Lira's hands still tingled from the surge of power she had unleashed. The hunters lay motionless, their bodies twitching from the aftershocks of her magic. She had barely begun to understand the artifact's power, yet it had already saved her life.
Kael was the first to break the silence. "That wasn't just the artifact," he said, his gaze fixed on her. "That was you."
Lira swallowed hard. "I don't even know what I did."
Nyra sheathed her sword and stepped forward. "You channeled its energy through your bloodline. This means the relic has truly bonded with you. That power is yours to command—if you learn how to control it."
Lira wasn't sure if that was reassuring or terrifying.
A low growl echoed through the alley. One of the vampire hunters, the largest of the group, forced itself to its feet, its eyes glowing with pure hatred. Despite its wounds, it showed no pain—only hunger.
Kael moved fast, but before he could strike, the creature let out a guttural hiss and spat, "You think this ends here?" Its voice was gravelly, laced with something ancient. "She carries the relic, but she does not understand its cost."
Lira tightened her grip on the artifact. "What are you talking about?"
The hunter sneered, its lips pulling back to reveal long, jagged fangs. "The relic is not a gift. It is a curse. One that will demand more from you than you are willing to give."
With that, the creature collapsed, its body crumbling into ash.
A heavy silence fell over them. Lira exhaled slowly, trying to steady her racing heart. "What did it mean?"
Nyra's expression darkened. "The relics are powerful, but they require a price. Blood. Loyalty. Sacrifice."
Lira looked down at her hands, the memory of that strange, electric force still fresh in her mind. She had felt something awaken inside her—something raw and ancient.
Kael touched her shoulder lightly. "We need to move. If they found us here, more will come."
Nyra nodded. "There's an old Keeper safehouse not far from here. We can regroup there."
As they moved through the empty streets, Lira couldn't shake the hunter's final words. Was she truly willing to pay the price the relic demanded? Or had she already begun to?
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This chapter sets up the stakes even higher, hinting at the true cost of Lira's power and deepening the mystery of the relic. It also builds tension with the vampire hunters, showing that they know more than they seem to.