"What was that?" Her inquisitiveness was almost getting the best of her.
"Is this how you humans get on edge about an impending danger?" He teased her.
"Oh, shut up, Kaelor, and tell me what it is that you saw!" She pushed.
"It was a crawling monster?"
She paused for a moment, puzzled, and pondered on what he had said. Instantly, she raised a brow in amusement…
"You mean it was a rat?!" She bursted out laughing. "You really are primitive!" She said, walking away, still laughing and imitating what he said.
***
Kaelor sat legs crossed in the poorly lit basement, the light of a burning candle casted reflections on the cold stone walls. His mind, though jumbled with the efforts of integrating into the human world, was now strongly fixed on the shard that lay in his open palm. Its blackened surface throbbed slightly, as though it breathed with a life of its own. He could feel its call— a malevolent hush sound that tugged at the edges of his soul, urging him to embrace its power.
The energy around him felt intense, its power seeped into the room. It wasn't just an object. It was his legacy, his curse, and, more importantly, his weapon. A deep voice whispered in his mind:
"You've wasted enough time with these feeble mortals, Kaelor. It's time you recognized your purpose."
He inhaled deeply as it suddenly began to shift. A hazy apparition materialized before him, its translucent form settled into that of an aged wizard, hunched yet radiating immense power. His sharp eyes squinted as recognition dawned on him.
"Hosephat," he said in a tone that was neither welcoming nor dismissive. "What do you want?"
Hosephat's spectral form hovered closer, the lines of his face were ingrained with centuries of wisdom and malice combined.
"What I want is irrelevant. What you need is focus. You've allowed these humans to dilute your purpose. You will never destroy those who hunt you, unless you fully master the talisman's powers."
"I've been practicing. Control takes time—"
"You don't have time!" Hosephat snapped, his voice became thunderous and reverberating through the room. "The enemies of your past, and the hunters of this world are closing in on you. Use it. Speak the incantations I taught you in your former life. Only then will you command its full potential."
Kaelor's chest heaved as his conflicting desires waged war within him. But deep down, he knew Hosephat was right. It wasn't just a tool, it was his lifeline. The only thing keeping him alive, and ensuring his survival. He nodded in determination.
Hosephat raised a hand, and a wave of ancient runes blazed across the walls, their blinding lights illuminated the room in an eerie color.
"Focus, Kaelor! The power is yours to wield, but it must bend to your will, not the other way around."
Kaelor placed the talisman on the ground before him. Its light intensified, tendrils of black mist rose like snakes charmed by an unseen flute. He muttered the incantation Hosephat recited, and his voice was low and guttural. The runes began to vibrate, the energy in the room got more volatile with each syllable.
The shard's mist expanded, forming a swirling vortex that sizzled with raw vitality. His hands trembled as he struggled to keep control, as sweat began to form on his forehead.
"I can feel it!" he gasped.
"Do not feel—command!" Hosephat shouted.
Kaelor yelled the final words of the incantation, and it exploded with power, releasing a shockwave that sent him sprawling backward. He landed hard on the floor, gasping for air. The shard floated in midair, spinning and shaking with an ominous radiance.
Hosephat's form shuddered.
"You are beginning to understand. But remember, Kaelor, this power demands discipline. Without it, the shard will control you instead." With those final words, the spectral figure faded into nothingness.
Kaelor stared at it, breathing harshly. The power it offered was intoxicating, but Hosephat's warning remained on his mind.
"Discipline," he muttered to himself.
From the darkness of the stairwell, a figure appeared. Joan had been watching the entire time, her body was pressed against the cold stone wall. Her wide eyes glinted with curiosity, fear, and something else— an undeniable fascination. She had finally stumbled upon the secret he had been hiding all along, and now she couldn't look away.
His sharp ears caught the faintest creak of the wooden step. His head snapped toward the stairwell, his gaze pierced into the darkness.
"Who's there?"
She froze, as her heart drummed in her chest. For a moment, she considered running away, but her curiosity held her in place. Slowly, she stepped into the faint light.
His expression deepened when he saw her.
"You shouldn't be here," he growled in a cold tone.
"And you shouldn't be… that," she shot back, pointing at the talisman still moving in midair.
He snatched it. Its light dimmed as he shoved it back into his pocket. He stepped closer to her,
"What did you see?"
"Everything," she said defiantly.
He narrowed his eyes on her.
"You shouldn't meddle in things you don't understand. It's dangerous."
She crossed her arms, trying to mask her fear.
"And you shouldn't hide who you are. Pretending to be human won't work if you keep playing with… whatever that is."
His lips twitched into a smirk.
"You think I care about fitting in with your kind?"
"I think you care more than you let on," she said. She stepped closer, searching his face. "Why else would you stay here?"
He stiffened, her words cutting deeper than he anticipated. He turned away from her.
"You wouldn't understand… I don't expect you to."
"Then help me understand," she insisted.
He hesitated. He couldn't afford to trust her, or anyone. But there was something about Joan's unwavering stares that disarmed him, if only for a moment…
"You're asking questions that don't have easy answers," he said finally.
"Maybe I'm not looking for easy answers," she replied.
He met her eyes, the tension between them shook like an invisible force. He opened his mouth to speak, but a sudden noise from upstairs ruined the moment.
Her head motioned toward the sound, but his instincts took over. His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist as he pulled her behind him.
"Stay here," he ordered firmly.
"But—"
"Stay here!" he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.
His eyes darted toward the stairwell, and his body tensed up as he prepared for whatever—or whoever—was coming.
"Hey guys! Finally caught the rat that's been bothering us the whole time." Lyle announced, as he emerged from the shadows.
Kaelor and Joan looked at each other, and started laughing hysterically.
"Did I miss something?" Lyle inquired, looking confused.
"Don't worry about it." Joan responded, dragging Kaelor along with her.