Ayden's eyes flicked towards the door, and he stood up, his movements swift and silent. "We're not alone," he whispered, his eyes locked onto Corolla's. "Malakai's minions are closing in on us. We have to get out of here, now."
Corolla's heart skipped a beat as she stood up, her mind racing with fear. She followed Ayden as he led her out of the room, his movements swift and decisive.
As they ran through the winding corridors of the mansion, Corolla could hear the sound of footsteps behind them, growing louder with every step.
Ayden suddenly stopped, his eyes locked onto a small door hidden behind a tapestry. "In here," he whispered, pushing Corolla through the door.
Corolla found herself in a narrow, dimly lit passageway. Ayden followed close behind, his eyes locked onto hers.
"What's going on?" Corolla asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ayden's eyes seemed to bore into hers. "Malakai's minions are trying to capture you," he said. "They want to use you to break the curse and free Malakai from his prison."
Corolla's eyes widened as she looked at Ayden. "What curse?" she asked, her voice shaking with fear.
Ayden's face was grim. "The curse of the prophecy," he said. "A prophecy that foretells the coming of a great and powerful Vessel, one who will break the curse and free Malakai from his prison."
Corolla's mind reeled as she tried to process the information. A prophecy? A curse? What did it all mean?
As they reached the end of the passageway, Ayden pushed open a small door, revealing a dark and stormy night. "We have to get out of here," he said, his eyes locked onto Corolla's. "We have to find a way to break the curse and free you from Malakai's influence."
Corolla nodded, her heart pounding with fear and determination. She knew that she had to break the curse, no matter the cost.
As they stepped out into the night, Corolla felt a strange sensation building up inside her. It was as if she was being pulled towards something, something that was hidden deep within the darkness.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. Corolla felt a chill run down her spine as she realized that they were not alone.
"Who are you?" Ayden growled, his eyes locked onto the figure.
The figure smiled, its eyes glinting with malevolence. "I am the one who has been sent to capture the Vessel," it said, its voice dripping with malice. "And I will stop at nothing to succeed."
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Corolla's heart skipped a beat as she looked at the figure. It was tall and gaunt, with skin that seemed to absorb the light around it. Its eyes glowed with an otherworldly energy, and Corolla could feel its malevolent presence washing over her.
Ayden stepped forward, his eyes locked onto the figure. "You're not taking her anywhere," he growled, his voice low and menacing.
The figure smiled, its eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I think I am," it said, its voice dripping with confidence. "You see, I have the power of Malakai behind me. And with that power, I can do anything."
Corolla felt a chill run down her spine as she looked at the figure. She knew that she had to get away from it, but she didn't know how.
Ayden seemed to sense her fear, and he stepped forward, his eyes locked onto the figure. "Let her go," he growled, his voice low and menacing.
The figure laughed, its eyes glinting with amusement. "You think you can stop me?" it said, its voice dripping with contempt. "I have the power of Malakai behind me. And with that power, I can crush you like the insignificant insect that you are."
Corolla felt a surge of anger at the figure's words, and she stepped forward, her eyes locked onto its. "I'm not afraid of you," she said, her voice firm and resolute.
The figure raised an eyebrow, its eyes glinting with surprise. "Oh, really?" it said, its voice dripping with amusement. "Then let's see how you fare against my power."
With a wave of its hand, the figure sent a blast of energy shooting towards Corolla. She felt a surge of fear, but Ayden was there in an instant, his body shielding hers from the attack.
The energy blast struck Ayden with incredible force, sending him flying across the room. Corolla felt a surge of horror as she saw him crash to the ground, his body motionless.
The figure turned to her, its eyes glinting with triumph. "Now, let's get you back to Malakai," it said, its voice dripping with malice.
Corolla knew that she had to act fast. She couldn't let the figure take her back to Malakai. She had to find a way to escape, no matter what it took.
With a surge of determination, Corolla turned and ran, dashing out of the room and into the unknown. She could hear the figure's laughter echoing behind her, but she didn't look back. She kept running, her heart pounding with fear and determination.
She finally reached the front door of the mansion and flung it open, revealing a dark and stormy night. Corolla didn't hesitate. She ran out into the night, the wind and rain pounding against her face.
She didn't know where she was going, but she knew that she had to get away from the figure and Malakai. She had to find a way to break the curse and free herself from their influence.
As she ran, Corolla felt a strange sensation building up inside her. It was as if she was being pulled towards something, something that was hidden deep within the darkness.
She finally stopped running, her chest heaving with exhaustion. Corolla looked around, trying to get her bearings. She was standing in the middle of a dense forest, the trees towering above her like sentinels.
Corolla knew that she had to keep moving. She had to find a way to break the curse and free herself from Malakai's influence. She took a deep breath and started walking, the darkness closing in around her like a shroud.