Ixartxist savored his time with his closest assistant, Carilla. She possessed a captivating beauty, but her reputation painted her as a promiscuous woman. Despite Ixartxist's ability to carry out his crimes without assistance, he found solace in Carilla's unwavering loyalty. She reminded him of someone dear from his past.
"They are already on their way to eliminate that insolent man who dared to kiss my Tassa," Ixartxist remarked, a sinister satisfaction in his voice.
Carilla, her eyes gleaming with twisted devotion, responded, "I'm delighted to hear that, Xart."
As she removed his tie and unbuttoned his clothes, Carilla leaned in to kiss his neck. Ixartxist, mindful of his aversion to visible marks, restrained her passion but allowed her to continue, knowing she craved his approval. He gazed into her eyes, his touch gentle as he ran his fingers through her hair.
"If only you knew how long I have yearned for my beloved to blossom like a rose. It has been more than a century, my darling. But now, there is only one year remaining before she is mine," Ixartxist whispered.
Carilla, her voice filled with curiosity, inquired, "Who is she, Xart? And what does this girl mean to you?"
"She is my one and only love, Carilla," Ixartxist confessed.
A tinge of melancholy darkened Carilla's eyes as she looked at Ixartxist, but he paid little attention to her emotions. He moved closer, whispering the name "Quart" in her ear, a name that held meaning only to them. With a smile, he slowly stood up, leaving Carilla behind. She reached out, desperate to hold onto him, but he withdrew his hand, dismissing her advances. Carilla's frustration grew, and she shouted, "What's wrong with you?"
"The problem lies not with me, but with you, Carilla. You have become self-absorbed, and your growing excitement displeases me," Ixartxist replied coolly.
Carilla's anger flared, accusing him of hypocrisy. "That's absurd! How hypocrite you are!"
"There is no point in further discussion. I must be on my way," Ixartxist declared, his tone final.
Ixartxist's gaze hardened as Carilla placed his hand on her face and kissed it, her smile filled with a mix of hope and desperation. However, he swiftly withdrew his hand, closing the distance between them. Carilla instinctively began to back away, her heart pounding with fear, for she knew that the only passion Ixartxist possessed was the fervor to end the lives of those he desired.
"No one can ever hinder you from pursuing your desires or becoming whoever you wish to be, Carilla. You have the freedom to be anyone you desire. But do not attempt to imitate my Tassa, for it only fuels my eagerness to possess her," Ixartxist spoke with a chilling intensity.
Carilla's voice trembled as she replied, her emotions a blend of confusion and anguish. "What does she have that I don't? Why do you hold such deep affection for her? What is it that you seek from her? Tell me, Ixartxist."
Without a word, Ixartxist turned his back on Carilla, a sign of his indifference towards her questions. Filled with frustration and anger, Carilla stood up and shouted at him, her voice echoing through the room.
"I have always been there for you, ready to fulfill your every need. I have committed unspeakable acts, keeping your secrets and earning your trust. I even know your true name. Why not me, Ixartxist? Why her?"
Ixartxist paused for a moment, his back still turned to Carilla. Slowly, he turned around, his expression distant and detached. "I had mistaken you for someone else, Carilla. I believed you were my ex-girlfriend from the 18th century."
Carilla, overcome with emotion, descended to her knees, tears streaming down her face, and uttered in a trembling voice, "Have you never harbored love for me? Even the faintest glimmer, Ixartxist? Don't you feel anything, just a bit?"
Ixartxist, unmoved, took a seat and rested his elbow on the table. Propping his chin on his palm, he gazed at her with apparent disinterest and responded, "No. My affections lie with only three women thus far – perhaps a result of blood attraction, my childhood companion, and a woman held dear to my heart. You, however, are not among them. I feel nothing, absolutely nothing for you."
Carilla, caught in a whirlwind of sorrow and anger, wept bitterly, her hands clenched in frustration. She retreated to their shared bed, only to impulsively gather all of Tassa's belongings. As she spoke with a mix of sadness and resentment, she addressed Ixartxist, "I have tolerated you, aided in the disposal of those unfortunate souls, a task Quart couldn't do!"
