Chapter 88: Darkness

Chapter 88: Darkness

Marcus POV

My heart raced faster when I saw the wide, enormous gap showing up inside the barrier.
Finally, I have let my lungs to breathe as Damon and Azrael followed me as I rushed towards Talia.
Reaching Talia took me only a second as she looked closely into the darkness. Without looking at me, she said, “We have to be careful when we pass this barrier. I can feel the darkness’ strength as it is lurking from inside.”
I turned towards Azrael and Damon, “No time is to be wasted, we have to move and find Olivia. Warn the warriors and be careful as we do not know what we might deal against when we pass into their lands.”
Both of them nodded their heads as they rushed and prepared our troops to move.
I dived into the faint feeling inside our bond, feeling her love and restless emotions, trying to let her know I am on my way to get her soon.
I heard a noise, making me turn around to see all the warriors prepared and ready to move.
Tanner, Logan, and Trent stood side by side with Azrael and the White Moon warriors, while others were behind them, cautious but the thrill of a hunt, the thrill of unknown made everyone’s blood rush with excitement.
Azrael moved forward, coming to my side, “We are ready.” He said to me.
Nodding my head, I took one last look at everyone, closing my eyes, feeling Shadow standing tall, looking over his friends and warriors with a pride that one Alpha can feel for his own.
Shadow was ready and so was I, feeling our connection grow strong as my Alpha senses sharpened, going to a high alert as I made a first step, carefully crossing over the gap in the barrier.
Slowly, side by side, with Azrael next to me, we all passed through the barrier and all we could see was a dark forest before our eyes, with a thick fog lying low before us.
The surrounding air was different. The heavy feeling of the magic was surrounding us. The feeling of uneasiness as I felt some of my men trying to shake the chills that ran over their skin.
A loud scream followed with a howl, sounded from out of nowhere, making us stop to look around us, trying to detect where the sound came from.
We moved further on, going deeper into the fog. The unknown land was tough, and the fog was of no help either.
My eyes squinted, trying to see further than my own step, but I couldn’t, not even with all of my senses fully awaken.
A shuffle sounded from our left side, making our heads to snap in the sound’s position, but with a fog so thick, it was impossible to see anything.
Another sound came from our right side, making us look left and right, trying to spot who was there.
“Be on a high alert as they might have surrounded us.” I said to my warriors, taking another step forward.
A strange sound came, a sound that was not a growl nor a roar, a sound like a hunted beast, prying over its prey.
The feeling of being closely watched as we advanced further on into the woods, never has leave us.
“The darkness of the magic is stronger here. Something is wrong!” Talia said to us all as her eyes roamed all around the thick, dark forest, searching for something that we yet couldn’t see.
Taking one more step, a loud sound of approaching thundering steps, coming from all around us, made us stop as our hearts were racing fast in our chest.
“Someone is coming.” Azrael said in a low voice.
I could feel the power of the approaching enemy growing stronger. The power that was dark in its own.
Turning around, I looked over at my men and said, “Prepare yourself, form a formation as we will have company soon. Be careful everyone.”
My men took a fighting stance, their eyes glowing as their animals were watching, waiting for what is coming.
The trees shook wildly around us as the ground sent strong vibrations from their thumping steps.
I could hear snarls as I prepared myself for the unknown, patiently waiting for what is coming.
In a second, the fog cleared, revealing to us glowing red eyes, looking right at us, like predators as snarls grew louder with each breath they took.
My eyes fell on the one person who was on the head, leading this army of beasts, looking at me with pure hatred, making Shadow growl fiercely inside my head, wanting to charge ahead and attack him.
“The army... this is not an ordinary army, Marcus.” Azrael said as his eyes never left the enemy.
I knew, and I understood what he meant to say as I could feel their power radiating from them, making the air electrifying and thick with the hunger for blood.
Closer I looked over the men behind Tyson, I could see that they seemed a little unnatural.
A sound of their snarls mixed with growls could be heard coming from them, but what made it interesting is that their power, they were radiating out in waves, is equal to the power of the White Moon’s warriors.
My eyes went towards Azrael who had his eyes fixated onto the enemies.
“How is it possible that they have same power as White warriors?” I asked in a low voice.
“I...” Azrael was about to speak when Talia cut in, “It is the dark magic. They enhance their power and strength to match the White Moon’s warriors.” She looked over at Azrael, and I could see worry showing in her eyes while he didn’t remove his from the enemy.
A sound of a voice I hated with all of my might, reached my ears, making me growl as my eyes fixated on him, “Well... well... Well... look who came to visit.”
