The structure was collapsing now, beams falling from the ceiling and stone crumbling from the walls.
But I wasn't finished yet. My anger still demanded more, an outlet for the rage that Nathaniel's escape had left behind.
I stretched out my arms one last time, pouring every ounce of energy I had into the flames.
The heat was blinding, the fire consuming everything, leaving no corner untouched. The building itself screamed as it gave way, the walls caving in and the roof collapsing with a deafening roar.
I closed my eyes, letting the destruction wash over me, a bittersweet symphony of vengeance and despair.
The crackling of the flames, the shattering of stone it was a fitting end for a place that had harboured such darkness.
But it was time to leave. There was nothing more for me here, only smoke and ash. I focused inward, summoning the magic that would take me away from this infernal scene.
The air around me shimmered, the heat distorting my vision as the teleportation spell began to form.
With one last look at the burning ruins, I whispered, "You can't hide forever, Nathaniel."
And then the world shifted, the flames and smoke fading as I disappeared into the ether.
The disorienting lurch of teleportation subsided, leaving me standing in the middle of a dimly lit chamber.
My senses screamed in protest, overwhelmed by the metallic tang of blood and the acrid stench of chemicals.
I clenched my fists, steadying myself as my vision adjusted to the flickering fluorescent lights overhead.
The scene before me made my stomach twist a place more grotesque than anything I had imagined.
The room was cavernous, its walls lined with rows of glass cylinders, some shattered, others still intact.
The ones that remained upright contained twisted shapes suspended in murky liquid inhuman creatures, their malformed bodies twitching as though caught between life and death.
Dark stains streaked the floor, pooling around tables covered in surgical tools that glinted menacingly under the weak light. Blood spatter marred the walls, a silent testament to the horrors that had unfolded here.
Nathaniel. His name burned in my mind like a curse. My body ached with exhaustion, but my fury surged anew, driving me forward. He had to be here, and so did Aeliana.
The thought of her helpless, possibly harmed was enough to send my flames flickering to life at my fingertips, though I forced them to dim. I couldn't afford to lose control. Not now.
I moved cautiously, my boots crunching against shards of glass and splintered wood. The echoes of my steps reverberated ominously in the oppressive silence.
My eyes darted to every shadow, every corner, expecting an ambush at any moment.
This place wasn't abandoned; it was alive with menace, every surface crawling with the evidence of Nathaniel's twisted mind.
The first table I approached was cluttered with papers and vials. Most of the documents were smeared with blood, the writing rendered illegible, but a few diagrams caught my attention.
They depicted anatomical sketches, some human, others distinctly not.
My stomach churned as I recognised the deliberate cruelty etched into every line. These weren't the notes of a healer they were the work of a monster.
One of the vials, half-filled with a viscous green liquid, caught my eye. I picked it up, holding it to the faint light.
The liquid bubbled slightly, as though reacting to the warmth of my hand. What was he creating here? My mind raced, each possibility worse than the last.
A guttural sound echoed through the chamber a groan or a growl. My head snapped toward the source, flames sparking in my palm. The noise had come from deeper within, past a row of shattered cylinders.
Heart pounding, I stepped over the wreckage, careful not to disturb the shards littering the floor.
As I ventured further, the air grew colder, the stench more pronounced. The blood trails thickened, leading to a door partially ajar.
The metal surface was dented and smeared with handprints bloody, desperate. My breath hitched as I pushed it open with the tip of my blade, every nerve on edge.
Beyond the door was another room, smaller but no less horrific. Chains dangled from the ceiling, some still holding shackles that dripped with fresh blood.
A crude operating table dominated the centre, its surface stained and slick.
Tools lay scattered around it saws, clamps, and instruments whose purposes I didn't want to imagine.
"Aeliana," I whispered, my voice trembling with both hope and dread.
I searched the room frantically, overturning trays and crates, peering into every shadow. She wasn't here. Panic clawed at my chest, but I forced myself to breathe, to focus. There was more to this place, more rooms to search.
Nathaniel wouldn't have left her here not after going to such lengths to keep her from me.
The walls seemed to close in as I moved through the labyrinthine corridors. Each turn revealed new horrors a pile of discarded limbs in one corner, a gurney smeared with dark ichor in another.
My flames flared brighter with every step, their heat a fragile barrier against the overwhelming cold of this place.
Then I saw it a set of footprints in the blood, leading down a narrow hallway. My pulse quickened.
They were too fresh to be old. They led to a heavy door reinforced with steel. A faint sound reached my ears a muffled voice, weak but unmistakable. Aeliana.
I sprinted toward the door, my heart in my throat. "I'm here!" I called, my voice breaking. "Hold on, I'm coming!"
