Chapter 92: Nightly hunt

Night fell heavily upon Arkanum. The towers shone with their magic lights, but the moonlight seemed weak, as if the moon itself feared to look at the island. A cold wind was blowing, bringing with it a distant whisper, almost like a voice... calling.

Thiely shuffled in bed. The room was quiet, except for the irregular sound of the Ghoul’s breath. His fingers stuck into the sheets like claws to reality, trying not to get lost in the darkness that invaded your mind.

The visions came as blades:

A veil torn by blood. Voices in chorus chanting the name of Lady Mourn. A tall, feminine shadow with eyes like pits of emptiness.

On the ground, fallen Pandora, wrapped by black chains. And Thiely, laughing next to the shadowy figure... but it wasn’t her. It was another version. More cruel. Colder.

"Avelyne..."

The name echoed in his head, full of promise and condemnation.

Thiely sat in bed, panting. His hands trembled. For a moment she thought her eyes had turned white, but when she blinked back to normal. She ran to the window, opening the curtains. You needed to see the moon. You needed to hold on to something that was real.

It was then he felt. The presence.

A shudder ran through her spine when the voice came within her:

"You can’t run away from what is..."

The room seemed to shrink. Shadows on the walls took shape. Black wolves peeking out. Faceless men, smiling. And in the center, the figure of Lady Mourn, wrapped in a torn cloak, hair floating like smoke.

"Come on, Avelyne. It’s time to finish what we started."

Thiely screamed and backed up to the wall, clutching his head between his hands. "I’m not her! I’m not her!" He repeated like a mantra, but the voice laughed in his mind.

The door of the room opened with a bang. Pandora entered hastily, her hair shaggy, her eyes wide with concern.

"Thiely?!" She ran to the Ghoul, kneeling beside her. "I felt her energy explode from here! What happened?"

Thiely raised her face, pale, dilated pupils.

"She... she’s here." Her voice broke. "Lady Mourn... inside my head. She called me Avelyne, Pandora. I... I saw things... I saw you chained... and I was... laughing. as if it were her."

Pandora held Thiely’s face firmly between her hands, forcing her to look at her.

"Look at me. Now. Breathe with me."

Thiely barked, trying to follow the slow breath of the fairy.

"I don’t want to be her. I don’t, Pandora... But what if... what if I lose control? What if I hurt you?"

"You won’t." Pandora’s voice came out low, but full of determination. "Do you know why? Because you’re not alone. I won’t let that happen."

She closed her eyes and put her hands on Thiely’s chest, letting the energy flow. A soft glow, dawn-colored, enveloped both. The spell was simple, but deep: emotional healing. Not to erase the fear, but to remind her of what was real. Of what was present.

Hot images overcame the cold visions: laughter sharing pizza, dances under candlelight, confessions in the dark. Each good memory that Thiely had with Pandora was reinforced by magic, until the shadows receded.

Ghoul’s eyes filled with tears. She collapsed into Pandora’s arms, sobbing.

"I am so afraid..."

Pandora squeezed it against her chest, stroking her dark hair.

"I know. But you’re stronger than you think. And I’m here. I always will be."

The moonlight, outside, broke the clouds, illuminating both as if the moon, after all, had decided to watch that promise.

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The dawn came timid, tinging the stained glass of the tower with golden reflections. Arkanum seemed calm, but not Thiely. The Ghoul walked through the silent corridors as if stepping on glass. Every shadow seemed to him a threat, every whisper of the wind, a reminder of that voice.

She did not sleep. Pandora stayed by her side until her body relaxed, overcome by tiredness. But Thiely pretended to be well. Pretended to sleep, only to go out when the first rays of sun came through the window.

Now stood before the door of Raven’s tower.

Hit once. No answer. Hit again, harder.

"Enter" the firm voice echoed from inside.

Thiely took a deep breath before pushing the door. The tower was a contrast of shadows and flashes: floating candles lit bookshelves full of old books. Raven was on her back, writing something in an open grimoire, the black cloak wrapping her elegant figure.

"You never hit here for no reason," said Raven, without turning. "So what is it?"

Thiely swallowed dry.

"I... need your help." Her voice faltered, a rare tone for someone who always disguised fear with sarcasm.

Raven closed the grimoire carefully and turned slowly to look at it. Ruby eyes nailed her like sharp blades.

"What has happened?"

Thiely clenched his fists.

"Last night... she spoke to me. Lady Mourn." Every word seemed too heavy to come out. "She called me Avelyne. She showed... things. Horrible things. I laugh while Pandora is chained up. As if... as if I was her."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

"And it scares you," said Raven, approaching with slow steps.

"I’m afraid of losing control. Of turning into whatever she wants me to be." The Ghoul took a deep breath, forcing the words: "If that happens... I want you to stop me. Anyway. Before I hurt Pandora."

Raven stopped a few steps from her. It was close enough for Thiely to feel the cold of the vampire.

"Are you asking me... to kill you, if necessary?"

"If there is no other way... yes." Thiely’s eyes were swollen, but firm.

Raven examined her at length, as if she could cross the layers of her soul with her gaze alone. Then she sighed, the hardened traces softening.

"You have no idea how much I wanted to hate you," said Raven, with an honesty that ripped the air out of Thiely. "But I can’t. Not after seeing how much you love her. And that... that’s the only thing that sets you apart from what you’re afraid to become."

Thiely lowered his eyes, biting his lip to contain the emotion.

"I love her, Raven. I love her more than I ever imagined I could... and that’s why I’m asking you to do this. If I fail myself, I don’t want to fail her."

Raven came even closer, until she was close enough for Thiely to feel the soft smell of wet earth emanating from her. The vampire raised a hand and, in an unexpected gesture, touched the cold cheek of the Ghoul.

"Listen well, Thiely. I’ll promise you two things. First: I won’t let you get lost. I’ll fight it with you." The ruby eyes burn with determination. "Second: if it reaches the point where there is no turning back... I will do whatever it takes."

A silent tear fell down Thiely’s face, and she let out a weak laugh without humor.

"Okay, teacher... deal closed."

Raven lowered her hand slowly, her eyes still locked in hers.

"Now go rest. Tomorrow, we start a special... training. If Lady Mourn wants to play with your past, let’s show her who you are now."

Thiely nodded, his heart heavy, but relieved to have found something solid in the midst of the chaos: a promise.