Chapter Two - The Thing Beneath
531 Words
The fissure widened, Villagers screamed and black vapor spilled from the earth , thick, writhing, unnatural.
Artemisia’s magic surged violently in response, Drakon moved first, not running, not panicked but precise. He cut his palm without flinching and let blood drip into the crack and the vapor recoiled.
She stared.
“What are you doing?”
“Binding.”
“With blood?”
“Yes.”
“Whose blood did you use at Delphi?”
He did not answer as the vapor surged again , forming a shape.
Tall, Twisted but not fully solid. Eyes like molten bronze opened within it.
Artemisia felt its hunger, It was not a Titan but it was older, colder and furious.
“It was chained,” Drakon said under his breath. “The Oracle’s death weakened the ward.”
The creature reached upward , claws scraping stone, Artemisia acted.
She slammed her palm against the ground and whispered an incantation her grandmother had forbidden as vines erupted from the soil. They wrapped around the creature’s limbs as it shrieked , a sound that cracked windows.
The villagers fled completely now. Drakon watched her , calculating , impressed.
the creature tore through half the vines.
“Together,” he said.
She hesitated, then nodded. Their magic collided for the first time, It was violent.
His power was cold , sharp , like steel dragged across bone. Hers was wildfire , alive , defiant…they clashed before they aligned. the creature lunged upward.
He caught her wrist suddenly, their skin touched and everything snapped into place.
Power fused.
Not merged.
Interlocked.
The air exploded with light and shadow.
The creature screamed once , then was dragged back into the fissure as stone sealed over it.
Silence fell.
Dust drifted through the air.
Artemisia pulled her hand free as if burned.
“What was that?” she demanded.
“A fragment,” he said.
“Of what?”
“Something imprisoned beneath Delphi centuries ago.”
“By whom?”
“By witches and warlocks who understood balance.”
She stared at him.
“And you did not think to mention this sooner?”
“You would not have listened.”
Her anger flared.
“You arrogant—”
“You felt it,” he interrupted quietly. “When our power joined.”
She fell silent, Because she had, It had not felt wrong but it had felt inevitable. She hated that.
“You require me,” he said.
“And you require me,” she snapped.
“Yes.”
The honesty startled her.
He extended his hand.
“Come to Delphi.”
She looked at it.
Then at him.
Then at the village behind her , fractured stone, terrified people.
If more of those creatures rose…
They would not survive.
“I will go,” she said finally.
“But understand this, warlock , I do not follow you.”
His mouth curved slightly.
“I would be disappointed if you did.”
She ignored the faint tightening in her chest.
“Touch me again without permission,” she added, “and I will curse you.”
His silver eyes darkened.
“I would expect nothing less.”
- Writer
