Chereads / Zhilakoa: The Guardian of Balance. / Chapter 10 - Mors venit.

Chapter 10 - Mors venit.

Zhilakoa's heart froze as she gazed into the mirror, her eyes locked on the reflection that stared back at her. It was herself, but not as she knew herself. This version of her was twisted, corrupted, and evil. Her eyes glowed with an eerie red light, and her skin was deathly pale. Her once-lustrous hair was now dull and tangled, and her lips were curled into a snarling sneer.

The evil version of herself began to speak, its voice a dark, menacing whisper that sent shivers down Zhilakoa's spine. "You will never escape me," it hissed. "I am the darkness within you, the shadow that haunts your every step. You have unleashed me, Zhilakoa, and now I will consume you whole."

The evil version of herself began to taunt her, its voice a dark, menacing whisper that seemed to pierce her very soul. "You think you've overcome your inner demons, Zhilakoa?" it sneered. "You think you've emerged stronger and wiser? But I am the one who truly knows you. I am the one who knows your deepest fears, your darkest desires. And I will use them against you."

Zhilakoa tried to turn away, but her gaze was trapped by the mirror's unblinking stare. She felt a creeping sense of dread as the evil version of herself began to laugh, a cold, mirthless sound that seemed to come from the very depths of her own soul.

"You can't escape me, Zhilakoa," it hissed. "I am the shadow that haunts your every step. I am the darkness within you, and I will consume you whole."

Suddenly, the mirror's surface began to ripple and distort, like water on a summer's day. Zhilakoa's reflection began to warp and twist, its eyes glowing darker with an eerie red light. The evil version of herself began to reach out, its hand extending from the mirror's surface like a dark, spectral claw.

Zhilakoa tried to step back, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. She was trapped, unable to move or escape the mirror's unblinking gaze. The evil version of herself began to whisper a dark, ancient incantation,Zhilakoa's heart raced as she gazed into the mirror, paralyzed by the twisted reflection that stared back at her.

As Zhilakoa watched in horror, the mirror's surface seemed to stretch and contort, revealing a dark, ancient incarnation of herself. This version of Zhilakoa was twisted and corrupted, her eyes blazing with dark magic.

"I am the one who has haunted your dreams," it hissed. "I am the one who has whispered dark secrets in your ear. And I am the one who will bring about your downfall. "The ancient incarnation began to chant a dark, ancient incantation, its words a maddening chant that seemed to draw Zhilakoa in: "Astra descendit, tenebrae ascendit

Mors venit, vita discedit

Tenebrae consumunt, astra extinguunt

Mors eternalis, vita nullus" ("The stars descend, the darkness ascends

Death comes, life departs

The darkness consumes, the stars are extinguished

Eternal death, no life")

The mirror's surface seemed to pulse with a dark energy, as if it was alive and feeding off Zhilakoa's fear.

As the incantation reached its climax, the mirror's surface seemed to explode, its shards of glass shattering everywhere. Zhilakoa stumbled back, her heart racing with fear. She knew that she had to confront her own darkness, or risk being consumed by it forever.

As she turned to run, she felt a cold, spectral hand grasp her shoulder, its grip like ice. She knew that she was not alone, and that her darkest fears were closing in around her. "Vita nullus, mors eternalis

Tenebrae consumunt, astra extinguunt

Mors venit, vita discedit

Astra descendit, tenebrae ascendit" ("No life, eternal death

The darkness consumes, the stars are extinguished

Death comes, life departs

The stars descend, the darkness ascends")

Zhilakoa knew that she had to break free from the mirror's hold, or risk being trapped forever in this dark, twisted reflection of herself. She summoned all her strength and courage, but she knew she was trapped, unable to escape the mirror's hold. The evil version of herself continued to taunt her, its voice echoing in her mind, "You will never escape me, Zhilakoa.

Zhilakoa's eyes widened in horror as she saw Eryn suddenly reappear in the room being strangled by the evil version of herself. The twisted reflection's grip was tight, and Eryn's face was turning blue. The evil version of herself taunted her, "You'll never save him, Zhilakoa. He's mine now."

Just as all hope seemed lost, the mysterious woman who had given Zhilakoa the crystal appeared behind the evil reflection. With a swift motion, she placed her hand on Zhilakoa's shoulder, and a surge of power flowed through her.

Emboldened, Zhilakoa reached out and grasped the evil reflection's wrist, channeling the power into a blast of energy that sent the twisted reflection flying across the room. Eryn collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

As Zhilakoa rushed to his side, the mysterious woman vanished as suddenly as she appeared. Zhilakoa's vision began to blur, and she felt herself falling, the darkness closing in around her. She tried to call out to Eryn, but her voice was barely a whisper.

With a final effort, she reached out and touched his hand, feeling a spark of connection before her world went black. Eryn's voice was the last thing she heard, "Zhilakoa, no! Don't leave me!