The dark, eerie corridors of the mansion felt more oppressive with each step they took. Falko, Shalana, Leena, and Rhea moved swiftly, their senses heightened as they searched for any signs of the creature. The lights were still out, save for the soft glow from Leena's spell, casting long shadows on the walls. The mansion had fallen into an unsettling silence.
"I smell something foul..." Falko muttered, wrinkling his nose. It was like rotting flesh, thick and heavy in the air.
Leena stopped walking and sniffed the air, her expression puzzled. "Foul? No… I smell something sweet, like… flowers."
Rhea, frowning, nodded. "Same here. It's... almost comforting."
Falko's brow furrowed as confusion hit him. "Sweet? I smell something rotten. Why the difference?"
They didn't understand what was happening, but it didn't take them a lot to understand that it might have been the work of the creature that is responsible for all these incidents.
"We need to follow the scent," Leena said, her voice tense. "Maybe it'll lead us to whatever is causing this."
They followed the opposing scents through the mansion, step by step, their eyes darting into every corner. As they approached the Countess's chambers, the smells grew stronger—foul for Falko, sweet for the women. The contrast put him even more on edge.
"We're getting close," Shalana whispered, gripping her sword. Her eyes scanned the hallway ahead, narrowing as they stopped at the door to the Countess's room.
Falko moved closer and pressed his hand against the door, which was firmly locked. He exchanged a glance with Shalana. Without waiting for an order, she stepped forward, muscles rippling as she slammed her shoulder into the door. The lock gave way with a loud crack, the door flying open.
'Ugh! Countess will be mad with this kind of damage,'
Leena thought to herself as she looked at the broken door.
They stormed into the room—only to freeze at the sight before them.
Leena and Rhea gasped in horror. Falko stood over the bed, his hands slowly undoing the Countess's clothes. She lay beneath him, half-naked, her body limp, as if intoxicated.
Countess En-Shelda had her eyes open and few strands of saliva kept leaking from the side of her mouth, but it was rather obvious she wasn't in pain, rather she was aroused.
"What…?" Leena's eyes widened in shock, her voice trembling. "Falko?! What are you doing? But how is Falko..."
Rhea's face paled as she whipped her head to the real Falko beside her. She was met with his expression, twisted in disgust, mirroring her own confusion. "Do you guys see me?!" Falko shouted, his heart pounding. "What is the meaning of this!"
Shalana, however, saw something else entirely. Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide with recognition. The figure wasn't Falko at all. It was a man—him—the man who had falsely accused her of vile acts, the one responsible for her exile from her home. Her grip on her sword faltered as she muttered, barely audible, "Kairen…?"
Falko quickly noticed her horror-stricken face and turned toward the bed. The creautre shifted for him as well. The figure that was Falko for Leena and Rhea was completely different for him and Shalana. What he saw was a twisted, black figure—a shadowy creature with smoke curling from its body and wings as dark as night, leathery like a bat's. Its eyes glowed faintly in the dim room as it stood over the Countess, grinning with an eerie smile.
The creature turned its gaze toward the group and flinched in alarm at their intrusion, but its panic faded as it realized the intruders were women. Its twisted smile widened.
Falko felt a chill run down his spine. "Leena! Rhea! Snap out of it!" he barked, realizing the creature's influence was affecting them. 'It's not me, this might be an creature of illusion."
Leena blinked, shaking her head as if coming out of a trance. She rubbed her temple in pain, her voice weak but clear. "It's… it's messing with our minds. Making us see things we desire." She looked at Falko and muttered, "I saw you…"
"Yeah, just like we expected this creature doesn't affect men, so I see it's true form." Falko said grimly. But then he noticed Shalana still staring at the creature, unmoving, her face drained of color. He knew she was not going to be useful in this battle.
Leena's mind clicked. "No… it's not just imitating. It's showing us what we want most." Her voice shook as she heard a soft whisper in her ear, a voice laced with sultry intent. It was Falko's voice—but warped, darker, seductive. "Leena, drop the barrier... come to me... let's talk about your favourite spells!"
