Caspian.
A few days later, we were back on the battlefield, surrounded by clouds that hid the sun, casting a bleak atmosphere on the place. It mirrored the heaviness in our hearts perfectly. Every soldier’s face was set in a grim line, their bodies tense with anticipation. This was our final stand, and it was taking a toll on each of us.
The knowledge of Oberon’s death should have brought relief, but instead, it fueled our worry. We were now facing Veronica alone, and her unpredictability unsettled us. What was she capable of? What did she have planned?
The mere thought of her twisted my stomach into knots. I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. Our lives depended on it.
Glancing around, I saw the same concern etched on my comrades’ faces. Adonis’s jaw was clenched, his eyes narrowed against the wind. Hermes’s gaze swept the horizon, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The weight of this battle hung over us, with Veronica’s presence looming over us like a dark shadow.
I tightened my grip on my weapon, steeling myself for what was to come. We had no idea what Veronica had in store, but we were ready.
“Please, take care of yourselves…” Lienna’s trembling voice filtered into my mind, and I stiffened slightly, clenching my jaw as memories of the not-so-distant past filled my thoughts. Her eyes, brimming with unshed tears, had locked onto ours, her fingers and lips quivering as she struggled to maintain a brave facade.
Hermes stepped forward, his expression softening. “We will, don’t worry,” he reassured her, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
Lienna’s gaze lingered on each of us, her voice barely above a whisper. “You have to. I have something to tell you when you three come back.”
Her words halted our preparations, and we turned to face her, curiosity piqued. “Why can’t you just tell us now?” Adonis asked, furrowing his brows.
Lienna’s lips pressed together, a hint of determination in her voice. “No. It has to wait till you three come back safely.” She stressed the last word, her eyes pleading.
Hermes chuckled, his smile warming. “That was sneaky, but we’ll make sure we do as you say.” He promised, and Lienna’s face relaxed into a watery smile.
Adonis and I exchanged a glance, our concern for Lienna evident. What could she possibly want to tell us that required our safe return? The question lingered, but we knew better than to press her.
With a final check of our gear, we nodded to Lienna. “We’ll be back soon,” I assured her.
Lienna’s smile faltered, and she took a step closer, her voice barely audible as she stared at us. “Come back to me. Come back to us.”
Here’s the expanded scene:
Oh, how hard was it to part with her. It had felt like I was tearing flesh off my bone when I walked out of the tent, leaving behind the shimmering tears in her eyes. I’m sure it must have been the same way for Adonis and Hermes, but right now, we had a war to win. It’s now or never.
The sound of hooves approaching brought me back to the present and I looked around to see Hermes approaching me, his brow furrowed in concern. “What’s the update?” he asked, his voice low.
I cleared my throat, staring at the horizon, my mind racing with strategies and worst-case scenarios. “I have no idea. Oberon’s army is showing little signs of showing up, and Veronica is nowhere to be found.” My grip on the reins tightened, a mix of frustration and unease.
Hermes’s gaze locked onto mine, his eyes narrowing. “Could she be after Lienna?” he asked, his voice laced with alarm.
My heart skipped a beat at the thought. Taking a deep breath to calm my rattling nerves, I replied, “If that’s the case, it would be really bad. But I don’t think so. Besides, we hid her well this time.” I recalled the precautions we’d taken to ensure Lienna’s safety, but a lingering doubt remained.
“Regardless, we should stay alert,” I continued. “I’ll have a portion of the army move forward, while one stays behind. We can’t afford to exhaust all our options at once.”
Hermes nodded quietly, conceding to my plan. His eyes scanned the surroundings before he turned to leave. “I’ll get the men ready.”
I distinctly heard Hermes call out orders, his voice carrying across the ranks. The army was divided, and Adonis and I were to lead the first half forward. We formed up, our movements precise and deliberate, as we scanned every inch of the landscape for any sign of hidden enemies.
Hours passed in tense silence, the only sound the soft clinking of armor and the distant rumble of hooves. The sun beat down on us, casting long shadows across the terrain.
Then, on the horizon, Oberon’s men appeared.
