Odin. The AllFather himself.
I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. This can't be real. I must be dreaming, or maybe I really did die, and this is some fucked up version of the afterlife. But as I stand there, staring at the gods of my ancestors, I can't deny the power radiating from them. It's ancient and primal, the kind of power that could reshape worlds with a thought.
And right now, all that power is focused on me.
Danica
2
Agony explodes as Damon's fangs tear into my flesh. Each pull steals more of my life force, my blood flowing freely as darkness creeps at the edges of my vision. I push against his chest, but my strength is fading fast.
"D-Damon..." The plea catches in my throat, replaced by a wet gurgle. This can't be happening. Not like this.
Azrael. That sadistic bastard must have turned my brother—fed him vampire blood before snapping his neck. A final, twisted gift designed to destroy us both. He's transformed my protective little brother into the very monster Damon despises.
The newborn hunger consumes him completely. My brother is lost in a frenzy of bloodlust he can't control. Each desperate swallow drives him deeper into darkness, stealing more of his humanity. The pain of watching him transform is worse than the physical agony of his feeding.
"Damon, please..." I beg, voice a weak, terrified whisper. "This isn't you. Fight it! Don't let this control you!"
My consciousness flickers like a dying flame. Through our bond, I reach desperately for Rhyland, but find only a terrifying void where his presence should be. He's gone—taken somewhere beyond my reach. The emptiness feels like a knife twisting in my soul.
Who has taken him?
What fresh hell awaits us both?
If I die here, Rhyland will be lost to the Darkness forever. All our nightmares, all our fears of his descent into shadow, will become reality without me to anchor him to the light. We're bound together—two halves of one whole. I can't abandon him to that fate.
Tears mix with blood as I beat weakly against Damon's shoulders. "Please... stop..." The words dissolve into wet, choking sounds. My own brother will drain me dry—kill me if I can't break free.
Suddenly, Damon's weight vanishes. Through my blurred vision, a woman materializes—fiery red hair framing a face of cruel beauty. Her emerald eyes glitter with malicious triumph as she stares down at me.
"Well, well, look what I've finally found."
Who the hell is this?
Terror turns my blood to ice. I press a trembling hand against my ravaged neck, feeling my life pump between my fingers. "Who—?"
"Introductions can wait," she purrs, yanking me up like a ragdoll. The world spins violently. "Let's get somewhere more private. Can't have you dying before I'm done with you."
I thrash against her iron grip, but Damon's feeding has left me drained and broken. My body, already battered from the earlier battle, betrays me. Panic claws at my chest as the helplessness of my situation crashes over me.
Through the haze of pain and encroaching darkness, I hear Seraphina and Emily calling for me desperately. Their voices sound distorted, as if reaching me through deep water. I try to scream back, but my ravaged throat produces only a wet wheeze.
The forest blurs around us as my captor moves with supernatural speed. Shadows and moonlight swirl together in a nauseating dance. Questions thunder through my fading consciousness:
Where is she taking me?
What horrors await?
Will I ever see Rhyland again?
But the darkness is relentless, dragging me under despite my desperate fight to stay aware. As consciousness slips away, I'm swallowed by the void, lost in an abyss of uncertainty and terror.
The last thing I register is the woman's cold laugh, promising torments yet to come.
Darkness engulfs me as I slowly regain consciousness, my mind struggling to make sense of my surroundings. A solitary lamp casts a feeble light, barely illuminating the room. As my eyes flutter open, I realize I'm lying on a bed, the softness beneath me a stark contrast to the confusion and fear swirling within.
Blinking away the lingering haze, I take in the room around me. It's clearly not a hospital but a lavish bedroom that exudes opulence and sophistication. The furnishings are pristine, and the decor is tasteful and expensive. It's like I've woken up in some ritzy place, but the sterile, chemical scent that permeates the air reminds me that not all is as it seems.