“Where is she?” I growled out, my eyes narrowing down, never for one second leaving from him.
His chuckle sounded dark as he said, “You will never find her, she is mine!”
A growl sounded so fierce coming out from my mouth, “We shall see about that!”
Everything happened after that in a second as we charged towards each other, bodies colliding followed with bone cracking sounds, filling the air as shifts started, revealing enormous beasts appear instead of humans.
Wolves attacking and tearing into each other, trying to dig their sharp teeth into the flesh of other.
A shadow passed above us, I could see Damon and his dragons, flying above, letting out earthshaking roar as they went ahead and attacked giant monsters that looked like Trolls yet were more of mutants with sharp teeth and hard skin that looked like it was made of stone.
My eyes searched around the crowd, looking for Tyson when finally I spot him charging towards me.
I jumped ahead, cutting short our distance as my fist connected with his cheek, making a snarl sound from him as in his half shift stance, his sharp nails scratched my chest, making blood appear, soaking my shirt.
We fought with all of our strength, giving it all as punches collided, hitting us both.
With a corner of my eye, I saw Talia rushing ahead, leaving the battlefield, but I couldn’t worry about that for now as all I wanted was to kill Tyson and go find Olivia.
There wasn’t an inch on him that I didn’t manage to leave my mark, but as I was fighting in my human form and not my wolf, I knew that my wolf was stronger but I wanted to snap his head with my own two bare hands.
There was blood around us everywhere, then suddenly, there was a sharp pain coming from my side, making me look down and see Tyson pulling out a silver knife, coated with my blood and with something else but I couldn’t figure it out what.
Dark laugh came from Tyson as he looked at the knife with joy, “And here the great Alpha Marcus will fall.”
Not wanting to show my weakness to give him pleasure, I stood tall and snarled at him, “You will need much more than that if you wish to see my downfall.”
“Well, it shouldn’t take to long for the poison to get to your heart. Not even a White Moon’s warrior could stand upright if this poison reaches into their system.” Tyson said.
Not wanting to let his words get to me, even if it was true, and the poison was in my system, I had a mission and I was not giving up.
I lunged at him, surprising him as we fall down onto the ground. Sitting on his chest, I threw punch after punch, hitting his face making it ugly as blood came out from his mouth.
He tried to kick me off of him but to no avail, as an animalistic sound came from me as all I could see was red, wanting to end his life here and now.
“Stop or I will kill her!”
The voice came, making me recognize it instantly as I looked up and saw Samantha holding Olivia with a silver dagger pressed down into her throat.
My eyes grew wide when I saw the dagger. Tyson shouted at Samantha, “Don’t you dare! Let her go, Samantha!”
Samantha snarled at him, “We had a deal and yet here you are trying to kill Marcus, why should I let this bitch go?!”
My eyes locked with Olivia’s, finally I see her. Moving my eyes back towards Samantha, trying to see what is best to do.
Tyson tried to push me off as he said to her, “Fucking take him like I care, but if you have hurt Olivia, I will end you myself, mate, or no!”
Mate?
Hearing his words, surprised, flushed in my eyes when finally things clicked in. I stood up abruptly, picking Tyson up, having my hold on to him, I looked over at Samantha and said, “Let her go or I will kill him.”
She chuckled as her eyes looked at Tyson, “I will let her go... but under one condition.”
My eyes narrowed, “What condition?”
“Alodar will sever your bond with her and you will make me your Luna and your mate.” Samantha said.
A growl sounded making me look at Olivia whose eyes shined with fury as she snarled and said, “I will rather die than let you take my mate. If you want him, then fight me.”
“Olivia...” Tyson called her name but was cut off as I threw a punch in his abdomen, making him clutch over it, gasping for air.
“Do not call for my mate!” I snarled at him as he stood up and attacked me.
“Tyson! Stop it!” Samantha called for him, but he didn’t care as his strikes were aiming directly at my wounded side.
He kicked me with his leg into my side, making me groan out as Olivia yelled, “Marcus!”
I saw her get free from Samantha’s hold, making the two fight each other.
My vision was getting blurry from the poison that was in my body, making me to fall down onto my knees, trying to focus my vision when in the next moment I felt a kick followed by another one, making me to fall down into the ground.
Trying to focus my strength and my senses, not wanting to let him win, I heard a snarl as in the next moment, Tyson was pushed off of me, making me look just to see Trent knocking him off of me.
His black panther circled around Tyson for a second, giving me a moment to take a breath and sit up, focusing my senses just to see them fight.
