I sit in the healer’s dimly lit sanctuary, my hands shaking as I stare at the floor. The words hang in the air like a death sentence.To save you, your bond must be severed. Permanently.I can’t breathe.The bond—the thing that ties me to Rigel, that has anchored me through every storm, that has given me strength when I had none—gone?I look up at Rigel, my chest tight with panic, searching his face for some kind of reassurance, some kind of denial. But there’s only pain in his eyes.And that terrifies me.“No.” My voice comes out hoarse, barely above a whisper. “There has to be another way.”The healer doesn’t waver. “There is not.”Rigel shakes his head violently, taking a step forward. “That’s not true. You’re supposed to be powerful—one of the best. If anyone can fix this, it’s you.”“I am powerful,” she agrees. “But I do not perform miracles.”I flinch. The bluntness of her words is like a slap.Rigel’s breathing is ragged, his hands clenched into fists. “You don’t understand—”“
The ambush came without warning. One moment we were trudging through the dense woods, Rigel scanning the surroundings with his usual vigilance. The next, shadows burst from every direction, their guttural growls slicing through the eerie stillness. “Stay behind me!” Rigel barked, his blade flashing as he leapt into action. But there were too many of them. Dark, sinewy figures swarmed us, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light. Rigel moved like a force of nature, slashing and dodging with precision, but even he was starting to falter under the sheer number of attackers. They were way too much and fast for him to handle alone. I felt some type of bitterness in my stomach as I saw him struggling with everything he had just to save me.A creature lunged at me, its claws outstretched. Panic surged through my veins as I stumbled back, my heart hammering in my chest. My mind screamed for me to run, but my body refused to obey. “No!” I shouted, throwing my hands up in a desperate attem
The night air is thick with tension, a suffocating weight pressing against my chest. The rogue leader stands before us, a satisfied smirk curling on his lips, watching me like a wolf sizing up its prey.“If you want power, Daniel, you’ll have to prove you’re strong enough to wield it.”His voice slithers into my ears, cold and taunting. The moment the words leave his mouth, the ground trembles beneath us. A pulse of energy ripples through the air, sharp and electric, sending a shiver down my spine.And then—they appear.Figures materialize from the darkness, stepping forward with an eerie grace. Their eyes gleam with unnatural hunger, bodies shifting in the dim light. Supernatural assassins.I count five. Five highly trained killers, each radiating lethal intent. They move in perfect synchronization, their forms blending into the shadows like they belong to them.Rigel tenses beside me, his hand twitching toward his blade. “This is a trap,” he snarls.The rogue leader chuckles. “Of co
The battlefield is eerily quiet. The assassins who survived have vanished into the night, retreating into the shadows from which they came. Only their fallen comrades remain, some groaning in pain, others eerily still.But I barely register them.My hands are still trembling, the last remnants of power crackling at my fingertips. The raw energy I unleashed lingers beneath my skin, humming, alive.And worse—I can still feel it.That intoxicating rush.The way the darkness surged through me like it belonged there.The way it made me feel untouchable.It would be so easy to let it consume me.So easy to stop fighting it.But when I lift my gaze, the first thing I see is Rigel.He’s standing a few feet away, his body tense, his face pale beneath the blood and dirt smeared across his skin. His eyes—normally so sharp, so defiant—are filled with something I never thought I’d see directed at me.Fear.And it hits me like a dagger to the chest.“Rigel,” I whisper, my throat raw.He doesn’t mov
The Weight of SuspicionThe night was too quiet.That was the first sign.I sat on the edge of our temporary camp, fingers gripping the dagger at my side, feeling the weight of exhaustion in my limbs. The battle earlier had left everyone drained—physically and mentally. We had lost too much, and yet, it still wasn’t over.A cool breeze rustled the trees, but it did nothing to settle the gnawing feeling in my chest. My mark burned faintly, a warning, a whisper of something lurking just beyond our sight.I glanced over at Rigel, who sat near the fire, speaking in hushed tones with Adrian. Their shadows flickered against the flames, tense and restless.We were all restless.And yet, despite everything, something in the air felt off.Like we were being watched.Like the darkness around us was waiting for something.Or someone.The AmbushThe attack came swiftly.Too swiftly.One moment, we were gathered in quiet exhaustion—the next, the night exploded into chaos.The first shriek shattere
A Choice That Cannot Be UndoneEverything around me felt surreal, like I was caught between a nightmare and reality. The battlefield was in ruins—bodies scattered, the air thick with the acrid stench of blood and burnt magic. The distant cries of my allies barely registered. My mind was locked onto only one thing.Rigel.He was on his knees, his face pale, his body straining against the chains of dark energy that bound him. No matter how hard he fought, the magic refused to yield. I had seen Rigel endure everything—torture, war, betrayals—but never had I seen him helpless.And it was because of me.Above us, the sky churned with unnatural shadows. The ancient evil’s voice slithered through the air like a living thing, coiling around my throat, whispering its demand over and over.“Join me willingly… or watch him die.”The choice was cruel. Impossible.But there was no hesitation.“Take me instead.”The words left my lips before I could stop them, solid, unshakable.Adrian staggered fo
