Eternally Bound, Chapter 58 part 2
Eva
The battlefield erupts into a maelstrom of violence. Blood spills in rivers, cries echo through the forest, and the air reeks with the scent of death. Bael fights with a ferocity that’s both terrifying and beautiful, his shadows wrapping around enemies like a suffocating embrace. His dark magic twists and turns, pulling demons into the void, their screams cut short as they’re consumed by darkness.
Brandon’s enhanced strength sends demons flying, his fists connecting with bone-crushing force. His sarcastic quips are a stark contrast to the violence around him. “Next time, let’s just stay in and order pizza,” he grunts as he slams a demon into a tree.
Eric’s magic crackles in the air, his prophetic visions guiding our movements with precision. He stands apart, his eyes closed, his face contorted in concentration. “To the left!” he shouts, and I dodge just as a demon’s claw slashes through the air where I had been standing.
“Love you! I owe you something special later,” I spoke to Eric through our link.
Sam’s werewolf form is a blur of fur and fangs, his protective instincts on full display. He moves like a force of nature, tearing through Astaroth’s minions with savage efficiency. His growls are primal, his strikes deadly, and his loyalty unshakable. I link to him. “That’s my Alpha. Be my good boy.”
Sam links back. “Little pet, I suggest you watch your tone.”
Vincent’s intensity is matched by the raw power of his shadow and electric manipulation. He stands back-to-back with Vlad, their combined forces creating a deadly synergy. Vincent’s shadows reach out, ensnaring enemies, while Vlad’s fire magic scorches the earth, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, or they both blast enemies, leaving nothing but ash.
And Vlad, ever the showman, fights with a flair that borders on theatrics. His magic erupts in bursts of flame, engulfing demons in a pyrotechnic display. “Is it too much to ask for a little applause?” he quips, even as he dodges a demon’s attack.
I shake my head. I will tease them all later about how entertaining they are making this. Right now, I am on a mission. I move through the fray, the White Wolf’s power a secret weapon I wield with care. I strike with precision, targeting Astaroth’s key lieutenants, stripping them of their powers one by one. Each blow is calculated, each move designed to weaken her hold on the battlefield. Each power I strip, soaks into my soul, but the added darkness strengthens me. It must be because of the darkness that was in the White Wolf, the same darkness that Pakhet mentioned.
Astaroth is cunning, her dark energy swirling around her like a shield. She knows I’m a threat, and she’s biding her time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But so am I, and my strike won't be one that she sees coming.
The battle rages on, the casualties mounting on both sides. I can't dwell on the loss, at least not yet. My allies fight with everything they have, their love for me and each other fueling their strength. But Astaroth’s army is relentless, their numbers seemingly endless. Just when it feels like we might be overwhelmed, I catch a glimpse of her, Astaroth herself, her form shimmering with dark energy, her eyes locked on mine.
She is using her power to keep summoning them and reanimating those whom she can. This is it. The moment I’ve been preparing for. I take a deep breath, the White Wolf’s power surging to the forefront. I can feel it coursing through my veins, threatening to consume me. But I hold it in check, focusing on my goal. I must strip her of her powers, render her mortal, and end this once and for all. It has to be me!
With a roar that shakes the very foundations of the earth, I charge forward, my mates at my side. Elena and Cassius join us along with Morgan. The battlefield falls silent for a fleeting moment as all eyes turn to us. Astaroth smirks, her confidence unwavering, but I can see the flicker of doubt in her eyes. She knows what I’ve become, what I’m capable of. And she knows she’s in danger.
The clash is explosive, a collision of light and darkness that sends shockwaves rippling through the air. Astaroth’s dark energy slams into me, but I stand firm, the White Wolf’s power a shield that protects me. My family sends their magic to me. I strike back, my blows calculated and precise, each one chipping away at her defenses. She fights back with a ferocity that’s both terrifying and awe-inspiring, her powers a force to be reckoned with. It is too bad that she's hellbent on darkness ruling because she could have been good for this world had she not sought to tear it apart.
But I’ve prepared for this. I’ve trained for all of this. And I won’t let her win. With a final surge of power, I unleash the White Wolf’s energy, a blinding burst of light that envelops Astaroth. She screams, her form wavering as her powers are stripped away, leaving her mortal and vulnerable as she falls to the ground. My group encircles her. There is no escape.
“No! How?” she pleads.
I stand over her, my breath ragged, my body trembling from the exertion. But it’s done. She’s defeated. “Just a gift a friend lent me. He is known by the masses as the White Wolf, but you called him a different name. Bael, what did she call him?”
He chuckles. “If her mouth wasn't full, she called him Alarick.”
“Well, I think he deserves to know exactly what she did to his mate.”
Astaroth glares at me. “You can't fully bring back the dead.”
I giggle. “No, but I do restore the lost.” The battlefield falls silent, and the only sound is the ragged breathing of the survivors. My mates gather around me, their eyes filled with a mixture of relief and awe. But as I look around, taking in the devastation, the cost of our victory becomes clear. The battlefield is littered with the bodies of friends and foes alike, a grim reminder of the sacrifices made. My heart aches for those we’ve lost, for the lives cut short in the name of our cause. I can't bring them back.
Bael’s hand finds mine, his touch grounding me in the here and now. “It’s over,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. “We did it, Eva.” Maybe, but it isn’t over yet.