Her breath hitched, her body trembling. She raised her hand toward the magical barrier she had created between them and the creature, her eyes clouding with an intoxicated look.
"No!" Falko rushed to her side, gripping her shoulders tightly. "Leena, don't! Snap out of it!"
Leena's body jerked at the sound of his voice. She blinked rapidly, shaking her head as if fighting off the creature's influence. "It... it was inside my mind..." she whispered, horror lacing her voice.
The creature laughed darkly, its gaze locking onto Falko. It took a step forward, but Falko didn't hesitate. Gripping the dagger Shalana had given him, he stepped out of the barrier, charging at the creature with determined speed.
He knew if he couldn't do something about it, none of the women in this room would survive this encounter. He had no idea whether the creature would kill them or why it was trying to seduce all these women, but Falko had to do something.
"Falko, wait!" Leena shouted, but it was too late.
Falko ran toward the creature, his dagger poised to strike. But just as he was about to make contact, something blocked his attack—a sharp metallic clang echoed in the room. Falko looked up in shock. His dagger had struck against Rhea's sword.
"Rhea?!" he exclaimed, his heart sinking. "What are you doing?!"
Rhea's eyes were glazed, her body trembling, but her stance was firm. "I won't let anyone hurt Falko..." she murmured, her voice distant and entranced. "Nobody touch him!"
Falko's stomach churned. The creature's influence had reached her as well. The same seductive whispers that had nearly taken Leena now controlled Rhea, and she stood between him and the creature, protecting what she believed was Falko.
"Rhea, my sister! Please protect me from this scoundrel!" It kept whispering those words to Rhea in a pleading tone, which muddled her mind. She lost sightof the real Falko.
"I need you to snap out of it, Rhea!" Falko pleaded, but her sword was steady, her expression unyielding.
"Stay back!" she warned, her voice low. "I won't let anyone hurt him..."
Falko felt a wave of frustration. He knew he couldn't harm Rhea, but he had to get past her somehow. This creature was far more dangerous than he'd initially thought. Its power didn't just lie in its strength; it could twist minds, bend minds, and manipulate the deepest desires of its victims.
Then, a familiar voice echoed in Falko's mind, cutting through the chaos like a sharp blade.
[What are you doing, Falko?]
Tyrant's voice was laced with disdain.
[Hesitating in the face of your goal? Do you truly believe you can ascend to power by coddling the weak? You'll never sit on a throne with such softness in your heart. Do what you must do. Strike the creature even if it means going against people you love.]
Falko gritted his teeth, pushing back against the intrusive thoughts.
[I won't sacrifice my people, Tyrant. Not for power. Not for anything.]
Tyrant sneered.
[Naïve. That's what you are. Power doesn't come without sacrifice. You think you can protect everyone? Fool. A true king knows when to cut ties, even if it means cutting down those closest to him. By killing this creature you can get more influence than you ever hope for. You should kill this creature, not these women.]
Falko's resolve hardened. "I won't sit on a throne built on the bodies of those I care about," he muttered under his breath. "That's not the kind of ruler I'll be or not the kind of revenge I will take. My revenge will have a happy ending."
Tyrant's voice faded with a disapproving tsk, but Falko didn't care. He had made his choice.
Suddenly, Leena stumbled forward, still clutching her head in pain, but she regained her composure. Her eyes, though strained, were clear as she stepped beside Falko. "I'll hold Rhea back," she said, her voice steady despite the strain. "You need to deal with the creature."
Falko nodded, grateful for her support. "Be careful. This thing's more dangerous than we thought."
"I know," Leena said, casting a glance at Rhea, who still stood between them, sword raised. "I'll keep her at bay. Just end this."
With Leena's help, Falko had a chance. He turned his attention back to the creature, his grip tightening around his dagger as he prepared to face it once more. The creature hissed in frustration, its influence weakening over the women as Leena's barrier held strong. But the battle was far from over.
Falko stepped forward, determination blazing in his eyes. He would not let this creature win.