Visions of a Future That Shouldn’t ExistThe darkness twisted around me, wrapping its cold, silk-like tendrils around my wrists, my throat, my mind. I fought against it, but with each struggle, it only sank deeper, curling into the hidden corners of my soul like it belonged there.“You resist, but I see the truth, Daniel.”The ancient evil’s voice slithered through my thoughts, silky and patient. It didn’t need to shout. It didn’t need to force.It was inside me now.And it was waiting for me to give in.A flicker of light erupted in front of me—then the world shifted.Suddenly, I wasn’t standing in the abyss anymore.I was in a grand throne room, its towering obsidian pillars stretching endlessly into the void above. A deep crimson glow pulsed through the cracks in the black marble floor, as if something alive was breathing beneath it.And then I saw him.Myself.Seated on the throne.A crown of shadows rested atop my head, laced with veins of glowing silver. My clothes were no longe
The Descent into DarknessThe cursed realm stretched endlessly before them, a place twisted by the presence of the ancient evil. The air was heavy, thick with shadows that curled and slithered like living things. Every breath Rigel took felt like inhaling ash, each step pulling him deeper into the abyss where Daniel was being held.This place was meant to break them. To make them lose hope.But Rigel would not falter.Not when Daniel’s life—his very soul—was on the line.Behind him, the remaining allies moved cautiously, their weapons drawn, their eyes scanning the endless darkness. The path beneath them shifted unnaturally, as if the ground itself were an illusion. The sky above churned with violet and black clouds, occasionally cracking open to reveal flashes of blood-red lightning.“This place is wrong,” one of the warriors muttered. His grip tightened around his blade. “It feels like it’s… watching us.”“It is.” Rigel’s voice was low, edged with determination. He knew this realm w
The Darkness Takes HoldDaniel had never felt so clear-headed. So strong.For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he wasn’t drowning in fear or doubt. He wasn’t fighting against something he couldn’t control.He was the control.Power thrummed through his veins—dark, intoxicating, and endless. He could feel the ancient force within him, guiding his steps, sharpening his thoughts.He stood at the head of Veyron’s army, gazing down at the battlefield stretched before him. A sea of supernatural warriors stood at the ready—creatures of the night, rebels who had long abandoned the council, and shadows that slithered through the ground like liquid death.And yet, despite their numbers, Daniel knew exactly where his eyes were drawn.Rigel.Standing defiantly, sword in hand, eyes burning with something painfully familiar—love and fury, hope and heartbreak, all at once.“Daniel,” Rigel called, voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “You don’t have to do this.”Daniel tilted
The Moment of SurrenderDaniel didn’t struggle.The moment he let the darkness swallow him whole, a cold, terrifying stillness settled over his body. It wasn’t painful. It wasn’t violent.It was acceptance.For weeks, he had been fighting—clawing, screaming, breaking—trying to hold on to something that was never meant to last. Trying to fight a war he had already lost.But this?This was peace.Veyron stood beside him, an eerie smile curling at the edges of his lips.“Finally,” he murmured. “You understand.”Daniel turned his head slightly, catching a glimpse of Rigel in the distance. He could still hear the echoes of his voice—pleading, furious, desperate.“Daniel, please!”But it was too late.The choice was already made.Daniel let out a slow, steady breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them again—they were completely black.Rigel’s DevastationNo.This wasn’t happening.Rigel’s hands were shaking. His lungs burned. His heart was shattering inside his chest.“Daniel!” he roar
The Moment Everything ChangedRigel’s body shook violently, the invisible force crushing his throat. He couldn’t breathe.Daniel’s voice was distant, panicked, but Rigel couldn’t focus on anything except the burning pain in his lungs.Veyron was going to kill him.The realization sent a violent surge of magic through Rigel’s veins.With sheer, desperate willpower, he twisted his hand in a cutting motion, summoning a burst of white-hot energy. It shattered the unseen hold on his body, and he dropped like a stone, coughing violently.Before he could recover, a shadow loomed over him.“You’re persistent,” Veyron murmured, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “I respect that.”Rigel spat blood onto the ground and forced himself up, his entire body aching. “Go to hell.”Veyron simply smirked. “Oh, I plan to. And I’m taking Daniel with me.”Rigel’s chest tightened. His heartbeat was loud, deafening. He turned his gaze toward Daniel—who hadn’t moved.He was just standing there.Frozen. Shaken.
