Lucian’s words kept replaying in my head long after he vanished into the darkness. "You don’t have to stay trapped in his shadow, Daniel. There are better ways to survive." The insinuation had been clear: I didn’t have to rely on Rigel, didn’t have to trust him. Yet here I was, walking beside him through the crumbling remains of what should’ve been a safe haven. His steps were slower than usual, his glow dimmed—both signs that the earlier fight had taken more from him than he’d admit. But it wasn’t just his silence that weighed on me. It was the truth he refused to say. The bond. The constant tether between us that I couldn’t untangle, no matter how hard I tried. There was jus a lot I felt that I was oblivious of."You’re quiet," Rigel said, breaking the heavy silence. The one who was silent said I was silent, how ironic.I didn’t look at him. "So are you." I said dryly.I could feel his eyes on me but then I avoided them. I was already too pissed at everything that was happening.
“Again.” Rigel’s voice cut through the cold morning air like a whip, sharp and unrelenting. I gritted my teeth, my muscles already screaming in protest. The stone in my hand was heavy, its surface glowing faintly under my touch. I didn’t understand why we were out here, why this mattered, why Rigel had suddenly decided that today, of all days, I needed to *learn*. “I said again, Daniel.” “You know what?” I snapped, throwing the stone at his feet. It landed with a dull thud, its glow fading. “No. I’m done.” He folded his arms, his expression as hard as the boulder behind him. The faint glow around him flickered in the weak sunlight, a constant reminder of the power he wielded and the danger he kept at bay. “You don’t get to be done,” he said coldly. “If you want to survive, you have to control it.” “Control *what*, Rigel?” I threw my arms out, my voice rising. “You keep talking about this power, this bond, but you’ve told me nothing that actually makes sense. All I know is that
The wind howled outside the small cabin, shaking the fragile windows and amplifying the unease settling in my chest. Rigel was gone—he’d slipped out earlier without a word, leaving me alone with my spiraling thoughts. The past few dasy was chaotic and I kept wondering how I managed to escape alive each time.I sat on the creaky cot, staring at the faint glow of the mark on my wrist. It pulsed rhythmically, like a second heartbeat, as though mocking me with questions I still couldn’t answer. What was this bond? Why did it make me feel both tethered to Rigel and completely out of control? Voices drifted in from outside, faint but urgent. I crept to the window, careful not to disturb the fragile glass. Rigel stood in the clearing, his figure illuminated by the eerie glow of moonlight. He wasn’t alone. The second figure stepped closer, its silhouette sharp and imposing. It didn’t take long to recognize him—the rival who had appeared just days ago, filling my head with doubts and impos
The forest seemed darker than before, as if the shadows themselves were conspiring to close in on me. Rigel walked a few paces ahead, his shoulders tense and his glow faint—just enough to light the path but not enough to chase away my doubts. His silence grated on my nerves, a constant reminder of the questions he refused to answer. “Are we just going to keep running?” I finally asked, my voice sharp. “For now, yes,” he replied without turning around. I stopped, crossing my arms. “That’s not good enough, Rigel. I deserve more than vague warnings and half-truths. What are we even running from?” He sighed, turning to face me. “From people who will do anything to control you. To use you. Do you need a detailed list, or can you trust that I’m doing my job?” “I would if you actually told me anything!” I snapped. “How am I supposed to trust you when you keep treating me like some fragile child who can’t handle the truth?” His glow flared, casting a harsh light that made his expression
The air was damp and heavy as muffled voices filtered through the walls of the dimly lit room where I sat bound to a chair. My wrists ached against the ropes, but fear was the sharper pain, gnawing at my chest as Adrian’s parting smirk replayed in my mind. He had delivered me here, to the heart of the rival faction’s lair, like a lamb to the slaughter. The door creaked open, and a tall figure stepped in, his face shadowed by the dim overhead bulb. His presence sent a chill down my spine—a mix of raw power and simmering malice. “Daniel,” he said smoothly, his voice like silk over steel. “Welcome. I trust your stay has been... enlightening.” “Who are you?” I asked, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the pounding in my chest. “I am the one who will show you the truth,” he replied, stepping closer. His features came into focus: angular, severe, with eyes that seemed to pierce through my very soul. “Unlike your protector, I won’t hide things from you. We could have avoided this m
The tension in the air was suffocating as Rigel and I finally reached the safety of our makeshift hideout after I carried him. The small cabin, nestled deep in the woods, was barely more than four walls and a roof, but it was better than nothing. Rigel leaned heavily on me as we entered, his steps faltering. “You’re bleeding,” I said, helping him to the worn-out couch in the corner. “I’ll heal,” he muttered, brushing me off. His glow, once vibrant and protective, was now faint and erratic. I wasn’t convinced. “You need rest. Or help. Or—I don’t know—something!” as much as I tried to control myself, I just could not sit and watch him in pains, it made my heart ache probably because I was the reason why he was in that situation. He shot me a sharp look. “What I need is for you to stop questioning me. I handled it.” “Handled it?” My voice rose, anger bubbling to the surface. “You nearly got yourself killed back there! And for what? To drag me back here so we can wait for the next am
The journal sat heavy in my lap like it carried the weight of the world—or at least mine. Rigel was asleep on the couch, his head tipped back, exhaustion softening the sharp lines of his face. The faint glow that usually surrounded him had dimmed to a mere flicker. I couldn’t stop myself from opening the journal again, even though every instinct screamed at me to leave it alone. Each page felt like peeling back a layer of Rigel’s soul, exposing truths I wasn’t sure I was ready for. The early entries were familiar, echoing the same cryptic warnings he’d given me. But the further I read, the darker the words became. “Human bonds have always been fragile. They’re drawn to us like moths to flame, unaware that the fire will consume them. I’ve seen it happen—time and time again.” I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. “The bond amplifies them, yes, but it also destroys them. Their bodies, their minds—they’re not meant to hold this much power. And yet they always try. Always fail.” T
I groaned and twinkled my eyes as I quickly jerked up and realized that it was all a dream unfolded like a trap, the edges of reality slipping away until I found myself standing in a space that felt both familiar and foreign. It was the cabin—Rigel’s cabin—but the air was heavy, crackling with an unseen energy and sweet dripping all over my face. Shadows danced along the walls, their movements unnatural, almost alive. “Feeling lost?” The voice was silk and steel, drawing my attention to the figure leaning against the doorway. My eyes went wide as I realized that it was Lucian that stood there, his presence commanding yet unnervingly casual. He wore a smirk that didn’t quite reach his cold, calculating eyes. “This isn’t real,” I said, stepping back instinctively,shut my eyes tight and opened it again hoping to wake up from the dream which actually my reality. He tilted his head, his smirk widening. “Isn’t it?” “You’re in my head,” I snapped, my voice steady despite the fear coilin
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
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