Damon’s POVEach passing day without news from Ariana crippled me. It felt as though someone had placed a ticking bomb in front of me without knowing when it was eventually going to explode.Some days I could hardly sleep or blink and some times it felt like my sanity was being tethered away from me by the sharp jaws of anxiety. What enraged me the most was the fact that I was insufferably useless.I couldn’t leave, I couldn’t run towards her light no matter how much I dreamed of it, I was doomed to be here, where the shadow wanted me to be.In some ways I had been kept in a maze with the singular entrance and open route inexistent, leaving me searching around in a prison of no escape. But I never stopped searching regardless hoping that I’d still find the exit, and she’d be standing there, waiting for me.“Sir,” A student called from behind me.I paused, not bothering to turn back, “What is it?”“I... just,” He stuttered, clearing their throat, “I’m looking for a book and I don’t kno
(Leo/Damon)’s POVI didn’t think of my existence as a creation or a rebirth because I had always existed right in the pits of Damon’s very soul. I laid dormant in his very core pushed aside for thousands of years and all that I was were simply unworthy feelings that tormented him.As I awakened, I became in contact with Damon’s memories and his feelings, their ferocity simmering into me like lava. The first thing coming into mind was a picture of a woman, particularly, her smile, which was a pooling desire. It overwhelmed me. If I remembered correctly, her name was Ariana, his—my mate.I could feel strongly the intense feelings that came with having a mate. It was more intense than usual because he had become severely attached to her.Even in death, all that his soul craved for was her.She was the first thing he sought after being condemned to nothingness, her memory washing over me like a storm, forcing me to take notice, drowning me in them.One such memory assailed me.~ “Is this
Ariana’s POVSigil turned to face me, excitement in his eyes, “We’re near.” He pointed upward, towards a mountain where the Central Academy was erected.We had been walking a total of five hours. Sigil beside me already had signs of exhaustion on face, sweat dripping heavily. In an instant, he jugged down water, emptying the can in seconds. He brought out another, handing it over to me.I shook my head, declining.He stared at me, perplexed, “How are you not dying to take in water right now? We’ve been walking non-stop for a full five hours under this staggering sun and you don’t even look exhausted, you’re not even breaking a sweat. How do you do it? You have to show me your core workouts.” He wiped the sweat off his forehead. “I’m exhausted. I can’t wait to get to my dorm and finally lay down on something soft.”“If you see me training you can come over and I’ll help build your tolerance. It won’t be pretty though.”“Thanks, I’ll definitely make out time for that.” He smiled at me,
Ariana’s POVSometimes I felt as though my mind played tricks on me, this occurrence being one of them. Had I been seeing things? But there was no way I was capable of mistaking Damon, my heart wouldn’t let me.As Sigil and I walked, I had grown quiet, greatly immersed in my thoughts completely shutting him out although unknowingly.I felt someone tapping me on the shoulder. Stirring, I turned to Sigil who looked genuinely worried.“I’ve been calling you for a while now. Are you sure there isn’t any problem, Ariana? You know I can help.”I paused for a moment, remembering, intense feelings washing over me. “I saw someone I thought I knew. But it wasn’t them or rather it seemed like my mind played tricks on me.”“You mean the dude with the long blonde hair?”I had never whipped my head around so fast in my entire life.“You saw him?” My eyes widened in total disbelief. My mind wasn’t playing tricks on me, it really was him. I really did see him.“The tall elderly man, you mean?”“Elder
Ariana’s POVWe proceeded outside towards the training area.My first training would be fighting three top students to know if they successfully surpassed the basic core of being a warrior and also backhandedly earn the students respect.The three top students approached me and I watched the face of everyone to know their genuine thought and they all seemed quite hyped so I knew there were the real deal.We proceeded to move to the ring provided by the school and I stood in the middle while they circled me.They did as I already predicted. One student stood in front of me and another to my side by the left. From their stance and smirking faces I could already tell there was someone behind me that I wasn’t allowed to notice because of how they moved around hoping I would be distracted enough.Immediately I shifted right, moving far enough to watch the student at my back instantly strike using his right foot. He kicked the student in front of me, and it instantly caused him to fall on t
(Leo/Damon)’s POV“Did you hear?”“The question you should ask is who didn’t?”“I can’t believe he really killed that student.”“I know, right? Like where did he suddenly get the power from to take a life especially during training.”“Apparently there are rumors of a soul eating demon making deals with students.”“That’s sick.”“I don’t know. Aren’t you like curious about it even if it’s like a little bit.”Two students, particularly, two girls walked past me, their voices adding to the noisy whispers filling the library.I kept the book in the shelf it was assigned and quietly walked away as though I was immersed in my own world and uninterested in theirs. After I was a distance away from them a smile creeped its way to my lips.Darkness thrived in chaos and as a result of that, fear would travel around like a contagious flu and beget sin. And in that journey did I thrive.Soon more students who needed to settle a grudge would come and pay heavily with a price, aiding the quick mater
