The moment Zerin stepped into the cave, Evan's eyes locked onto him. Reason ceased to exist as white-hot rage flooded Evan's veins. He lunged forward, his arm snapping out like a viper. His fingers latched onto Zerin's collar with crushing force, yanking him forward until their faces were mere inches apart.
"Where is she?!" The words tore from Evan's throat, raw and ragged. His fist trembled as his fingers dug deeper into the fabric of Zerin's bundled jacket. "Where the hell is Ecludia?"
Zerin remained unnervingly still—a blank canvas against Evan's fury. This stark contrast only fueled Evan's madness further—his entire being consumed by rage while Zerin appeared utterly indifferent.
Or so it seemed on the surface.
Only Seren could perceive the truth beneath. As an empath, the emotions radiating from Zerin assaulted her senses—a toxic, corrosive energy that threatened to drown her. The bloodlust simmering within this single soul rivaled generations of hatred and anger compressed into one being. Its depth was unfathomable, far beyond what her mind could fully comprehend. Pure terror gripped her, urging her to intervene.
Seren stepped forward hesitantly, her hand trembling slightly as she placed it on Evan's shoulder. "Evan, maybe—"
"Don't," Evan growled, the syllable razor-sharp. He refused to even glance her way, his attention locked entirely on Zerin as his fingers tightened further, knuckles whitening with strain.
"I trusted you." His voice dropped to something more dangerous than mere anger—a sound carved from betrayal. "I fucking trusted you, and now she's gone."
Zerin's vacant gaze suddenly sharpened like a blade being drawn. "We were ambushed."
"That's it?" Evan's voice escalated as he slammed Zerin against the cave wall. "That's all you have to say?!"
Zerin absorbed the collision without even a flinch, his eyes remaining fixed on Evan's with maddening calm. "You think I wanted this to happen?"
Evan's bitter laugh cut through the tension, hollow and devoid of any humor. "I don't think you care enough."
He was right. How could Zerin possibly care for someone he had just met? Yet the accusation stung, dredging up thoughts Zerin had buried deep.
"We weren't there. We didn't know." Zerin's voice was measured, controlled. "What could I have done?"
But something uglier began to surface, his words twisting into venom.
"She isn't my responsibility. You should have—"
A heavy silence stretched between them.
Seren shifted uneasily, she was bombarded by the sheer intensity emanating from Zerin. This wasn't ordinary anger—it was a dense, suffocating fog of pure, unfiltered rage. A darkness so vast and fathomless it rivaled the nightmare creatures she'd encountered in the wild. Something primal. Absolute. The sensation sent horrid shivers cascading down her spine, raising goosebumps across her skin.
Meanwhile, Cain observed the confrontation with casual disinterest. He clicked his tongue and peeled his gaze away, his attention finally captured by the fire crackling at the center of the cave. Without a word, he hobbled over on his crutches, his severed limb clutched firmly in hand.
"You should have brought her back," Evan's voice wavered, his anger momentarily giving way to raw grief.
But the moment of vulnerability was fleeting. Zerin's next words weren't aimed to ease, but to strike.
"And you should have been there."
The statement struck Evan like a physical blow, hammering into his chest with devastating precision. His breath hitched as something beyond rage flashed across his face—guilt. Pure, undiluted guilt that only served to amplify his fury tenfold. His hand balled into a fist before his conscious mind could register the movement.
A sickening crack split the air as Evan's knuckles collided with Zerin's face. The impact reverberated through the cavern, followed by Seren's sharp, involuntary gasp.
Zerin hit the ground with a dull thud, sprawling across the cold stone. For a brief moment, he lay motionless, staring up at the jagged ceiling as the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.
Then—a low, guttural snarl rumbled from the cave entrance.
The Howler had witnessed everything.
The makeshift barricade trembled violently as the massive beast clawed at it, shredding the obstruction with terrifying ease. Its eyes glowed with an unfiltered rage that matched its master's inner turmoil as it forced its massive body through the narrow crevice. A seething growl resonated through the cave as it bared rows of dagger-like fangs.
Seren backed away instinctively, her breath quickening to shallow pants. The creature's rage was a physical force bearing down on her—blinding, all-consuming hatred that had taken on a life of its own. This was beyond mere fury; it was vengeance incarnate.
Evan, still catching his breath, felt the Howler's gaze burning into him. The anger on his face flickered, morphing into something closer to primal fear. Deep in his soul, he knew that if the beast broke through, there wouldn't be a fight—there would be nothing left of him to find.
