Luca stopped; his heart was pounding. "Aria? The "
With a rasped gasp, the lady staggered ahead: "Help... me."
Just before she passed out, he cradled her in his arms. Her mark still shone just barely, flickering like a fading light. The link shivered slightly, but it was still there.
She is still alive! Kael cried out, incredulity colouring his voice.
Ethan's face stiffened as he examined the mark's diminishing brilliance. Still, something is off.
Aria moved sloppily, staring directly at Luca. "The curse... it's not gone," she screamed, fingers gripping his shirt. "It's... inside me."
Fear and relief twisted Luca's heart at once. "Your safe right now," he said angrily. "I have you here."
Her eyes sparkled with something old, something beyond her reach. "No; it isn't over." The earth shook slightly as Aria's mark emitted a black pulse of raw, unsteady energy. Ethan moved forward with a stern look.
