The forest was eerily quiet as we left the hollow sanctuary, as if holding its breath after our narrow escape. The cool night air did nothing to calm the fire raging inside me. My legs felt like jelly, but I forced myself to keep moving until we reached a clearing.“Here,” Selene said weakly, her hand gripping my shoulder. “Set me down.”I lowered her onto a moss-covered rock, the faint moonlight revealing the blood staining her sleeve. She winced, but her sharp glare dared me to fuss over her.“Don’t you dare faint on me now,” I said, trying to mask my worry with sarcasm.“I’m not the one trembling,” she shot back, though her voice lacked its usual bite.I ignored her and turned to him—Rigel—who leaned against a tree, silent as ever. His face was unreadable, but his body language betrayed him: his shoulders were tense, his breathing uneven. He did not die but rather he came back more injured.“That’s it,” I snapped, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “We’re not moving a
The campfire crackled softly, its warm light casting glinting shadows on the trees surrounding us. The forest had become unnervingly quiet, as if the world itself held its breath, granting us this rare truce from chaos. Each step I took, I took in fear. Never did I think my life would get this chaotic—that every minute would feel like an attack. It felt like a scene straight out of a movie.Selene slept a few paces away, her figure curled against the cool night air, while I sat closer to the fire, struggling to process the storm of emotions brewing within me. I felt so fucked in that moment. I wanted to close my eyes and snap back to my former boring, shitty life, but I couldn’t.I glanced at Rigel, seated across the fire. His face was illuminated by the orange glow, the sharp lines of his features softened by the flickering light. He looked distant, lost in thought, yet there was tension in the way he clenched his jaw and held his shoulders taut, as if bracing for something inevitabl
My eyes fluttered open to the pale light of dawn filtering through the dense canopy above. The world felt heavy, like I was waking from a dream that had seeped too deeply into reality. Every muscle in my body ached, and my arm burned like fire. The mark—it was still there, its dark lines etched into my skin, now more intricate and sprawling than before.“Daniel,” a voice pulled me back to the present. Rigel was crouched beside me, his face drawn with worry.“What happened?” I croaked, my throat dry and raw. Memories of the previous night rushed back—the mark flaring, the pain, the explosion of power I couldn’t control.“You lost consciousness after the surge,” he said, his tone clipped, though his eyes betrayed a tenderness he rarely showed. “We couldn’t wake you for hours.”I pushed myself upright, my head spinning as I took in our surroundings. The campsite was a mess—fallen branches littered the ground, and the fire had been completely extinguished. Selene sat nearby, poring over a
The fire burned low, casting muted light against the uneven stone walls. The night air was heavy, laden with an unspoken tension that coiled tighter with each passing second. I sat on the hard ground, legs folded beneath me, staring at the flames yet feeling none of their warmth. My chest felt too heavy, burdened with thoughts that made no sense but refused to leave me alone. Rigel stood at the mouth of the cave, his stance rigid as he watched the night beyond. Selene sat across from me, her face turned away as if the silence wasn’t suffocating. It felt like we were mourning the dead.I couldn’t hold the words in any longer. They clawed at my throat, demanding release.“I heard you earlier,” I muttered softly, my voice slicing through the oppressive stillness.Selene’s head turned slightly, her profile caught in the firelight, surprise flashing briefly in her eyes. Rigel stiffened, his broad shoulders a dark silhouette against the dim backdrop. Neither of them spoke immediately, and t
The tension in the air was palpable, a fragile thread threatening to snap at any moment. The fire burned low, casting flickering shadows across the cave walls. Rigel’s gaze lingered on me, heavy with an unspoken intensity that made my chest tighten. Across from us, Selene sat in silence, her face unreadable as she stared into the dying embers.“I can’t keep running like this,” I muttered, breaking the oppressive silence. My voice sounded hollow, even to my own ears. “I’m tired of being hunted, of feeling powerless.”Rigel shifted closer, his movements deliberate. Usually, his presence grounded me, but tonight, it felt charged—alive with a tension I couldn’t quite place. “There’s a way to change that,” he said, his voice low and steady.I turned to him, suspicion flickering in my eyes. “What do you mean?”He hesitated, the firelight casting flickering shadows across his face. “There’s a ritual,” he began cautiously, his tone measured. “An ancient one that could strengthen our bond. If
The night erupted into chaos, the silence shattered by the sharp clash of steel and the guttural cries of enemies lunging from the shadows. Their forms were barely visible, moving with an unnatural swiftness and precision that made my blood run cold.Rigel was a blur of movement, his sword slicing through the darkness as if it were an extension of his very being. Each strike was calculated, deadly, and filled with a desperation I could feel in the air. I could see him fighting with his whole being just to keep me safe. Selene moved just as deftly, her spells lighting the battlefield in brief bursts of blinding brilliance. Yet, even with their combined strength, the sheer number of attackers overwhelmed us.I froze, rooted to the spot as fear coiled around my chest like a serpent. The noise, the violence—it was too much. I was useless, a burden, and it gnawed at me with every passing second. I desperately wanted to help as I watched them being overwhelmed.“Daniel, move!” Selene’s voic
