced herself, angling the jagged wood upward, aiming for the inside of his gaping maw. She clenched her jaw, waiting for the impact, ready to strike even if it meant dying in the process.

But just as his massive fist was about to crush her skull—

A radiant blue light erupted from her eyes, piercing the dark like a beacon.

"Kneel."

She spoke involuntarily, her voice carried an unnatural weight, reverberating through the air with an undeniable force of command.

The orc’s momentum halted mid-charge. His massive frame locked up, limbs trembling as if shackled by invisible chains. His eyes, once alight with bloodlust, dulled into a vacant daze. Without hesitation, he collapsed onto his knees, bowing his head before her.

Tauriel stared in utter disbelief, breath coming in ragged gasps. Her heart pounded as she realized—this was her doing. Somehow, impossibly, she had forced the beast into submission. But how?

Before she could process the phenomenon, the shimmering blue light that had burst from her eyes condensed once more. It swirled and coalesced, shaping itself into a figure—one both foreign and strangely familiar.

A woman emerged from the light, standing before her in ethereal elegance. Her form was slightly translucent, draped in a regal sapphire gown that clung to her curvaceous frame. Long, silken black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her deep oceanic eyes gleamed with wisdom and amusement.

She was breathtakingly beautiful—unnervingly so. There was an otherworldly aura about her, as though she existed beyond mortal constraints.

Yet Tauriel felt no fear.

If anything, she felt drawn to the woman, a connection thrumming deep within her chest.

"Taury, dear," the woman spoke, her voice like a soothing melody. "There’s no need to be afraid."

Tauriel stiffened at the nickname, a name spoken with such familiarity it sent a chill down her spine. Her lips parted, a question forming on the tip of her tongue, but the woman raised a slender hand, halting her.

"Not yet," she said gently, then smiled—a smile so warm, so intoxicating, it was almost impossible not to trust her.

Then, the woman’s expression shifted, becoming more solemn. "Tell me, Taury... do you still desire revenge?"

Tauriel’s breath hitched. Did she?

No. That wasn’t even a question.

She nodded without hesitation, her resolve burning through the remnants of her earlier despair.

The woman’s smile widened, this time filled with unmistakable pride. "Good. You haven’t abandoned your purpose. But revenge alone isn’t everything."

Tauriel’s brows furrowed at the words, irritation flaring in her chest. "Are you telling me to abandon it?" she snapped, voice hoarse yet sharp.

The woman chuckled softly, shaking her head. "No, dear. I’m asking—have you ever considered what comes after?"

Tauriel blinked, her lips parting slightly, but no words came.

After? She had never thought about that. Her entire existence had been shaped around her hatred, her desperation to bring ruin to those who had taken everything from her. But beyond that?

There was nothing.

A bitter realization settled over her, wrapping around her chest like a suffocating chain.

The woman must have seen the turmoil in her eyes, because she laughed—a soft, knowing sound. "Don’t worry, my dear. You’ll find the answer when the time comes. But first—"

Her gaze flicked to the orc, still kneeling, his massive frame unmoving. Her sapphire eyes glowed with intrigue. "You have two choices before you to gain the strength necessary for your revenge."

Tauriel followed her gaze, watching the subdued creature warily.

"One, you can tame beasts—bend them to your will and wield them as your weapons."

Her voice lowered slightly, carrying a sharper edge.

"Or two... you can kill them. Absorb their strength, integrate their power into your own."

She turned back to Tauriel, her smile both alluring and enigmatic. "What will it be?"

Tauriel’s stomach twisted with equal parts exhilaration and unease. The offer was tempting—too tempting. But why? Why was this woman helping her?

As if reading her thoughts, the woman’s expression softened. "I have my reasons, Taury," she murmured. "But in the end, the choice is yours."

Tauriel sucked in a deep breath, mind racing. She didn’t trust easily, and this was no exception. But if this could help her claim vengeance—

Did anything else matter? Even her life?

With a heavy sigh, she clenched her fists, her bloodied fingers trembling. "How?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.

The woman’s grin widened. "Good decision, dear. Now, all you need to do—"

She stepped forward, lifting a ghostly hand to cup Tauriel’s cheek. Her touch was cold, yet oddly comforting.

"—is harness your Aether."

Tauriel’s breath hitched. Her Aether?

She stiffened, shaking her head. "That’s impossible," she muttered. "I’m not awakened. I don’t have Aether."

The woman merely chuckled, amusement twinkling in her sapphire eyes. "Oh, but you do."

She leaned in, voice dropping to a near whisper.

"You were born an awakened, Taury."