Chapter: 73
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Young Talon stood amid the ancient standing rocks, his small palm gliding smoothly along the stone edges. The moon, in the early stages of its full glow, cast its light upon the four stones surrounding the boy. The moonlight danced upon the peaks of the rocks, cascading down each one like a white veil being draped over them until they all shimmered in white brilliance before Talon's amazed gaze. His mouth agape, he observed the rocks' transformation under the moon's gentle radiance.
His hand, which had paused against the rock, began to tremble slightly before resuming its movement. Talon traced his hand up and down the glowing rocks, touching each one in succession. After encircling the stones and touching them all, he returned to the center, sitting cross-legged with his eyes lifted to the beautiful moon, its light bathing him in recognition. The stars twinkled brightly above, and the tranquil forest whispered gentle breezes against his skin. Despite his mother's disapproval of him wandering alone, especially at night, Talon found solace in the night's beauty, revealing the world's splendor and the forest's wonders when all creatures, save for the nightcrawlers, slumbered.
Growing weary, Talon realized he should return to the cave before his absence troubled his mother. She fretted excessively, a trait that puzzled him. Anxious for the day when he could protect his mother, alleviating her fears, Talon rose to his feet. Dusting sand off his shorts with a smile, he traced a path around the rocks once more, his hand lightly grazing each one as he passed.
Just as he reached the final stone, a flickering light akin to sparks began to dance across the stones. Startled, the boy swiftly withdrew his hand from the stone, stumbling a few feet back in astonishment. He watched in awe as the sparks erupted from all the stones, a mesmerizing sight that would have captivated him had fear not gripped his heart. As he attempted to flee, the lightning-like energy left the stones and surged towards him. A jolt of electricity pierced through his core, causing him to collapse to the ground, convulsing violently as if struck by a powerful current. His teeth clenched, his eyes rolling back in his head, he trembled uncontrollably, his fingers clawing into the earth. He feared for his life, but the shocking ordeal eventually subsided, leaving him breathless and weeping on the ground.
The wind stilled, the stones lost their radiance, the moon concealed behind clouds, and the once serene forest cloaked in an unsettling darkness, devoid of any sound—a silence so profound it struck fear deep into his being.
Struggling to his feet, Talon stood unsteadily, gazing at the now dimmed stones, their former glory extinguished, now appearing as mere ordinary rocks amid the forest. Turning towards the path leading back to his cave, he took a tentative step, only to freeze as his eyes locked onto a pair of glowing white and blue orbs. A menacing growl pierced the air, followed by the rustling of bushes as the creature drew near.
Realizing the reason behind his mother's constant worry, the boy cried and darted in the opposite direction, the creature hot on his heels. His desperate screams for help echoed through the night. Unable to discern the nature of the pursuing animal, he knew it harbored no friendly intent. Should he falter, it would devour him, leaving nothing but his small bones behind. Tears streamed down his face, his hands futilely attempting to clear his vision as he ran, the tears refusing to cease.
Feeling the animal's breath near his feet, he knew it had caught up to him. The boy halted his escape and pivoted to confront the pursuing creature head-on, resigned to whatever fate awaited him. Heart pounding courageously in his chest, tears streaming down his cheeks, he wiped them away with a swift motion of both hands, clearing his vision to face the beast.
Before him stood a small white wolf exuding the most captivating scent—a blend of freshly plucked apples and the earthy essence of rain after a storm, sweet, invigorating, and comforting. The aroma filled his senses, causing his heart to race with wild intensity.
In time, Talon would discover that this scent would hold the key to his very existence.
With the return of the moon to the night sky, the boy saw the beauty of the white wolf before him. The wolf, with its deep white and blue eyes, regarded him intently, letting out a low, menacing growl and licking its lips. Though petrified, Talon somehow sensed that this creature did not intend to harm him; it desired him alive. Had the wolf sought his demise, Talon knew he would have died the moment it closed in on him. Unable to speak, consumed by terror, he stood defenseless against a creature that could easily overpower him.
Born of a human and a vampire, Talon knew he would never possess the power of his mother or their clan members. This understanding kept him under strict protection, shielded from potential threats, like the time the Lycgers had arrived.
Lost in a tumult of memories and present danger, a sudden searing pain tore through his skin. Glancing down at his left arm, he discovered four distinct marks etched into his flesh. The wolf had marked him and vanished. Clutching his bleeding arm, tears streaming down his face, the boy scanned the unfamiliar forest, searching for the vanished wolf. Realizing his solitude and disorientation, he cried even harder.
As Talon struggled to retrace his steps through the dense foliage, the once-crushed bushes now stood undisturbed, disorienting him further. Lost amidst unfamiliar sounds and shadows, the young boy's fear escalated, prompting him to call out for help, his voice echoing through the eerie silence of the forest.
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Back at the cave, Floridia had just returned from a meeting. With weeks passing without any word from the Lycgers, she assumed they had pardoned her as her stepbrother had requested. Feeling it was safe to return to her penthouse after a meeting with some of the family she was beginning to build in Qiemont, she came back to the cave to retrieve her son. However, upon reaching the cave, she discovered his little coffin was empty. Although he did not need to sleep in it, it was a habit she had instilled in the child, knowing each coffin possessed powers to keep the sleeper safe from harm. Frustrated by her findings, Floridia strode into the hall and seized Vince by the collar, demanding to know her son's whereabouts.
