Vem Arson stood frozen for a moment by the iron door, still clutching Yulia's letter in one hand while the eerie silence settled over the dungeon once more. The narrow hallways stretched into darkness, barely illuminated by flickering torchlight.
Vem had fought monstrous beings and vanquished powerful enemies, something about the Succubus struck deeper, more personal.
The sword in his hand felt heavier than usual. He tightened his grip, feeling the familiar grooves in the hilt, and forced himself to breathe. He had never encountered the Succubus before.
Stories described her as a creature of shadows, lurking where the mind wavered and the heart faltered, preying not just on the body but on the soul itself. Vem had heard these tales all his life, but now it was no longer myth—it was here, it had already made its presence known to Yulia.
He glanced down at her, still crumpled in the corner of her cell, trembling like a bird with broken wings. Her eyes followed him, haunted by whatever terror she had just witnessed. But this wasn't just fear of a ghostly presence.
Without wasting another second, Vem turned from the dungeon and began ascending the narrow, spiraling staircase back into the upper levels of the castle. His thoughts raced.
If the Succubus was after him, then he would need more than just his sword. Vem couldn't afford to fall into her trap. He needed to outthink her, find her before she could strike again.
As he emerged from the underground chambers, he was greeted by the brisk night air seeping through the high windows of the castle. The stars above Cevastein glittered in the dark sky, but their light seemed distant, cold, as though even the heavens were keeping their distance from what lurked below. Vem took a deep breath and scanned the empty corridors ahead. He needed a plan, something to draw her out, to force her into the open.
But before he could contemplate further, he felt a presence approaching. A figure stepped out from the shadows—Valeria, her soft footsteps almost silent on the stone floor. Her face was etched with concern, the golden curls that framed her face falling loosely as if she'd come in a hurry.
"Vem," she said quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper, "I heard the screams. Is it true? Is the Succubus here?"
Vem nodded grimly, not wanting to alarm her but unable to hide the truth. "Yulia saw her," he said, his voice low, "She's real, Valeria. And she's hunting."
Valeria's eyes widened, a flicker of fear passing through them. But she was not one to panic. She straightened, her composure returning swiftly. "Then we don't have much time. We must tell Lord Uwell and gather the council. If the Succubus is truly here, we'll need every ounce of strength we can muster."
Vem hesitated. He had always been the lone warrior, the one to take on dangerous tasks without involving others. But this was different. He couldn't face this alone. Not this time.
"You're right," he said, sheathing his sword. "But we also need to be careful. The Succubus isn't just hunting randomly. I think she wants something." He swallowed, feeling the weight of those words press harder on his chest. "And if that's true, she'll try to exploit my weaknesses, turn everything I care about against me."
Valeria's gaze softened, her concern for him evident in her eyes. "Then we'll protect you, Vem. Whatever she wants, we'll make sure she doesn't get it."
Vem wanted to believe her, but deep down, he knew the battle ahead wouldn't be that simple. The Succubus didn't just strike with claws and fangs—she would slip into their minds, their dreams, twisting their deepest fears and desires. And if she was after him specifically, then she already had the upper hand.
As they made their way toward the council chambers, Vem couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out. He could feel her presence, lurking in the unseen corners of Cevastein, waiting for the perfect moment to strike again. The darkness was her domain, and every shadow seemed to shift with hidden menace.
But one thing was clear: he couldn't let the Succubus win. Whatever she wanted, whatever game she was playing, Vem would face her head-on. And though the path ahead was shrouded in uncertainty and fear, he would not let her take what mattered most—not Yulia, not Valeria, and not himself.