Chapter 84: My Little Brother.

Steven's heart raced as he stared at the scene before him, and Shane, drawn by Steven’s sudden stillness, stepped closer to the door to comprehend the magnitude of the occurrence. What lay within the room sent a chill down his spine. Dua was encircled in a spiraling storm, luminous figures of energy swirling around her in a blinding tempest. An ominous circle laden with cryptic symbols marred the floor beneath her, flickering candles casting ghostly shadows that danced along the walls. Undulating whispers filled the air, cacophonous sounds that sent shivers through Shane.

“What’s this?” he managed to ask, his voice trembling with a mixture of concern and fear.

“She’s entering the Abyss. What we’re witnessing is the portal,” Steven replied, sounding more like a ghost than the vibrant brother Shane knew.

“The same Abyss you warned could swallow her?” Shane asked, panic rising in his throat as he glanced at his brother, who nodded with a grim expression.

Pain etched itself upon Dua's face, a stark contrast to the once vibrant and determined woman they loved. Time seemed suspended as Steven’s heart clenched at the sight. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was teetering on the edge of something terrifyingly permanent. And then, with a gut-wrenching scream, Dua’s voice echoed around them, the tangible weight of her pain saturating the atmosphere as the storm drained her essence.

Without a moment’s thought, Steven leaped into the swirling chaos, driven by instinct and love, his heart pounding loud enough for Shane to hear even from behind him. “What do you think you’re doing?!” Dua shouted, her voice a mixture of shock and urgency.

“No, what do you think you’re doing?!” he yelled back, fierce and protective.

“Why do you never listen to me?! Look how drained you are?!” he scolded, desperation lacing his every word. He coughed violently, splattering blood against the cold floor. Confusion and anger sparked in Dua’s eyes at his audacity to risk himself.

“You shouldn’t have rushed in; look at yourself!” Dua’s voice trembled as she swiped at the blood on his lips, her own energy waning.

“Should I have watched you hurt yourself?!” he snapped back, pain lacing his tone.

"I wouldn't have died!" she replied, her voice firm despite the tremor in her hands.

"How sure are you about that?!" he argued, his frustration boiling over.

"I believe I won't," she insisted, her gaze unwavering.

"Well, I don't have such belief," he shot back, the air thick with tension.

Suddenly, Steven clutched his chest, a sharp pain radiating through his heart. He dropped to his knees, blood trickling from his lips. Dua instinctively rushed to him, but he pushed her away, a raw edge to his voice. “Don’t you dare try to save me again if you want me to stick around longer.”

"I'm sorry," she cried, her heart aching as she watched him suffer.

Shane stood at a distance, paralyzed by shock. He had never been exposed to magic or sorcery, and the chaos around him felt beyond comprehension. He struggled to grasp the weight of the moment.

Trying to steady himself, Steven pushed himself back to his feet, and Dua rose beside him, reaching out in a silent plea for support. But he stubbornly stepped back. "Just give me space," he said, his voice strained, before walking out of the room. Shane followed, still trying to catch up with the whirlwind of emotions.

Alone in the room, Dua sank to the floor. Tears streamed down her cheeks as the facade of strength crumbled. The attempt to reach into the Abyss had drained her unexpectedly. Even in her weakened state, her thoughts spiraled back to Steven. "How do I save him?" she whispered to the silence.

Halfway down the second-floor hallway, Steven paused, a sigh releasing the tension from his shoulders. Uncertain, he retraced his steps back to the room, Shane trailing behind, equally bewildered.

As he stepped into the room, he found Dua lying on the floor, her face pale. Panic surged through him as he rushed to her side, kneeling down.

"I'm sorry," Dua spoke, her eyes glistening with tears, guilt flooding her voice.

"No, I'm sorry for pushing you away and leaving like that," Steven replied, his heart softening as he looked at her. “I need to work on my temper.”

"I deserved it," she countered, the weight of the situation heavy on her voice.

Steven gathered her in his arms, a protective instinct flaring to life as he attempted to carry her. "Don't... I can walk," Dua protested, her voice firm but laced with exhaustion.

"Not today," he replied softly, ignoring her resistance. He lifted her, feeling the warmth of her body against his. Despite her protests, he cradled her as he walked out of the room, determination etched on his face.

"Steven, I really—" she began, but her words faded as he gently laid her down on their bed. As he turned to join her, the sound of his phone chimed with a text. He glanced at the screen, his expression shifting from concerned to frantic in an instant.

"I’ll be back," he said, his breath ragged, a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Where are you going?" Dua asked, her heart racing with worry.

"It's important," he replied, the gravity of his words hanging between them. "Don’t worry; I’ll be fine."

"You're not well, Steven! You need rest!" Dua's voice trembled with desperation.

He hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on her before he stepped out of the bedroom, leaving her in a shroud of unanswered questions.

Minutes passed before a knock on the door disrupted her thoughts.

"Who is it?" she inquired, her voice steadier than she felt.

"It’s me," Shane answered, and she allowed him in, relief flooding through her.

"Where's Steven?" Shane asked, his expression taut.

"He stepped out," Dua replied, her voice betraying her concern. Shane turned to leave, but something compelled her to stop him.

"Can we talk?" she implored, her eyes earnest. "Please."

His brow furrowed as he turned back to face her. "About what?"

"Do you know anything about resuscitation? Like... what to do when the heart stops?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"A little. Why do you ask?" Shane’s brow arched in concern.

"It’ll come in handy soon." Determination flared in her gaze, though uncertainty clung to the edges of her words.

Shane studied her for a moment, understanding flooding into his mind. "Why do I feel like you're up to something that Steven will definitely be against?"

"At least whatever I'm up to won't endanger his life," Dua replied, her voice steady but her heart racing.

"But it'll endanger your life, and he'll rashly jump in to save you just like he did today," Shane countered sharply, the gravity of his words weighing heavily on her.

Dua felt the truth of his statement like a punch to her gut. "I won't let him do that again," she said, a fierce resolve igniting within her.

"Still, I'm not going to let you do whatever you're planning," Shane's voice was firm, an unyielding wall of concern.

"I can't stand by and watch my husband die!" Dua shot back, her voice thick with fear and desperation.

"Before he became your husband, he was my brother... my little brother. You can't care about him more than I do," Shane retorted, a hint of pain flickering in his eyes.

"I'm the first person that wants to save him," he continued, his tone softening, "and if it would be the remedy, I'd give my life for him."

Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the depth of his anguish. "So I beg you, don't do anything that will endanger your life. You should know by now how much my brother loves you. He won’t think twice before throwing his life away to save you," he added, his voice thick with emotion as he turned to leave.

Left in the wake of his plea, Dua buried her hands in her hair and sighed heavily, frustration and despair crashing over her like a wave. "Is there really no way to save you?" she thought, feeling utterly lost. The options that once appeared before her now felt like a maze with no exit, and the weight of their love and sacrifice pressed down on her fiercely.