89. LORD BLACKWOOD (POV)

As soon as Nyra left my room, I felt the need to distract myself, even if it meant dealing with matters related to the parliament.

Engulfed in paperwork and endless debates, I try to focus on parliamentary issues, which are pressing for explanations about the disturbances in the provinces under my dominion. Accusations fly from all sides, suggesting that I am responsible for the emerging chaos. However, I know that all of this is part of a more sinister game, a plot by Elijah to undermine my position and power.

I rise from the cluttered desk, feeling the need for something to calm my nerves. I pour myself a generous serving of strong drink, letting the liquid slowly trickle down my throat, seeking momentary relief. It's then that a strange sensation courses through my body, as if every muscle, every cell, is tensing for battle.

My fangs lengthen involuntarily, a reaction of my body that I can't control. My eyes, I know, change to that deep, fiery hue characteristic of our kind in moments of extreme emotion or danger. However, the reason for this transformation escapes me until the image of Nyra forms clearly in my mind. I see her clearly, her face marked by despair, being dragged away by hands I cannot see. The scenery around her is blurred, an unknown and threatening place.

Fury ignites within me like a voracious fire. I feel, with a certainty that tears at my chest, that Elijah is behind this. He's using Nyra to reach me, to destabilize me. This thought propels me to immediate action. I cannot stand still while she is in danger; I cannot allow him to use her as a pawn in his depraved games.

I drop the glass, which shatters against the floor, ignoring the sound of broken glass. I rush out of the office, determined to find Nyra and rescue her from Elijah's clutches. Each step is propelled by a mixture of fear for her safety and anger against the man who dares to threaten what is most precious to me.

As I traverse the castle corridors, Zion's figure appears before me, with marks on his neck as if he had been held tightly.

"Zion, where is Nyra?" My voice is firm, echoing down the hallway.

"My Lord, Elijah took her along with Anna. I tried to protect them, but he's stronger than I am. He used something... some kind of dark magic, I couldn't move," Zion explains, his voice laden with frustration and pain. He touches the marks on his neck, a grim reminder of the power Elijah still wields.

A knot of anger and worry forms in my stomach. "Where did he take them?" My voice intensifies with the urgency of finding Nyra and Anna before it's too late.

Zion shakes his head, his expression grim. "I'm not sure, but he mentioned something about the old sanctuary. He always talked about unlocking the true power hidden there."

The old sanctuary... a place I knew well, a site of ancient power and, according to legends, great dangers. If Elijah was planning to use that power, the consequences could be disastrous.

"Gather whoever you can. We need all available guards," I order, already moving to continue. "Let's head to the sanctuary. We can't let him complete what he started."

Zion nods, understanding the gravity of the situation. He turns to organize a rescue group while I head towards the castle's exit. Each step is driven by a single thought: to save Nyra and Anna.

As I cross the castle gates, I feel the cold night air hitting my face, but my heart burns with fierce determination. Mentally, I prepare myself for the upcoming confrontation, knowing that this will be one of the greatest challenges I've ever faced.

Elijah knows no bounds in his quest for power, but I have no limits when it comes to protecting those I love. Today, he will discover my true fury.

I clench my fists tightly, looking towards the forest that surrounds the path to the sanctuary. The ancient trees seem to whisper and sway in the night wind, as if anticipating the storm that is about to come. With each step I take, my focus sharpens, and my strength intensifies, leaving me with bulging veins, red eyes.

We walk towards the sanctuary, a place that has always been under my care, for this simple reason, whoever knows it exists desires to enter to perform the darkest magic rituals. My bodyguards are alert, ready for anything. I try to stay calm, but inside, I am boiling.

"Let's keep an eye on everything. Elijah may use magic against us," I warn them, trying to sound more confident than I feel.

As we near the sanctuary, an explosion of dark energy erupts out of nowhere. It's Elijah, beginning whatever he has planned. We have no more time to waste.

I look around carefully, catching Zion's attention as he checks the perimeter. Elijah seems to have planned this for a long time, as the sanctuary is well protected with dark magic. It will be difficult to access the location without his permission.

"Zion, I need you to stay here with the others," I order, and he seems to understand what I mean.

"I'm the only one who can enter," I explain, seeing the concern in their eyes. They agree, even though they don't like the idea.

I pass through the barrier of magic, using my vampire strength to resist the power trying to push me away. Inside, the place is dark, with only a few candles illuminating. I see Nyra lying on a rock and Anna beside her, looking frightened.

