Chapter 30: A Taste of Control Lost
The heat of the Egyptian desert hit them like a wave as they stepped out of the airport and into the chaotic streets of Cairo. The city buzzed with life vendors shouting, cars honking, and people moving through the dusty streets with a hurried energy. The pyramids loomed in the distance, their ancient forms silent and unmoved by the centuries of change around them.
Nox, however, barely noticed any of it. Her focus was consumed by the hunger gnawing at her, becoming more unbearable with every passing minute. Normally, she could handle the bloodlust; she had spent centuries perfecting the art of control. But this world the absence of magic made it almost impossible.
The magical world she came from had always provided a kind of balance. The ambient magic in the air, even when subtle, helped her keep her thirst at bay. But here, in this modern world devoid of magic, every breath felt like a battle against the primal urges clawing at her insides. The scent of human blood was everywhere, and it was becoming harder to ignore.
Mara walked beside her, glancing over with concern. "Nox, you're pale. More than usual."
Nox shot her a glare. "I'm fine."
But she wasn't. The lack of magic in this world was affecting her in ways she hadn't anticipated. Every heartbeat around her was like a drum in her ears, calling her closer to the very thing she was trying to resist.
Azaymos, sensing the tension, stepped in front of the group. "We need to find shelter soon. Nox is losing control."
Nox clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she forced herself to walk without succumbing to the hunger. "I can handle it."
Rex, ever the protector, frowned. "We should hurry. The longer we stay out here, the more we risk being noticed."
---
As they moved through the narrow alleys of the city, trying to keep a low profile, a group of rough-looking men appeared from the shadows. Their eyes were hard, and the leader, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, stepped forward with a sneer.
"Tourists, huh?" he said, his accent thick. "You must be lost. These streets aren't safe for people like you."
Darius, always quick with a sharp remark, grinned. "We're fine, thanks. Now if you don't mind, we've got places to be."
The leader of the gang took a step closer, eyeing Nox in particular. "Oh, I don't think you'll be going anywhere just yet." His eyes darkened as his gaze lingered on her. "Especially not her."
Rex growled, stepping between Nox and the men, his body tensing. "Move along before you regret it."
The gangsters laughed, clearly not taking them seriously. One of them reached for Nox, grabbing her arm. "Why don't you stay with us, sweetheart? I'm sure we can show you a good time."
Nox's control snapped. The hunger she had been fighting for so long surged forward, and before she could stop herself, her instincts took over. Her eyes darkened, and with a swift, terrifying movement, she spun around, sinking her fangs into the man's neck.
The gangsters screamed in shock as Nox drained him, the bloodlust consuming her completely. The man's body slumped to the ground, lifeless, as Nox stood over him, her eyes wild and blood dripping from her lips.
Azaymos and Mara watched in horror, but it was Rex who stepped forward, grabbing Nox by the shoulders. "Nox! Stop!"
Nox blinked, the fog of her hunger lifting just enough for her to see what she had done. She backed away, her hands shaking, as the remaining gangsters fled in terror, disappearing into the shadows of the alley.
---
As the group stood in silence, trying to process what had just happened, the sound of footsteps echoed behind them. A young man with a phone in his hand appeared at the mouth of the alley, his face pale but his phone held up, recording the entire scene.
"Holy... I got it all on video," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Darius cursed under his breath. "This is bad."
Azaymos turned, his eyes narrowing at the young man. "Delete the video. Now."
The man, frozen in place, shook his head. "I... I can't... This is crazy. You... you're not human. What are you?"
Before anyone could stop him, the man turned and ran, phone still clutched in his hand.
"We can't let him spread that," Mara said, her voice urgent. "If this gets out, we'll have the entire city hunting us."
Rex growled, already preparing to give chase. "I'll stop him."
Azaymos held up a hand. "No. We can't draw more attention."
Nox, her body trembling from the aftershock of the blood she had just consumed, wiped her mouth, her voice strained. "I lost control. I didn't mean to..."
Mara stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "This world is different. The lack of magic... it's affecting you more than you realize."
Azaymos nodded. "We need to get out of here. Now. The video is a problem, but if we leave Cairo quickly, it may not spread fast enough to catch us."
---
The group hurried through the alleys, their pace quickening as they made their way toward their next destination. The pyramids were waiting, but the urgency to leave the city before Nox's actions caught up to them was now paramount.
As they ran, Rex muttered, "Well, at least they won't be chasing us for selfies anymore."
Darius, despite the tension, couldn't help but laugh. "No, now they'll be chasing us with torches and pitchforks."
Azaymos remained focused, his mind racing with plans. The dagger was far from fully charged, and now they were on the run from both human authorities and whoever else might have seen the video.
"We'll deal with this later," he said firmly. "For now, we need to get to the pyramids. It's the only way we're going to get out of this world."
End of Chapter 30