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I could feel the world eroding beneath me. The cold, hard ground I had struggled so hard to get away from gave way, crumbling under my feet. As gravity took over and dragged me down into the invisible depths, my gut lurched. I was completely engulfed in the shadows and all I could do for a while was scream—a choked, desperate sound.

Then then, Kel'vok's hold. The only thing holding me back from whatever lurked beyond the darkness was his firm grip on my wrist. With the ease of lifting a feather, he held me in midair with an unnatural and unwavering strength. I hung impotently, thrashing my feet in an attempt to grab hold of something, but all I could discover was nothing.

Even though his face was obscured by shadows and his expression was unreadable, I could still feel the pressure of his stare. I couldn't tell if he was just enjoying his dominance over me or if there was a more sinister, deeper dynamic at work.

"Release!" I cried out, my voice resonating against the pit's invisible walls. I kicked at the air as panic ripped at my chest. I could feel the chasm beneath me dragging me down, almost if the planet was trying to eat me.

Kael'vok remained motionless and silent. His bright eyes, which were ablaze with an unidentified substance, were fixed on mine.

"Leave me alone!" Once more, I yelled, my voice breaking with terror.

Subsequently, as though responding to my entreaty, his hold relaxed.

For a terrifying instant, I was devoid of weight. As soon as his fingers left my wrist, the earth shot up to embrace me.

I struck it firmly. My breathing was knocked out when my body crashed into the uneven terrain. I gasped for oxygen as I slid to a stop, pain shooting through my limbs. As I forced myself to sit up, feeling lightheaded and bewildered, every bone hurt and my muscles screamed in pain.

Despite my tumble, I was still alive.

Hardly.

Kael'vok stood at the edge of the hole above me, the dim light from the surface framing his profile. He simply stood there, staring at me, without moving or saying anything.

"Why did you not murder me?" I stammered as I scrambled to stand. Even though my legs were wobbly and unstable, I wouldn't stay down. not in his line of sight. "You could have simply let me to fall."

He remained silent, which was frustrating. I wanted to yell, demand answers, and hurl something at him. However, I was aware that nothing would change. I was stuck with him, and worse, I could sense the pull once more. That same alluring energy that had surrounded me ever since our first meeting—a bond I was unable to break.

His voice seemed distant and low, resonating down into the hole. "You'll understand soon enough," he continued.

The well. I surveyed my surroundings, attempting to determine where I had fallen. The stone walls were rough and slippery from the wetness. It was a cavern of some kind, located far below the surface of the destroyed city. This place had cooler, almost wet air, and the strange metallic smell raised hackles on the back of my neck.

Then, faint but distinct, I heard it.

Motion.

There was something with me down here.

I swiveled my head, trying to see through the weak illumination. My instincts were screaming for me to run and hide, and my heart was pounding in my chest. However, there was nowhere to run to or conceal oneself. I was stuck in this hole with whatever was hiding there.

Kael'vok had not moved at all. From above, he observed me, his eyes dimly blazing, a predator waiting for its victim to make a deadly error. I could sense his presence and the pressure of his intense stare on my body.

"What is this down here?" I resisted, stepping back and bracing myself for whatever might come.

He remained silent.

A deep rumble reverberated through the cave, bouncing off the walls. When I realized how near it was, my blood froze. I spun around once more to look around in the gloom, but nothing was visible. There were multiple growls instead of just one as the snarling became more intense and distinct.

There were people all around me.

"Kael'vok" I started, sounding hesitant. "What's this?"

Something dark and menacing sparked in his gaze. He uttered the words softly, almost like a lullaby, "They are my soldiers." "What's left of my kingdom. They have just me to answer to, and soon, you as well.

My heartbeat quickened. "What in the world are you discussing?"

Then the shadows moved and I saw them, ugly, rotting forms stepping out of the shadows. Their bodies were twisted and deformed, and they towered over any man. They were enormous. Some had limbs that were skeletal, some had flesh that was rotting, and their eyes shone with an intensity that made me feel afraid. Their eyes gleamed like Kael'vok's.

With slow, guttural growls, they moved forward, staring at me as if I were their next meal.

With a beating heart, I staggered back. "No, no, no, no—" This was not taking place. This could not be taking place.

The voice of Kael'vok resounded throughout the abyss, dominating and sinister. "Alyssa, you can't fight them. They won't give up.

The animals bared their sharp, jagged teeth and growled. Their eagerness to devour and torment me was palpable to me. I was outnumbered, defenseless, and unsure of how to handle a situation like this.

I was breathing quickly and panickedly as I tried to maintain them in my direct line of sight. Now, they were around me and getting closer, their growls becoming louder and more forceful.

That was it. I was going to end up dead.

Suddenly, a voice—a thought—spoke in the recesses of my consciousness. Battle. You are in charge. You're not helpless.

My heart clenched in my chest. Although it wasn't mine, the voice sounded old, rich, and familiar. The voice of Kael'vok inside my head.

I tried to ignore him by shaking my head, but the voice kept coming, only louder this time. Alyssa, fight them. They'll follow your instructions.

With my heart pounding in my chest, I staggered back. "What are you doing?" With a gasp, my hands trembled. "Go away from my mind!"

The creatures were now only a few inches away from me, their foul breath burning against my flesh. I felt like my bones would break at any second from the way their growls shook me. I could sense their want to tear me to pieces and see the hunger in their eyes.

Battle.

Something inside me snapped as I clinched my fists, my claws cutting into my palms. My body was hit by an electric, strong, and terrifying heat wave. I couldn't ignore the energy I felt burning beneath my skin, even though I didn't comprehend it. My heart raced as my body reacted instinctively, sensing a stirring deep inside.

The animals hesitated, perceiving the shift.

I didn't consider it or ask any questions. With my heart racing, I lifted my hands and said, "Stop!"

The monsters froze as the loud and strong phrase reverberated around the cavern. They stopped snarling and hesitated, staring at me as if they were waiting for me to give them another instruction. Their blazing eyes twitched.

Breathless, with my hands still outstretched, I stood there silently in shock. The animals stayed motionless, their snarling muted, but the strength that had surged through me dissipated, leaving a weird emptiness in its place.

I had been heard by them.

Kael'vok saw from above, his expression unreadable. Something triumphant and sinister shone in his eyes. "You see?" he asked quietly, as though addressing no one but himself. "You are mine not alone. You're evolving into something.

I staggered back, thinking incessantly. Even though I didn't want to accept it, what had transpired could not be denied. Not him, but me, the creatures obeyed. And whatever it was that he had done to me, whatever this mark was, it had opened a door inside of me that I couldn't quite put my finger on but could feel throbbing beneath the surface.

"How did you treat me?" With a trembling voice, I demanded.

Kael'vok went closer to the edge of the pit, his eyes sparkling in the dark light. "You know what, Alyssa? I own you. My strength and my brand are carried by you. This is only the start.

I looked up at him, trying to make sense of everything while my thoughts raced. It was all too much—the animals, the mark, the power. I was unable to take it all in.

However, there was a dark, twisted part of me that found myself intrigued.

How did he make me feel?

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