Daniel sat in silence, his hands gripping the arms of the stone chair as the council’s voices echoed through the grand chamber. The walls of the ancient hall loomed around him, adorned with tapestries depicting wars, betrayals, and supernatural history—stories that now felt disturbingly familiar in his mind. Because this wasn’t just history. It was his history. And Rigel’s. He risked a glance at Rigel, who stood beside him with his arms crossed, his jaw clenched so tight it looked like it might shatter. He hadn’t said a word since Daniel had told him the truth—about the vision, about their past, about the curse that seemed to wrap around them like an inescapable noose. And Rigel was terrified. Not of Daniel. But of losing him. The council members, seated in a crescent of towering thrones, spoke in low, urgent tones. “If he was a danger then, he will be a danger now.” “The prophecy has warned us time and time again—his existence alone could tip the balance.” “Can he truly r
The first signs of trouble were whispers on the wind. Scouts returned with strange reports—villages abandoned overnight, entire factions bending the knee to a force moving in the shadows. Something was coming. Daniel and Rigel were still on the run, hiding in the crumbling remains of an old monastery, when their latest ally—Jorin, a former supernatural bounty hunter—came rushing in, breathless and wide-eyed. “We have a problem.” Rigel stiffened. Daniel, who had been sitting by the fire, barely reacted. He hadn’t been sleeping. Not really. The blackouts were getting worse, the whispers louder, and every time he closed his eyes, he feared he’d wake up covered in blood again. Jorin’s gaze flicked between them before he spoke the name that sent a cold chill through the room. “Veyron is alive.” Rigel’s breath hitched. Daniel frowned, slow and detached. “Veyron’s dead.” “Apparently not,” Jorin muttered. “And he’s not alone. He’s got an army.” Daniel exhaled sharply, running a han
The Rumors BeginThe first signs of trouble were whispers on the wind.Scouts returned with strange reports—villages abandoned overnight, entire factions bending the knee to a force moving in the shadows. Something was coming.Daniel and Rigel were still on the run, hiding in the crumbling remains of an old monastery, when their latest ally—Jorin, a former supernatural bounty hunter—came rushing in, breathless and wide-eyed.“We have a problem.”Rigel stiffened. Daniel, who had been sitting by the fire, barely reacted. He hadn’t been sleeping. Not really. The blackouts were getting worse, the whispers louder, and every time he closed his eyes, he feared he’d wake up covered in blood again.Jorin’s gaze flicked between them before he spoke the name that sent a cold chill through the room.“Veyron is alive.”Rigel’s breath hitched.Daniel frowned, slow and detached. “Veyron’s dead.”“Apparently not,” Jorin muttered. “And he’s not alone. He’s got an army.”Daniel exhaled sharply, running
The First BlackoutThe first time it happened, Daniel woke up somewhere unfamiliar.His body ached. His head throbbed. A slow, steady drip echoed around him, the sound of water sliding down cavern walls.The air was damp, thick with the scent of earth and something else—something metallic.Daniel’s breath hitched. He forced his heavy limbs to move, palms pressing against the cold ground as he pushed himself upright.His fingers touched something warm and wet.His stomach twisted.Blood.Daniel jerked back, chest heaving, hands trembling as he lifted them into the dim light. They glistened red.His heart pounded so loudly it drowned out every other sound. Slowly, hesitantly, his gaze shifted forward—to the body sprawled before him.A man. A hunter. His throat had been ripped open.Daniel’s entire body seized with horror.“No… no, no, no—”His mind was blank. No memory of a fight. No recollection of the moment his hands—his claws—had torn through flesh.He blacked out. Again.And this t
“We need to move. Now.”Rigel’s voice was sharp with urgency, but Daniel barely heard him. The air in the abandoned house they were hiding in felt suffocating, pressing down on his lungs like a heavy weight.The blood was gone—scrubbed clean from his skin. Yet, he could still feel it. The phantom sensation clung to his hands, sticky and warm, as if it had seeped into his very bones.His stomach churned. Who had he hurt?He didn’t remember leaving. Didn’t remember anything past falling asleep next to Rigel, exhausted from days of running. But when he had woken up—he was standing. Alone.And he had been covered in blood.Rigel’s grip tightened on his arm. “Daniel, snap out of it.”Daniel dragged in a breath, but it didn’t feel like enough. “I don’t—” His voice cracked. “I don’t know what I did.”Rigel hesitated, pain flickering across his face. “We don’t have time to figure it out right now. We need to get out of here.”Daniel blinked, the world tilting slightly as his heartbeat pounded
The Breaking Point“Run.”The word was barely a whisper in Daniel’s mind, but it was the only thing keeping him moving.Everything was a blur—flashes of light, the ringing of battle cries, the sharp clash of metal against metal. The council had erupted into chaos the moment Daniel’s power had exploded from within him, stopping the celestial blade inches from piercing his heart.They had called him a monster.A mistake.And now, they wanted him dead more than ever.“Go!” Rigel’s voice was raw with desperation as he spun, his twin daggers catching the throat of a council enforcer who had lunged for Daniel.Daniel wanted to help. He wanted to stand and fight, to prove—to himself and to them—that he was not the villain they feared.But his body…His body wasn’t listening.A new power was thrumming inside him, pulsing through his veins like liquid fire, burning so brightly he thought it might consume him.And deep inside, something was awake.Something ancient.Something starving.“Daniel!