"Tara, run!"
Kaelash's voice shattered the stillness of the room, resonating with an unnatural depth that sent a chill racing down Tara's spine.
She froze mid-step, the coffee mug slipping from her hands. It hit the tiled floor and shattered, the sound jarringly loud in the oppressive silence. Her head whipped around toward Kaelash—or at least the creature she thought was Kaelash.
His warm brown eyes were gone, replaced by an otherworldly glow that burned with fiery intensity. His familiar scruffy form shimmered, as though it were struggling to stay in its mundane shape.
"What… what's happening?" Tara's voice trembled, barely audible.
Kaelash let out a low growl, a sound too deep, too resonant to belong to any dog. "They've found you," he said, his voice urgent and commanding.
Tara stumbled backward, her mind racing. Who were 'they'? What was he talking about? Before she could ask, the sound of heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed from the corridor outside her apartment.
The door didn't just open—it exploded inward, splintering under the force of an unnatural wind.
Two figures stepped into the room, their presence chilling the air.
The first was a tall man, sharply dressed in an impeccable black suit. His aristocratic features were striking, but his golden eyes betrayed something far from human. They glowed faintly, exuding menace and an aura of absolute authority. Every movement he made was deliberate, calculated.
The second figure was the polar opposite. A hulking brute with a shaved head and a web of scars etched across his face, he carried a twisted staff that pulsed with dark, malevolent energy. His sheer size and the palpable dread that radiated from him made Tara's chest tighten.
"Miss Vedant," the man in the suit said, his voice smooth and chilling. "It's time you came with us."
Tara's heart thundered in her chest. She instinctively looked to Kaelash, who had positioned himself between her and the intruders. His fur bristled, and his glowing eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?" Tara demanded, her voice trembling but defiant.
The man smiled coldly. "I am Anveshak," he said, inclining his head slightly. "And this," he gestured toward the brute, "is Raktim. We're here to prevent something catastrophic. You."
Tara's breath caught. "What?"
Her hands fumbled for anything within reach. Her fingers brushed against a shard of her broken coffee mug, and she gripped it tightly, the sharp edges digging into her palm.
Kaelash growled, his voice reverberating with raw power. "You will not touch her."
Anveshak's smirk deepened. "Ah, the loyal vahan," he said, his tone mocking. "Still clinging to your futile purpose." He raised a hand, and a crackling bolt of energy sparked to life in his palm.
Before Tara could react, Kaelash lunged. His body blurred mid-air, transforming in a breathtaking display of raw energy. His limbs elongated, his fur shifting into armor-like scales that glimmered with an ethereal glow. By the time he landed in front of Anveshak, Kaelash was no longer a dog. He stood tall, a humanoid warrior radiating power, his clawed hands outstretched as a barrier of light erupted between them.
"Tara, go!" Kaelash roared, his voice now human, yet layered with a guttural growl that sent shivers down her spine.
But Tara couldn't move. She stood frozen, her mind grappling with the impossible sight before her. The loyal, scruffy dog who had been her companion for years was now a towering warrior, terrifying and awe-inspiring all at once.
Anveshak laughed, the sound cold and devoid of mirth. "You think you can protect her? You couldn't save her the last time."
Kaelash's snarl ripped through the room, his claws slashing toward Anveshak with deadly precision. The cult leader sidestepped gracefully, his golden eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
"You've grown weaker, Kaelash," Anveshak taunted, his tone dripping with disdain. "Centuries of hiding in that pathetic form have dulled your edge."
Kaelash didn't respond. His movements were swift and relentless, forcing Anveshak to retreat under a flurry of strikes.
Meanwhile, Raktim turned his attention to Tara. He raised his staff, the runes glowing ominously. "The goddess belongs to us," he growled, his voice like gravel grinding against stone.
Tara tightened her grip on the shard in her hand, her instincts screaming at her to flee. But something deeper—something primal—rooted her in place.
"You don't belong here," she said, her voice shaking but firm.
Raktim sneered, his scarred face twisting into a cruel grin. "And you don't belong among mortals, goddess."
He swung his staff, sending a wave of dark energy hurtling toward her. Tara braced herself, raising her arms instinctively.
But instead of pain, she felt a warmth bloom deep within her chest. The dark energy dissipated the moment it reached her, scattering harmlessly into the air.
Raktim froze, his expression shifting to one of shock. "Impossible…"
Anveshak's head snapped toward her, his smirk vanishing as his eyes darkened with something far more dangerous. "It seems she's awakening faster than I anticipated."
Kaelash seized the moment, delivering a devastating blow to Anveshak's chest. The cult leader staggered but quickly regained his footing, his gaze burning with fury.
"This isn't over," Anveshak said, his voice low and venomous. "We'll be back for you, Tara Vedant. And next time, not even your vahan will save you."
With a flick of his wrist, he and Raktim vanished in a swirl of black smoke, leaving behind the acrid stench of burning incense.
The silence that followed was deafening. Tara sank to her knees, the shard of the coffee mug slipping from her bloodied hand.
Kaelash returned to his canine form, his glowing eyes softening as he approached her. "Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice gentle now.
Tara shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "What just happened? Who were they? What… what are you?"
Kaelash sighed deeply and lowered himself to sit beside her. "There's so much to explain," he said softly. "But for now, you need to rest. The journey ahead will not be easy."
Tara stared at him, searching his eyes for answers. But all she found was an unwavering loyalty—and a deep, aching sorrow.
"Rest?" she whispered, her voice hollow. "How can I rest when everything I thought I knew is a lie?"
Kaelash didn't respond. He simply stayed by her side, his presence a quiet anchor in the storm of her thoughts.
Deep within her, an ember of something unnameable began to flicker—fear, determination, and a fragile thread of hope.