Chapter 199: The Cost

Chapter 199: The Cost
Brenda’s POV

The ground trembled in the darkness. With a voice like a storm ripping the sky, the Shadow Lord bellowed. Some wolves fell, while others fought harder as the wolves dispersed. My hand was shaking, yet it was firm as I gripped the Moonstone.

"Brenda!" Through the confusion, Damian's voice was audible. I pivoted. His eyes were ferocious, his face covered in blood, and he was running at me.

"I'm present!" I replied with a yell.

His blade was black with enemy blood, and his chest was heaving as he came to me. He took hold of my arm and said quietly, "Stay close to me."

I lifted the bright stone and said quietly, "I'm not leaving you." "We put an end to this—together."

Despite the craziness, he smiled briefly at me. "With each other."

The enormous and menacing Shadow Lord moved, its spear blazing from the pit like fire. The black army fought against my pack all around us. Wolves let forth a howl. Shadows let out a cry. Death was raging through the night.

Damian said, "Hit him hard." "I'll divert it."

"No," I shouted out. "We fight alongside each other."

After he paused, he nodded. "All right. Don't be shy.

"Mother Moon, lead me," I said as I held onto the Moonstone. Silver light flooded the field as the stone flashed brightly. The Shadow Lord covered its face with a clawed hand and screamed.

"Now!" Damian's blade flashed like lightning as he surged forward. He hit the leg of the beast. There was a spray of black blood. With a growl, the creature swung its spear.

"Damian!" The weapon missed him by an inch and tore the ground apart as I shouted.

"I'm all right!" he exclaimed, rolling and slicing once more.

"Light of the Moon, break the dark!" I yelled as I raised the Moonstone aloft. The stone exploded with a silver ray that struck the Shadow Lord's chest. Its skin hissed with smoke.

"Go on!" Damian yelled. Leaping to his feet, he cut deep into its arm. The creature snarled and attempted to use its claws to crush him.

"No!" I hurled myself forward and blasted it with light once more. I lost strength as my power burned through me, but I persisted. Not right now.

Damian grabbed my hand as he landed next to me. "We can do this, Brenda!"

"Yes," I said in a whisper as we met eyes. "With each other."

Our relationship grew closer than before. His bravery poured like fire into me. He felt the intensity of my light. My magic glowing, his blade cutting, we moved together.

The Shadow Lord staggered and shouted. Its body broke apart like a piece of stone.

"It's functioning!" Damian let out a shout.

The creature then burst out laughing. A terrible, low sound. It screamed, "You think you can ruin me?" Black fire started to inflate its body.

"Brenda!" Damian took hold of me. "That's going to blow up!"

I tightened my grip on the Moonstone. "Then we get this done—right now!"

With one more blast of steel and light, we hurried onward together. The monster's heart was pierced by Damian's sword, and the Moonstone flashed like the sun.

The flash was dazzling. A thunderous shriek. Then there was stillness.

Everything was silent. Too silent. In the chilly air, smoke curled. There were ruins on the battlefield. The shadows have vanished. The adversary had vanished.

Slowly, I opened my eyes. In my hand, the Moonstone was dim. It had nearly lost its glow. I was hardly able to move. My entire body hurt.

"Damian," I said.

My hand was touched. He was on his knees next to me, wounded and injured but still alive, as I turned around.

With tears in my eyes, I said, "You're... okay."

He gave a feeble smile. "Said I would never abandon you."

I put my arms around him and held him firmly. "We succeeded," I said. "It's finished."

His voice was sweet as he hugged me in return. "Yes, it's over."

But I sensed it as we sat there. The atmosphere shifted. Heavy. Chilly. False.

Damian also sensed it. His eyes darkened as he withdrew. "Do you sense that?"

"Yes," I uttered slowly as my stomach turned.

The ground trembled with a deep rumble. The earth was divided anew by cracks that glowed a peculiar crimson light. The whole moon wavered, as if a shadow had moved over it.

"What the devil is this?" I said.

Then I heard it. A voice. Chilly. Old. Through the breeze, whispering.

"The real darkness has come to life."

With a dull expression, Damian took hold of my hand. "This isn't over, Brenda."

In front of us, the ground exploded. Smoke and fire erupted, and something worse than the Shadow Lord emerged from it: a shackled figure with sun-like eyes.

I was having trouble breathing. One by one, the chains snapped and rattled.

Damian drew me in. His voice was low and harsh as he shouted, "Run."

I clutched the Moonstone and shook my head. "No. We battle.

My blood froze when the thing raised its head and uttered a single syllable.

"Brenda."

I let out a gasp. "It is aware of my name."

Damian's hand drew closer to mine. His voice was tremulous and harsh. "This is the true enemy, Brenda."

The final chain broke. The monster laughed and opened its arms wide.

The moon turned black after that.