Vince was stunned to the core. The last time he checked, he could have sworn he saw the boy sleeping peacefully in the coffin. Confused, he retorted to Floridia, "Didn't you see him sleeping in his coffin?" This question further fueled Floridia's anger, but she had no time to dwell on it. She needed to locate her son immediately.
"I trusted he would be safe with you, which is why I left him under your care!" she exclaimed, turning over each coffin, scouring through walls, and meticulously searching the entire cave. Yet, he was nowhere to be found, not even a trace of his scent lingered within the cave. "I should have taken my son with me," she muttered as she landed gracefully on the ground, her gaze fixed on Vince briefly before storming out of the cave into the night.
Vince swiftly directed the others to find the boy while he set out in search of the missing child.
Floridia scoured through the familiar places her son often frequented but to no avail. Resorting to an aerial search around the forest, her bright red eyes provided perfect night vision for her hunt. However, the further she ventured, the clearer it became that her son might have been either forcibly taken or lost. Fear tightened its grip as the terrifying notion of losing her only child consumed her thoughts. Talon was her sole anchor in this world, and the mere idea of harm befalling him threatened to break her.
Detecting a rustling sound beneath a massive tree, she descended, her eyes surveying a well-kept clearing, yet finding it devoid of anyone. Perplexed, Floridia was about to move on when another noise pricked her keen ears. Hastening towards the source, convinced it must be her son, she envisioned him possibly setting up camp while awaiting rescue.
A sharp clang resonated, causing Floridia to lose consciousness as she collapsed to the ground. Her vision blurred, darkness descending upon her.
Upon regaining consciousness, she found herself bound to a silver gate, her skin scorched, her dress reduced to tatters on her trembling frame. Enduring excruciating pain, she cried out for aid, clueless about her assailant or location.
"Help!" she groaned, her eyes stinging as she surveyed the luminous room. Her sealing rings missing from her right middle finger exacerbated her agony, rendering her unable to alleviate or endure the pain.
Struggling to vocalize her pleas, her throat felt as though torn apart, blood trickling from her lips. Attempts to move proved futile, leaving her immobilized. The creak of the opening door drew her gaze weakly, barely discerning two figures entering with some unfamiliar instruments. Despite her efforts to scream or beg, her voice remained stifled, lost to her desperate situation.
The figure closest to her reached out, seizing her face and drawing her near, locking eyes with her. His long, pale fingers traced over her features as she whimpered and attempted to pull away. He held her firmly, his other hand clenching her neck tightly, fingers pressing into her tender flesh. "You betrayed me... left me to die, didn't you?!" he growled.
A soft sigh escaped her cracked lips. "Where is my son? What have you done to him?!" she managed to rasp through swollen lips and strained breath. Tears streamed down her closed eyelids as she struggled for composure, scanning the room in search of her child, praying for his safety. Failing to spot him, she shook her head. "Please, where is my son?" Despite her weakness, all she yearned for was assurance of her son's well-being.
His grip intensified, eliciting a wince. "He is no more," he taunted, prompting Floridia's despairing cry. "You thought I would die, didn't you... Well, the foolish Lycgers likely assumed the same. In truth, I would have died if Toria here hadn't discovered me in time. It was her blood that revived me, and it took weeks to mend the injuries inflicted upon me. Witness what those heartless creatures did to me, how they tore me apart, but behold how splendidly I stand now, even surpassing my former self." Malta turned to Victoria, seizing her by the neck and kissing her languidly.
Despite the nonsensical ramblings, Floridia's sole concern remained on seeing her son, and ensuring his safety. Attempting to scream once more, she succumbed to a fit of coughing, a tear tracing her cheek.
"Toria," she implored, seeking to appeal to her as one mother to another. "Did you harm my son? He's just a little boy, barely seven. Please, where is my son?" Her plea for any sign of the boy's existence was met with only ire.
Malta released Victoria, and together they gazed at Floridia in derision. "How the mighty have fallen," Toria chortled, her laughter resonating in the room.
"Indeed, oh esteemed Lady Floridia..." Malta jeered, eyeing her with disdain. "How pitiful you appear now! Did you truly believe this outcome could be averted after abandoning me at the final moment? You desired Dirk's demise as fervently as I did, yet they spared your life in the end... I shall exact retribution, starting with you!" Floridia cried out in agony as a dagger pierced her chest. Her weakening eyes fluttered, shifting between Malta and Victoria, both reveling in her imminent demise.
For the first time, Floridia experienced profound abandonment and solitude, compounded by her failure to locate her son. Uncertainty plagued her - was he alive or deceased? If captured, what horrors might have befallen the innocent child?
"Give my regards to your father in the depths of hell!" Malta taunted, departing with Victoria, issuing a final directive to the man at the gate. "Ensure the roof collapses at sunrise. Without her sealing rings, she will turn to ashes in moments. No deceit, remember, I am watching!" His words dripped with malice as the gate sealed behind them.
Observing through cameras, they awaited the dawn, cackling malevolently as the roof crumbled, leaving Floridia at the mercy of the sun. Isolated, Floridia watched as shadows lengthened in the cavern, darkness encroaching rapidly as her vision dimmed. Her final breath seared her lungs, and in an instant, she disintegrated into ash.
"It's time to end this once and for all," Erik declared as he settled into the car, igniting the engine and setting off. "Let us find Dirk."