The door was locked, of course. I didn't hesitate, slamming my flaming fist against the metal. It groaned under the assault, heat warping its surface. A second blow dented it further, and a third sent it crashing inward.
Inside, the room was dark, illuminated only by the faint glow of a single, swinging bulb. And there she was Aeliana.
She sat slumped against the far wall, her wrists bound with chains, her face pale and streaked with tears. My relief was instant and overwhelming, but it lasted only a second.
Because Nathaniel was there too.
He stood behind her, a dagger pressed to her throat. His smile was as sharp as the blade, his eyes alight with a twisted glee.
"Come closer," he said, his voice calm, almost amused. "And I kill her."
Nathaniel's smug grin only fuelled my rage, but his dagger pressed against Aeliana's throat held me in place.
My flames surged around me, eager to strike, but I forced myself to hold back. One wrong move could end her life.
I couldn't let my emotions cloud my judgment not when she was in such danger.
"You're a coward, Nathaniel," I spat, my voice dripping with venom. "Hiding behind a hostage? I expected more from someone who claims to be a leader."
His grin widened, his dagger pressing just enough to make Aeliana flinch. "Say what you will, Princess," he drawled.
"But I've always been a strategist. And you're predictable, ruled by your anger. It makes you so easy to manipulate."
I clenched my fists, the heat radiating from my body intensifying. He wanted to toy with me, to see me lash out recklessly. But I wasn't about to play his game.
"You think you're in control?" I said, forcing my voice to steady. "You've made one critical mistake, Nathaniel."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "And what's that?"
"You underestimated me."
In the blink of an eye, I channelled my magic, focusing on the one move that would take him by surprise.
Teleportation. The world around me shimmered for an instant, and when it solidified again, I was behind him.
Nathaniel barely had time to react before I grabbed his wrist, wrenching the dagger from his grasp.
The blade clattered to the floor as I shoved him away from Aeliana, placing myself between her and him. Flames erupted around me, casting long, flickering shadows that seemed to dance with my fury.
Aeliana gasped, her wide eyes filled with both relief and fear. "Ciara..." she whispered, her voice hoarse.
"Stay down," I ordered her without turning, my focus locked on Nathaniel.
He recovered quickly, his expression darkening as he drew a curved sword from his belt. "Impressive trick," he sneered. "But it won't save you—or her."
"Try me," I snarled, stepping forward, flames curling around my hands.
Nathaniel lunged, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. I dodged, the heat of my fire melting the floor beneath my feet as I moved.
I countered with a blast of flames, but he was fast, sidestepping and closing the distance between us. His sword swung in a wide arc, the steel flashing in the dim light.
Our weapons clashed fire against steel. Sparks flew as his blade met my flaming strikes, each collision ringing out like a thunderclap.
He was strong, his movements calculated and efficient. This wasn't some brute relying on brute force;
Nathaniel was a seasoned fighter, and every swing of his sword reminded me of that.
But I wasn't without my own skill. I matched him strike for strike, my flames weaving a shield around me as I parried his attacks.
The room seemed to shrink as we moved, our battle consuming every inch of the space.
Nathaniel spun, aiming a slash at my side. I ducked, planting my palm against the ground and sending a wave of fire rolling toward him.
He leapt over it, but I was already on him, a burst of flames erupting from my fist as I swung at his chest. He stumbled back, his armour scorched, but he didn't falter.
"You've gotten stronger," he admitted, his tone almost mocking. "But strength alone doesn't win wars, Princess."
"Neither does cowardice," I shot back, lunging forward.
He parried my attack, locking his blade against my flaming hand. His smirk returned as he pushed against me, using his weight to force me back. I growled, letting the fire surge brighter, the heat searing the air between us. Sweat beaded on his brow, but he held firm.
"You can't protect her forever," he hissed, nodding toward Aeliana.
My heart clenched, but I didn't let his words shake me. "Watch me."
I broke the stalemate with a burst of flames, forcing him to retreat. He snarled, his calm facade cracking as I advanced on him.
My movements were relentless, each strike heavier than the last. I poured my anger, my desperation, into every attack, driving him toward the far wall.
But Nathaniel wasn't done yet. With a sudden burst of speed, he dodged to the side, swinging his sword in a low arc that barely missed my legs. I jumped back, narrowly avoiding the strike.
"I'll give you credit, Ciara," he said, breathing heavily. "You're not the heartbreaker girl I remember."
"And you're not the man I thought you were," I shot back. "You're worse."
Our battle raged on, the room around us becoming a battlefield of fire and steel. Aeliana's presence was a constant anchor in my mind, driving me to fight harder, faster. I couldn't lose her not to him, not to anyone.