The cemetery has almost no people.Apart from a few distant relatives, such as practically unknown cousins, one or another colleague and close friend, and, of course, the officiant himself, who was responsible for the funeral and burial of the poor couple.Wearing a black overcoat, as well as thick, fuzzy tights of the same color and matching boots, Shandra walked arm in arm with Sam, who wore the same old white skin, thinning beard and unsettling eyes. No one dared to talk to him or ask where he knew the girl from.It was a cold autumn Sunday, but in the girl's heart, it was winter. After crying non-stop for the past two days, she had chosen to use tranquilizers on the day of the funeral. She didn't want to make a scene in front of anyone.Shandra looks at the company next to her. Sam stares at her, the orange blotches that make up his irises are as serious as ever, but without that familiar teasing touch.It was the girl's idea to call him to the funeral. She just said she would fee
When the demon sealed the promise between them, that they would be together for all eternity, besides the burning heat that the medallion caused on Shandra's skin, she also felt goose bumps all over her body.The girl's heart raced inside her chest, and her wide eyes stared directly into Sam's always calm and impassive expression.Shandra's voice sounded hoarse and difficult:"What have you done?""What does it sound like I did?""... Did you say you would be with me forever?""Not just said, my dear."The way he calls her my darling makes the skin on her arms shiver even more. Sam reaches out his hand to her and helps her stand."I am here to protect you. And I'm willing to spend eternity doing that.""But-"He immediately places his index finger under his lips, asking for silence."Not here. The dead hear and see everything we say, you know. We're not in safe territory."Shandra then finds herself being firmly but lovingly pulled so that she begins to walk. In total silence, they bo
Sam doesn't know how or when, but he managed to find him.Making a short list of possible mistakes he could have made, the demon looked at Shandra. The human looked dazed and lost, and to tell the truth, he didn't blame her for that.If it were Sam in Shandra's place, he wouldn't be doing so well either."Visit? Visit from whom? What do you mean by that?""Pay close attention to what I'm going to tell you now, do you hear me? It's crucial that you listen to every word I'm going to say now."The way the demon speaks that, with all the seriousness in the world and sounding really anxious or even afraid, causes the girl's tremors to surge.Since she had nothing to say in front of that, only to feel and think, the man with fair skin and dark hair speaks:"In my world, just as in yours, there are rules and conventions. And demons who do not follow them may be subject to eventual punishment."The girl is paralyzed, straining not to come out asking hundreds of questions per second. He contin
The demons roll across the floor as they attack, growling and grunting at each other. Shandra does her best to go to the far corner of the kitchen and get out of the middle of the crossfire.While the fallen angels are fighting each other in a truly violent and bloody mess, the skinny girl noticed two things with amazing speed.The first was that she had never seen Sam with an aggressive ATTITUDE. Yes, the first time the girl had seen him was when he had barbecued sexual predators. But even in that context he didn't sound threatening or angry. On the contrary: his tone of voice was soft and velvety, as quiet as the notes of a piano.This certainly meant that Sam was not dealing with someone he considered inferior or easy to deal with. In other words, a very serious problem.The second thing was the transformation that both he and the stranger had undergone as they exchanged punches, kicks and scratches. Previously dressed in human skin, the dark creatures proved to be far more hideous
The demon approaches at a frightening speed. One second he is looking at her, moistening his own lips. The next instant, his slender and muscular body is literally glued to hers.His strong arms grip hers easily, his fingers like iron pincers. The heat that exudes from his nose is as hot as the place from which the creature came. The smell of cinnamon and smoke invades Shandra's nostrils immediately.Half a second later, Sam grabs Julian's torso, pulling him off the girl. He then throws him into the nearest wall."Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Sam quickly inspects the young girl, who, though frightened, remains unharmed.Julian growls so loudly that Shandra becomes afraid that the whole neighborhood will hear.The demon summoned by the girl quickly tells her, as the invader recovers from the blow:"We can't stay here. We need to hide.""But where? I don't have another house, you know.""Lodging. Hotels. Inns. You guys still have that, don't you? Temporary housing for money.""Yes, b
Sam stood in front of Shandra and ordered her to stand back as they both stared into Julian's demonic face."You can end this torment anytime you want, Sam," the redhead's voice is much deeper and scarier than before.The black-haired man is back to his natural state, with thick skin, more twisted horns, and an absolutely fearsome appearance."Don't lay a finger on the girl!Shandra takes two steps back and raises one of her hands. She doesn't have any spells on the tip of her tongue, but she doesn't want to look helpless either.Julian also abandons his human skin to return to his true self; the citrine-colored yellow slits stare directly at the young girl before him."Do you know what you're getting into, girl? Do you have any idea what you've dragged into your life?"Shandra shouts back:"All I know is that he saved me and protected me! And for that I will not let you hurt him!""Saved you and protected you? Only if it's from your own stupidity, I suppose."Sam once again summons t
Shandra doesn't know which situation is more bizarre in itself.Whether it was the fact that she was in the company of not just one, but two demons; that both were now coexisting without wanting to kill each other; or that they were now in the girl's house, discussing what to do about the impending problem that loomed above their heads.Of course, neither of them even tried to clarify to the girl what it was all about.But from the fragments of information she was able to pick up while they were talking, Shandra understood that apparently this Eluna woman was very important, and that the people who wanted to rescue her didn't get along with Sam very well.The way he had reacted to hearing the girl's name, demon, whatever she was, had shut the girl up. It was so strange to see him like that. The debauched smile and calm look disappeared as if it had never existed.Julian is wearing black pants and a white dress shirt, while Sam is more dressed up, with a black overcoat and dark jeans.