Ariana’s POVI had walked into the library that day with just one thing in mind—to find out about Victor’s connection to the Black Shadow and how he was able to achieve the soul deal in this very place only to stumble upon Damon, keeping books in the library.At first I was met with initial disbelief, unsure of what I was currently seeing and if I was truly seeing at all. I thought it to be like last time; a simple mistake where I was misinterpreting him for someone else once again—but not this time.I could tell, the familiar brag of my heart didn’t lie to me, neither did it last time. It was really him and he was standing before me, so far away though with his eyes focused on a library shelf.Didn’t he see me? Wasn’t my presence close enough for him to realize that I was here? Why did it seem like my presence meant absolutely nothing? If that was really him I saw yesterday did that mean he had already forgotten me?Just standing there with impending questions made my heart ache so I
(Leo/Damon)’s POVI had been created out of a complete idiot and hence became one.“Because the beat of your heart is still the same when I’m close to it. And you still hold me the same way, with the same infinite measure of tenderness. Our bodies always have a way of betraying and exposing us.”Instantly, I stilled, witnessing a dead man’s attempt to push through hail and rise back from his coffin.And then when she uttered: “I missed you, I really did.”He materialized once more even though it was just his mind; heavy fragments of his yearning swimming through me. In as much as it shocked me, I was very irritated.On my part I had deeply underestimated the power Ariana had on Damon and even though it was still quite weak to do anything or break hold of the Dark Shadow’s spell, it was enough to completely override my will for a longer time than expected.In those moments, inadvertently, I had welcomed her and she found a way to seep through.I was afraid her effects might find a way t
NERO’s POV“Nero! Patience!” My grandfather would always yell at me as a child and as I progressed in age, my reaction to that sentence greatly differed.I believe as you must’ve already guessed; for the worst.To be fair, at first, I did deserve it, considering I was a menace in the body of a small child.As the young and only grandson to the leader of the dwarf clan, I wasn’t the innocent, conveniently shy child that people would envision, considering my grandfather was sweet—at least the part they knew and I was accustomed to at the time.I was a mischief, or prankster, whichever you’d prefer to call it.I played pranks on children, and I derived joy in that, seeing their faces contorted in an expression they didn’t like nor could control. I enjoyed bending them in a cage of my own doing.My grandfather, terribly sweet—and loving—never minded my mischief.Thinking back now, his dream must’ve sucked whatever energy he had to reprimand an overly energetic five-year-old.It had alread
Ariana’s POV“What happened to you while I was away? There’s so much tiredness in your eyes,” He lifted my chin gently, meeting my eyes, “I can see your exhaustion, even though you try to hide it.”Guilt came over me and I found myself evading his eyes.Did he get to ask the questions?His palm cupped my cheek gently, pulling me in his arms, his tall frame crouched gently over me. “I worry I’ve failed, I worry I’ve failed you.”My lips pressed together, and tears gathered in my eyes. “I am… tired, a little bit.” My voice croaked and he held me tighter, “I’m here now, you can rest easy.”If not for his arms that held me I was this close to buckling and my body would have surrendered to my exhaustion.It was always so easy for me to surrender to his warmth. Yet somehow, that made me feel extremely pathetic but I stayed regardless.“Something is wrong,” He suddenly spoke.“What?” I pushed away from him.“We need to go in there.” He pointed towards the forge shed where Nero was currently
Ariana’s POVA punch came right at my abdomen, on the same spot I was hit.This time, it hurt a lot worse because the force used was nearly three times faster… and stronger.Instantly I coughed out blood, my eyes going hazy for a moment.Maybe I shouldn’t have just run in front of the door leaving me with no appropriate defense or offense but it was my responsibility to protect Nero.Another punch came flying across my cheek, heavy damage falling on my bleeding gums.If I continued like this without an appropriate defense I was as good as dead.I didn’t expect this degree of power or strength from one opponent, especially one that aimed to kill me as gruesomely as possible.I struck out my fists for a punch when Milo held it, surprising me.Painfully, he bent and twisted my wrists, nearly breaking them when I yelled out.Were these one of his abilities? Predicting attacks.If he was just this good then I was in a serious problem.“I knew you were weak I just didn’t expect,” He stared
