The journey had taken them deep into unfamiliar terrain. The air was thick with a chill that seemed to crawl into Lila's bones, and the landscape stretched out in every direction, barren and desolate. No sign of civilization for miles. Just the eerie silence of a world untouched by time, untouched by the chaos they carried with them.
Lucian led the way, his steps steady and measured, his senses constantly alert. His eyes never strayed from their path, though Lila could feel the tension in his movements. The strain was becoming too much for both of them. Even Lucian, ever composed, couldn't hide the unease that gripped him. They were close, she could tell. Too close to whatever lay ahead.
It had been days since they left the clearing where the druids had fallen, and Lila's mind had only grown heavier with every step. The serpent's magic pulsed under her skin, a constant reminder of the power she had, and the price it demanded.
She could feel it calling to her, like a whisper just beyond the edges of her consciousness. It was so easy to surrender, to give in to the hunger. It would take just one moment of weakness, one crack in her resolve, and she would be lost. The serpent would consume her, and there would be no going back.
"Lila," Lucian's voice broke through her thoughts, sharp and commanding. "Stay focused."
She blinked, the fog of her thoughts lifting. Lucian had stopped ahead, his back to her, eyes scanning the horizon. She hadn't even noticed they'd reached the outskirts of the forest. The trees here were ancient, their trunks thick and twisted, their branches like gnarled fingers clawing at the sky.
"Something's wrong," he murmured, his voice low.
Lila's heart skipped a beat. She stepped forward, drawing in a steadying breath. "What do you mean?"
Lucian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he crouched down, his fingers brushing against the ground, where the dirt had been disturbed. His sharp eyes traced the markings on the earth—scratches, deep gouges, signs of a struggle.
"Look around," he said, his voice colder than she'd ever heard it. "We're not alone."
Lila's pulse quickened. Her instincts screamed at her to stay alert. She looked around, scanning the trees for any signs of movement, but everything seemed still. Too still.
And then, she felt it—a presence. Dark, predatory, and unmistakably powerful. Her breath hitched, and the serpent stirred, a restless energy filling her veins.
Lucian stood up, his hand on his sword, eyes narrowed. "We're being watched."
Suddenly, a voice cut through the air—a smooth, mocking tone that seemed to come from everywhere at once. "Well, well… what do we have here?"
Lila tensed, every muscle in her body coiled like a spring. The serpent's power pulsed, urging her to strike, but she held back. It was too early. She had to remain in control.
Out of the shadows, a figure emerged—tall, cloaked in black, with an elegant, almost ethereal air about him. His hair was long and dark, his eyes glimmering with a strange, predatory light. A grin spread across his lips, and Lila could feel his gaze on her, like a predator studying its prey.
"Lucian Blackthorn," the man said, his voice smooth like silk. "And the girl with the serpent's kiss. How quaint."
Lucian's grip on his sword tightened, but he didn't draw it. "Who are you?"
The man chuckled, the sound echoing around them, sending a shiver down Lila's spine. "I'm someone you don't want to meet. But I'm afraid it's a little too late for that." His eyes slid to Lila, and something in his gaze made her skin crawl. "And you, dear, are far more interesting than I expected."
Lila's breath caught in her throat. There was something in the air—something ancient and dark that pressed against her mind, making it harder to think clearly. She felt the serpent stir in her, its presence growing stronger in the presence of this stranger.
The man took a step forward, his movement fluid, almost predatory. "You've taken something that doesn't belong to you," he continued. "And now, I've come to take it back."
Lila's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing. The serpent. He knew about the serpent.
Lucian stepped forward, drawing his sword with a fluid motion, his eyes locked on the man. "Not today."
The man raised a hand, and the air shifted. A ripple of dark energy spread outward, warping the very fabric of reality around them. Lila's stomach twisted, the air thickening as if it were being pulled into some unseen void.
"I think you'll find that you have no say in this matter, Lucian," the man said, his smile widening. "I've been waiting a long time for this moment."
Before Lila could react, the man flicked his wrist, and a wave of dark energy surged toward them. Lucian moved quickly, parrying the attack with a practiced ease, but the force of it sent him stumbling backward. Lila stepped forward instinctively, the serpent's power surging through her veins.
"No!" Lucian shouted, his voice hoarse. "Don't—"
But it was too late. Lila had already called on the serpent.
The world around them seemed to slow. Her senses sharpened. The serpent's magic flowed through her, a torrent of destructive energy, and with a single thought, she released it. A blast of raw, focused power shot forward, colliding with the dark energy, creating an explosion of light and shadow that sent ripples through the air.
The man's laughter rang out, a dark, cold sound. "Impressive," he said, stepping out of the dust and smoke unharmed, the shadows swirling around him like a cloak. "But it will take more than that to defeat me."
Lucian stood beside Lila, his eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
The man's grin only deepened. "I am the one who's going to claim what's mine." He gestured toward Lila. "The serpent belongs to me, girl. It was always meant to be mine. And now, I'm here to take it back."
Lila's pulse quickened. The serpent. The man's words were clear—he had been waiting for her, for the serpent's power, for the right moment to take it from her.
But she wasn't going to let that happen.
With a growl, Lila called on the serpent's magic again, but this time, it was different. The power didn't feel like a weapon. It felt like a bond. The serpent was not just a force inside her—it was part of her. And no one was going to take it from her.
She stood tall, meeting the man's eyes. "I'm not yours to claim."
The man's eyes flickered with interest, a dangerous gleam in them. "We'll see about that."
The storm was only just beginning.