Sword of Darkness
The night was approaching. Raven Varros could feel it creeping up on him, clawing at the edges of his mind. He clenched his fists, his crimson eyes flickering in the dim light of the setting sun. Beside him, Selene Evernight and Aria Blackthorn walked cautiously, both aware that once darkness fell, Raven would no longer be the same.
Their journey had only just begun, but the weight of it was already pressing down on them. The Night's Embrace had proven to be a dangerous enemy, and now, with a mysterious new ally in Aria, their path had become even more uncertain.
"So, tell me, Aria," Raven said, his voice low. "Why are you really here?"
Aria Blackthorn smirked, adjusting the dark cloak that draped over her shoulders. "I already told you, I'm here because I'm interested in your story. You're walking a fine line between control and madness. I want to see which side wins."
Selene frowned. "That's not something to take lightly. He's suffering, and we're trying to help him."
Aria shrugged. "Then help him. But don't expect me to pretend like this isn't entertaining."
Raven narrowed his eyes. "You're playing with fire, Aria. If I lose control, you might regret sticking around."
Aria chuckled. "Oh, I'm counting on it."
The Curse Awakens
As the last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon, Raven felt it—the shift. His breath became uneven, his muscles tensed, and the familiar, haunting voice of Nyx filled his head.
"The night is here, Raven. Let me in."
He dropped to one knee, gripping his head as darkness swirled around him. Selene rushed to his side, panic in her voice. "Raven! Fight it!"
But it was already too late. His fingers tightened around the hilt of Nyx, and the sword pulsed in response. A surge of dark energy erupted from his body, pushing Selene and Aria back.
When Raven stood up again, his eyes were no longer his own. They glowed with an unholy crimson, his aura dark and suffocating. The kind-hearted warrior from the morning was gone—only the cursed killer remained.
Aria whistled. "Well, that's terrifying."
Selene took a step forward, her hands trembling. "Raven… Please… You have to control it!"
But the creature that now wore Raven's body only smirked. "Control? Why would I need that when the real fun is about to begin?"
The Hunt Begins
Before Selene could react, Raven vanished from sight—only to reappear behind her in an instant. She barely had time to dodge as his sword sliced through the air, missing her by inches.
Aria rolled her eyes. "Well, this just got complicated."
Selene spun around, her magic flaring as she summoned a protective barrier around herself. "I won't let you kill anyone tonight, Raven!"
Raven laughed darkly, his voice colder than the wind that swept through the trees. "Who said you have a choice?"
Without warning, he lunged at her again, moving so fast that even Aria was caught off guard. Selene barely managed to raise her staff in time, blocking his attack with a powerful burst of light magic.
The force of their clash sent shockwaves through the ground, shaking the very trees around them. Selene gritted her teeth, sweat dripping down her forehead as she struggled to hold him back.
"Damn it, Raven! This isn't you!" she yelled.
But Raven only smirked, pressing down harder. "Maybe this is who I was meant to be all along."
A Desperate Gamble
Aria, watching from the sidelines, sighed. "Alright, enough of this."
With a swift motion, she raised her hand, and shadows erupted from the ground, wrapping around Raven's limbs. He snarled, thrashing against them, but for the first time, he hesitated.
Selene took her chance. With a deep breath, she stepped forward and placed her hand against Raven's chest.
"Come back to me," she whispered.
The words cut through the darkness like a blade. Raven's eyes flickered—just for a second. A memory surfaced. The warmth of Selene's touch. The feeling of safety. The person he used to be.
He let out a shuddering breath, his grip on Nyx loosening.
And then, in an instant, the darkness shattered.
Raven collapsed to his knees, his breaths ragged, his body shaking. Selene knelt beside him, her heart pounding in her chest. "You're back," she whispered, relief washing over her.
Aria crossed her arms. "That was reckless, but impressive. I'll give you that."
Raven looked up at Selene, his expression conflicted. "I don't know how much longer I can keep this up…"
Selene took his hand in hers, squeezing it tightly. "Then we'll find a way. Together."
For the first time in a long while, Raven allowed himself to hope.
But deep inside him, Nyx laughed. The battle was far from over.
To Be Continued…....
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