Cain, thoroughly amused by the unfolding chaos, let out an appreciative whistle. "Oh shit! You actually pissed it off more than I did!" He chuckled, using a stick to prod at his severed leg now resting in the flames. "Way to go, genius."
As the Veinborne raged, its master remained on the ground, staring vacantly upward. Zerin cursed under his breath. Staying with them, helping these people—it was yet another mistake. A complete waste of precious time. They weren't his people. They weren't his friends.
For a brief moment earlier, he had almost forgotten that. Almost. But that punch had served as a harsh reminder of reality.
Zerin slowly rose to his feet, his movements deliberate. His voice emerged rough and raw. "Enough."
The single word commanded absolute obedience. Instantly, the Howler ceased its struggle. Its breathing remained labored, muscles still coiled with rage, but it stepped back from the entrance, disappearing into the darkness outside. Only its glowing blue eye sockets remained visible, twin blue flames watching from the shadows.
Zerin lifted his gaze to meet Evan's, his bruised face beginning to throb with each heartbeat. "I'll bring her back, dead or alive. If I have to carve through a creature's belly to do it, I will." His voice hardened. "And you're right—I don't care. I'm doing this because I swore I would, and I intend to keep my word."
He adjusted his jacket with precise movements, shaking dust from his shoulders. His face remained impassive, but his next words carried a promise that chilled the air between them. "But if you lay a single hand on me again, I will kill you."
Evan froze, words dying in his throat. He forced a swallow as he stared at Zerin's face, recognizing the cold truth in those eyes. This wasn't a threat—it was a simple statement of fact, and Evan believed every word.
With that, Zerin grabbed a worn piece of cloth and turned toward the exit. "Let's go."
Cain, still tending to his severed limb, finally pulled it from the fire. The thawed leg remained eerily undamaged by the flames. He raised it up, aligning it carefully with the stump on his leg. A sickening crackling sound filled the cave as his Aspect began working, fusing bone to bone.
Straightening up, Cain took an experimental step forward, then grinned with satisfaction. "Good as new!"
He strode past Evan with exaggerated confidence, flashing him a cocky smirk. "See ya later, rookies!"
***
The hinges of the cell door screeched as it swung open. A blonde girl was thrown inside, hitting the stone floor with jarring force. The impact reverberated through her knees, sending sharp needles of pain shooting up her legs.
"Ow..." Ecludia winced as she struggled to push herself upright. Her hands trembled visibly, blood-stained palms grazing the cold stone. As she turned to lift her gaze, she found herself looking up into the face of her captor.
This creature was unlike the hag she had slain before. It towered above her—its skeletal frame draped in sickly gray skin that clung to its bones. Though terrifying, it unmistakably bore the shape of a woman, its tattered robes adorned with bone ornaments that chimed softly with each subtle movement. Yet despite Ecludia killing one of its kind, it hadn't sought revenge. Instead, it had brought her here.
Ecludia staggered to her feet, forcing herself to ignore the throbbing pain. She met the creature's glowing blue eyes as it stepped back, its gaze clinically assessing her. Then, without warning, the iron cell door slammed shut.
The creature turned and drifted down the dark hallway, the soft rustling of its robes and the clatter of bone ornaments marking its departure until silence reigned.
Ecludia scanned her surroundings with growing dread. The cell was far larger than she had initially thought, its cold walls stretching into darkness. But what truly chilled her blood was the sudden realization that she wasn't alone.
Men and women, boys and girls—dozens of them—were scattered along the stone walls. They wore little more than tattered rags that did nothing to protect against the deep cold. Their faces were gaunt and pale, bodies trembling continuously. Some huddled together for precious warmth, while others sat apart, wrapped tightly around themselves as if trying to disappear.
Her chest constricted painfully as her gaze fell upon several women with swollen bellies, their arms wrapped protectively around their unborn children. A sickening realization crystallized in her mind—this wasn't just a prison. It was something far worse.
A violent shiver ran down her spine as she instinctively summoned her runes. But the action was halted by a sudden icy chill creeping from the nape of her neck, freezing her in place. Every attempt was met with the same paralyzing force, locking her body in tense submission.
Panic surged through her veins like a tidal wave of terror. The truth crashed down with crushing weight—something was blocking her from accessing her memories. When even she attempted to summon her Aspect ability, her body seized, muscles locking against her will.
She was truly trapped, utterly powerless in the heart of the coven.