Aaliyah went down on one knee, looking over the cliff, its jagged rocks below seemed to beckon her with their cold, deadly embrace, the wind howled around her, carrying with it the scent of salt and decay. "Ethan!" she shouted, her voice barely carrying over the howling wind.
Glancing down the cliff, Daemon's thoughts drifted to Ethan's role in their mission. He joined us for a reason, a reason that drives him despite his fears.
He became aware that the oppressive silence that followed was almost unbearable until.
Daemon's hand gently tapped her shoulder. "Don't worry, he's fine," he said, his voice steady and reassuring.
Aaliyah looked up at Daemon, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and hope. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper as she acknowledge the risks they faced as members of the Silver Crescent Society.
Daemon glanced down the cliff, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Haven't you noticed? He's the opposite of you. You're brave enough to attack the cartel on your own, while Ethan, despite being easily scared, is fearless when it truly matters."
Aaliyah knew many in the Crescent Society knew that Ethan was easily frightened but also knew he had joined for a heavy, dangerous reason. It was this contradiction that made him both a mystery and an asset, however she felt. He's hiding something, something big.
"Hmm... Alright, we have to continue. But I hope you're right because I don't know how the Silver Crescent Society will feel about this," Aaliyah said, standing up and brushing the dirt from her knees. "Let's go."
Daemon wondered what the Silver Crescent Society would do. For Aaliyah, leading this mission must feel like walking a tightrope over a pit of vipers. Every decision has consequences, not just for her but for the entire Society. There is no room for error. Not here. Not now. The Society demands perfection, and failure is not an option.
Aaliyah like all other members knew that the Society was not just a group but a network of factions, each with its own agenda and power struggles, Leaders like the Councilor were always looking for opportunities to gain an advantage over their rivals. Aaliyah knew that their actions tonight would be scrutinized, and any misstep could be used against them in the delicate political dance of the Society.
The two of them moved forward, the forest closing in around them like the grip of a vice. The trees, blackened and twisted, seemed to whisper secrets in the moonlight. Aaliyah's thoughts raced, her mind drifting back to the weight of their mission and the precarious politics within the Society.
However, Daemon broke the silence his voice cutting through her thoughts. "I have some questions for you. Like, how did you learn to use Nyx?"
Aaliyah locked eyes with Daemon, her gaze intense and unwavering. "Well, after being saved by you," she emphasized, "I met an old man who taught me how to use Nyx, unlocking shadow manipulation and some other abilities." She paused, a shadow crossing her face. "At the same time, I found out the truth about my family."
"Meaning?" Daemon asked, his curiosity piqued.
Aaliyah's expression darkened, her eyes flickering with pain. "All I can say is that the cartel wouldn't have tried to kidnap me if they knew who I was... or maybe they did," she said softly, the weight of her words hanging in the air.
'That's suspicious. I can already guess why, with what happened in the village before. It's easy to piece together... but I won't tell her. She will,' Daemon thought. "Why did you bring Ethan?" he asked, steering the conversation away.
"I didn't," Aaliyah countered. "Here's the thing: they said he joined them about five years ago through a family member. In the Silver Crescent Society, the years depend on how long you have been a part of them. Five years is past the beginner stage," she explained.
The forest seemed to close in tighter as Daemon processed her words. "What can you tell me about the vampire we just encountered? I've never seen one of that kind," he asked, breaking the silence once more.
Aaliyah's eyes flickered. "There are different kinds of vampires. That one was vine-based, given nature through the rebirth of being inside a tree. We will probably encounter more types of vampires," she said.
'So, are all vampire types linked back to the Blood Bankers clan, or are there multiple clans around the world, with the Blood Banker being the most powerful?' Daemon thought. "That's enough for now. Let's continue," he said.
As they walked, the obsidian forest was silent under the moonlight. The trees, twisted and ancient, loomed over them, casting eerie shadows on the path. Daemon and Aaliyah continued forward for a couple of minutes until the eerie silence was broken by the rustling of leaves
"Did you hear that? Something's coming!" Aaliyah said
Then there was the unmistakable growls of more vampires closing in.
"They must have heard the roars," Daemon muttered, tightening his grip on Raven Sword. Aaliyah, her dagger ready, stood back-to-back with him, her shadow manipulation flickering around her like a protective shroud. They both felt that Thorne was only the beginning and now their plan was ruined.
"What do you think we should do... your plan now?" Aaliyah asked, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.
From the darkness, a horde of vampires emerged, their eyes glowing with hunger and evil. They moved with predatory grace, surrounding Daemon and Aaliyah. They understood the sheer number of vampires was overwhelming and that they mightn't be able to take out all, but Daemon and Aaliyah stood firm, ready to fight.