“Into formation!” Adonis bellowed, his voice reverberating through the air. We locked shields, swords at the ready. I straightened up, gaze fixed on the approaching army. Something didn’t feel right.
Oberon’s men weren’t forming up for battle; they were fleeing. Panic etched their faces, their movements chaotic.
Spurring my horse forward, I broke from the barricade, racing toward a nearby soldier. I yanked him off the ground, my sword pressed to his throat.
“What the hell is happening?!” I yelled, eyes locked on his.
He yelped in pain, glancing wildly over his shoulder. Fear dilated his pupils.
“Save yourself!” he begged, voice trembling. “Veronica! She’s gone mad!”
His words sent a chill down my spine. I tightened my grip on his arm.
“What do you mean?” I demanded.
The soldier’s gaze darted around, as if searching for escape.
“She’s… she’s lost control,” he stammered. “Something drove her mad. She’s slaughtering everyone in her path.” He explained, struggling to get away from my grip. I let him go and he tumbled to the ground, picking himself up as he began to run again.
Adonis rode up beside me, his expression grim. ,”What’s going on?” he asked, eyes locked on the fleeing soldier.
“Veronica’s lost control,” I replied, my mind racing with implications. The soldier’s words painted a dire picture. We’d anticipated a battle, not a massacre.
Suddenly, the hair on my body stood on end, a sense of foreboding settling over me like a shroud. I gulped, spurring my agitated horse backward. “Everyone, maintain your positions!” I yelled, racing back to our lines, Adonis hot on my heels.
The return journey felt like an eternity, the air thickening with an otherworldly resistance. Every breath felt labored, as if the very atmosphere was conspiring against us. Soon, the air shifted, charged with sinister energy, and I screamed for everyone to be on high alert. “Be ready! Something’s coming!”
The words had barely left my lips when shadows erupted from all directions, blocking out the sunlight and plunging us into pitch darkness. The sudden blackness was suffocating, a living entity that wrapped itself around us.
“What the hell?!” Adonis gasped beside me, his voice tinged with fear.
I stopped dead in my tracks, confusion and terror crashing through me. Most of our men had begun to scream, losing their composure. Veronica must have unleashed her attack.
I forced myself into a half-shift, my shield at the ready. “Veronica! Where the hell are you?!” I roared, my voice echoing through the darkness. “Come out now!”
The silence was oppressive, a heavy blanket that smothered all sound. Even my voice seemed subdued, swallowed by the void.
“Caspian, I don’t think Veronica is present anymore!” Adonis yelled, his voice strained.
I turned to him, my eyes straining to pierce the darkness. “What do you mean?”
“I think she’s one with the shadows,” Adonis replied, his words barely audible. A chill ran down my spine. If Veronica had merged with the shadows, we were doomed.
“If that’s the case… we’re dead,” I whispered, the darkness closing in around us like a vice.
The shadows seemed to writhe and twist, alive and malevolent. Our men’s screams grew louder, their panic infectious.
Adonis’s voice cut through the chaos, his bellow echoing across the darkness. “Hold your ground! Don’t let fear consume you!”
But it was too late. The darkness had already taken hold, seeping into our souls. The shadows lunged, striking with deadly precision, their darkness palpable as they claimed victim after victim. My horse screamed, its body crumpling beneath me as I tumbled to the ground. I braced myself for impact, my heart racing.
This suffocating darkness was draining the life from me. Every breath felt like a struggle, every thought clouded by desperation. How could we survive this?
Time seemed to warp, stretching into an eternity as our men’s wails dwindled. The silence was more terrifying than the screams. I scrambled to my feet, fighting against the crushing weight of the shadows.
But every step forward drained me further. My strength waned, my vision blurring. A chilling realization settled in the pit of my stomach: this might be the end.
I swallowed hard, cold sweat breaking out across my skin despite the sweltering heat. Despair flooded my soul, threatening to consume me.
Just as all hope seemed lost, a blinding beam of light pierced the shadows, striking the ground with deafening force. The impact sent shockwaves through the earth. Staggering relief flared within me as I stared at the radiant light.
Lienna was here.