Sam seems to be torn between breaking Julian's jaw and clarifying that situation as quickly as possible for Shandra, who immediately gets to her feet and looks indignantly at the demon."What's all this about sacrifice?""It's not what it sounds like.""Has the word 'sacrifice' by any chance changed its meaning in recent years? Because if not, then it is EXACTLY what it sounds like."Julian doesn't seem to be angry exactly at the girl, but at the situation. He grumbles:"Let's see what it's going to be like to come out explaining that, asshole.""I already told you to shut your damn mouth," Sam shouts. Then he stares at Shandra again, this time his face showing a certain sadness. "You said you trusted me.""And I do! I mean, you saved my life. But what did he mean by that? Sacrifice? Covenant that isn't a real covenant? I don't understand."Sighing, the demon who was now intertwined with the girl in front of him also stood up. Raising his hands in an appeasing gesture, he begins to ex
The final walk along the last trail that would lead them to the Tenebris Mountains was much more tense and silent than Shandra had imagined it would be.Nervous, the girl was paying attention to the vegetation around her; the way the trees and plants looked now that she knew they were all interconnected with Gaia.And speaking of Gaia, the entity's words still rang in her ear constantly. She takes a deep breath as she gropes around in her pocket for the strange artifact she had been given as a gift.Would she need to use it that day?Sam's voice sounded in her mind:"Disturbed?"Shanda looks discreetly at him before answering mentally as well:"Evidently so. Don't you?"His fire-colored eyes, always so confident, were somewhat misty that morning. A few seconds later, he finally replies:"I'm more than disturbed. I'm terrified."The heartfelt answer takes the girl by surprise. He continues:"At some point, Shandra, everything... Everything will come to light. The fact that we are inter
Shandra was still absorbing the shock of Gaia's strange contact, as well as her sudden disappearance, when a low voice whispers behind her."Shandra."She turns around quickly. Julian is standing with a totally apathetic expression on his face."Did you see it?", she whispers.The redhead nods his head in confirmation."Was it an important errand?"Shandra bites her lip, thoughtful about what to say about Gaia's words. She decides to be subtle and direct:"Yes."Julian waits for the explanation, but the girl just holds the jewel tighter and starts walking back to the camp."Wait a minute."She stops. The demon approaches again and asks:"What's going on? Are you okay?""I am.""You don't know how to lie very well, you know that?"Shandra snorts."I just don't want to talk about it."Julian looks at the girl's closed hand and stares at her as if he is about to question her about it."Please, please, don't ask me questions," she pleads.Genuine anguish takes over his expression."Let me
Shandra knew she was awake.Therefore, what was in front of her could not be a dream. Considering all the stress she had been under in the past weeks, however, she thought she was suffering from a delirium.Everyone else was asleep, except, of course, the demons. Although they felt no sleep, both Sam and Julian liked to lie down, close their eyes and apparently rest. Caleb and Ezan are also immersed in a deep sleep.The girl keeps looking at what at first she thought was just a trick of light and shadow: the thin, unusual silhouette that strolled by as if it were a mere traveler.However, the energy of that silhouette, the way it moved... This was certainly no ordinary person. Then Shandra stood up to take a closer look.The person, creature or whatever it was didn't seem to be intimidated by being noticed. Its skin was transparent, almost ghostly, and a subtle blue light radiated from it.Strangely enough, Shandra did not fear it. No, there was nothing aggressive or strange coming fr
Shandra feels her heart resounding inside her chest. A small shiver runs down her arms as she slowly takes a step towards the final trail; the one they would make before finally arriving in enemy territory.Everything could end well: Eluna would be rescued, and everyone could return to their respective homes.Or...She imagines the bodies of Sam, Julian, Ezan and Caleb lying on the ground like a sack of potatoes; their throats slit. Was cutting throats an easy method of execution for supernatural creatures?Shandra knew that killing a demon was too difficult a thing to do, so she doubted it very much. Werewolves, on the other hand, seemed weaker in that respect."Let's walk some more and get camp up," says Julian, who until then had been completely silent and immersed in his own thoughts.Shandra nods, trying to push away the dark misfortunes troubling her, but it is incredibly difficult. She knows she cannot let fear take over. Together, the group continues to advance along the narro
