It had been a night that was oppressively still. The air seemed to hold its breath, the dark weighing down as though it were a shroud. The only things that broke the silence were the small, tinny crackle of the fire and the rhythmic breathing of the warriors who slept around the campsite. Then, without warning, silence was shattered. Then, suddenly, bursting from behind dark shade cover from the tree line came Lucian's forces, their eyes aglow with malevolent light. They struck hard and fast, quite out of the blue, it seemed. Instantly, chaos erupted everywhere: scrambling warriors attempting to hold their camp, blades clashing in the dark joined occasionally by bursts of magic; snarls, yells, and the horrible thud of weapons against flesh . The sounds of battle roared through the air. Serafine was so scared as she hastened protective spells around the camp while fighting off attackers. In the chaos, a cold realization dawned upon the camp, one of the triplets was nowher
The air is electric with a sense of urgency as we push forward, racing through the dense forest. Every second counts at this point as the lunar event is barely a day away, and what's coming weighs heavy upon us. We can go only so fast, but exhaustion clings to our bodies, weighing us down more than we'd care to admit. We have safely kept the weapon we found in the hidden realm-a reminder of our only hope against Lucian's dark plans. But as we press on, there is an element of doubt in my mind. The vision I saw is in my head, before my eyes, the subject of a grim memory. Lucian's voice still continues ringing in my ears: taunting and dangerous. "You think a mere weapon can stop me?" he had said, eyes gleaming with dark humor. "I've known about your ritual all along. And you'll be playing right into my hands. How would he know? It was some forbidden ritual, something I'd only come to know existed from those sacred lands. I give Amara a glance beside me and then look at Sus
"We need to get back to the pack," I managed to get out, forcing myself to my feet despite the searing in my muscles. "We need to prepare."We move through the exhaustion, our bodies screaming from the relentless journey. Every step is heavier than the last, and the closer we move into the Freedom Pack's territory, the more urgent this mission becomes. The event of the moon is upon us-there's no time to waste. The air hums with anticipation, some ghostly reminder of what's to come.We finally break through the edge of the forest and see the familiar sight of the pack grounds. The camp is in an uproar, all in urgent motions to ready the defenses and prepare for battle. Near the center, the pack leaders are bunched together, faces grave with acknowledgment of what's to come. We hasten over, barely able to catch our breath."Lucian is coming," I say in urgent tones, and the faces of the leaders constrict. "He's going to merge the realms during the lunar event. If he does, we're done
Damien’s POVI gritted my teeth as I saw Tina tighten her grip around Daniel’s waist... She even buried her face in his crotch.I looked up and noticed Daniel’s face had become red, and he stared down at her naked body as he froze.Is she trying to seduce him too?Daniel has a striking resemblance with me, except for his dusty brown hair and less muscular physique. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had an eye for him too.I stepped forward and pushed her away from him. She gasped as she hit her back on the wall, her perky boobs bouncing with every move she took.I picked up the robe I had offered her from the floor, “I told you to stay away from my brother!” I tossed the robe at her, “Put that on!”“Put that on already, Tina… before I lose my mind,” Daniel said as he turned away from her.Tina picked up the robe and got up to her feet, she turned and started to wear the robe slowly.I almost laughed, “Don’t tell me you are shy Tina, wear that robe quickly, or else I’ll drag you out of m
The moment Abigail stepped forward, a dark storm of magic swirling around her, my heart sank. She was different, no more the little girl that I had seen growing up. Now she was strong and terrifying, an aura cloaked in shadows. The density of her energy was everywhere on the battlefield, and it was hard to breathe."Abigail!" I screamed, my desperation clawing at my throat. "You don't have to do this! Remember who you are!"But my words fell on deaf ears. Lucian stood behind her, an irritating smirk stretched across his face; he was enjoying some sort of grand performance. "You see how easy it is to manipulate a child?" he said, his voice slick as oil. "Abigail is the key to my plans, and nothing can stop us with her by our side!The pack was in disarray. Fear and confusion spread like wildfire, and I could see Serafine and David trying to break through to her, pleading that she remember love for her family. But Abigail's face remained cold, really implacable, her power crackli
"The battlefield erupts once more, but this time the threat comes from within. Abigail's power surges forth, and everything I thought I knew about this war shifts in an instant."I stand in shock as Abigail steps forward, her magic alight like an inferno. I can feel it-a raw, dangerous energy that I have never felt before. It's the kind of power that makes you feel the weight of air, makes it hard to breathe, one that rattles you down to your bones. And it's coming from my granddaughter.Abigail !" Serafine's voice breaks as she screams her name, trying to reach the little girl lost behind this veil of darkness and fury. "Please, listen to me! This isn't who you are!But Abigail doesn't heed my warnings. Her face is distant, her eyes aglow with that unnatural brilliance and the air between us grows thick with every passing second. Lucian is standing just behind her, the satisfaction twisted within his face, as if he revels in the view of his masterpiece unfolding.Damien then appe
"The last thing I see before they shove us into the darkness of the dungeon is Abigail's silhouette, bathed in the pale light of the moon."It was ironic that it would be a heavy iron door slamming shut behind us, right in the heart of cold, damp walls of a dungeon that seemed to swallow every echo of such shutting. Darkness seemed to choke, weighing in from every side, the weight of our failure pressing down on us literally. The air was thick with mold and damp earth, while faint tricklings of water somewhere only made it hang in the air even more heavily.I tug at the chains spellbound onto my wrists; with a tingling of magic, the metal seems to have sucked the strength out of me. I try and try but I cannot raise even a spark, much less the smallest manifestation of power. It would appear that my magic has been snuffed out, and the hollowness that does feel to leave me so-never before-has rendered me vulnerable.We need to get out," Daniel says in a hoarse voice from the fight.
