An explosion went off in Luke's head, his will crumbling as he saw the wolf transform into the Werewolf King. His surroundings dimmed, every lingering trace of light getting snuffed out as surely as if the radiance was only an illusion.
And when the last glimmer of light vanished, the darkness settled in.
"In the end, I can only use force!" The hoarse whisper was full of pain, reluctance, and madness.
Black smoke flew out of his seven orifices and covered his figure, enveloping him in a giant black mushroom cloud.
Throwing his head back, Luke howled with despair.
"Ahhhhh!"
Boom!
The ear-shattering cry resounded throughout the green fog, urging the procrastinating shadows.
Within the span of a few heartbeats, a giant storm of dark shadows engulfed the center region of the Soul Sundering Pit, encircling the two entangled figures.
Ramose and Versailles raised their head in unison, an indifferent expression on their faces.
The two were neither surprised nor alarmed at the sudden entrapment. On the contrary, there was an unnatural twinkle of excitement and anticipation in their eyes.
"Hehe...it looks like we have company." Versailles amusedly said.
"That we do. What about it? Do you want to try? We'll do it together." Ramose tenderly glanced at the female in his arms, his eyes filled with adoration.
"Try! Of course try! Why won't we try? Since they are eager to seek out their own death, then we'll show them what death really looks like."
"Hmm. Whatever you say."
Wrapping his arms tightly around her soft waist, Ramose ignored his pounding heart and leaped into the air. He span, their entwined figures twirling in a spiral brilliance of bright and glorious light. The light expanded and majestically exploded from their bodies.
Pure and bright, the glorious light burst outward, expelling the green fog with an unimaginable force.
In its absence, the thousand dark shadows and Luke's ominous figure cloaked in a black fog, were clearly revealed.
In the center of the wide open clearing, Luke's figure appeared as tiny as an ant.
Holding his mate close, Ramose unconcernedly enjoyed the feel of her in his arms, his insides quaking at the wonderful sensation his body, heart, and soul were experiencing.
Just for this moment alone, he was ready to willingly go through any suffering.
"After the conclusion of the Battle of Wars, you are returning to the Underworld Palace with me." He declared decisively.
After spending the past few days together, he didn't have the will to separate from her again. He couldn't imagine going back without her by his side, or he, by her side.
Even the thought made his heart ache.
"Hmm!"
Versailles knew his feelings. She too, no longer wanted to be separated from her mate. In his presence, she could sense that an empty void in her heart and soul were filled and complete.
She knew that only within his presence, she could take off her mask and be herself.
Only with him, would she truly no longer be alone.
Delighted, Ramose happily kissed her hair as a foolish grin stretched across his face and brightened his eyes.
Feeling the act wasn't enough to express his joy, he kissed her temple and fondly rubbed his face in her glorious hair, her fruity scent stealing his breath away.
"Thank you, light."
'The Nar! I was afraid she was going to refuse.'
With her consent, his pounding heart was finally able to settle down. If she had refused, he wouldn't have held her back. But his heart and soul would have been engulfed in agony.
"Huh? Who's light?"
Versailles was stumped.
Who in the Nar is this light? Raising her head, she turned her head around in confusion, in search of this newcomer that she missed.
"Haha..." Ramose lightly laughed in amusement as he saw his mate's puzzled expression.
"You! Why are you laughing? What is so funny huh?" Her scrunched face and fierce eyes made his breath hitch.
Heavens! She was too adorable! Too cute! Too breathtaking!
Just looking at her made him feel alive.
Now, it was even more necessary that he took her back to the Underworld Palace. With her devastating looks and personality, it was only a matter of time before the realm erupted in chaos.
As he thought of this, his gaze swiveled downward, falling on the distasteful Supreme Elder glaring darkly at them.
It hasn't even been 15 ice nights since the formation of their bond, and there was already a fervent vampire lustfully chasing after her.
If he didn't take precaution, it wouldn't be long before one rival turned to a hundred.
"Light, let's take care of this annoyances and leave from here."
'Light? He means me?'
