Curse Of Neon Night

Chapter3

Scars and Secrets

The rune-etched steel felt alive in my grip while I moved deeper into the Bronx warehouse - purple light barely touched the floor. A warmth spread from my jacket; the necklace within throbbed with a strange energy.

Beside me, Zane appeared - suit ripped, silver eyes flicking over towers of luminous spheres alongside gleaming steel. Glass crunched underfoot; a dusty, spellbound haze filled my lungs.

A harsh threat - halt the chase, or face consequences - seared itself into my memory, tucked alongside the cash. My gaze met Zane’s; a gleam caught on his old wound. Consequently, my grip constricted around the blade.

The warmth of him beside me - shoulder brushing mine - ignited the spell, sending a tremor down my spine. I pushed away, fingers lingering on his sternum as heat bloomed within the enchantment. A smile touched his lips, teeth flashing like moonlight, yet he continued forward.

Dodging crackling energy fields, we raced between stacked boxes. Before us stretched a bookshelf - old tomes alongside rolled parchments, each coated in grime yet marked with faintly burning crimson symbols. The knife clattered to the floor as I snatched up the leather-bound journal - a serpent coiled into its surface. Then Zane’s grip tightened on me, a searing brand blossoming across my skin where his hand met wrist; the old magic flared.

A frown twists my face as I wrench free, then crack open the journal. The pages whisper with falling leaves, displaying messy symbols alongside sketches of the necklace. Talia Vex - her name leaps from the page, inked darkly, entwined with a spell called anima siphon. I shoved the journal toward Zane, pointing to her name. He bent low, warm air brushing my neck, then gave a quick nod while his fingers brushed across mine as he accepted it. A prickling sensation spread over my skin – the curse ignited.

I murmur, snagging a volume - its leaves fused together, glowing softly - “So, who was Talia?”. The journal lay open while Zane pointed at lines with a clawed finger, growling that she was taking everything from them - her affliction siphoned their energy. I grabbed for it, fingers meeting his; instantly, the curse blazed hot. Reading Talia’s inscription, which tethered their life force to mine, I closed the book, releasing a cloud of age-old dust.

A sound, low and pained, drifted from above. My hand tightened on the knife as Talia emerged from darkness - her silver hair catching light spilling through a shattered roof. Purple eyes met mine - robes shimmered, a spill of moonbeams. “Discover anything?” A question delivered with a smile mirroring the edge of my own knife, held ready before the bookcase. She moved closer.

A prickle runs down my spine - Zane’s presence behind me, his claws flexing, the curse thrumming. Talia glances from Zane to myself. “Vexor is my sibling,” she reveals, dropping a glittering trinket; its light flares as protective spells intensify. “However, I desire his removal. Concerning that curse?”?

“This is also rightfully mine,” she countered. I lunged forward, my sword flashing, yet she deflected the blow - her garments billowed around her. “You steal what belongs to us both!” My next strike met only air as she shifted away, a mocking chuckle escaping her lips. With a flick of her wrist, a shimmering barrier burst forth, showering everything in azure light.

The floor trembled as Zane hauled me down - a swift pull landed us tucked behind a wooden crate. I felt his solid warmth pressing into my back, likewise the intensifying sting of that awful spell. He went flying as I pushed, the blade flashing against a shimmering defense. Then Talia screamed, her voice sharp amidst everything happening.

She backed away, telling me to take the journal - I’d require it. Above, the ceiling creaked; grit sifted down. Clutching the book, I jammed it inside my coat then bolted for an exit, Zane hot on my heels.

The crate went sideways, then exploded into shards near my feet. I tumbled, scraping my hands on the broken glass. Zane hauled me up - his grip tight at my waist - a fierce oath ripping from him.

The blade caught light as I wrenched myself away, then my foot slammed into the door, sending it flying.

A slick alley gleams under flickering neon - pink, then blue. Talia leans by a bin, grinning like she knows something you don’t. “Enjoying this?” she calls out, tossing another playful jab your way. Crimson clothes stand out as shouts echo from inside the warehouse.