Shandra knew that she would never, ever be able to fully recover from this.As the small group headed towards the mountain range, the young woman barely opened her mouth to say anything and ate only what was necessary. The magic was dormant, still ready to spring into action, but she deliberately ignored the feeling.Looking up at the pale dawn sky, Shandra huffed audibly. It was very soon before they finally put the plan into action. There was still no word from Marcus and his group.Not that she didn't trust the abilities and strength of the pack. They could take good care of themselves.But would she, Julian, Sam, Caleb and Ezan be able to single-handedly accomplish a mission of that magnitude and not get screwed in the process?"It's going to be okay," Sam's voice breaks into her dark thoughts.Annoyed, the girl looks at him, and mentally communicates as well:"Are you reading my thoughts?""I don't need to. Your expression already says it all."Irritated, Shandra just keeps walki
As soon as Caleb's huge sharp teeth dig into Elara's unprotected torso, the vampire screams terribly in agony. The bite causes her a stabbing pain.Elara lets out another scream when, after having her skin torn apart by the wolf, her body is thrown backwards by the impact of this attack... Julian also approaches quickly, taking the opportunity to strike a powerful blow against Elara, hitting her full on.Sam once again looks at Shandra, obviously proud to see what had happened there. Ezan, Caleb and the yellow-eyed demon continue to attack relentlessly; Shandra stays focused on her task of neutralizing the vampire's artifacts. With the items weakened, Elara is no longer invincible, but still poses a danger.Sweating, the young woman realizes that she needs to keep her own energy connected to Elara's items. There was no way, or at least no easy way, to permanently deactivate them.Although she was obviously weaker, Elara was not vulnerable. Even though she is suspicious as to why her t
Shandra feels a mixture of relief and gratitude when, finally, Julian takes flight and attacks Elara, holding her by the neck and throwing her to the ground sharply."You really think you can take me, you pathetic demon?" she sneers, probably ready to use one of her many artifacts.And that is exactly what she does. One moment, Julian is strangling her without a shadow of mercy. The next, he is breathing hard, gasping like a smoker after climbing two flights of stairs.Sam, focused on destroying the vampire, casts more fire elemental magic energy, but at the last second the girl flinches, causing the flames to only burn the tip of her hair."You bastard!" she shouts, leaving Julian temporarily behind.Shandra quickly raises a shield to protect him, but the wall fails.Ezan's voice sounds behind the girl:"Beacon of Light!"She widens her eyes and addresses the older werewolf. The girl is surprised to see him in human form. Caleb, unlike him, remains as a wolf."Beacon of Light, we are
Shandra panics as she sees the werewolves advancing towards Elara, ready to attack. She knows that a fight between the werewolves and the vampire can be extremely dangerous and doesn’t want anyone to get hurt. With a mixture of despair and determination, she stands in the way, trying to prevent impending violence."No!" cries Shandra, her voice full of anguish. " Stop! It’s not worth it! Elara is not our enemy!"Useless. Completely useless, you know.The beautiful girl, seeing the two angry wolves coming towards her, drops her cloak, revealing pale skin like the moon and slender, thin and seemingly fragile arms and legs. Immediately Elara puts herself in a fighting posture, smiling as she feels the adrenaline taking over her body.Shandra can barely understand what happened when, out of nowhere, the vampire just disappears.But her energy was still there. Had she become invisible?The impact of a sharp blow to Ezan’s jaw, which makes him fly for a few meters, frightens the girl and gi
Shandra, Sam, Julian and the other members of the group stand on alert, watching for the approaching silhouette. Tension hangs in the air as everyone prepares for any eventuality.As the figure approaches, it becomes clear that it is a tall, elegant woman with long black hair and a piercing gaze. She seems to exude an aura of power and authority."Elara," Sam murmurs, with a mixture of surprise and apprehension in her voice.Shandra frowns from one to the other, wondering what could be happening, but doesn't have time to verbalize a single word.The werewolves transform into their lupine form and start growling loudly and menacingly. Elara doesn't seem to be upset or afraid of that sight."Interesting company you have arranged," are the first words she addresses to the coppery-eyed demon."Is that really serious?", Julian grumbles."Who are you?" asks Shandra.The questioning makes the woman laugh."Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends, Sam?"The prince from hell looks hes