As she fought, Aaliyah couldn't shake the image of Ethan's face contorted in fear during their previous encounters with the cartel. She knew he had joined the Society for deeply personal reasons, reasons that weighed heavily on his shoulders. The knowledge that Ethan had willingly faced his fears to stand by their side made her commitment to his safety all the more resolute.
Daemon quickly drew out the moon water, knowing he needed it now despite wanting to save it for a stronger opponent, he dripped the liquid onto the blade of the Raven Sword. As the first vampire lunged at him, claws extended, Daemon met the attack head-on, slicing through the air with lethal precision. The vampire instantly turned to ash, falling to the ground, but another took its place almost immediately.
Aaliyah noticed Daemon's swift kills and the substance he had applied to his sword. "What is that?" she asked between strikes.
"Cure," Daemon replied, his voice grim.
Aaliyah, still puzzled by his response that she still wonder what it was, continued fighting. Despite their efforts, for every vampire they killed, more seemed to emerge from the darkness.
The moon water was a last resort, I had hoped to save for a greater threat. But they were outnumbered ,I know I will face something worse later, What if they needed it more then? But there was no choice. Survival came first. Always.
As he dripped the liquid onto Raven Sword, he felt a pang of regret. This was their ace, and he was using it now, against these lesser vampires.
Daemon swung his sword in a wide arc, cutting down three vampires in one powerful strike. Blood splattered the ground, but the vampires kept coming. A vampire leaped at Aaliyah from behind, but she sensed the attack and spun, plunging her dagger into its heart. However, its claws still scratched her chest. She kicked the lifeless body away, but another vampire was already upon her.
Daemon, using Tenebris Lacerna, killed multiple vampires, wondering how many more were in the den. His sword cleaved through flesh and bone, while Aaliyah's shadow manipulation allowed her to dodge and weave through the horde. Yet the vampires were relentless, their sheer numbers beginning to take a toll on her.
As Aaliyah decapitated another vampire, she felt a sharp pain in her side. She looked down to see a vampire's claws embedded in her flesh. With a roar of fury, she slashed the vampire in half, but the wound slowed her down.
Their coordinated movements began to take effect. By separating smaller groups from the main horde, they reduced the vampires' ability to overwhelm them all at once. Aaliyah used her agility to draw attention while Daemon exploited openings with lethal efficiency.
However, the vampires adapted, their relentless hunger driving them to close ranks and press the attack. Aaliyah felt a sharp pain in her side as a vampire's claws found purchase despite her evasive maneuvers. She winced but maintained her focus, knowing hesitation could be fatal.
The vampires, sensing their advantage, pressed the attack. Daemon and Aaliyah were pushed back, their backs now against a large obsidian stone. The vampires closed in, their growls echoing through the forest. One vampire lunged at Daemon, but he managed to kick it forcefully, slamming it into a jagged obsidian rock that caused it to be stuck and roar in pain.
Aaliyah's heart pounded, matching the thundering footsteps of the vampires closing in around them. Her breath came in ragged gasps, each inhale filled with the metallic tang of blood and the musty scent of decaying leaves. She stole a quick glance at Daemon, his face a mask of concentration as he deftly parried a vampire's slashing claws with Raven Sword.
Fear gripped her chest, threatening to overwhelm her resolve. "Daemon," she called out, her voice trembling against the howling wind. "There's too many..." at the same time she knew that failing tonight meant not just her death, but her sister's as well. The thought of her sister falling dying in the hands of the cartel fueled her determination.
Daemon's eyes met hers briefly, a flicker of concern crossing his features before he lunged forward, dispatching another vampire with a swift, calculated strike. His movements were precise, almost mechanical, betraying none of the turmoil within.
Aaliyah gritted her teeth, forcing herself to focus on the fight. Her mind raced with doubts — doubts about their chances, doubts about Ethan's safety, doubts about her own abilities. She tightened her grip on her dagger, the familiar weight grounding her amidst the chaos.
Aaliyah, determined to make a desperate move, channeled her remaining strength into a devastating attack. Her dagger glowed with a dark energy over the night.
"Grim Darkness Slash," she intoned, swinging her blade in a wide arc. The attack cut through the vampires with a force that sent shockwaves through the forest. With multiple vampires dead and pushed back, she repeated the move multiple times, despite the toll it took on her. The wave of darkness retained the same sharpness as her dagger.
Despite their efforts, the tide of vampires was unending. Daemon and Aaliyah were driven to their knees, their strength nearly spent.
As the vampires closed in for the kill, there was a sudden crumbling noise filled the forest at the same time the vampires recoiled, and Daemon and Aaliyah looked at each other as they suddenly felt weightless. They realized they were falling away from the ground above them and the vampires.
"Ahh!" Aaliyah's scream echoed in the air.