For some reason, she closes her eyes, tightly holding Nyra's hands, while Nyra is still unconscious on the rock. I place my hand on the side of my head as I feel a sudden pressure in my mind, a strange sensation as if words were being whispered directly into my brain.

"Alaric, go away. It's a trap," Anna's voice resonates in my head. "Elijah wants you and Nyra here together. He planned this."

I stop where I am, surprised by the urgency in Anna's voice. I look at her and see that she's still with her eyes closed. How is that possible? I felt that she had knowledge of magic, but I didn't imagine she was in this advanced state.

"But I can't leave you," I reply mentally, trying to convey my concern and my refusal to abandon them. I won't leave here without taking them with me.

"We don't have time," her voice insists in my mind. "He's coming. If he finds you, it will be even worse."

I take a deep breath, feeling the gravity of the situation weighing on my shoulders. The determination to protect Anna and Nyra intensifies, and I quickly start devising a plan to get them out of there. But before I can act, a shadow moves quickly behind me.

With no time to react, I'm thrown against the stone wall of the sanctuary with brutal force. The impact steals my breath, and as I try to regain my bearings, Elijah's voice echoes through the space, cold and mocking.

As I rise, pushing myself against the cold wall of the sanctuary, my mind races, quickly adapting to the environment. Elijah emerges from the shadows, a sarcastic smile drawn on his face.

"I didn't expect you to come so quickly, dear friend. Or should I say dear enemy?" his voice brims with scorn, and he clearly relishes the moment.

I keep my expression impassive, controlling every muscle not to show the slightest weakness. "Elijah, always with the games. Let's end this quickly. What do you want with them?" my voice is sharp, direct, trying to force him to reveal his intentions.

He paces around the circle formed by the candles, each step measured to provoke tension.

"Oh, Alaric, always so eager to get straight to the point. My proposition is simple. Nyra has untapped potential, something I can help unlock. It would be a waste not to take advantage of that."

Analyzing his every move, my mind works on a strategy.

"You want to use her for your own benefit, and I won't allow it. You won't manipulate her life, like you did with everyone you've turned, including me," I say through gritted teeth, fists clenched.

Elijah laughs, his tone cold and humorless. "Do you really think you have a choice here, Alaric? Do you think I don't know that you've been trying to break the bond we have, me as your creator?" He laughs even louder, his voice echoing through the sanctuary.

The provocation is clear, and he expects me to react emotionally. But instead, I smile slightly, maintaining control. "Elijah, you underestimate my determination. And that will be your mistake."

Elijah pauses, his smile fading as he slowly walks around the circle of stones, looking directly at me. "Your determination, Alaric? The same determination that couldn't save your fiancée, the poor girl who met such a tragic end at my hands?"

His voice is a hiss, each word laced with venom. He knows exactly where to poke to try to unsettle me. The memory of that horrible night, when he cruelly snuffed out her life before my eyes, has always been an open wound.

Despite the pain that this memory brings, my expression remains impassive. I won't give him the satisfaction of seeing any weakness. "Talking about the past won't help you today, Elijah. And it won't distract me from what we're here to resolve."

Elijah stops walking, his face hardening. "Oh, but it's always about the past, isn't it, Alaric? About how you never got over it, and how you'll always seek revenge. But look where that's gotten us. We're here, and you're desperately trying to save another woman in your life. You think this will end any differently?"

In a sudden movement, he lunges towards me, fists clenched, abandoning his extended skills for dark magic, opting for hand-to-hand combat. The change in tactic catches me off guard, but I quickly adjust to the situation. I dodge his first blow, feeling the air move with the force of the attack.

I retaliate with a punch, channeling my supernatural strength. Elijah dodges, a mocking smile spreading across his face. "Is that all you've got, Alaric?"

"Far from it," I reply, my voice calm. I strike again, this time managing to hit him. The impact forces him back, but he quickly regains his footing, launching back into the fight with a flurry of swift, precise blows.

Elijah is skilled, but my anger and determination to protect Nyra and Anna give me an edge. I block one of his kicks, grabbing his foot and throwing him against the sanctuary wall.

He falls, but not for long. He quickly rises, wiping the blood from his lip. "You've always been a fighter, Alaric. But fighting won't change the inevitable."

"We'll see about that," I say, as we circle each other, both ready for the next attack.

Facing our worst sides, my gaze briefly shifts to Nyra on the bed, who with Anna's help, seems to be waking up. But quickly, my eyes return to Elijah's contemptuous face.