Ariana’s POVThe shadows wasted no time in attacking us.The unhinged offense of their attacks made me know that they intended to leave here with our lives under their belt like an accomplishment from work.Judging from the looks of two of the faces it was easy to decipher that they were students.It had already gotten this bad?I quickly ducked, avoiding someone’s feet from connecting with my skull. Judging by the projected force, it would’ve actually hurt.“This is bad.” I said, moving backwards to a safe distance.“What are we going to do?” Bach asked, using his telekinesis.I froze.Yes, that was it. Telekinesis.“Bach, if you can hear me, say my name.”“Ariana.” He responded. I exhaled in relief, “So what’s the plan?”“You’re going to read their thoughts the same way you read mine. You need to be able to tell us their next form of attack before they act on it.”I stared at the only remaining shadow that didn’t come forward to attack. He simply stood there, hands crossed with his
Ariana’s POVFootsteps approached me. “How long have you been sitting there?”I sat under the shade of a tree. Looking up, I stared at Sigil who was accompanied by Bach. “Give or take; five hours.”His forehead creased in worry, “You’ve been waiting that long? It’s hot in the afternoon and we have no idea when he will be done. You could’ve gone home, you look like you need some rest.”I turned my head to the small building where the intense yet consistent sound of metal being beat into resurrection was heard. I squinted my eyes, trying to control the deep heaviness inside them.“He hasn’t come out ever since he laid his hands on that plan. I have no idea what kind of person he is but I don’t think I could leave here knowing how much pain is being put into making that sword.”“That was his decision to make, not yours. Whatever remorse you might feel is not yours to take. You need to remember that you are the one who wields the sword in the end.”I turned to face Sigil, “Do you know he
Damon’s POVFootsteps from behind approached me and instilled.“I thought you’d have left the school by now.”I turned to face the owner of the voice.Klaus.“Then I’d just be doing you a favor I have no interest in granting.” I spat in response.Klaus stepped closer, “I see you’ve figured it out already.”I placed both hands in my pockets, “It was hard not to. The shadows increasing, the lack of interest in how many souls I could acquire for you. You’ve turned this academy into your little breeding nest.”“Calling it a nest would mean something motherly— a thing that needed to be protected. Their souls hold none of such sentiments, at least to the dark shadow’s appetite. Now that I can easily heighten their demise without needing to deal with a lonely elemental werewolf,”—My jaw hardened—“I don’t intend for that luxury to end anytime soon.”“So you came here to kill me? I wouldn’t call that a sound plan, at least on your ends.”“No, I have no sadistic interest in your life. You will
Ariana’s POVI became alert.It was the only right thing to do as I caught a whiff of that ominous smell.Every picture of what could possibly go wrong came to mind and my anxiety returned. Was this a trap?Had Sigil unknowingly led us to a trap?“Who are you?” Sigil questioned and for the briefest second I blinked back in shock.How did he not know the identity of the person whom he’d led us to?“And who are you?” The short boy replied back, and I could only hiss.“I can only answer that if you are Nero, the sword smith.” Sigil shot back, and the look on the boy’s face suddenly changed.A sense of familiarity struck him and he said in a low voice - “Then you’ve come to the right place.”I raised a brow. Sigil did to.“I am Nero.” He said again, and relief followed by a shocking sense of wonder coursed through me.Nero was very short.He was a dwarf—a really buff one.“We have come to the right place, Ariana.” Sigil whispered slightly, moving forward and I followed him. He added almos
Ariana’s POVI stood in front of Fenrir’s door.He’d been discharged that same morning and was now staying at his quarters.I’d spent approximately four hours searching through shops for the materials Darko told me about only to end up here.If there was someone that could help me with finding ‘things’ he was my… only answer.I sucked in a deep breath.Extending my hand, I exhaled through my mouth, molded my hands into fists and knocked.There was no response.I was about to knock again when the door opened, revealing Fenrir.He didn’t look bad physically as he was still recovering from his injuries, but he didn’t look good either.I opened my mouth to speak but he beat me to it.“You want something from me?” He asked and I froze. “Don’t you?” He asked again“I do.”He said nothing.“There’s no one else that can help me with this but you.”“Yet you called me greedy with disdain on your face.”I bit my lip, looking down at my feet and feeling extremely self-conscious.“I guess it is ea
Ariana’s POVImmediately Damon disappeared from my line of sight, I went searching for Darko after.After retracing his peculiar steps, I found myself back at the library. And at the same table where he sat before.He was there, and his focus were immensely consumed by the book in front of him.To the normal eye, it would seem nice—motivational, but to me, I found the way his eye pierced the book as if to consume it whole off-putting.He had successfully created an image of a harmless butterfly, someone unaware of pain and how to inflict it.He looked like the perfect student and not like the scary creature he really was.As though he’d heard all my thoughts, he stopped reading and looked up.Our gazes met.I stilled.His eyes were completely blank, dark, scary, boring deep.I swallowed hard and took a step close.When I got close enough, I took a seat opposite him and sat down.“I’ve returned.” I began.“And no one except for the both of us seated here are aware of this, I believe?”