Chapter 99: Chapter 99

JONEA

Late nights in the art gallery always felt weird, like another world was alive among the shadows of the paintings and sculptures around me. But still, I chose to be here. The dim lights reflecting softly on the canvas before me offered a sliver of peace.

I was still working on a drawing assignment for class. A few other students were scattered around, busy with their own projects, but the place was growing quiet. Even though I was tired, this was better than dwelling on the strange events from last night—and the mysterious guest who, for some reason, felt oddly familiar.

Daran and Owen refused to talk about it. I tried pressing them, but they clammed up, even changing the subject to avoid my questions. Frustrated, I gave up and decided to bury myself in my work at the gallery, hoping it would drown out the unease that kept creeping back.

But as I lifted my brush to the canvas, my mind couldn’t stop replaying that night: the words of the man in the dark cloak, the tension radiating from Daran, and Owen’s secretive, uneasy expression.

“What are you guys hiding from me?” I muttered under my breath.

Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence behind me. I turned to see someone standing at the gallery entrance.

“Daran?” I said, surprised.

He walked closer, a faint smile on his face. But something about that smile was off, strange, like he was hiding something. His gaze was sharp—too sharp—like a hunter spotting their prey.

“So here you are, Jonea,” he said casually, but there was something unsettling in his voice.

I stared at him, confused. A strange sensation crawled over my skin.

“What are you doing here?” I asked cautiously.

Daran stepped closer until there were only a few steps between us. I wanted to feel relieved to see him, but something didn’t feel right.

He reached out and gently brushed his hand along my jaw. His touch was cold—different from the warmth that usually made me feel safe.

“Daran… what’s going on with you?” I whispered.

His smile widened, but it wasn’t comforting. Instead, I felt trapped, like something invisible was holding me in place.

“Sacred blood under the red moon,” he whispered, soft but clear, almost like a spell.

A chill ran through me, and goosebumps prickled my skin. “What does that mean? Daran, what are you doing?”

His gaze grew sharper, his smile fading into a hungry, chilling expression. “At last, I’ve found you,” he said, like a collector laying claim to their greatest treasure.

I tried to move, but my body felt heavy, like his presence alone was an invisible force pinning me down.

“This isn’t you,” I murmured, barely believing what I was feeling.

He just stared at me, drinking in the panic he must have seen on my face.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed behind me. I flinched and turned to see a row of paintings had fallen from the walls, their heavy frames landing with a resounding thud. Confused, I stared at the scattered canvases on the floor, wondering what had caused it.

When I turned back to Daran, he was gone.

****

DARAN

I sensed something was wrong even before I stepped into the gallery. A heavy, dark aura blanketed the place, unsettling my instincts. Every hair on my body stood on end, the discomfort intensifying as I approached the room where Jonea was.

From the doorway, I saw her. Jonea, standing frozen. And next to her was… me. No, not me.

My eyes narrowed. That creature.

It touched her jaw, speaking to her in a voice that dripped with false gentleness. Its gaze, meant to be protective, was laced with malice. A mockery of the trust she had in me.

Damn it! How dare you touch her?!

I didn’t wait. Summoning my magic, I willed the objects around them to move. Paintings and sculptures came crashing down, shattering the stillness and startling both Jonea and the creature.

When Jonea turned her head toward the noise, I seized the opportunity. In an instant, I was beside the creature, my hand locking around its throat with all my strength. The last thing I saw was Jonea’s wide, shocked eyes before I dragged the creature with me, slipping out of this dimension.

We landed in a void. No ground, no sky, no walls—just endless darkness stretching in every direction. The perfect battleground, far from Jonea and the real world.

The creature chuckled softly, its voice cold and echoing in the emptiness. Its form began to shift, the imitation of me dissolving.

“How did you know?” it rasped, its voice layered and inhuman.

I narrowed my eyes. “You can copy appearances, but not scent.”

Its body morphed fully, transforming into its true self—a massive wolf-like being made of shadow, its crimson eyes glowing like embers and its claws raking through the empty air.

“A soldier of Luke Draken,” I muttered, recognizing it instantly.

It hissed like a snake. “You’re not as smart as you think, Daran. Luke will have what he wants. You can’t protect her forever.”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I unleashed my magic, forming a glowing blue circle of energy around me—a shield and a weapon.

The creature lunged at me with outstretched claws, but I was ready. With a swift motion, I raised my hand and released a burst of energy that struck it mid-air, sending it flying backward with a pained growl.

It quickly recovered, darting around me with unnerving speed, a shadow impossible to track. When it attacked from behind, its claws tore into my skin, sending a sharp pain coursing through me. But I didn’t falter.

Whirling around, I launched another blast of energy, hitting it squarely. It shrieked in pain but refused to back down.

“She’s not yours!” I roared, pouring all my strength into my next attack.

The creature just laughed. “She’s not yours either, Daran. She’s the key, and you know it. You’re only delaying the inevitable.”

Its words only fueled my anger. I unleashed a barrage of energy attacks, forcing it to retreat.

But it fought back fiercely, its shadows enveloping the void, trying to snuff out the light of my magic. I pushed myself to the limit, keeping my energy shield glowing, refusing to give it the upper hand.

The battle dragged on longer than I expected. Exhaustion seeped into my bones, but I couldn’t give up. I had to protect Jonea, no matter what.

With one final surge, I channeled every ounce of power I had into a massive blast. The energy struck the creature, tearing it apart into wisps of black smoke. It screamed, its form dissipating into nothingness.

I stumbled, barely able to stand from the effort. Relief washed over me. I had won. Jonea was safe—at least for now.

But then a voice echoed in the void. “Impressive, Daran. You’re getting stronger.”

I froze. That voice. “Luke Draken…” I hissed.

His low laugh reverberated around me. “Do you think you can protect her forever? This is just the beginning. Jonea will be mine, and you know you can’t stop it.”

Anger flared in my chest. “I won’t let you touch her! If you try again, I’ll destroy you!”

Luke chuckled darkly. “We’ll see. Until next time, Daran. Remember, every fight only brings me closer to victory.”

The voice faded, leaving nothing but silence.

I clenched my fists, struggling to contain my rage and frustration. But I couldn’t dwell on it. Jonea needed me.

Summoning the last of my strength, I returned to the real world, reappearing outside the gallery. Inside, Jonea stood, looking confused and scared.

****

JONEA

“Daran?” I exhaled in relief, though the tension in my chest hadn’t fully subsided. He stood in front of me, his expression full of genuine worry. “Where were you? You just disappeared.”

He frowned. “I know you’re upset with me. I just wanted to surprise you. How about we go home? It’s late, and I came to pick you up.”

I shook my head, still trying to piece everything together. “I… I don’t know. I looked for you earlier, but you weren’t there.”

My heart pounded in my chest. It felt like I had faced someone completely different earlier.

“What’s wrong, Jonea?” Daran asked, noticing the change in my expression.

I tried to steady myself. “It’s nothing. I’m just… tired.”

He gave me a searching look but didn’t press further. “Then let’s head home.”

I nodded, though my mind was far from at ease. Just before leaving the gallery, I caught a fleeting glimpse of black smoke slipping away into the shadows.