Chereads / Night Whisperer / Chapter 14 - Chapter 11The Bargain

Chapter 14 - Chapter 11The Bargain

The leader's contemplative expression shifted, morphing into a wicked smile that seemed to stretch impossibly wide across his face. "Very well, Elior," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I propose a deal, a delightful bargain that could change everything for you. Offer me your promise. Elior asked, "What deal?" The leader answered, "! You will be a Whisperer in your world."

Elior's heart raced, fear and anger swirling within him. "What are you talking about?" he shot back, trying to maintain his composure despite the oppressive atmosphere that threatened to suffocate him. "I'll never join you! Let Lira go!"

Lira's eyes widened with fear, and her voice trembled as she said, "Elior, don't listen to him! It's a trap!"

But the allure of power swirled around Elior like a siren's song. The Whisperers were legends—figures whispered about in every tavern and told in thrilling stories. They possessed knowledge beyond comprehension, the ability to influence lives, to slip through the cracks of reality, and to emerge unscathed. What if he could save Lira? What if this bargain was the key to unlocking her freedom and his potential?

"Just think," the leader continued, stepping closer, the shadows dancing around him like living beings. "With your promise, you could wield power beyond imagination. We offer you the chance to transcend the limitations of mortality. You could save those you love, prevent suffering, even rewrite your fate."

Elior hesitated, his resolve wavering as the implications brushed against his mind. He thought of his mother, bedridden for years, her laughter silenced by pain. He thought of the village fending for itself while the tax collectors bled them dry. If he could become a Whisperer, perhaps he could protect Lira and shield her from the darkness surrounding them.

"No!" Lira shouted, breaking through his thoughts, her spirit fierce despite her predicament. "Elior, they will twist you into something unrecognizable. The power you seek comes with a price you cannot afford. You must resist!"

The leader's expression soured at her outburst. "Enough! Your feeble attempts at heroism hold no sway here. This is a matter between brothers, and you, dear girl, are merely a pawn in our game."

Elior clenched his fists, casting a side glance at Lira, her eyes pleading with him to remain strong, to stay true to himself. But the weight of the leader's words pressed down on him like an anchor threatening to drag him into darkness.

"Why should I trust you?" Elior finally asked, his voice steadier now, fueled by Lira's determination.

"It's simple," the leader said, folding his arms with a self-satisfied air. "You do not need to trust me, for I will not lie. Accept my offer, and you shall witness the power of the Whisperers firsthand. Refuse, and you will only doom your sister to a fate worse than this. Choose wisely."

The wind howled through the clearing, a cacophony of ominous whispers filling Elior's ears. Shadows danced around him, taunting him with what could be what he longed for. He felt Lira's gaze burning into him, challenging him to fight against temptation and find another way.

"I refuse," he declared, his heart pounding against his ribcage like a caged bird desperate for freedom. "I would rather face whatever doom lies ahead than become a part of your darkness."

The leader's smile faded, replaced by an expression of rage so profound it warped his features. "You've chosen poorly, Elior. But fear not; the Shadows never forget, nor do they forgive."

Suddenly, the shadows surged forward, coiling around Elior, tendrils of darkness wrapping around his limbs like vices. He gasped as their cold touch sent waves of despair crashing over him. He struggled against the tightening bonds, fighting against the dark tide that sought to consume him.

"Elior!" Lira cried out, her face a mask of determination. "Fight it! Remember who you are!"

With every ounce of strength he could muster, Elior summoned memories of their childhood—their laughter echoing through the trees, their adventures beneath the sunlit sky, and the unwavering bond they had forged against all odds. Those memories became his armor, shielding him from the encroaching shadows.

He closed his eyes, focusing on the radiant light within him, the spark ignited by love and hope. "I will not yield!" he shouted, pushing back against the darkness and forcing it to recede.

To his astonishment, the tendrils of darkness decapitated.