"It seems like you have caught the person that we wanted the most, Zen."
Riftan resumed his meal while I froze. I could not even move my utensils to dine. Wariness won over me while locking my eyes on the Alpha, who spoke to me like I was a fish baited to land.
"It was only a coincidence that she had planned to make me one of her newest targets," Riftan replied. "But unfortunately, They captured her just as she reached the base. She was already weakened by snow and her illness."
I grit my teeth at Riftan.
How dare he talk about my illness in front of everyone else?
"The infamous Little Red Riding Ho
I fell—deep and fast—into the abyss. Darker than the night, it swallowed everything. No edges. No floor. Just an endless void, like my eyes were shut forever—but they weren’t. There was no strain, no blink. Just darkness.I curled my fingers together and whispered a prayer. I had made the hardest decision of my life, and now there was no turning back.I’d danced with death before—always one breath, one heartbeat away. But this... this was different. I chose this. I chose sacrifice."I know you're there," I said. My voice echoed as if I were in some vast, sealed chamber. "Are you afraid to fight me?""Most certainly not, Vermillion," a voice hissed from the dark. Malevolent. Mocking. "I didn't think you would go this far for him.""I guessed right then," I said with a sneer. "You're not Zydriann. Not even Ydrian."A blinding light shattered the dark, and I found myself standing on a plain of glass and roses. Their petals dripped with something thick—red. Blood."To achieve beauty, one
I watched him struggle to get up, grunting from the pain, but his wounds healed far too quickly—just like a real lycan should. His robe fell to the floor, soaked in blood and reeking of death. There was a deadness to his eyes now. Cold. Malicious. It felt like standing before a stranger."Brother. You suck at acting. Get up so that we can have a chat."Zen Riftan finally stood. He dusted off his shoulders like none of it mattered, like the weight of our history wasn’t crushing him too."You go around mimicking my skin, too?" he said, arms crossed, trying to play it cool. "Just how envious are you of me?"Zydriann sneered. "Very. The very reason why I want you gone."I stayed back, observing. The air between them was razor-thin and laced with resentment. I could feel it pulsing in my bones.They were Riftans—pureblooded. Old blood. Dangerous blood.Zen’s blood was venomous. Poison to any Were or lycan, the only true deterrent to immortality. Zydriann, on the other hand, possessed knowl
Our team dashed toward the palace, never daring to look back at the corpses strewn along our path. This day would be the most painful in Hezel’s history, and we had to end it before it slipped beyond our grasp. Zen couldn’t hold out much longer.I trust Zen... I truly do. But I can’t lose him.Zen, the alpha of a noble pack, a leader admired by many, the one Phantomcrescent depends on—he must not fall. If a sacrifice had to be made, let it be me. Once this ends, Hezel won’t need me. Peace with the Weres will be restored. No more war. No more painful memories. And I... can finally ascend to where my family is."Ruby, watch out!"A projectile swept in. I was yanked aside by Vale just in time. Rusted iron sheets, torn from rooftops, hurtled past like blades."Thank you," I said. He gave a worried nod. "Let’s go."We charged ahead. A hurricane, crimson as blood, struck. The palace shook violently. Glass shattered, cement crumbled. Ruins consumed everything. Smoke choked the air.Coughing,
RUBY VERMILLIONI couldn't believe myself. Why did I leave him there?My body was resonating and writhing in pain, and the only weapon I had was a rake from the corpses of the courtroom I had to pass to reach the exit. I can already hear the chaos from outside and the people' haunting cries scared me."Captain!" a voice pierced through the corridor and a figure jumps from the roof to the ground. "Glad I found you!"It was Georgina, my apprentice. "Here, take this!" she threw a sack over to me and I quickly catch the heavy object with my hands. I quickly opened it only to find my weapons inside. My flintlock, my rapier, my daggers, my swords. I quickly equipped them on my belt and pulled my gun to check if there were bullets inside."It's all ammoed up," she gave me a thumbs up. "Now let's head to the Gate!"I hesitate for a minute and look back, wondering about Zen- but I quickly shake my head and follow her. "Let's go. How is the City going?""The evacuation is complete.""W-What..?"
The moon was coming.I heard the howls of wolves in the distance—long, low, and guttural. My heart stilled.Even from this sky prison, I could sense the fear of Hezel’s people. The moon above us darkened, bleeding into a shade of crimson and black. The stars that once comforted me were veiled with smoke, their glow stolen. Somewhere below, doors slammed shut. Locks clicked. The once-vibrant city was now nothing but a haunted ghost town.The King’s rogues prowled the roads, painting them with blood and agony. I used to remember the streets of Hezel filled with music, the hum of voices, sizzling food stands, the jingling of a bard’s lute. Now? Only screaming. Pleading. The sound of flesh tearing apart.I flinched at the cackles of the dementors outside, their sick glee echoing through the wind. I imagined the townsfolk clinging to whatever they could—knives, vases, garden tools—knowing deep inside, none of it would save them.Above them all, Ydrian watched from his sky patio. And I—knee
Ydrian stared at his masterpiece.Once a baker, now turned into a humongous flesh-eating beast. Once a maiden, now melted into a blob of flesh and blood. Once a tailor, now growing fur and claws- and then howls."HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!" his laughter filled the courtroom as the creatures continued to reach their peaks of evolution. He found it funny how seemingly beautiful humans were at first- and now they've turned into something so hideous as that."CAN YOU SEE THIS, VERMILLION?!" he turned to look at her, boasting of his invention, but his tone changed upon seeing her in crocodile tears. "V-Vermillion?""How can you have the guts to do this?" she sobbed. "I... told you to stop..."For some reason, Ydrian could not take his eyes off her. He ran towards her and then caressed her face. "Why are you crying? What's wrong?"Ruby shook her body in order to get away from him. It's like he has turned into a completely different person upon seeing her cry."Ruby... why are you crying..?""Y-You're