Xander sat in silence as dawn began to creep over the Shadowlands. The faint light turned the ruins into eerie silhouettes, and the cold air bit at his skin. He hadn't slept after Lilith's visit. Her words lingered like poison, gnawing at the edges of his mind.
"When even those closest to you betray you…"
He glanced at Aria and Celestia, still asleep by the dying fire. Could he trust them? Aria was unpredictable, and Celestia had her secrets. Lilith's words had planted a seed of doubt, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake it.
"Couldn't sleep either, huh?" Aria's voice broke the quiet. She stretched lazily, her emerald eyes catching the first rays of sunlight.
Xander shook his head. "Just thinking."
"Dangerous habit," she teased, sitting up. Her hair fell messily around her face, but somehow, she still managed to look stunning. Her smirk returned as she studied him. "What's on your mind? Don't tell me you're still hung up on the vampire queen."
He hesitated, then shrugged. "She said some things I can't stop thinking about."
Aria's expression darkened slightly. "Let me guess. She got in your head with all that cryptic talk about power and betrayal?"
Xander looked at her, surprised.
"She's a manipulator," Aria said bluntly. "It's what vampires do. They play with your mind, twist your thoughts until you don't know what's real anymore. Trust me, I've dealt with her kind before."
"You sound like you've got a history with her," Xander said.
Aria's smirk faltered, replaced by a flicker of something darker. "Maybe," she said vaguely, looking away. "But that's a story for another time."
Celestia's Concern
As the sun rose higher, Celestia joined them. Her golden aura seemed stronger in the daylight, and the sight of her always brought a strange sense of calm to Xander.
"Good morning," she greeted, her voice as soothing as ever. But her serene expression quickly turned to concern when she saw the tension between Xander and Aria. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing we can't handle," Aria said breezily, standing up and stretching. "Right, stranger?"
Xander gave a noncommittal grunt, his thoughts still tangled.
Celestia frowned, her blue eyes searching his face. "Xander, if something is troubling you, you can tell us."
He met her gaze and felt a pang of guilt. Celestia's kindness was genuine—he knew that much. But Lilith's words lingered. Could her motives really be so pure?
"It's nothing," he lied. "Let's just focus on getting out of the Shadowlands."
Celestia didn't look convinced, but she nodded. "Very well. But remember, you're not alone in this."
The Shadowlands Test
As they ventured deeper into the Shadowlands, the air grew heavier, and the oppressive darkness seemed to close in around them. Even Celestia's light barely pierced the gloom, and Aria's usual bravado was noticeably subdued.
The ruins gave way to a dense forest of twisted, blackened trees. The ground was soft and uneven, and the faint sound of whispers seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.
"This place is alive," Aria muttered, her voice low. "And it doesn't like us."
Xander felt it too—a sense of being watched, as if the forest itself was studying them.
Then came the attack.
A monstrous creature burst from the shadows—a grotesque amalgamation of claws, fangs, and writhing shadows. Its eyes glowed red, and its roar sent a shiver down Xander's spine.
"Wraith beast!" Celestia shouted, her wings flaring as she summoned her divine light.
The creature lunged, its massive claws aiming for Xander. He barely had time to react, raising his sword to block the attack. The impact sent him staggering back, but he quickly recovered, the black flames from his blade flickering to life.
Aria darted around the creature, her movements swift and precise. She struck with her dagger, but the beast's shadowy form seemed to absorb the blow.
"Not working!" she yelled.
"Keep it busy!" Celestia commanded, her hands glowing as she prepared a spell. A golden sigil appeared beneath her feet, and a beam of light shot toward the beast, forcing it back with a pained howl.
Xander saw his chance and charged. He swung his sword with all his strength, the black flames roaring to life as he struck. This time, the blade cut deep, and the creature let out a deafening roar before disintegrating into shadows.
Breathing heavily, Xander lowered his sword. "What was that thing?"
"A manifestation of the darkness here," Celestia said, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "They're drawn to powerful emotions—fear, anger, doubt." She glanced at Xander meaningfully.
Aria smirked, though it lacked her usual humor. "Looks like someone's got a lot on their mind."
Xander ignored her, his gaze fixed on the spot where the creature had vanished. He could feel it—the darkness inside him stirring, feeding off the chaos.
A Fractured Team
That night, as they set up camp, the tension between them reached a breaking point.
"I'm just going to say it," Aria said, her tone sharper than usual. "You're a liability, stranger."
Xander glared at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You've got something inside you," she said, gesturing at him. "Something dangerous. And the more time we spend in this cursed place, the more it's coming out."
"Aria, that's enough," Celestia said, her voice firm.
"No, she's right," Xander said, surprising them both. "I don't know what's happening to me, but it's getting harder to control. Maybe you'd be better off without me."
Celestia stepped forward, her expression softening. "Don't say that, Xander. You're stronger than you think. We're stronger together."
Aria crossed her arms, her emerald eyes flashing. "Yeah, well, let's hope that strength doesn't get us all killed."
Xander said nothing, his jaw tightening as he turned away from the fire.