This dungeon is cold,the walls heavy with the weight of despair. Every day is no different: I pace down the narrow corridor, carrying trays of food to my family,if they still are, that is. Chains rattle around me, their metallic clicking no louder than the guilt whispering in my ear. I force myself to remain calm, my expression cold, detached. I have nothing else for them to see. If I do, it all will fall apart.I set a tray down in front of my mother, and she reaches out, catching my wrist. Her touch is soft in every movement. "Abigail," she murmurs, her voice hoarse. "Please, you don't have to do this. You are stronger than what Lucian's influence has done. Come back to us.I pull my hand away, the gesture sharp, deliberate. "It's too late" I say, keeping my tone as flat as possible. "I've made my choice.But even as I say it, an ache burns hollow in my gut. I glance around at Serafine, the triplets, Amara, Susan,all of them shackled, weakened. They have been reduced to mere
"Let's get this over with."The words are still on my lips when the dungeon door swings open, and the man steps out, pulling me along with him. But before we can take more than a few steps, the sound of heavy boots echoes down the corridor. I froze, my heart pounding as Lucian's familiar silhouette emerged from the shadows, his cold eyes narrowing at us.What are you doing here?" Lucian demands, his eyes flicking with suspicion from the man to me and back again.The man's hand tightens on my arm for a moment before he releases me, his face smoothing into casual indifference. "Just checking the prisoners," he returned smoothly, his tone didn't betray him."I wanted to make sure everything was in order.A mocking smile curls around Lucian's lips. "You're not normally this watchful" he says, stepping closer to him. "What's the real reason you're here?Nothing in the man's face alters, but I catch a flicker in his eyes that says he works something out. "The ritual draws near," he says
"We are left alone again, imprisoned by this impossible choice and its weight presses upon me now more than ever."Days run together in a haze of dark depression. The chill, wet air rises up from the dungeon, filling our bones, and constantly reminds us that we are imprisoned. Every moment seems like a fight to cling on to that little hope. But despite all, I find myself awaiting Abigail's visits with a mind set to expect little or no warmth, yet still hoping something may penetrate that wall she has thrown up around herself.The next time she comes, she lingers by the door longer than she usually does, hesitates a second before stepping into the dim light. I see it in her eyes now, something flickering inside that wasn't there before. Is it a doubt? Or regret? I cannot tell, but enough to make my heart beat just a little bit faster.She sets the tray down in front of me, her eyes not even flicking in my direction before she turns to leave, but I just can't let her go. "Abigail,
"As much as I try to keep hope alive, I couldn't help this nagging feeling that Lucian's grip on Abigail was increasing. and the time for all of us was running out."The air was thick in this dungeon like the walls were closing in on us. Days will pass in tense silence, our minds focused on nothing else but the ritual that closes in with each passing heartbeat. We know we can't wait any longer. The more time we spend here, the more powerful Lucian will become over Abigail, over our combined destinies. And the more his power grows, the smaller our window becomes.We sit in the darkness, tired, and on our shoulders weighs the heavy mantle of our tiredness. No one needs to say it, but it's there, hanging in the air amongst us, like a ghost not invited.Susan breaks the silence. Her voice is soft but firm as she turns to each one of us. "We have to accept that man's offer," she states. "There's nothing else we can do.And then the words came like a kick to the stomach, and a moment pa
"I don't know. I really don't know."The words just seem to hang in the air, heavy with weight, almost choking. It is as if the dark dungeon walls are closing in on me as my mind finalizes the weight of our situation. The others are staring at me, their eyes drilling into me for some sort of answer, a decision that would somehow change everything. Only I don't have one. The very thought of agreeing to the terms of that man makes my skin crawl, and yet… the desperation in our situation is simply not to be denied."No," I whisper, shaking my head. "We can't… I can't do this.The triplets exchange a glance, their faces filled with a mixture of pain and uncertainty. Damien steps forward, frustration and sorrow etched on his face. "Serafine, we gotta think this through," he says in a low, urgent tone. "I hate the thought of it as much as you do, but what choice do we have?I glare at him, narrowing my eyes. "There must be some other way," I answer, though my voice carries no convictio
