Chapter 29: Confronting the Lies
Melissa’s POV
My skin crawled from the oppressive combination of raw strength and burning incense that pervaded Damon’s lair. The faint sounds of chanting became stronger with every step, and shadows swirled along the ragged walls. As Kane and I moved cautiously, guns ready, my heart thumped in my chest.
“Remain vigilant,” Kane said in a quiet, tight voice. “They’ll know we’ll be here shortly.”
“They already do,” I said, clenching my dagger. Like a second heartbeat, my cursed talisman throbbed across my chest, alerting me to the peril that lay ahead.
The first group of Damon’s supporters showed up before we had gone very far. Out of the shadows came cloaked individuals, their hands sizzling with evil power, their eyes gleaming strangely.
“Stand by me!” When the initial assailant lunged, Kane yelled and raised his sword.
I didn’t pay attention. Rather, I dodged a surge of energy and stabbed the closest guy in the side. There was no time to celebrate their victory as they yelled and fell in a heap. I could already see another individual approaching, their stick pointing at me.
“Elissa!” With a growl, Kane cut past an opponent to get to me. Just in time, his blade redirected the staff’s attack.
“I’m all right!” Despite the pain in my arms from trying to keep up, I said.
Through the lair’s cramped passageways, the battle raged. Damon’s supporters were unrelenting, coordinating their assaults as though they had one goal in mind. With his sword a blur, Kane fought fiercely, taking down everyone who approached too closely.
“To your left!” As I called, I threw a dagger at a cloaked person that was pointing at Kane.
With a brief nod of gratitude, he returned his attention to the battle.
Stone fragments flew from the wall next to me as a sudden burst of energy struck it. I barely avoided the explosion as I dove for safety.
“Elissa!” As Selena and Jared entered the battle, their voices could be heard behind us.
“It’s about time!” Kane growled, cutting down another attacker.
“Traffic,” Selena joked, letting go of an arrow that struck a spellcaster in the chest.
The tide started to turn with their assistance. Jared’s strength was unparalleled as he tore through the enemy ranks, and Selena’s arrows were lethal accuracy. However, it seemed like two new enemies appeared for everyone we killed.
“Like this, we’re not getting anywhere!” Panting, I yelled as I ducked another blow.
Kane gave a sombre nod. “We must move forward right now!”
I mustered all my courage and let my powers rise. I released a surge of energy that sent a group of adversaries sprawling. It gave us a chance to recuperate, but it left me exhausted.
“Leave!” We pushed forward, with Kane leading the charge.
As we moved deeper into the lair, the chanting became louder despite the twisting and turning of the passages. Now, I could sense Damon’s presence, a chilly, evil power that made my skin itch.
When we stormed into a bigger room, we were confronted by Damon’s supporters. Their strikes were harder and faster, and they were stronger and more skilled.
Gritting his teeth, Kane deflected a blow that was aimed at me. “Time is of the essence!”
“I understand!” I yelled, avoiding a blow to my head.
My abilities flared once more, but this time I was able to control them and form a barrier that protected us from a wave of dark magic that was about to hit.
Selena remarked, “Nice trick,” and let go of another arrow.
With perspiration streaming down my face, I mumbled, “Let’s hope it holds.”
We stood gasping, bruised but alive, as the last of the attackers went down.
Wiping blood from his cheeks, Jared remarked, “That’s the last of them for now.”
I looked at Kane, who had a tough, focused face. I remarked, “We’re close,” as Damon’s presence was drawing me in more strongly than before.
“Then let’s get this done,” he answered.
As we stepped into the middle hall, the singing ceased. The device hovering in the centre of the large, circular space gave it an unsettling blue glow. With a ruthless grin, Damon stood beneath it, his arms proudly raised.
“Hello,” he said, his voice resonating strangely. “You’ve been anticipated.”
I stepped closer and gripped my dagger tighter. “Damon, it’s over!” I yelled. “This is not going to get away with you.”
His laughter was contemptuous and icy. “You haven’t even started to comprehend what’s going on here, Melissa.”
With his blade lifted, Kane stepped to stand next to me. “Give her up,” he snarled.
Damon cocked his head, pretending to be confused. “Who should I let go? You mean Melissa herself, I see. He grinned. But you see, she’s the secret to everything. She’s right where she should be, so why would I let her go?
His eyes glowed with an odd light, and I felt a shiver go down my spine as he turned to face me.
He moved closer and remarked, “Melissa, you’re more powerful than you realize.” “Having divine heritage is more than just a boon. It serves as a doorway. I will become invincible by combining my power with the divine through you.