I struck forward with the blade, aiming for her heart - yet she dissolved into darkness, a mocking chuckle trailing behind. Then the floor bucked like a wild horse; the building groaned around me. He tugged me into the alley; a fiery ache pulsed through his grip - the curse at work. Water flew up with each stride, my coat flapping like a startled bird as we bolted.

Dust rained as a support gave way, spitting fire. Glancing over my shoulder, the warehouse collapsed - glass exploded, bathed in violet from twisted metal. Then Zane seized my arm, digging in before hauling me into cover. The ink sizzled, the spell practically shouting. I wrenched away from him, my pulse hammering as I stopped hard by some bricks. He followed, pressing close - chest to chest, warm air on my skin.

I struck forward with the blade, aiming for her heart - yet she dissolved into darkness, a mocking chuckle trailing behind. Then the floor bucked; the building groaned around me. A tug on my hand - Zane’s grip, hot despite the chill - led me into the shadowed alley. Each step sent water flying from beneath my feet; my coat flapped like a startled bird as we bolted forward, driven by whatever scorched his skin.

Behind us, a support gives way with fiery rain. Wheeling about, I watch the warehouse collapse - glass exploding, violet light blooming amidst debris. Zane’s grip tightens on my arm, swiftly pulling me into cover. The ink seared; the spell hammered within me. I ripped my hand away, my pulse a wild drumbeat, stopping hard at a brick building. He pressed close, body to body, warm air ghosting across my face.

"Not finished," he rasped, gaze firm - those metallic eyes wouldn’t let me look away.

My palm pressed against his sternum as I pushed - a jolt like fire bloomed between us.

The journal slips from my coat, falling open to Talia’s writing - runes burning scarlet with a spell that feels like fuel. Zane crowds near, his weight against me as the old curse flares once more. The journal thuds closed; I glare at Cinder. “Stay away,” I snap, taking a step back. A smile touches his face - claws disappearing - as he gestures toward an old van down the street. “Time to go,” he rumbles, swinging open the passenger side door.

Sliding into the seat, my journal nestled nearby, I felt a jolt as Zane fired up the car. Then, with a squeal of tires, we were gone - shooting forward like a released arrow. City glow smeared into streaks; shop signs winked. A heat flared on my skin where the ink sat, while metal throbbed against my thigh. Zane’s touch - light as a breath on my leg - ignited something dangerous. My grip tightened on the blade as I pushed his hand aside. “Stop,” I snapped, my voice like shards of glass. A harsh chuckle rumbled from him; he pressed onward, faster now.

Glancing into the side mirror, I saw someone back there. Whipping around, blade drawn, a dark SUV gained on us. The window lowered; a man leaned out, face flushed, sporting Vexor’s mark on his neck. A luminous crossbow climbs into his hands; a projectile streaks forward. I drop low - the missile explodes through the vehicle’s rear glass. Shards rain onto my coat.

The van whips hard right - a screech of rubber - with Zane hauling me close, an arm tight about my shoulders. A searing heat blossoms on my skin; it pulses. The van shudders as lightning strikes again, a horrible screech of metal. I tumble through the window, blade extended - blue light flares from etched symbols.

A bolt skimmed past, leaving a bloom of red on my shoulder. Then Zane moved - a blur of claws batting away incoming fire. The SUV slammed into us; the van rattled violently. Gripping the seat, my knife didn’t waver while I looked over at Zane. He was flooring it, his eyes blazing - wild, silver fire. Alleys blur past, a strobe of color. A vehicle slams into our back end, jolts ahead, then hits us again.

Sliding into the seat, my journal tumbled down. Zane’s grip tightened around my hand - firm, yet radiating heat. “Raven, brace yourself,” he rumbled as the van swerved violently, screeching into an alleyway. The vehicle lurched to a halt, tires protesting loudly. Glancing rearward, I witnessed them drag someone - arms tied - from the shadows.

Jett wrestled with them, a wildness to his unkempt hair.

A blade flashed across his neck; his eyes glowed crimson. I gripped the necklace, warmth seeping into my coat. Zane squeez

ed my hand - the spell flared up. With a gentle rumble, the van waited while Jett’s cries faded into darkness.