The Hunt Begins*
I stared at the cryptic message scrawled on the wall, my mind racing with possibilities. "Meet me at the old windmill on the outskirts of town at midnight. Come alone." The words seemed to leap off the page, echoing in my mind like a challenge.
Who was Sabine, and what did she know about Valois? I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking into a trap, but something about her words had sparked a sense of curiosity within me.
I turned to Zephyr and Lyra, who were watching me with concern etched on their faces. "Guys, I need to tell you something," I said, my voice low.
Zephyr's eyes narrowed. "What is it, Kael?"
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Sabine's words had left me with a sense of unease.
"I met someone," I said finally. "A woman named Sabine. She claims to have information about Valois."
Lyra's eyes widened. "What kind of information?"
I shook my head. "I don't know. But she wants me to meet her at the old windmill at midnight. Alone."
Zephyr's face darkened. "Kael, you can't go alone. It's a trap."
But I knew I had to go. Something about Sabine's words had sparked a sense of curiosity within me.
"I'll be fine," I said, trying to reassure them. "I'll take my sword and—"
Lyra's hand on my arm stopped me. "Kael, listen to Zephyr. We don't know anything about Sabine or her motives."
I sighed, knowing they were right. But something about Sabine's words had left me with a sense of unease.
"Okay," I said finally. "I'll take you both with me. But we need to be careful."
Zephyr nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. "We'll watch your back, Kael."
Lyra smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "And I'll make sure you don't get too reckless."
Together, the three of us set out for the old windmill, our senses on high alert. As we approached the windmill, I could feel a sense of unease settling over me.
Something was off.
But I pushed aside my doubts, focusing on the task at hand. We needed to know what Sabine knew about Valois.
As we entered the windmill, I saw Sabine waiting for us. She was dressed in a long, flowing cloak, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief.
"Welcome, Kael," she said, her voice low. "I see you brought friends."
I nodded, my hand on the hilt of my sword. "I don't trust easily."
Sabine smiled, revealing razor-sharp fangs. "I like that about you."
Zephyr and Lyra exchanged a wary glance, but I just nodded. "What do you know about Valois?"
Sabine's eyes seemed to gleam with a hint of excitement. "I know his secrets," she said. "And I know how to defeat him."
I leaned in, my heart racing with anticipation. "Tell me."
Sabine's smile grew wider. "Valois's power comes from a ancient artifact," she said. "A relic of darkness that amplifies his abilities."
Lyra's eyes narrowed. "What kind of relic?"
Sabine's eyes seemed to cloud over, as if memories were rising to the surface. "A relic forged in the depths of hell," she said. "A relic that holds the power of the damned."
Zephyr's face darkened. "We need to find that relic."
Sabine nodded, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I can help you. But we need to be careful. Valois has many minions, and they will stop at nothing to protect him."
I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. We had a lead, and we needed to follow it.
"Let's do this," I said, my voice firm.
Sabine smiled, revealing her fangs. "Let's hunt."
Together, the four of us set out into the night, our senses on high alert. We knew we were walking into danger, but we were ready.
For the first time in years, I felt a sense of hope. We might actually have a chance to defeat Valois.
But as we walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. That Valois was waiting for us, his eyes fixed on us like a predator.
I pushed aside my doubts, focusing on the task at hand. We needed to find that relic, and we needed to find it fast.
The hunt had begun.