The dark energy around Vell pulsed erratically, responding to his unease. Despite the hatred burning inside him, his instincts screamed that this woman was different from anyone he'd faced before. His wounds throbbed, reminding him of his current state.
"You seem troubled," she said, her voice carrying no mockery, just cold observation. "Is this dark power not working as well as you hoped?"
His eyes narrowed. The casual way she spoke about his ability suggested she knew more than she should. "What do you know about it?"
She took another step forward, and the air itself seemed to bend around her. "More than you. That darkness you're channeling... it's just a fraction of what you once were. A shadow of true power."
His energy lashed out instinctively, but she didn't even bother dodging. The dark tendrils simply passed through the space where she had been. He hadn't even seen her move – one moment she was there, the next she was behind him.
