Chapter 35: The Weight of Hunger and the Full Moon
The group stood at the edge of the bustling marketplace in Jerusalem, the narrow, winding streets filled with people and vendors. The scent of spices and the murmur of conversations filled the air, but the group's focus was elsewhere—on the growing tension within their ranks.
Nox walked with her hood pulled low, her eyes scanning the crowd. Every step she took felt like a test of her control. The hunger was building again, stronger than before. The lack of magic in this world had stripped away the fine balance she had once maintained, leaving her vulnerable to her more primal urges.
Rex, walking beside her, shot her a glance. "You don't look good."
Nox clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "I'm fine."
But she wasn't. The temptation to feed was becoming harder to ignore. The scent of blood was everywhere—in the streets, in the marketplace, in the bodies that passed her by. Her fangs ached, a constant reminder of the hunger gnawing at her from the inside.
Mara, who had been observing Nox from a distance, approached quietly. "You're struggling."
Nox shot her a sharp look. "I said I'm fine."
Mara didn't press further, but her eyes lingered on Nox for a moment longer before turning to Rex. "And you? How are you holding up?"
Rex shrugged, but there was tension in his movements. "I'll manage."
But the truth was, he could feel it too. The full moon was approaching, and with it, the inevitable transformation. His body was already starting to shift, the pull of the moon stronger than ever in this world without magic. He had always been able to control his transformations, but here... it was different. The lack of magic made everything harder, more painful.
Azaymos, walking ahead, noticed the growing tension in his companions. He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes lingering on Nox and Rex. "We need to move quickly. The dagger is recharged, but not enough. We have to find another source of energy before we run out of time."
Nox gritted her teeth, her hunger flaring as they passed a group of tourists. She could hear the blood rushing through their veins, smell the life force that pulsed within them. It would be so easy to feed. Just a small bite, enough to satiate the hunger for a little while.
But she knew better. One bite would lead to another, and then another. She wouldn't be able to stop.
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As they continued through the city, Rex's muscles tensed. The full moon was only days away, and he could feel the change coming. His eyes flickered to the sky, where the moon hung low on the horizon, growing fuller with each passing hour.
"It's getting harder," Rex muttered, his voice low.
Nox glanced at him. "What is?"
"The transformation," he growled. "Without magic, it's... different. More painful. I don't know if I'll be able to control it this time."
Nox's eyes narrowed. "We'll figure it out."
Rex's silver eyes flashed in the dim light of the street. "I don't think you understand, Nox. When the moon rises, I'm not going to be able to hold it back. You've seen what happens."
Nox frowned but said nothing. She knew what he meant. She had seen him lose control before—seen the destruction that followed when his wolf side took over. But now, without magic to help stabilize the transformation, it could be worse.
Much worse.
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As they moved deeper into the city, the group kept to the shadows, avoiding the crowds as much as possible. But despite their best efforts, they couldn't escape notice. Rex's size and Nox's otherworldly presence had already started drawing attention, just as they had in Rome.
Whispers followed them, people taking quick glances as they passed. A group of young men sitting outside a café watched them closely, their eyes narrowing as they took in Rex's towering frame and Nox's ethereal beauty.
"They don't look normal," one of the men muttered to his friends.
Another nodded. "They look like they're from some kind of movie. You think they're actors or something?"
Before anyone could respond, the group of men stood up, one of them walking toward Nox with a smirk. "Hey, you're that actress, right? The one from that vampire movie?"
Nox's patience was already wearing thin, and the man's scent only made things worse. He was close—too close—and the hunger was getting harder to control.
"Back off," she growled, her voice low and dangerous.
But the man didn't take the hint. He stepped closer, his grin widening. "Come on, don't be like that. I just want a picture."
Before Nox could react, Rex stepped between them, his eyes flashing with barely-contained rage. "You heard her. Back. Off."
The man raised his hands, backing away slowly. "Whoa, easy, man. I was just kidding."
Azaymos, sensing the rising tension, stepped forward. "We don't have time for this."
The man's friends quickly pulled him away, whispering among themselves as they disappeared into the crowd. But the damage was already done. Nox's hunger was now at the forefront of her mind, and Rex's control over his transformation was slipping.
---
As they continued through the streets, Mara remained silent, her thoughts distant. She could feel the weight of the Chains of Ankhura beneath her cloak, the dark energy of the artifact pulsing softly against her skin. She had taken the chains without hesitation, but the true reason for her decision was something she had not yet shared.
Ahmose's words echoed in her mind: "The power we seek is a curse. There is no salvation for us."
Mara had known this from the beginning. The chains, like everything else they had collected on this journey, were not a gift. They were a burden. A curse. And there was no escape from it.
As they moved closer to their next destination, Mara cast a glance at Ahmose—now hidden within Azaymos's cursed tattoos. Ahmose had been right about many things, but the one truth that Mara couldn't shake was the knowledge that every step they took was leading them closer to an inescapable fate.
And no amount of power could change that.
Great, I'll add Ahmose's dark humor to the chapter, even while she's hiding in Azaymos's tattoos, to keep her presence felt in a more humorous way. As for the city, the group is currently in Jerusalem.
Here's an additional scene for Chapter 35 with Ahmose's dark humor woven in:
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As the group pressed on through the narrow streets of Jerusalem, Azaymos felt a faint, cold whisper stir within his mind. It was Ahmose, her presence coiled around his curse like a shadow clinging to the walls.
"Ah, Jerusalem," Ahmose's voice oozed with sarcasm, echoing within his thoughts. "Such a quaint place. I wonder how many times this city has burned to the ground. Perhaps we'll add to that glorious history."
Azaymos's jaw tightened slightly. "We're not here to destroy anything."
"Not yet," Ahmose replied darkly, her words dripping with pessimism. "But give it time. Destruction follows you, just as it follows me. It's only a matter of when, not if."
Rex, clearly on edge from the growing pull of the moon, shot a glance at Azaymos. "Is she talking again?"
Azaymos nodded. "She never stops."
"Oh, come now, wolf-boy," Ahmose's voice purred, "I'm merely offering a bit of perspective. You and I—we're kindred spirits, both bound to a curse we can't escape. At least I can laugh about it." Her chuckle was dark and hollow.
Nox, overhearing the exchange, muttered under her breath, "Great. A mummy with a sense of humor."
"Better than a vampire with a temper," Ahmose shot back, her voice slithering through Azaymos's mind. "Tell me, Nox, how long before you lose control and sink those lovely fangs into someone? I give it... minutes."
Nox clenched her fists, trying to keep herself in check. "I'm not going to lose control."
"Of course, you will," Ahmose said with wicked glee. "You always do. And then we'll be running again. Or fighting. Or both. It's inevitable."
Azaymos sighed quietly, pressing forward. "Ignore her."
"Oh yes, ignore the mummy who's seen countless souls succumb to their curses. That always works out well." Ahmose's laughter echoed in the back of his mind like a distant storm, a reminder that, despite her humor, there was truth in her words.
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End of Chapter