Versailles, finally getting enlightened, glared resentfully at the man. Couldn't he nicely tell her that he was referring to her? Why did he have to make her embarrass herself like that?
Sensing her grudge, Ramose only smiled lightly and rubbed her head.
At this time, he couldn't explain to her the importance and depth the nickname held for him.
Versailles instantly turned serious when she heard him.
"You mean a while ago, right?"
"Yes. Follow my lead and you'll be fine. Now, let's go!"
Holding her, he dived.
The glorious light cloaking them smoothened their descent, shielding and protecting them from the piercing wind and air currents.
Dark shadows rushed at them, blocking every possible escape rout, as they trapped them inside their thousand dark army formation.
"Don't let them get away! I want the Wolf King's life! Even if you can't accomplish that you must bring me the female!"
The vampire's holler spread inside the pit. The beast watched them with smoking eyes, the black fog making his already grim appearance even more ominous and sinister.
As they neared the ground, ten shadows charged at them, slashing ruthlessly and punching violently as they targeted Ramose.
Unperturbed, Ramose spread out one of his hands and a fiery flame with a dark shine surged out, engulfing them before they even neared the two.
"Yeeeeeeee!"
All at once, inhumane shrill cries filled the region and bounced off the jagged cliff walls, the guttural and croaky sound seeming to erupt from the depth an endless nightmarish abyss.
With a final flare of the light, the creatures vanished into nothingness.
Luke, witnessing the bizarre scene, frowned.
"What is that light? Why is so oppressive?"
Everything Luke encountered the beast, the Werewolf King only seemed to be stronger.
If this continued, would he ever get what he wanted?
He felt dread settling in his heart. It's dark and sticky tendrils seeping into his soul. It filled the gaps of his conscious, the splinters of hope, and the shredded pieces of his beautiful dream that he still clung onto firmly, dearly.
At long last, that last trace was on the brink of evaporating as the black tentacles finally clutched onto it and ruthlessly wiped it out.
"Hehehehe..."
A mad cackle flowed from his lips, and the vampire consumed by the darkness, threw his head back and laughed.
He laughed with a sorrowful tone, encompassing his despair and pain.
He laughed with a defiant tone, declaring his defiance against fate.
And he laughed with a sinister tone, displaying his resolve.
Even if it meant turning to the dark side, he was willing.
But he would not bow under fate's mechanism, would give up after losing, and he would not allow his destiny to be written in the throes of woe.
He will get what he wanted, no matter the cost.
"Hehehehe...."
Versailles and Ramose looked at each other in confusion.
"What happened to the Supreme Elder? Seeing us together, did he finally lose his mind?" Ramose asked gleefully.
However, Versailles sensed the situation was no longer controllable.
"Stop playing around. I think that the darkness consumed him. From now on, for him, there is no turning back. Whatever happens to him is his own problem. But we need to leave as soon as possible."
"Hmm!"
The two gazed deeply into each other's eyes and smiled.
The bright light covering their body glowed brighter and grew larger. It radiated an immense and boundless power, a power so pure and intense that it enveloped the entire region in a shower of brilliance.
Hovering in the center, it was like the combination of multiple mini celestial bodies, the red, gold, and black glow beaming gloriously and otherworldly as they descended.
Time seemed to stop and space throbbed. The cliff walls trembled as if within the presence of their mighty creator.
And the dark shadows, linked together and fixed in a frightening formation, finally displayed a trace of emotion.
They, who were corrupted, corroded, and eroded until their very souls became black,
They, who were erased of their memories and emotions, lost their sense of self and became lifeless puppets,
They, who were tortured and drained until the last drop of their lifeforce was sucked away, and were reborn from the flames of dark magic as dark shadows,
They who were nothing but entrapped souls, captured and sealed within a body of darkness,
Finally shed a tear.
A single, lonely tear.
A single, silent tear filled with pain and anguish dripped from the corner of their eye.
Sigh!
The faint sigh, full of relief and peace, passed through their black lips and drifted into the still region, before the glorious light erupted and showered them with its radiance of salvation.