Selene led us to the library, determined to uncover the answers we sought. This was no ordinary library; it was a towering monument to centuries of secrets and forbidden knowledge. Shelves stretched impossibly high, humming faintly with an otherworldly energy, while golden chandeliers cast intricate patterns of light over the marble floors.“How did you find this place?” I asked, my voice echoing as I took in the breathtaking sight.Selene glanced back, a rare smile softening her features. “Not everything about my past is dark,” she said cryptically. “This was my sanctuary once. It still holds some of the answers we need.”Rigel remained silent, stationed near the entrance with watchful eyes scanning the room. His tension hung heavy in the air, a quiet barrier that had grown between us since our last encounter.Selene led me deeper into the library, her fingers skimming the spines of ancient tomes. Finally, she paused, pulling a book bound in cracked leather from the shelf. “Here,” sh
The air was still, yet heavy with the promise of danger. The trees surrounding me swayed in the phantom wind of my own panicked breaths. Rigel’s last words hung in my ears like a haunting echo: "Stay alive, Daniel. No matter what happens, keep running."But how was I supposed to run when the shadows themselves seemed to move against me? The path ahead felt endless, the darkness closing in on all sides. My heartbeat pounded like a drum, its rhythm unsteady and frantic.I stumbled over an exposed root and caught myself against a tree, the bark biting into my palms. My breaths came shallow and fast, my body trembling with a cocktail of exhaustion and fear.“Lost already?” a voice called out, smooth and venomous, breaking the silence like a crack of thunder.I froze, my body going rigid as a figure emerged from the shadows. He was tall and gaunt, his skin pale like it had never known sunlight. His eyes glowed faintly crimson, twin embers that pierced through the darkness.“Well, well,” he
A Desperate SearchRigel couldn’t rest.Sleep was impossible when Daniel was still out there, trapped in the clutches of an ancient evil, slipping further and further away from who he once was.The world had already turned against him. The supernatural council had issued its final decree—Daniel was too dangerous to live.Every faction, every warrior, even supposed allies, whispered the same thing:“He’s lost. He’s gone. If you try to save him, you’ll die with him.”Rigel didn’t care.He had never cared about the odds.Because this wasn’t just about saving Daniel’s soul. It was about the truth.And the visions Daniel had been having—the ones of his past life, of his former self being betrayed—meant something far greater was at play.Someone had orchestrated all of this before.Someone had betrayed Daniel once before.And they were still here.Still close.A Hidden Trail of LiesThe answer had to be in the records.Rigel had spent hours, days, poring over ancient texts, searching for an
Falling into the AbyssDaniel was drowning.Not in water, but in darkness.It pulled him down, suffocating, smothering his thoughts, his memories, his very sense of self. He could no longer tell where his body ended and the ancient evil began. He was weightless, yet trapped, caught in a current he couldn’t escape.It whispered to him—soft, coaxing, like silk against his skin.“Stop fighting, Daniel.”“This is who you were always meant to be.”He gritted his teeth, pressing his hands against his temples.“No,” he rasped. “I won’t—”Pain exploded through his skull.Visions surged before his eyes like a thousand shattered mirrors, each shard reflecting a different version of himself. A different past.And then—he wasn’t Daniel anymore.The Past That Wasn’t His… Or Was It?The world shifted, and suddenly, he stood in a grand hall bathed in golden firelight.Marble pillars stretched toward a domed ceiling, intricate carvings of celestial symbols glowing faintly. Massive banners hung from t
A Line Drawn in BloodThe world had never felt colder.Rigel stood at the center of a battlefield that was seconds away from plunging into chaos.Daniel, the man he loved, the man who had once fought beside him, now stood against him, shadowed by an army that had pledged themselves to darkness.Behind Rigel, the council’s warriors—shapeshifters, sorcerers, and celestial beings—were ready to strike Daniel down at the first command.And Rigel knew.If he didn’t stop this war now, they would try to kill him.“Step aside, Rigel,” one of the council leaders commanded, voice sharp as a blade. “Daniel is no longer the man you knew. He has chosen his side.”Rigel’s hands curled into fists.“Then you’ll have to go through me first.”A ripple of silence spread through the battlefield. Disbelief. Shock. Even Daniel tilted his head slightly, as if trying to understand what Rigel had just done.“You don’t have to die with him,” another warrior spoke, her voice laced with urgency. “This isn’t your
The world felt wrong. Something had shifted—something irreversible. The moment the temple fell into darkness, the supernatural world knew. Across realms, in the deepest corners of the world where shadows whispered secrets, the air changed. Something new had awakened. Or rather—something very, very old. The council was the first to sense it. The moment Daniel disappeared, the High Seers’ sacred flames went out. The oldest vampires found their blood turning cold. The fae felt the balance of magic shift. Even the rogue leader, miles away, staggered, clutching his chest as the dark power he had once served was drowned out by something much greater. Something he didn’t recognize. For the first time in centuries, the supernatural world was unified—not by alliances, not by treaties, but by a singular, overwhelming terror. Daniel was gone. And something else was in his place. Rigel’s Desperation “Bring him back!” Rigel’s voice was raw, hoarse from shouting. He was still kne
Daniel 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 his head, taki
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