Veronica.
“Nothing’s working!” I screamed, my voice echoing in the rickety tent as I tried to curtail the shadows that were leaking out of me. My frustration knew no bounds and the facts that several dead bodies had been piled up beneath my feet weren’t helping matters. Running my hands through my hair in frustration, I tried to control it once more but despite my best efforts but nothing worked. The powers continued to seep from my pores, feeding off my despair.
Not only that, the wounds I had sustained from my fight with Lienna were also refusing to heal as well. Whatever lienna did to me that day have yet to leave my body. Infact, even at the moment, whenever I use my powers, I still feels a stabbing pain in my chest. That witch! How the hell did she survive!?
I let out a huff, fury coursing through my veins like liquid fire. Turning to Oberon, I stiffened when I saw the spiteful expression in his face. Baring his teeth, he growled. “If you think I’m going to let you lay a hand on one of men so you can feed on their blood, you’re sorely mistaken.” He said, his voice low and menacing.
His words cut deep, and I felt a spark of indignation ignite within me. “How then am I supposed to contain this!?” I yelled at him, my anger rising.
“I have no idea. All I know is am I no longer handing you anymore men. You have had enough!” He raged, his voice going several notes higher.
“Can’t you see I’m trying to contain it!?”
“Contain it?” he repeated, his tone dripping with skepticism. “You’re losing control, and you expect me to trust you with the lives of my men?” His remaining hand rested on the hilt of his sword, a silent warning that he’d stop me by any means necessary. “I don’t care anymore. Figure out your problems on your own. It’s not like you were any useful anyway. I regret the day I brought you to my army.”
My anger boiling over, I narrowed my eyes into slits, stalking my way towards him. “What did you just say?” I asked, my voice eerily calm, caring little about the shadows that was raging behind me. Oberon’s eyes showed no fear as he glared at me.
“You heard me loud and clear.” He growled, closing the distance between us and he leaned forward.
“Oh, I heard what you said quite alright. I just wanted to know what you meant by it.” Clenching my jaw, I gritted the next words out. “What did you mean by that, Oberon?”
“Admit it, aren’t you useless? You couldn’t kill a stupid girl. See what she did to you!?”
That was it. I exploded, unleashing the full fury of my powers st him. They swirled around him almost instantly, sweeping him off his feet and began to strangle him. “One more word… One more word Oberon and I will need you here and now.”
His eyes glowered with defiance and pride. “You wouldn’t dare.”
I chuckled, shaking my head, and began to strangle Oberon, tightening the shadows around his neck like a noose. The darkness seemed to pulse with a life of its own, draining the life out of him. “It’s not like you can fight anymore, either,” I taunted, my voice dripping with malice. “Didn’t you lose an arm? You’re just as pathetic.”
Oberon’s eyes widened as he realized the true extent of his helplessness. His men, sensing his fear, took a step forward, but I merely laughed, the sound sending shivers down their spines. With a flick of my wrist, the shadows surged, repelling them. They stumbled backward, their swords trembling in their hands.
“Stop it… Stop it, Veronica,” Oberon choked, his voice barely audible. He flailed his remaining arm wildly, trying to shake off the darkness, but it only seemed to grow thicker, more oppressive. Fear trickled into his eyes, mixing with the anger and hatred.
“No… You have pushed me to the wall, and it’s time to pay,” I hissed, my eyes blazing with fury. With a swift, merciless motion, I tore off his other arm, the sound of ripping flesh and crunching bone echoing through the tent. Oberon’s scream was music to my ears, the blood splattering on the ground.
“Still think I’m weak?” I demanded, my voice rising to a scream. I towered over Oberon, my presence suffocating. “Do you still think I’m weak!?” I screamed, my voice echoing in the entire area.
Oberon’s response was a choking gurgle, his eyes filled with impotent fury and terror. I watched, unmoved, as he writhed in agony. My hands moved of their own accord, pulling out his leg with a twisted sense of satisfaction. The groan that escaped his lips was music, a symphony of suffering.
Finally, I grasped his last leg, my grip like a vice. Oberon’s eyes locked onto mine, pleading for mercy, but I had none to give. With a swift jerk, I ripped his leg free, and his body went limp, lifeless.
The tent fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of Oberon’s men. They froze, their eyes wide with shock and fear, fixed on the lifeless body of their leader.
I turned toward them, my eyes blazing with anger, my presence radiating an aura of untouchability. “Anyone else take a step toward me, and you will end up like him,” I warned, my voice dripping with venom. They stiffened, some taking several steps backwards. “Now, get out!” I snarled.
The men exchanged terrified glances before beating a hasty retreat, abandoning their fallen leader. I watched them flee, my chest heaving with exertion, the shadows still pulsing with energy around me.
“I had hoped that feeding off Oberon would make the powers recede, even if only for a little while. But instead, they tripled, overtaking me completely. The realization hit me like ice-cold water poured over my body. I could no longer contain the powers. I was at their mercy.
They burst out of me like an explosion, then rushed back in. My thoughts fragmented, and I lost control. A chant echoed in my mind, growing louder with each passing second, until I was on my knees.
‘Destroy the world,’ it whispered.
‘Destroy the world!
DESTROY THE WORLD!!!'”