Even though I have been practicing my astral projection skill for the past few weeks, although not consistently due to my unpredictable schedule, I feel intuitively that I can do it easily if I am given time to do it properly. However, chaotic thoughts occupied my mind recently, and so I decided to stop doing anything magical. Besides, the initiation of the Shadow Covenant was not all about magic either. They also gave me some physical and psychological tests. I think I am the youngest initiate, and I have never seen any young members there, except Victor and Evonne, who were in their mid-twenties, and Master Vandenberg, a man in his early thirties. Sometimes I feel awkward during my training, but Victor was the one who assisted me most of the time. Other officials seemed to not care; perhaps they were busy as hell. I have heard that some high-ranking members were part of the nobility, but I have not seen any of them yet. The other low-ranking members were distant and quiet, and they would not even talk to me unless necessary. I feel somewhat like an alien but thank the gods since Victor, Evonne, and Magnus have been so patient and considerate.
Nikolai's voice was a soft murmur in the dimly lit room. "Close your eyes, Masha. Let go of your thoughts and your fears. Focus on the sound of my voice."
I nodded, shutting my eyes, and feeling the warmth of the small candle flickering nearby. Nikolai's presence was both comforting and unnerving, a reminder of the power he wielded and the danger he represented. But tonight, I needed to trust him.
"Feel the energy within you," he continued. "Let it flow through your body, from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Imagine it as a river, carrying you away from this physical realm."
I took a deep breath, visualizing the energy he described. Slowly, I felt a tingling sensation spread through my limbs, a lightness that lifted me from the constraints of my mortal body. It was like floating on a gentle breeze, the world around me fading into a soft blur.
"Now, reach out with your mind," Nikolai said. "Feel for the talisman's presence. It will guide you."
As I extended my consciousness, a strange pull tugged at me, a magnetic force that drew me toward an unknown destination. The sensation grew stronger, more insistent, and before I knew it, I was soaring through the night, my astral form gliding over the sleeping city. I thought of a black cloak which I made a few days ago. I've learned from an old book that it could help you become somewhat invisible during an astral journey, so I wore mine after it appeared out of nowhere.
I found myself standing before the grand entrance of the Shadow Covenant's lodge. The imposing building loomed in the darkness, its simple yet elegant architecture casting eerie shadows. With a deep breath, I floated forward, passing through the closed doors as if they were mere illusions.
The interior of the lodge was silent, empty. My footsteps echoed softly on the marble floors as I made my way towards Magnus' office. The pull of the talisman grew stronger with each step, guiding me like an invisible hand.
When I reached the office, I hesitated for a moment before slipping through the heavy wooden door. The room was dimly lit, filled with the scent of incense and old books. Occult paraphernalia adorned every surface, neatly organized in a way that spoke of Magnus' meticulous nature. His desk was covered with books, papers, and quills. On top rested a large bronze statue of a woman that looked vaguely familiar. A glass case displayed scrolls and journals from long ago, and in the middle sat a large vase holding an array of colorful flowers.
Magnus himself sat behind his desk, a glass of wine in hand. His eyes were glazed, his movements sluggish. He seemed to be in a drunken stupor, muttering to himself as he gazed at a large, ornate mirror on the wall. His fingers brushed idly against the glass as his lips murmured words too indistinct for me to distinguish. I could tell, however, that something was wrong, a dark aura surrounding him.
As I stared at him, he suddenly glanced up, startled by my presence. For a moment, we locked gazes. His eyes flashed red. "Who are you?" he demanded. His voice trembled slightly. "How dare you intrude upon my sanctuary!"
Fear gripped me. I hid myself, fearing that Magnus's gaze could penetrate beyond my cloak. Hell, I am not even sure if my cloak was effective since my powers were not well-developed.
"Masha?" Magnus croaked hoarsely. He stumbled to his feet and walked slowly, still staring in my direction. His hands moved erratically as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. "It cannot be, what are you doing here? Oh, am I hallucinating?"
I crept closer, my astral form allowing me to remain unseen. Then I saw something move in the mirror.
It was no mirage. No figment of my imagination. I watched in terror as a grotesque, demonic figure stared back at Magnus, its eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence. Its skin stretched tight across its skull, creating an exaggerated, almost painful expression. Two horns protruded sharply from the forehead. Sharp fangs gleamed wickedly as it bared its teeth, the sharp points dripping with blood and saliva. The demon's mouth opened wide, revealing rows of jagged, razor-sharp teeth. Its eyes glowed brighter as it glared in Magnus' direction as if daring him to move closer.