I spit out, “You’re crazy,” and stepped back.
“Am I?” Damon shot back. “Or am I the only one who is prepared to go to the lengths necessary to attain genuine greatness?”
When Kane lunged at him, Damon held up his hand, launching Kane across the room with a wall of dark energy.
“No!” I ran to Kane’s side and yelled. With blood dripping from a cut on his forehead, he moaned.
With an almost lighthearted tone, Damon said, “Stay back, Melissa.” “We don’t want your priceless protector to suffer any harm.”
Even though I was in pain, I stood, my powers fading. “You won’t win,” I said, trembling but resolute.
Damon grinned. “Oh, but I have it already.”
The artefact pulsed with energy as he pointed to it. “This ceremony will bring your power and mine together via the child you are carrying.”
I gasped. “What are you discussing?”
“You were unaware?” Damon grinned more broadly. “My ultimate power will be channelled through the child you are destined to have. We’ll change the world together.
A wave of shock and rage swept over me. My voice quivered with anger as I replied, “You will never touch me or my child.”
Damon’s gaze grew strained. “We’ll check on that.”
The chamber trembled as Damon’s power increased and the artifact started to light brighter. With his weapon in hand, Kane stumbled to his feet.
With a raspy voice, Kane declared, “We must stop him.”
I nodded as my resolve became more resolute. “With each other.”
With everything we had, we charged and prepared to battle.
Damon’s power caused the ground beneath us to quake. As we struggled to stay upright, Kane and I ducked under jolts of dark energy. The presence of the artefact caused the cursed talisman to react forcefully, causing my chest to burn.
“Elissa!” As a burst of power just missed me, Kane yelled.
“I’m all right!” My legs felt like they were about to give out, but I yelled back.
Damon’s voice reverberated throughout the room as he laughed. Melissa, you can’t fight me. My power is far greater than yours.
Something inside of me was aroused by his challenge, an uncontrollable wave of rebellion. I closed my eyes and grasped the strength I had long suppressed. Like the embrace of sunlight slicing through a storm, a gentle yet ferocious warmth swept through me.
The room was filled with a golden light when I opened my eyes. Kane froze and gazed at me with wonder.
“Your eyes, Melissa,” he whispered.
Damon’s confidence wavered as his smile faltered. “It’s impossible,” he said.
A beam of light rushed at him as I raised my hand, piercing his defences like paper. Damon stumbled for the first time.
I said in a firm voice, “It appears that you are not invincible after all.”
Damon let out a growl that shook the lair’s walls. The item pulsed in reaction to the energy crackling through his body.
“You believe that will deter me?” His voice was caustic as he sneered. “You are only a piece of the divinity that she used to be. In contrast, I am complete.
When he lifted his hands, a tremendous surge of energy sprang forth. We were flung back, hitting the stone walls with Kane and me. I was in excruciating pain, and my head was spinning.
“Elissa!” With his face streaked with blood, Kane crept to my side. “We must reorganize.”
I pushed myself up and gasped, “I’m not giving up.”
Damon grinned cruelly as he strode forward. “Your time is being wasted. I’ve already triumphed.
But the artefact flickered as he got closer. A glimmer of uncertainty appeared in his eyes.
Even though my body was in excruciating pain, I stood straight and shouted, “Your power doesn’t belong to you.” It is stolen and borrowed. And I’m retracting it.
Using all of my efforts, I directed the golden light in the direction of the relic. Its surface cracked, and Damon shouted. However, his power erupted again, more powerful than before, before I could finish.
As Damon held out his palm, the item ceased to flicker and the room became quiet. Its radiance grew stronger, illuminating the room. I protected my eyes, but I was knocked to my knees by the force of it.
With a proud and icy tone, Damon declared, “You’ve only postponed the inevitable.” “Now, observe the start of the end.”
Dark magic sprang from the relic in chains that encircled and secured me. Damon waved his hand, causing Kane to crash into a pillar as he surged at me.
“Kane!” I struggled against the restraints and yelled.
“Don’t worry, Melissa,” Damon remarked in a tone that bordered on mockery. “You’ll do your part perfectly.”
The cursed talisman around my neck gleamed with a spooky radiance as the chains tightened. I became aware of what was happening too late as pain burned through me.
“No!” As Damon started the ceremony, I broke down in tears. Above us, a gateway of whirling shadows erupted as the power of the item surged.
As the room filled with Damon’s laughing, Kane moaned, hardly cognizant.
“Goodbye to your former life,” Damon remarked. “This is the start of the new world.”
Then the darkness took hold of me.