"Am I really on the right side?" The sound of Abigail's question echoes through her head The creaky door to the dungeon drags me back into the reality before me.I look up, expecting to see Abigail or another of Lucian's followers come inside to mock us some more. Instead, it is him, the man who has been to see us before the one that proposed such a crazy deal. He steps inside, into the poor light and as I have come to expect, a dark silhouette greets me with a curled smile that truly chills.Well, well," he says, his voice dripping with mockery. "It would appear that you still have not made a decision. I gotta say, for one so hesitant, it's quite disappointing." He moved closer, his eyes glowing with amusement and annoyance. "I am a busy man, and I don't like waiting around."We got nothing to say to you," Damien growls from the corner, his voice weak but defiant. "Go back to wherever you came from."The man chuckles, shaking his head. "You're in no position to make demands, w
This dungeon is cold,the walls heavy with the weight of despair. Every day is no different: I pace down the narrow corridor, carrying trays of food to my family,if they still are, that is. Chains rattle around me, their metallic clicking no louder than the guilt whispering in my ear. I force myself to remain calm, my expression cold, detached. I have nothing else for them to see. If I do, it all will fall apart.I set a tray down in front of my mother, and she reaches out, catching my wrist. Her touch is soft in every movement. "Abigail," she murmurs, her voice hoarse. "Please, you don't have to do this. You are stronger than what Lucian's influence has done. Come back to us.I pull my hand away, the gesture sharp, deliberate. "It's too late" I say, keeping my tone as flat as possible. "I've made my choice.But even as I say it, an ache burns hollow in my gut. I glance around at Serafine, the triplets, Amara, Susan,all of them shackled, weakened. They have been reduced to mere
"The last thing I see before they shove us into the darkness of the dungeon is Abigail's silhouette, bathed in the pale light of the moon."It was ironic that it would be a heavy iron door slamming shut behind us, right in the heart of cold, damp walls of a dungeon that seemed to swallow every echo of such shutting. Darkness seemed to choke, weighing in from every side, the weight of our failure pressing down on us literally. The air was thick with mold and damp earth, while faint tricklings of water somewhere only made it hang in the air even more heavily.I tug at the chains spellbound onto my wrists; with a tingling of magic, the metal seems to have sucked the strength out of me. I try and try but I cannot raise even a spark, much less the smallest manifestation of power. It would appear that my magic has been snuffed out, and the hollowness that does feel to leave me so-never before-has rendered me vulnerable.We need to get out," Daniel says in a hoarse voice from the fight.
"The battlefield erupts once more, but this time the threat comes from within. Abigail's power surges forth, and everything I thought I knew about this war shifts in an instant."I stand in shock as Abigail steps forward, her magic alight like an inferno. I can feel it-a raw, dangerous energy that I have never felt before. It's the kind of power that makes you feel the weight of air, makes it hard to breathe, one that rattles you down to your bones. And it's coming from my granddaughter.Abigail !" Serafine's voice breaks as she screams her name, trying to reach the little girl lost behind this veil of darkness and fury. "Please, listen to me! This isn't who you are!But Abigail doesn't heed my warnings. Her face is distant, her eyes aglow with that unnatural brilliance and the air between us grows thick with every passing second. Lucian is standing just behind her, the satisfaction twisted within his face, as if he revels in the view of his masterpiece unfolding.Damien then appe
The moment Abigail stepped forward, a dark storm of magic swirling around her, my heart sank. She was different, no more the little girl that I had seen growing up. Now she was strong and terrifying, an aura cloaked in shadows. The density of her energy was everywhere on the battlefield, and it was hard to breathe."Abigail!" I screamed, my desperation clawing at my throat. "You don't have to do this! Remember who you are!"But my words fell on deaf ears. Lucian stood behind her, an irritating smirk stretched across his face; he was enjoying some sort of grand performance. "You see how easy it is to manipulate a child?" he said, his voice slick as oil. "Abigail is the key to my plans, and nothing can stop us with her by our side!The pack was in disarray. Fear and confusion spread like wildfire, and I could see Serafine and David trying to break through to her, pleading that she remember love for her family. But Abigail's face remained cold, really implacable, her power crackli