Magnus stumbled back several steps, stumbling over a chair, and falling backwards. "No, you can't be here again!" he screamed, rising to his feet and shaking his fist defiantly at his reflection. "Leave us alone! We don't need you anymore!"
"You cannot escape me, Magnus," the demon hissed, his voice unimaginably deep, coming from the depths of hell. "Your time is near."
Magnus staggered around, his head thrown back in laughter. "So what? So what?!" he said hysterically. Then his expression changed dramatically. His laughter trailed off and he lowered his arms.
In a split second, his features softened and he sighed. "Look, you are mistaken again. You're not real. I am simply hallucinating since I'm intoxicated, but you know what? I'm immortal. A vampire. A god. You cannot drag me to your hell. Besides, I am still enjoying my time here on this planet." His voice became louder once more, a mixture of determination and hope filling his voice. "I'll show you, damn you!"
The demon laughed, a sound that sent chills down my astral spine. "A vampire? You are no vampire. You are a mortal man, consumed by jealousy and greed. Your brother's power was always beyond your grasp, and now you seek to escape your fate through deceit."
Magnus' charming face twisted with rage. It was something I had never seen before. "Enough! Be gone!"
The demon shook its head. "There is nothing I can do, my friend. This is your end. And the end of your reign. But the Shadow Covenant will prevail and I will be its guardian forever."
Then the demon disappeared, leaving nothing behind but the faint echo of its last laugh.
Afterward, Magnus stared at the place where the demon had been standing silently. Then he sighed. He threw a black mantle over it, his hands trembling. He muttered to himself, pacing the room in agitation.
"Damn that creature. Damn those humans. Damn everything!" Suddenly he slammed open the glass window beside him, letting out a frustrated yell. He let out a cry of rage and fury, the wind picking up. His cape billowed wildly as he stood there, staring out over the city with a wild look in his eyes. After several moments of silence, he turned back inside.
He grabbed hold of a crystal ball sitting on his desk, his hand trembling violently. He raised it above his head, then hurled it against the wall. The shards shattered and fell to the floor. His face was pale, and he stared blankly ahead. "Damn them all," he murmured bitterly. I winced as he struck the walls and windows, making cracking noises that sounded terrifying. Finally, he slumped onto his chair, his chest heaving in anger, frustration, and fear. After a few moments had passed, he regained control of his emotions and rose stiffly to his feet. His face, normally so expressive, was emotionless as he stared at the walls of his office.
"I must go to Nikolai's dungeon," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Something is wrong. I keep dreaming of him... I miss him, despite everything. He was my friend, my ally. But he betrayed me. He wouldn't turn me into a vampire. He left me to rot. But when he returns..." he paused and exhaled deeply. "I must destroy him."
His words were a revelation, pieces of the puzzle falling into place. Magnus had the talisman. The object of Nikolai's relentless search was within these walls. And they used to be friends. I needed to tell Nikolai.
My thoughts raced as I watched Magnus, his despair and anger palpable. I kept myself hidden behind a large bookshelf as I watched Magnus mutter to himself. The shadows in the room seemed to dance around him, drawn to his dark energy. Just as I was about to leave, Magnus abruptly stopped pacing and looked directly in my direction. I froze, unable to move. His gaze lingered on me, seemingly oblivious to my presence. I remained there, terrified that at any minute he would begin to speak some word of power. I wanted nothing more than to leave.
"I know you're there," he said, his voice low and deep, yet somewhat melodic.
My heart skipped a beat, but before I could react, Evonne stepped out from the shadows, her expression a mix of worry and anger. She wore a long, plain white dress, one hand resting on her hip while the other grasped a small silver dagger. Her hair spilled over her shoulders, swaying gently with the wind. When she finally caught sight of me, she narrowed her eyes, suspicion written clearly on her face. I swallowed nervously, wondering how much of my presence she noticed.
She approached Magnus without hesitation, her posture proud and confident. I felt her gaze fall on me. I stayed still, not wanting to give away my position. The air grew heavier and heavier until it seemed as if it might suffocate me. My body began to ache as the power emanating from her body pressed harder against me, demanding its due.
"Magnus, you've been acting strange for days," she said, her voice trembling. "What's wrong with you?"
Magnus frowned angrily. "Nothing is wrong with me."
Evonne continued. "Are you sure? Do you not think you should talk about it with me? I know you have your secrets, Magnus."
"You don't understand," the sorcerer said softly. His face twisted in irritation. "There is nothing you need to concern yourself with, Evonne."
