Page 36 of The Fractured Veil

With a final, brutal shove, the creature shattered my shield. The force of the blow sent me flying backward through the air like a rag doll. I hit the ground hard, the air driven from my lungs in a painful whoosh, my head snapping back against the unforgiving earth. Pain exploded across my back and shoulders—a searing, white-hot agony that stole my breath. I gasped, struggling to breathe, my vision blurring around the edges as I tried to push myself up, my hands scrabbling at the ground, finding only loose dirt and leaves. It was too late. The massive form loomed over me, casting a long, ominous shadow, its glowing eyes filled with malevolent intent, promising a swift and brutal end.

Desperation surged through me, a wave of adrenaline momentarily clearing my head. I reached for my shadows again, willing them to respond, to protect me—but they were weak, scattered, barely responding to my call. My body ached, every part of me screaming in protest as I forced myself to my feet, my legs trembling beneath me, threatening to give way at any moment. The creature snarled—a low, rumbling sound that vibrated in my chest—its massive wings flaring out to their full, terrifying span as it prepared to strike again, to finish what it had started.

I stumbled backward, fear felt a cold hand squeezing the air from my lungs. I had nothing left—no strength to fight, no shield to protect me. The creature lunged, a monstrous shadow against the fading light, and I braced myself, the bitter taste of despair coating my tongue. I knew I couldn't avoid it this time, couldn't summon even a flicker of the power that had saved me before.

Its claws sliced through the air, razor-sharp and imbued with a dark energy I could feel even before they touched me. I tried to move, to twist away from the inevitable blow, but the pain came before I could react, a searing agony that shot through my arm like a bolt of lightning. Its claws cut deep, straight to the bone, tearing through muscle and tendons with sickening ease.

I cried out, the sound raw and filled with terror, as blood poured down my arm, hot and sticky, staining the ground beneath me in a spreading pool of dark red. My vision swam, the world tilting and blurring around me, and I lost my footing, falling backward onto the cold, hard ground. My head hit the stone with an awful thump, and the world went black for a moment, then returned in a dizzying rush of pain and fear. My heart pounded in my ears like a drum, each beat a frantic countdown, as I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the final blow—preparing for death to claim me in its icy embrace.

But instead of a fatal blow, I heard another roar—this one different, filled with pain and fury. I opened my eyes in time to see the creature staggering backward, its massive form crashing into it. A panther. The panther from the Shadows Brothers' territory was here. It was even larger than I remembered, its muscular frame towering over the beast that had attacked me. Its sleek, midnight-black fur glistened, and its green eyes blazed with fierce intensity. A low growl rumbled in its chest, a promise of bloodthirsty violence. Without hesitation, it lunged at the creature, its powerful paws colliding with the beast's side, knocking it off balance. The impact echoed through the trees, a loud crash that made me wince.

The two creatures clashed again, the ground trembling beneath their combined weight. The panther moved with a fluid grace I'd never witnessed, every muscle in its body rippling as it dodged and attacked with lethal precision. Its claws—like honed raven blades—slashed through the air, tearing at the creature's leathery wings and thick shoulders, leaving deep gashes that oozed dark, viscous blood. The demonic beast roared in pain—a sound that sent shivers down my spine—its twisted horns thrashing wildly as it tried to fight back. But the panther was relentless, its powerful jaws snapping at its opponent, fangs sinking into the coarse red fur. A coppery tang filled the air, thick and metallic.

I watched, stunned, as the battle unfolded before me like a gruesome ballet. The panther's growls were low and feral, a stark contrast to the guttural roars of the creature. It was as if the panther had been waiting for this moment—its every move filled with a primal purpose and raw power that radiated outwards like a physical force. It dodged the creature's desperate strikes with an almost supernatural agility, lunged forward with explosive speed, and sank its teeth deep into the beast's neck, drawing a howl of pain that reverberated through the silent forest, echoing back from the towering trees.

The creature tried to spread its massive, bat-like wings, desperately attempting to lift its heavy body off the ground, but the panther pounced with a ferocity that left no room for escape. It slammed at the creature's neck, pushing it back down, its claws digging deep, pinning it to the forest floor like a pinned rabbit. Dirt and leaves erupted into the air like a miniature explosion as the ground cracked beneath the force of the impact, and the creature's wings flapped wildly, a futile attempt to break free from the panther's iron grip.

The panther's claws held fast, unyielding, and with a final, savage bite, it tore into the creature's throat, severing the thick artery. A burst of dark blood sprayed into the air, coating both the panther and the forest floor in a horrific painting. The demonic beast let out one last gurgling roar—a sound that echoed with the finality of pain and desperation—before its body went limp, collapsing beneath the panther's weight. The once-glowing red eyes faded to dull embers, the life draining from them as an eerie silence fell over the forest, broken only by the panting breaths of the victorious panther.

The tension that had gripped the air dissipated, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake. The panther stood, its chest heaving with exertion, blood staining its dark fur. It turned its gaze to me, those piercing green eyes locking onto mine. My entire body trembled, and I couldn't breathe, fear and disbelief warring within me.

Here we go,I thought, a strange calm settling over me. Finally, we'd finish what we had started weeks ago. This deadly game of cat and mouse was coming to an end. A small, humorless laugh escaped my lips. If this was how it ended, then so be it. I kept my eyes on the panther’s, bracing myself for the inevitable, the vivid image of its fangs sinking into my flesh, the searing pain, flashing through my mind.

The panther took a step back, its fierce expression softening ever so slightly. Its eyes seemed to study me, searching for something in the depths of my own, and I saw something flicker there—an understanding, or maybe a curiosity, a spark of something I couldn’t quite place. It approached slowly, almost cautiously, each step deliberate and measured, as if it didn't want to scare me. The raw power emanating from the creature was there, yet there was a hesitant grace in its movements that didn't add up to its predatory nature.

