Chapter 51: A Wills-Based Conflict
Melissa’s POV
The brightness from the Heart of Creation was dazzling and blinding, and the air in the room crackled with raw energy. Damon stood before the bright sphere, his presence infused with dark power, and my hands shook at my sides. His features were twisted with conceit and hatred, making the once-familiar guy nearly unrecognizable.
I yelled, trying to maintain my calm, “You don’t have to do this, Damon.” “This isn’t you.”
Slowly, his eyes blazed with an unsettling brightness as he turned to face me. Melissa, do you still believe you know me? That you can get in touch with the man I once was? Like you, that man has been devastated by treachery.
Even though Kane was giving me a warning look, I took a cautious step forward. “I am aware of your anger. I am aware of your suffering. But you won’t find serenity on this route. You and everyone else will be destroyed by it.
I felt shivers down my spine when I heard Damon giggle. “Calm? Peace is not what I desire. Power is what I desire. And I’ll have it at last because of the Heart.
Kane snarled and moved ahead of me, saying, “Enough talk.” There was hardly contained rage in his voice, a deep-going. “I’ll stop you myself, Damon, if you refuse to listen to her.”
Damon tilted his head mockingly and grinned. “You believe you can resist me? Horrible.
With quick and accurate movements, Kane sprang at Damon before I could stop him. The sound of fists and energy echoed off the stone walls as their forces clashed, shaking the chamber.
“Wait, Kane!” With my heart racing, I yelled. “We require a strategy”
He grumbled and dodged a burst of dark energy, saying, “No time for plans.” Simply reach the heart. I’ll take care of him.
As I watched them fight, I felt sick to my stomach. Kane’s strikes were violent and well-planned, and he was strong, but Damon was a completely other person. His strikes were infused with the supernatural power of the Heart, and his motions were nearly effortless.
Damon sneered and slammed Kane against a neighbouring pillar, saying, “You’re outmatched.” “You can’t stop me or protect her.”
With blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, Kane stumbled to his feet. “We’ll check on that.”
I made myself get up and walked shakily toward the Heart. Up close, its light was nearly blinding, and the energy it radiated made the air feel oppressive and thick.
Melissa, what are you doing? Damon’s piercing, mocking voice broke through the confusion.
I kept my eyes fixed on the orb and didn’t respond. To prevent him from draining its power, there had to be a way to interfere with it. As I examined the complex patterns of light swirling inside it, my thoughts raced.
“Remain clear of that!” With a shout, Damon turned his focus from Kane to me.
Taking advantage of the commotion, Kane punched Damon hard, sending him reeling back. “Not so quickly,” he snarled. “I’m dealing with you.”
With hesitation, I extended my hand and touched the Heart’s surface. I gasped and drew my palm back as a wave of energy shook me.
“Elissa!” I turned to see Kane’s yell as Damon shot back, launching himself across the room in a flurry of dark energy.
“Kane!” Panic clawed at my chest as I screamed.
For a horrifying minute, Kane’s body remained still as he struck the ground with force, but then he moaned and attempted to raise himself. With a look of ruthless victory, Damon loomed over him.
“You ought to have avoided this,” Damon stated icily as he held up his hand. With deadly determination, a dark blade of energy materialized, its edges gleaming.
“No!” I ran toward them and cried, but it was too late.
Blood-stained Kane’s shirt as he collapsed to the ground when the sword impacted. A scream tore from my throat as I saw it, and my heart stopped.
“Kane!” Beside him, I fell to my knees and applied shaky pressure to the wound in an attempt to halt the bleeding.
He opened his eyes and smiled weakly at me. “Don’t stop fighting, Melissa.”
I shook my head, my vision hazy with tears. “You’ll be all right. Hold on, please.
With a twisted sneer on his face and a mocking tone in his speech, Damon observed us. Touching. However, you have run out of time.
Angry and disappointed, I stood slowly with my hands balled into fists. With a trembling but determined voice, I responded, “You won’t get away with this.”
Damon turned back to the Heart and laughed. “Observe me.”