His panther’s teeth bite down into Tysons leg making Tyson to scream out in pain, but before I could react, I saw Tyson stabbing Trent with his knife right in his neck.
I stumbled up fast to my feet, running fast as I could to catch Trent before his body hits the ground.
Blood was coating my hands as I watched him struggle to breathe, making me wish I could do something to ease his pain and help him out.
He shifted back to his human form, his eyes looking over into my own. I silently looked down at him, seeing him struggle to speak, “Please take care of my Annie, and tell her that I love her.”
Feeling sadness in my heart for loosing such a good friend, a strong warrior, it pained my heart, but I nodded my head as I answered him, “I will, I promise.”
His eyes relaxed hearing my promise when a fast rustle sound made me look to the side to see Tanner running in his wolf form towards us.
Tanner shifted the moment he reached us, looking wide eyed at Trent who was barely breathing, “Take him fast out of here, and search for someone to help him.” I ordered him as he nodded his head and shifted back into his wolf. I helped to place Trent onto his back and said, “Go now!”
Tanner ran off like an arrow, my eyes following after them for a second before I turned around and searched for Tyson.
He was gone.
My eyes looked over just in time to see Olivia dodging away from Samantha’s attack as she sliced the air in front of Oliva with her silver dagger.
I moved towards them in a hurry but before I could reach them; I stopped in my tracks when I saw Olivia taking a hold of Samantha’s hand with a dagger in it and twisting around making the dagger stab down making the two to sill and watch into each other’s eyes silently.
“No!” Samantha’s voice filled with shock sounded as her wide eyes looked towards Olivia.
Blood coated Olivia’s trembling hands, making me rush to her side, holding her body close to me as Samantha falls down into the ground, lifeless.
The loud sound tore through the air, making the dark beasts to retreat into the woods, making all the surrounding fighting to stop.
I cradled Olivia tight in my arms, feeling her shake as she turned around and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Shhh... it is all over now.” I whispered into her hair, making her head to look up at me as our lips kissed gently.
The kiss was sweet and short, but I was feeling content finally after such a long time to have her again in my arms.
We looked around the battlefield just to see warriors helping each other as they collected the wounded ones while others laid on the ground lifeless.
We have lost so many, but so did they. The fight was hard like no other I have experienced ever before.
Talia appeared from the woods, walking towards Olivia and me, “Where were you?” I asked her.
She kneeled down, reaching over for Olivia’s necklace as she answered, “There was a dark witch in the woods.”
Olivia looked at her confused, and I realized I haven’t introduced Talia to her. “Olivia, this is Talia, she has helped us break down the barrier so we can come here.”
Olivia smiled to Talia, getting free from my hold just to hug Talia, “Thank you.” Olivia said to her.
Talia smiled at her, and said, “We have to take this necklace off and destroy it.”
“We have tried already, but we couldn’t take it off.” Olivia told her.
Talia chuckled and said, “That is not surprising, but will you let me try?”
Olivia looked over at me for a second, turning her attention back to Talia as she nodded, agreeing.
Talia placed her hands onto the clip of the necklace and spoke some words, making the necklace shine brightly as she removed it from Olivia’s neck.
Holding the necklace, she looked up into the sky and whispered, “Please come.”
Confused, Olivia and I looked at her in silence when in the next moment we saw Damon’s dragon appear, landing down close to us.
Talia walked to him and said, “I need your fire to destroy the necklace.”
Large dragon’s head, shook as he agreed to her request as she started a chant placing the necklace down onto the ground, she took a small bottle from her pocket and spray the content over the necklace never stopping her chanting as she looked over at Damon and said, “Now!”
A fire came from dragon’s mouth, making us all watch as the necklace twisted for a moment before a black smoke exploded out from it, leaving the necklace to melt down.
Soon as they destroyed the necklace, Talia looked over at me and rushed to my side, “We need to stop the poison from spreading further.”
“I am fine.” I said, but her hand pushed me back down as she looked at me with stern eyes, “I am stopping the poison now, and you will be quiet and let me help you.”
Grunting, I obliged and let her place her palms over my bleeding wound. Olivia gasped when she noticed my wound to calm her down, caressing her cheek I said, “I will be ok.”
Talia chanted some healing spell, and I could feel the warmth spreading from her palms into my body as slowly my strength regained until I couldn’t feel any more pain.
Finally, when Talia finished, I jumped back up onto my feet and held Olivia’s hand, thanking Talia for helping me.
We stood for a moment, watching around at the warriors while Talia went around helping the wounded, when Olivia looked up at me and asked, “What will happen now?”
I smiled down at her as I spoke lovingly, “Now we go home.”