The stench hit me first—a rancid blend of rot, decay, and blood. It was suffocating, choking the air out of my lungs as I struggled to steady myself. My shadows coiled protectively around me, reacting instinctively to the threat in the room.
And then I saw her.
Vivian was bound to the center of my father’s grotesque four-poster bed, her limbs stretched taut by shadowy restraints. Shallow cuts marked her body, her blood staining the filthy sheets beneath her. She was completely naked, her form trembling with sobs that tore through the silence like jagged glass.
My father stood over her, his gnarled hand resting on her shoulder, his sharp, unnatural smile curving across his face. He looked up as I entered, his glowing red eyes narrowing with amusement.
“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice a venomous purr. “Look who decided to join the party. You’re a little late, my boy. I was just getting acquainted with your...wife.”
My shadows flared wildly, crackling with an energy I hadn’t felt in years. “Get your hands off her,” I snarled.
He chuckled. “Oh, Raffaele, always so dramatic. You’re still playing at being the master of this estate, but we both know who truly holds the reins.” His fingers traced a line down Vivian’s arm, making her flinch. “She’s quite exquisite, isn’t she? I can see why you’ve grown attached.”
“I said, get your fucking hands off her.” My voice was a deadly growl, my shadows surging forward. The room darkened as they expanded, consuming the edges of the grotesque space.
My father stepped back, raising his hands in mock surrender. “So protective,” he sneered. “And here I thought you didn’t believe in love.”
“This has nothing to do with love,” I spat, stepping closer. “This is about you overstepping your boundaries for the last fucking time.”
Vivian’s sobs quieted slightly, her wide, tear-filled eyes meeting mine. The bond held strong between us, a sliver of hope shining through her desperation. I clenched my fists, channeling all my anger, all my fear, into my magic.
My father’s smile faltered, the amusement in his eyes dimming as he realized the shift in power. “Careful, boy. You’re treading dangerous waters.”
“I don’t give a fuck. You’ve crossed every line, and now you’ll pay for it.”
An invisible force slammed into my chest, hurling me backward. My spine cracked against the stone wall, and I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air as the pressure on my chest intensified. It felt like my ribs were being crushed from theinside out, the burning sensation radiating from within as his dark magic ignited against mine.
I writhed in pain as my shadows flickered weakly around me. Vivian’s muffled sobs pierced through the haze of agony. It was enough to tether me, to keep me from giving in to the crushing weight of my father’s power.
“You’re so weak, boy,” he sneered, stepping closer. His magic kept me pinned, his skeletal fingers twitching as he manipulated the dark energy. “How you’ve survived this long without collapsing under the weight of your own arrogance is beyond me. Perhaps it’s time I relieved you of your burdens.”
I slumped against the wall, my head falling forward as I forced my breathing to slow. He was toying with me, overconfident as always. I couldn’t overpower him directly, not like this. But there was one thing I knew about my father—his arrogance was his greatest weakness.
“You’re right,” I rasped. “I can’t stop you.”
He paused, suspicion in his eyes. “What did you say?”
I lifted my head just enough to meet his gaze, my voice a hoarse whisper. “I said, you win.”
He smirked, lowering his hand slightly as the crushing force on my chest lessened. “That’s more like it. See? Even you can be taught obedience.”
He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the cold radiating off him. I waited, biding my time as he loomed over me, reveling in his perceived victory. His magic rippled around him, an arrogant display of power that left him vulnerable.
The moment he was within reach, I struck.
Drawing on every ounce of strength I had left, I channeled my shadows into the flow of his magic, twisting it back on itself. It was a gamble—a desperate, reckless maneuver—but I had no other choice. His power faltered, his glowing red eyes wideningin shock as the siphon reversed, pulling the energy directly into me.
“What—” he choked out as the dark energy surged back toward him. His skin began to crack, the veins of his pale face glowing as his own magic turned against him. He staggered back, clawing at the air as if to sever the connection, but it was too late.
His shadows released Vivian, and mine surged forward, coiling protectively around her. She cried out softly as she collapsed onto the bed, her body trembling. My father snarled, his magic rising to meet mine, but I didn’t give him the chance to strike.
“Vivian, I’m here. I’ve got you.”
Her tear-streaked face turned toward me, her lips trembling as she whispered my name. Her raw, unfiltered emotions flooded into me. Pain. Fear. Relief. I wrapped my shadows around her, shielding her from my father’s presence as I pulled her into my arms.
“I won’t let him touch you again,” I vowed.
The wards in the room flickered, destabilizing under the backlash of power. The oppressive weight lifted just enough for me to move. I didn’t waste a second as I lunged toward the bed.
