Darkness enveloped Xander like a suffocating blanket. His mind swam in a haze, the events of the past few moments blurring together in a chaotic whirlpool. Rhylen's words echoed in his head—Her life… or your freedom.
Zara. Her face contorted in pain, her body convulsing as the cabal's dark magic tore at her. The image burned in his mind, igniting a fire deep within him. He couldn't let her die. Not after everything they'd been through. But the weight of Rhylen's ultimatum pressed down on him, squeezing the breath from his lungs.
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the clearing. Instead, he stood in a shadowy realm—an empty void where time and space seemed to twist and warp. The air was thick, like tar, and every step felt like trudging through quicksand. The only thing that pierced the endless blackness was a faint, flickering light in the distance.
Instinctively, Xander moved toward it, the echo of his footsteps swallowed by the abyss. As he drew closer, the light revealed a familiar figure standing beneath it—a woman with flowing white hair, her back to him.
"Zara?" Xander's voice trembled.
The figure didn't move at first, but then she slowly turned, her face hidden in shadow. It wasn't Zara.
"Who are you?" Xander asked, his hand instinctively moving toward the hilt of his sword.
The woman stepped forward, her eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. She was both beautiful and terrifying, her presence commanding yet serene.
"I am what lies within," she said, her voice soft, almost musical. "I am the force that stirs in your veins, the power you seek but do not yet understand."
Xander's heart raced. "What are you talking about? I don't have time for this. I need to save Zara."
The woman's gaze hardened. "If you wish to save her, you must first understand the power you wield. The cabal has given you a gift, but it is not yet fully yours. You are on the edge of greatness, but you teeter on the brink of destruction."
"What do you mean?" Xander asked, his frustration mounting.
She stepped closer, her glowing eyes piercing through him. "The power to consume others, to take their abilities by devouring them—it is not just a curse. It is a gateway. But every choice you make will determine whether you become a savior… or a monster."
Xander's pulse quickened. "I'm not a monster," he whispered, more to himself than to her.
The woman smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "We shall see. But for now, you must make a choice—much like the one Rhylen has given you. If you wish to unlock the full potential of your power, you must consume… her."
Xander staggered back, his breath catching in his throat. "What?"
"Zara," the woman said, her voice unyielding. "She is bound to you, tied to your fate. By consuming her, you will gain more than just her powers—you will ascend beyond the limits of your humanity. But in doing so, you will lose a piece of your soul. A part of you will die."
Xander's stomach churned, nausea rising in his throat. "I would never… I would never hurt her!"
"And yet, the cabal will force your hand," she replied coldly. "Rhylen knows your bond with her. He will use her against you, until you have no choice but to devour her—or let her die."
Xander's world spun. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "There has to be another way."
The woman's gaze softened, but only slightly. "Perhaps. But power always comes with a price. You must decide what you are willing to pay."
Before Xander could respond, the void around him began to shift and collapse, the darkness swirling violently as the light faded.
With a gasp, Xander jolted awake, back in the clearing. His heart hammered in his chest, and his clothes were drenched in cold sweat. For a moment, he wasn't sure if what he'd seen had been real or some twisted hallucination. But the chilling weight in his chest told him otherwise.
He looked around. Lyra and Kael were still fighting off the shadowy figures of the cabal, but it was clear they were losing ground. Rhylen stood calmly on the edge of the battle, watching with cold amusement as Zara writhed on the ground, her face pale and twisted with pain.
Xander scrambled to his feet, his legs shaky beneath him. "Zara!" he called out, rushing to her side.
Her eyes fluttered open, her breath shallow. "Xander…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I'm here," he said, his voice breaking. "I'm not going to let them take you."
Rhylen's voice cut through the chaos. "Time's up, Xander. Make your choice."
Xander's mind raced. The woman's words echoed in his head—Consume her, and unlock your full potential. Or watch her die. The thought of devouring Zara, of taking her power at the cost of her life, made him sick. But Rhylen was right—he was running out of time.
Zara's hand weakly grasped his, her fingers cold. "Don't… let them win," she gasped.
His throat tightened. "I won't," he promised. But even as he said the words, he knew the truth. He couldn't save her—not as he was now.
Unless…
Xander's hand trembled as he reached for his sword. He could feel the weight of the decision crushing him, threatening to tear him apart. He had to do something—anything—or he'd lose her forever.
But then, in the chaos, something strange happened.
Zara's eyes snapped open, glowing with an intense, radiant light. The convulsions stopped, and she sat up, her body surrounded by a shimmering aura. The dark energy that had been consuming her seemed to reverse, retreating back into the shadows.
"What…?" Xander whispered, stunned.
Zara stood, her face serene, her eyes glowing with power. "It's not over yet," she said, her voice strong and unwavering. "I won't let them control me."
Rhylen's smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing. "Impossible…"
Before anyone could react, Zara raised her hands, and a blinding wave of light erupted from her, washing over the entire clearing. The shadowy figures of the cabal were thrown back, disintegrating into nothingness as the light consumed them.
Rhylen staggered, shielding his eyes from the blast of light. "What have you done?" he snarled.
Zara stepped forward, her gaze locked on him. "You underestimated me," she said, her voice filled with resolve. "And now, you'll pay the price."
Rhylen's expression twisted with fury, but before he could react, Zara unleashed another surge of light. It struck him with the force of a tidal wave, sending him crashing into the trees with a deafening crack.
As the light faded, Xander stood frozen, his heart pounding. Zara—his friend, his protector—had just tapped into a power far beyond anything he'd ever seen. But how? What had changed?
Zara turned to him, her eyes still glowing with that unearthly light. But something in her expression had shifted. She was calm, too calm.
"I'm… fine," she said, but her voice sounded distant, almost hollow.
Xander's chest tightened with dread. He had saved her, but at what cost?
And then he saw it—the faint shadow curling around the edges of her aura, like a dark cloud creeping into her light.
Something wasn't right.
"Zara," he whispered, stepping closer. "What's happening to you?"
She looked at him, her glowing eyes flickering for a moment, as if she wasn't quite sure herself.
And then, without warning, her body stiffened, and her eyes rolled back in her head. She collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"Zara!" Xander shouted, rushing to her side.
But this time, no amount of calling her name could wake her.