The door to the cabin swung open slowly, revealing the cold night beyond. For a moment, everything was still, the tension so thick that Serena felt like she could barely breathe. She tightened her grip on the artifact, its warmth radiating through her hands, and her pulse raced with the knowledge that Vanguard had finally found them.
Alexander stood beside her, his knife gripped firmly in his hand, his eyes focused and alert. He had always been calm under pressure, but Serena could sense the tension in him now—the weight of the moment pressing down on them both. There was no escaping this confrontation.
The wind howled through the trees outside, and then a figure appeared in the doorway. Damon Hale. His silhouette was framed by the darkness, his cold, calculating gaze fixed on Serena. Behind him, several Vanguard agents emerged from the shadows, their weapons ready, their expressions hard.
"Quite the retreat you've found," Damon said, his voice smooth, almost mocking. He stepped inside the cabin, his eyes never leaving Serena. "But did you really think you could hide from me? You should know better by now."
Serena's heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to show fear. She took a step forward, standing tall as she met Damon's gaze. "You're too late, Damon. The artifact has already chosen me. Whatever plans you had for it, they end here."
Damon's smile widened, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"Oh, I don't think so. You may have unlocked some of its power, but you don't understand what you're dealing with. You're still just a child playing with a weapon you can't control."
"Don't underestimate her," Alexander said, stepping forward to stand beside Serena. His voice was steady, but there was a cold edge to it, a warning. "She's more powerful than you know."
Damon's gaze flicked to Alexander, his eyes narrowing.
"You've always been a thorn in my side, Alexander. But this… this is where it ends for both of you."
Without another word, Damon gave a subtle nod to his agents, and they moved forward, closing in around Serena and Alexander. Serena's breath caught in her throat as she saw the weapons they carried—lethal, high-tech, designed for precision.
But then, something inside her shifted. The artifact in her hands pulsed with energy, and she felt a surge of strength rise up from within her. The fear that had gripped her moments ago began to fade, replaced by a fierce determination.
The power wasn't just in the artifact—it was in her.
Serena raised the glowing disk, its light intensifying, and the energy around her seemed to thrum in response.
"You want the artifact?"
she said, her voice firm, unwavering.
"Come and get it."
The Vanguard agents hesitated, clearly unnerved by the sudden surge of power radiating from Serena. Damon's expression darkened as he realized that the artifact was responding to her in a way he hadn't anticipated.
"You're making a mistake," Damon warned, his voice low and dangerous.
"If you unleash that power without understanding it, you'll destroy everything."
Serena met his gaze with a cold intensity. "Maybe. But I'd rather destroy everything than let you have it."
Without warning, Serena released the energy from the artifact.
A blinding light erupted from the stone disk, filling the cabin with a powerful burst of radiant energy. The force of it sent the Vanguard agents flying backward, crashing into the walls and furniture with brutal force. Damon staggered but remained on his feet, his face contorted with fury.
Serena felt the power coursing through her like a river, wild and untamed, but she didn't let it overwhelm her. She held onto it, controlled it, directing the energy toward her enemies. The room crackled with the force of the artifact's power, the air thick with electricity.
Alexander moved swiftly, taking advantage of the chaos. He disarmed one of the downed agents, grabbing the man's weapon and turning it on the others. His movements were precise and fluid, the training he had undergone over the years evident in every motion. Serena's heart surged with pride as she watched him fight.
But Damon wasn't done yet. He regained his balance, his face twisted with a mixture of rage and disbelief. "You think you can defeat me with a relic you barely understand?" he snarled, his voice full of venom. "You have no idea what kind of power I've unlocked."
Serena held her ground, the artifact's energy swirling around her like a protective shield. "I know enough to stop you," she said, her voice calm but deadly.
Damon lunged forward, faster than she expected, and for a brief moment, Serena felt the edge of doubt creep in. Could she really control this power? Could she defeat him?
But then the artifact pulsed again, stronger this time, and Serena felt a connection deeper than anything she had experienced before. It wasn't just power—it was knowledge, a wisdom passed down through generations. Her ancestors had wielded this power, and now it was her turn.
With a surge of confidence, Serena raised the artifact again, the light radiating from it growing even brighter. Damon faltered, his eyes widening in realization.
"This ends now," Serena said, and with that, she unleashed another wave of energy, this one directed solely at Damon.
The force of it was like a tidal wave, slamming into Damon with the full might of the artifact's power. He was thrown back against the far wall, the impact shaking the entire cabin. For a moment, everything was still, the air buzzing with the remnants of the energy Serena had unleashed.
Damon lay crumpled on the floor, barely conscious, his body trembling from the force of the blast. The few remaining Vanguard agents were incapacitated, groaning in pain as they struggled to move.
Serena lowered the artifact, breathing heavily, her heart pounding in her chest. The cabin was a wreck, debris scattered everywhere, but they had won. They had stopped Damon, at least for now.
Alexander moved to her side, his eyes full of concern.
"Are you okay?"
Serena nodded, though her hands were still shaking from the intensity of the power she had just wielded.
"I think so. But… the artifact… it's more powerful than I thought."
Alexander gently touched her arm, his gaze steady. "You controlled it. You stopped them."
Serena looked down at the artifact, its glow fading but still present.
"I don't know how much longer I can keep this up, Alex. This power… it's too much for one person."
Alexander's expression grew serious. "Then we need to figure out what to do next. We can't just keep running. There has to be a way to destroy the artifact—or at least, to make sure no one else can ever use it."
Serena nodded, knowing he was right. The artifact was too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands, and as long as it existed, Damon and Vanguard—or others like them—would keep coming after it.
But for now, they had won this battle.
They stepped out of the cabin, the cold mountain air washing over them as they looked out into the night. The snow was still falling, peaceful and quiet, as if the chaos that had just unfolded inside the cabin was a distant memory.
But Serena knew better. The fight was far from over.
And now, they had to decide how to end it for good.