Chapter 54 MARVIN'S LEGACY
CHAPTER 054: MARVIN'S LEGACY
Magnus calls the war council before the messenger even finishes his water.
We gather in the main hall. The roof is collapsed but the enough structure is what remains to hold us.
Pack elders sit in a circle. Warriors line up. Luna and I stand with the boys, Mom hovering protectively nearby.
The messenger, who finally introduces himself as Darren from the Eastern Pack, spreads maps across a makeshift table.
"Three packs hit in two weeks," he says, pointing to marked locations. "Eastern, Southern and Coastal. Same pattern every time. She-wolves targeted, dark magic used, bodies left as messages."
"What kind of messages?" Magnus asks.
"Taunts mostly and threats. Marvin's name carved into flesh." Darren's voice is flat, emotionless. He's seen too much. "We thought it was him at first but then we heard he died here."
"He did," Luna confirms. "We burned him to ash."
"Then someone's continuing his work."
"Or multiple someones," Zev says quietly.
Everyone turns to look at him.
"The attacks are too spread out," he explains. "Hundreds of miles between locations. Even with supernatural speed, one person couldn't hit three packs in different territories within days of each other."
"You think there are more?" Kira demands.
"I think Marvin was part of something bigger."
Darren nods grimly. "We're thinking the same thing. The Eastern Pack captured one attacker alive. Before he died he said Marvin taught him. Said there were others learning from him."
My stomach drops. "How many others?"
"He didn't say. Died before we could get more information. But based on attack patterns, we're estimating at least three. Maybe more."
The room erupts in angry voices.
"Quiet," Magnus orders. "Darren, do we have any leads on who these others might be?"
"Only that they're using similar dark magic techniques. Building weapons like Marvin's. Harvesting she-wolf essence for power."
"So we find them and kill them," Kieran says simply.
"It's not that easy," Darren argues. "They're scattered across the continent. They know we're looking. They'll go to ground."
"Then we hunt them out of their holes," Kieran insists.
I step forward before he can continue. "We killed one. Now we have to kill the rest."
The boys all turn to stare at me.
"Absolutely not," Alaric says immediately.
"We can't chase every threat," Cassian adds. "You need to recover. The Council is coming in a week."
"Those packs need help."
"And you need rest," Kieran says, his voice leaving no room for argument. "You almost died six days ago. You're still healing."
Luna moves to stand beside me. "He's right Thalira. You're in no condition to hunt serial killers across the continent."
"So what, we just let them keep killing?"
"No," Magnus says. "We send warriors to assist the other packs. Coordinate efforts. Share information. But you stay here and recover."
"I can help."
"You can barely walk without wincing," Mom says gently. "You're not ready for another fight."
I wanted to argue but I know they're right. My ribs still ache and my arm isn't fully healed.
"Fine," I say, hating how weak it sounds.
Magnus turns to his pack. "I need volunteers. Warriors willing to travel to the affected territories and assist with hunting these killers."
A dozen hands go up immediately.
Reyna pushes forward, her broken arm in a sling. "I'm going."
"You're injured," Magnus says.
"So is half the pack. I can still track and I want revenge for what happened to me."
Her twin Rafe steps up beside her. "We go together."
Magnus studies them for a long moment then nods. "You leave at dawn and also take the supplies for a month and lastly, make sure to report back regularly."
The meeting continues but I stop listening because the helplessness settles over me.
Luna touches my arm. Through the bond I feel her concern.
"Are you okay?" she asks quietly.
"No. But I will be."
I find Sofia later, sitting alone by the lake at the edge of pack territory.
"Hey," I say, sitting beside her.
"Hey yourself. Shouldn't you be resting?"
"I tried that but I kept thinking about the people dying while I sit here and do nothing."
Sofia sighs. "You know that's not fair to yourself right?"
"What isn't?"
"Taking responsibility for every evil thing happening in the supernatural world. You killed Marvin. You saved this pack. You destroyed the Hollow King's weapon. You've done more than anyone could expect."
"It doesn't feel like enough."
"That's because you care too much. It's your best quality and your worst." She picks up a stone and throws it into the lake. "You're allowed to rest Thalira. You're allowed to heal. You're allowed to not save everyone."
"What if people die while I'm resting?"
"Then that's on the killers, and also not on you."
The words make sense but they don't ease the guilt.
We sit in silence for a while, watching the water.
"The Council's coming," I finally say.
"Yeah."
"What if they try to take me?"
"Then we fight them."
"Sofia you can't fight the Council."
"Watch me." She smiles but there's steel underneath. "You're my friend and I don't abandon my friends."
"Even if it means going against the most powerful supernatural authority in the world?"
"Especially then."
Despite everything I still smile.
I find an empty clearing and start training. My body protests but I continue.
I tried punches, kicks, and blocks. My form is sloppy, my movements is sluggish, but I keep going.
"You're going to hurt yourself."
I spin and sees Cassian standing at the edge of the clearing, his arms crossed.
"I need to be stronger."
"You're already the strongest person I know."
"That's not saying much considering I lost to a serial killer."
"You killed him," Cassian corrects. "With your sister, while half dead yourself. That's not losing."
I throw another punch at the air. "It doesn't feel like winning."
He walks over and catches my fist mid-swing. "Your form is terrible. You're favoring your injured ribs and telegraphing every move."
"Then help me fix it."
"Alright. But we do this properly. No pushing through pain. No ignoring your body's limits."
We train for an hour. He's patient, correcting my stance, showing me how to move without aggravating my injuries.
By the end I'm sweating and exhausted but I feel better.
"Thank you," I say.
"Anytime." He pulls me into a hug, careful of my ribs. "I mean it. Anytime you need me, I'm here."
I rest my head on his chest. "I love you."
The words still feel new and strange.
"I love you too," he whispers into my hair.
That night I dream, but it's not my dream.
I'm seeing through someone else's eyes. A dark chamber with stone walls and chains hanging from the ceiling. A woman is strapped to a table, screaming.
The perspective shifts as the person I'm seeing through moves closer.
Hands enter my vision, holding a blade covered in dark runes.
"Marvin was weak," a voice says. "He failed. He got caught and killed by children. We won't make the same mistakes."
The blade descends.
I try to look away but I can't control the vision.
The woman's screams intensify.
"The Phoenix twins think they've won. They think killing Marvin ended this. They're wrong. We're just getting started."
The blade carves symbols into the woman flesh.
"And when we're ready, we're coming for them. Coming for their power. Coming for their souls."
The vision tilts up and suddenly I'm looking at someone in a mirror.
The face staring back isn't mine.
It's a man I don't recognize. Scarred and cruel with eyes that burn red like Marvin's did.
He smiles at his reflection.
At me.
"Hello little Phoenix. Did you enjoy the show?"
I jolt awake, gasping for breath.
Zev is beside my bed instantly. "What did you see?"
"One of the others," I choke out. "The other killers. I saw through his eyes."
"That's not possible. Dream walking only wor
ks if there's a connection or if someone invites you in."
"Then he invited me." My hands shake. "He wanted me to see. He's sending a message."
"What message?"
I meet Zev's green eyes. "That Marvin was just the beginning.”