The panther stopped in front of me, lowering its massive head to sniff my injured arm. The scent of blood,myblood, filled the air. Was my blood attracting it? If it wanted to kill me, it could have done so already, back in the forest, and yet here it was, standing before me, its warm breath ghosting over my skin. Slowly, its eyes lifted to meet mine, and it leveled its head with mine, staring deep into my eyes—as if peering into my very soul, searching for answers to questions I didn't even know how to ask.

My instincts screamed at me to move, to run, to fight, but something else—a small flicker of an unexplainable feeling, a fragile tendril of trust—told me to stay, to trust it. With my hand trembling, I slowly reached out, my fingers brushing against the panther's soft, blood-splattered snout. Its eyes fluttered shut in a long, slow blink, and it leaned into my touch, the tension in its powerful body easing as it pushed gently against my hand—almost like a cat seeking affection.

A low rumble arose from its chest—not a growl, but something almost similar to a purr—a deep, resonant vibration that seemed to hum through the very ground beneath us. It was strangely comforting, and despite the pain radiating from my body and the exhaustion that weighed me down, a sense of calm washed over me—a fragile peace in the aftermath of the chaos.

I sank to the ground, my body fully giving way. My breaths came in ragged gasps as the adrenaline faded, replaced by an overwhelming fatigue. Pain throbbed through my injured arm and chest—an ache that intensified with each heartbeat, sending a fresh wave of agony through my body. My vision blurred, the edges softening, darkness closing in on me like a heavy fog, threatening to swallow me whole. I didn't know why the panther had saved me. I didn't know what any of it meant. The snarling, the fighting, the echoing roars of rage—it was all a blur now. My mind was slipping, the darkness calling to me with a seductive whisper. I let my eyes drift shut, surrendering to it, the last sounds I heard being a low growl and the distant echo of my own weak, faltering heartbeat.

Chapter16

Nox’s POV

The world around me was quiet, the forest filled with the usual sounds of falling leaves and the chirping of unseen crickets. The distant calls of creatures echoed through the trees—a familiar tune that usually soothed me. But today, everything seemed to blur together in my head, overshadowed by something else, something urgent, that gripped my senses with an icy dread.

A scream—loud, piercing, and filled with unadulterated terror—cut through the silence, and my entire body froze, every muscle locking into place. It washer. I could feel it—her fear a tangible wave reverberating through me, echoing in the depths of my mind like a shattered mirror. My heart pounded violently against my ribs, my vision narrowing as that primal instinct—the one I fought so hard to suppress—surged within me, hotter than any fire I'd ever known. It was a feeling I rarely allowed myself to give in to, a dangerous, uncontrollable force that would consume me.

Without warning, my vision darkened, the vibrant greens and browns of the forest bleeding into a swirling vortex of black. The world around me began to blur, the trees becoming indistinct shadows, the sounds of the forest fading into a dull roar. I felt my control slipping, the rigid grip I held over my emotions loosening, breaking apart like dry twigs underfoot. The beast inside me—the one I kept chained and hidden in the darkest recesses of my mind—began to claw its way to the surface, its enraged roar echoing in my ears, drowning out everything else. The pressure in my skull intensified, a searing pain that threatened to split me in two.

I had no choice. I couldn't fight it, I had to let go.

A rush of raw, untamed power coursed through me—an electric current that made my nerves stand on end. My senses sharpened to an almost painful clarity, the smells of the forest intensifying a thousandfold, the sounds becoming crystal clear. My bones twisted and cracked, my muscles shifting and expanding as the forest floor rushed up to meet my changing hands—now massive paws slamming against the earth. The change came faster than I could even comprehend—a whirlwind of fur and bones. My thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind, replaced by the panther's singular, burning drive—find her.

I was the panther, yet I was also Nox, watching the beast take over. I was both observer and participant, a prisoner in my own body. Each muscle, each sharpened sense, was mine, yet driven by an alien will. The scent of blood, sharp and metallic, mingled with the delicate notes of lavender and sage—herscent—ignited a white-hot rage.

My massive frame gliding through the trees, the wind whipping past me. When the beast took over, I would have no memory of what happened. It was a blackout—a terrifying gap in my mind that left me with only the fragmented images of the aftermath, the chilling echo of the beast's rage. But this time was different. This time, I was fully conscious, fully aware—watching as my beast took the reins. A terrifying yet exhilarating experience. I could feel every muscle coil and release, every rush of raw, feral power and fury that drove me forward, a primal instinct that both terrified and thrilled me.

My heart pounded in terrifying sync with hers, each beat pushing me faster and faster, my heightened senses guiding me towards her—an invisible thread pulling me through the dense forest. No one would touch her. No one would dare harm her.

I moved with a swiftness and agility I'd never known in my human form, my powerful legs propelling me forward, the forest a blur of green and brown shadows around me. Every instinct, every fiber of my being, screamed at me that I had to reach her—that she needed me. I could feel her presence, her fear—a palpable beacon in the swirling chaos of my mind—and I followed it without hesitation, my entire being, human and beast, focused on one purpose: savingher.

The creature—massive, grotesque, with an aura of dark energy far greater than any creature native to these woods—stood over her. Thalia lay crumpled beneath it, a broken doll amidst the carnage. The moment I saw her, something inside me snapped. A roar tore from my throat, pure rage and desperation flooding through me. The world narrowed, tunneling down to a single point of focus—the beast that threatened her.

My leap propelled me through the air, a missile of black fur and fury, colliding with the creature's side with bone-jarring force. The impact sent the creature reeling, disoriented, giving me the opening I needed. My panther took over—fangs bared, claws extended—every movement driven by a primal need to protect.

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