Episode 17 — The Offer
1238 Words
The village square fell silent.
Silas stood before Viktor while hundreds of frightened villagers watched.
“I'll do it tonight,” Silas repeated.
Viktor studied him carefully.
“You're willing to sacrifice yourself?”
Silas nodded.
“Yes.”
Clara stared at him.
She knew he was lying.
At least, she hoped he was.
Viktor slowly smiled.
“Then we have a deal.”
Silas pointed toward the villagers.
“Let them go.”
Viktor turned to the crowd.
“Everyone return to your homes.”
Nobody moved.
“Go!”
The villagers began disappearing into the streets.
Within minutes, the square was almost empty.
Only Silas, Clara, Mara, Matthias, Elena, and Viktor remained.
Viktor approached Silas.
“Tonight, the Vane blood will restore the seal.”
Silas looked at him.
“And you will finally get what you wanted.”
Viktor smiled.
“Yes.”
Silas turned toward the church.
“Then let's begin.”
The church was prepared for the ritual.
Seven candles surrounded the altar.
A bowl of silver sat in the center.
Ancient symbols covered the floor.
Viktor stood beside the altar.
Silas faced him.
Clara, Mara, Matthias, and Elena remained near the entrance.
Viktor looked at Elena.
“You shouldn't be here.”
She stared at him.
“I've been waiting twenty years to see you lose.”
Viktor laughed.
“You still think this is about revenge.”
“It is.”
“No.”
Viktor looked toward Silas.
“This is about power.”
Silas stepped onto the circle.
“What happens now?”
Viktor held up a silver blade.
“You give me your blood.”
Silas looked at the weapon.
“That's it?”
“For the first step.”
“And the second?”
“You willingly accept the wolf.”
Silas smiled.
“I already have.”
Viktor's expression changed.
“What?”
Silas's eyes flashed silver.
The candles suddenly went out.
A deep growl echoed beneath the church.
Viktor stepped backward.
“You didn't…”
Silas looked at him.
“You thought I came here to die.”
Viktor raised the blade.
“What did you do?”
Silas stepped out of the circle.
“I came here to end this.”
The church doors exploded open.
A black shape entered.
The Black Wolf.
It walked slowly toward Silas.
Viktor raised his weapon.
“Stop it!”
The wolf ignored him.
It stood beside Silas.
Silas placed a hand on its head.
Viktor stared.
“You can't control it.”
Silas shook his head.
“I don't need to.”
Elena stepped forward.
“And neither can you control me.”
Viktor looked at her.
“You're both vessels.”
“Yes.”
“And together you can awaken the First.”
Elena nodded.
“That is what you wanted.”
Viktor smiled.
“Yes.”
Silas looked at him.
“Then why are you afraid?”
Viktor's smile disappeared.
A roar shook the church.
The floor cracked.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Matthias shouted:
“The mountain!”
Silas looked toward the windows.
Black smoke was rising into the sky.
The blood moon had begun to appear.
Viktor whispered:
“It's time.”
The church bell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then it stopped.
The wolves began howling outside.
Silas felt the wolf inside him awaken.
His eyes became silver.
Elena's eyes changed too.
She dropped to her knees.
Clara rushed toward her.
“Elena!”
Elena grabbed Clara's hand.
“Don't let me lose myself.”
Clara nodded.
“I won't.”
Silas looked at Viktor.
“You wanted the First awake.”
Viktor smiled.
“Yes.”
Silas stepped closer.
“Then open the door.”
Viktor hesitated.
Silas laughed.
“What's wrong?”
“You don't understand what you're asking.”
“I understand perfectly.”
Silas pointed toward the floor.
“Open it.”
Viktor slowly moved toward the altar.
He placed his hand against the stone.
A hidden mechanism clicked.
The altar split apart.
A staircase appeared beneath it.
Cold air rushed upward.
Viktor smiled.
“The mountain is waiting.”
Silas looked at Clara.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Clara.”
“You're not going down there alone.”
Silas sighed.
“Fine.”
Mara stepped forward.
“I'm coming too.”
Matthias shook his head.
“No.”
Everyone looked at him.
“The First knows the Vane blood.”
He looked at Silas.
“But it also knows the people who betrayed it.”
Viktor frowned.
“What are you saying?”
Matthias looked directly at him.
“It remembers you.”
Viktor's face became pale.
They descended beneath the church.
Silas walked first.
Clara followed.
Elena came behind them.
Mara and Matthias followed.
Viktor remained at the back.
The staircase seemed longer than before.
The deeper they went, the colder it became.
Then Silas heard something.
A heartbeat.
Slow.
Massive.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The sound came from beneath their feet.
Elena stopped.
“We're close.”
Silas looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“I can feel it.”
They reached the bottom.
A massive stone door stood before them.
Seven symbols covered its surface.
Silas placed his hand against the door.
It opened.
Inside was a gigantic cavern.
At its center stood the First.
Its horns nearly touched the ceiling.
Chains surrounded its body.
The creature opened its eyes.
Everyone froze.
Viktor stepped forward.
“Finally.”
The First looked at him.
Then it spoke.
“YOU.”
Viktor smiled.
“You remember me.”
“I REMEMBER YOUR BLOOD.”
Viktor raised his hands.
“I have come to serve you.”
The First growled.
“LIAR.”
Viktor's smile faded.
Silas stepped forward.
“You said the First needed us.”
The creature looked at him.
“IT NEEDS YOUR CHOICE.”
Silas looked at Elena.
“What choice?”
The First answered:
“WHICH ONE OF YOU WILL DIE.”
Silence.
Clara looked at Silas.
Elena looked at Silas.
Mara lowered her head.
Viktor smiled.
Silas slowly turned toward him.
“You knew.”
Viktor nodded.
“I told you.”
Silas stepped closer.
“You knew one of us would have to die.”
“Yes.”
“And you still brought us here.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Viktor's eyes burned with ambition.
“Because when one vessel dies…”
He looked toward the First.
“…the survivor inherits everything.”
Elena's face changed.
Silas understood.
Viktor didn't want the sacrifice.
He wanted the power that came after it.
He looked at Silas.
“Kill Elena.”
Silas stared at him.
“No.”
Viktor laughed.
“Then she will kill you.”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
Viktor smiled.
“You don't have a choice.”
The First suddenly roared.
The chains began breaking.
One.
Two.
Three.
Silas looked up.
The creature was awakening.
Viktor stepped backward.
“Choose.”
Silas looked at Elena.
Elena looked back at him.
Neither moved.
Then Silas smiled.
“We found another way.”
Viktor frowned.
“What?”
Silas turned toward the First.
“We don't have to choose between us.”
He looked at Elena.
“We choose someone else.”
Viktor's face went pale.
Silas slowly turned toward him.
“And I think we already know who deserves it.”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD