"Yona—"
Before Kaia could reach her, Zareth grabbed her collar and flung her straight toward the writhing mass of tentacles. They seized her midair, tightening their grip as she struggled.
"Ugh…!" Yona spat blood, clutching her deep wound as she tried to push herself up—only to be slammed back down by a foot stomping on her shoulder.
Zareth knelt down and grabbed her by the collar, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Did you really think you could escape us?" he sneered. Then his eyes flicked over to Kaia, who was still trapped. "You're quite naive, aren't you? But I'm glad you came."
A strange shiver ran down Kaia's spine as the tentacles coiled even tighter. Suddenly, a jolt hit her head like a shockwave. Flashes of vision filled her mind—the castle's layout, the spreading reach of the tentacles… and in a certain room, maybe a library, a glowing core wrapped in writhing appendages.
What… was that?
Kaia's breath quickened. Did I just see… through their eyes? What is this thing?
"Aaahhh!"
Kaia's attention snapped back to Yona—and her blood ran cold.
Zareth's fingers twisted into Yona's wound, making her convulse in pain. His grin was wicked. "You'd be surprised to know that my sword is made from the same material as that dagger from before. Perfectly designed… to kill you."
But Yona's darkened eyes held no fear. Instead, her lips curled into a grin.
"Heh… Pfft…"
Zareth's brow furrowed. "What's so funny?"
"Haha… It's just—" Yona's voice was weak but mocking. "You were so desperate to kill me, you went and forged weapons just for me. How pathetic is that?" Her grin widened, eyes blazing with defiance. "Look at how jealous you two were… how afraid you still are."
"You-" Zareth looked at her with a disgusted look on his face, leaning close.
Kaia's heart pounded. Why isn't it working? Sweat beaded on her forehead. Was my plan a mistake? No… it can't be.
Then, an idea sparked.
Maybe it needs… a trigger.
Kaia slashed her sword at the tentacles. Blood splattered, but the blade didn't cut through completely.
The creature roared in rage. The tentacles flailed—and Kaia was yanked violently away.
"Kaia!" Yona's eyes widened, her vision slowing as she watched Kaia being dragged into the darkness. Her stomach twisted. She couldn't do anything—Kaia was going to die because of her. She was taken in her mess too. She already went through a lot recently and now this.
No.
Suddenly, something snapped inside her.
A pulse of searing energy flooded through her body. Blue light rippled along the floor and walls, snaking toward her like living mist. Zareth's eyes narrowed, confusion flickering into fear.
The aura wrapped around Yona's body—and the air shook.
"NO!" Zareth lunged, driving his sword toward her heart.
But in one fluid motion, the blade shattered.
The pieces fell in slow motion.
Yona looked up, satisfaction glinting in her eyes. "Well… what now?" She tilted her head, grinning as she gestured to the broken shards. "Your only hope—shattered."
Zareth stumbled back, his face draining of color. He yanked his hand away as the blue aura slithered toward his skin—and hissed in pain when it seared him. He jumped backward, clutching his burned hand.
Then the air filled with a sound that made his blood freeze—a low, menacing laugh.
"Miss me?" Yona's voice was honeyed and lethal.
A weapon materialized in her hand—a scythe with angelic, intricate designs and razor-sharp, string-like extensions that shimmered in the blue light.
"If not…" Yona's eyes flashed murderously. "Then I'll show you just how much I missed you—when I take my revenge!"
She swung the scythe in a deadly arc.
"I should go back and tell Brother—"
Before Zareth could finish muttering, the figure was suddenly there, right in front of him in the blink of an eye. His heart lurched violently, struggling to keep its rhythm steady as he stared into Yona's cold, glowing eyes.
Her blonde hair shimmered like molten gold as she lashed out. One swift kick slammed into his stomach, twisting his body unnaturally as he coughed up saliva. The force sent him rocketing upward, crashing through the ceiling—and then through the next floor—like the walls were made of paper.
He finally found himself airborne, debris tumbling around him as his battered body tried to orient itself. But before he could catch his breath, Yona appeared again, an instant blur below him.
Panic shot through him. Desperately, he forced his wings out, spreading them wide to shield himself. He hit the ground hard—but not through it, the impact somehow halted by the strange, shifting energy in the air.
Instinct screamed at him to flee. Spinning on his heel, he turned to escape—
But something yanked him back sharply.
"Ahhh!" he gasped.
Yona had grabbed his hair, jerking his head back with terrifying ease. In the same instant, her scythe plunged into one of his wings.
"Ghhk—!"
He felt her grin against his ear.
"You really thought," Yona's voice dripped with mockery, "that you could claim the blessing of Luminara? After everything you did to me?"
The air itself changed.
The room solidified into an unfamiliar, unyielding ground. Blue light spilled everywhere, twisting the space into a shimmering battlefield. The aura was so dense, so overwhelming, that Zareth's vision blurred.
Then his head met the ground.
Yona slammed him down with brutal force. Before he could even recover, she wrenched him up—and slammed him again. And again.
Pain exploded through his body with every impact. Blood spattered the solid floor, his broken form leaving streaks of crimson.
No… I need to escape… I have to—
The scythe drove deeper into his wing. His vision dimmed. His body trembled.
"Brother… hic… help… help…"
Tears mixed with the blood running down his face.
Yona's grip faltered.
For the first time since it began, she hesitated. Her breath caught as she looked down at the broken, sobbing figure beneath her.
What have I done?
The question whispered through her mind. What's the difference between him and me now? Am I no better than this monster?
Her teeth clenched, doubt seeping into her heart.
This… this wasn't supposed to happen.