The woman stepped closer, her eyes filled with concern. "You're not yourself, Magnus. This obsession with the talisman is driving you mad. Look at yourself! What happened to your humanity? It's taking its toll on you."
"You did nothing. You're not responsible for what happened to me," Magnus replied curtly, his gaze focused intently on her. His tone took on a hard edge. "What matters is that this situation doesn't concern you."
Evonne drew closer still, her voice lowering slightly. "Of course, it concerns me. How dare you say that?" Her eyes flashed dangerously. "Do not forget who has helped you. Who gave you life. I want to help you. I care about you, Magnus."
Magnus closed his eyes briefly, breathing heavily. In a sudden burst of rage, Magnus hurled his glass of wine at her. It shattered against the wall, crimson liquid splattering across the room. Evonne flinched but stood her ground. She didn't blink or waver in the slightest.
"You're a fool, Evonne!" Magnus spat, his eyes burning with fury. "You know nothing of what I'm dealing with."
Her face hardened, anger replacing her concern. "And you're a coward, Magnus. Too afraid to face your own demons. Maybe you should fuck a succubus instead of tormenting everyone around you."
Magnus' eyes darkened, his fangs extending in a flash of predatory menace. But Evonne didn't flinch. She simply smirked, crossing her arms over her chest. "I can see you haven't lost your thirst for blood, dear boy," she taunted. "You're weak and pathetic. And if you weren't such an asshole, I would pity you. But no matter how much you hate yourself, it won't save you now. Not when you're bound in chains by blood magic."
Magnus clenched his fists tightly at his side, his nails digging into his palms. His eyes burned red hot. Slowly, painfully slowly, his teeth retracted, his hands relaxed, and his gaze softened. The moment passed. He released a shaky breath and said coldly, "I should kill you right now." He reached for a sword lying next to him on the desk, pulling it free.
Evonne backed away quickly, keeping her distance. "Victor Darkstone would make a far better leader than you ever could," she said coldly. "He would make things right."
"Wrong, foolish witch!" Magnus snarled. He walked towards her, drawing closer with each step. "The only thing Victor wants is for me to perish. He is far worse than you could imagine. You have no idea what you are talking about." Magnus' voice sounded strained and raw as he shouted, his eyes glowing like flames.
With that, Evonne turned on her heel and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her. Magnus stood there, seething, his chest heaving with barely contained rage.
"I'll replicate the talisman," he muttered to himself. "I've tried a hundred times, but this time it will work."
He walked over to a small table and picked up a glass bottle. Inside, a faint glow pulsed, illuminating a trapped vampire spirit. Magnus uncorked the bottle, and the spirit emerged, hovering in the air like a wisp of smoke. Its wings were stretched out wide and its face seemed to twist in pain. There were numerous cuts on its body, and its skin was stained with blood. It trembled uncontrollably. A pained groan escaped from its mouth as it floated in the air.
"Come here, my beautiful," Magnus whispered, his voice low. As he spoke, the figure flew towards him, circling the room before landing near the window. His lips curled into a wicked smirk.
"Now this will be even easier." His voice became deeper and darker. He walked toward the spirit, his movements slow and deliberate. "Is there any way to speed up the process?"
The vampire spirit's eyes glinted with eerie amusement. "It's too late."
Magnus' face contorted in anger. "I'll send a host of dark spirits to torment him, just in case he wakes up."
The spirit laughed, a haunting, hollow sound. "We will be free soon." Its voice became hoarse and raspy. "Our time is nearing. Soon, we will be free and we will return."
With that, the spirit retreated back into the bottle, leaving Magnus alone with his frustration and fear.
Realizing I had seen enough, I began to retreat from the room, moving silently back towards the entrance. As I slipped through the hallways, my mind raced with the implications of what I had just witnessed.
When I reached the entrance, I froze. Victor stood there, his eyes fixed on me. For a moment, our gazes locked, and a thousand questions surged in my mind. But Victor simply turned away, his expression unreadable, and walked out into the night.
He climbed into his coach, the horses stirring restlessly. I watched as the coachman snapped the reins, and the vehicle disappeared into the darkness.
I lingered at the entrance for a moment, my thoughts swirling with the revelations of the evening. Sometimes I wonder, did I just imagine everything? Magnus' madness, Evonne's relationship with him, and the trapped vampire spirit, all pointed to a deeper, more dangerous game at play.
Crestfallen, I began the journey back to my physical body, knowing that the path ahead was fraught with peril. But I was determined. I had to tell Nikolai about the truth.