With a sudden burst of determination, she flung Tassa's garments out of the window. In an astonishing display of magical prowess, Ixartxist teleported in the blink of an eye, retrieving every piece of clothing before they touched the ground.
The tension in the room thickened, an unspoken turmoil lingering in the air as the characters grappled with the complexities of their emotions and relationships.
Carilla, shaken by the revelation, stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock. Instead of fleeing, she bravely awaited Ixartxist's response, sensing an impending punishment. In a swift and disorienting move, he materialized behind her. Just as she was about to turn and face him, Ixartxist reappeared in front of her, his anger palpable. Without hesitation, he seized her by the throat, his arm undergoing a grotesque transformation, fingers elongating into menacing, razor-sharp claws.
The room echoed with the sound of Carilla's gasps as Ixartxist's grip tightened. The atmosphere became charged with tension, the air heavy with both magic and retribution. Despite the severity of the situation, Ixartxist showed no signs of mercy. The ghastly transformation continued, his arm evolving into a nightmarish appendage.
In the midst of the choking, Ixartxist unleashed his fury, blaming Carilla for the monstrous change overtaking him. He spared no words, expressing his deep connection to another woman, "How dare you, Carilla? The only reason why I didn't share my secret with her is because she will not agree with it. But all this, look at my arms, all of this was her fault. But I will not blame her, because my love for her has no limitations. You're just a cheap copy of Vilyn. She's nothing like you. And you can never be my Tassa!"
The shadows coalesced into a menacing presence, and without hesitation, they seized Carilla. Ixartxist, fueled by a mixture of anger and heartbreak, instructed the shadow demons to subject her to whatever torment they desired. A chilling black hole manifested beneath her, an ominous portal to an unknown realm. Carilla, now in the grasp of the shadow demons, descended into the abyss, swallowed by the unforgiving darkness.
Ixartxist watched as the shadow demon dragged Carilla into the depths of the black hole, her screams echoing through the room. She pleaded with him to save her, but he remained unmoved, his back turned to her. With a cold indifference, he spoke, his words cutting through the air like a chilling wind.
"A demon can never save a helpless human, no matter how much they beg. Our purpose is to pull you down, to drag you into the depths of hell. If you seek salvation, why not turn to Heaven instead of a demon? Are humans truly so foolish? That is why the brain is the highest organ, meant to be used before the heart. But alas, a foolish human will never comprehend this truth. Even Heaven cannot save you now, for the gates have closed," Ixartxist explained, his voice devoid of remorse.
Carilla's screams grew louder as the demon's grip tightened, pulling her further into the abyss. She desperately reached out to Ixartxist, her cries for help falling on deaf ears. With a final glance, Ixartxist turned away, leaving Carilla to her fate. As the black hole closed, sealing her destiny, he smiled, his gaze shifting to the heavens above.
"Carilla Rowless Comanson, you're free now. I apologize for all that has transpired. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, for even I cannot fully control the depths of my desires," he murmured, his words lost in the empty room.
With Carilla gone, Ixartxist retrieved Tassa's clothes from his pocket, holding them close to his face to inhale her intoxicating scent once more. A smile played upon his lips as he envisioned their future together, a future filled with love and darkness intertwined.
"I eagerly await our reunion, my love. I have wated for you for countless millennia, and now, with just one year remaining, we will finally be united. I will cherish you, gazing into your beautiful green eyes. Together, we will build a family, watching our children crawl on the floor, bringing joy to our lives. I will care for you throughout your pregnancy, and my love will be reserved for you alone. My Tassa, my beloved, our souls entwined for eternity," Ixartxist whispered, consumed by his dark obsession and the anticipation of their impending union.
As Tassa, Nia'le, and Céline desperately ran for their lives, they found themselves pursued not only by the police but also by a troop of military forces. Ixartxist had orchestrated their raid on the old mansion, strategically positioning the troops to surround the area. His plan was to close the portal that allow them to escape to another country. Now, with the troops closing in, the three of them were trapped, their options dwindling.
Bullets rained down upon them as the police finally cornered them, but Ayamani, with his supernatural abilities, deflected the projectiles, shielding them from harm. Nia'le, taking advantage of the moment, pleaded with Ayamani for assistance. "Ayamani, I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but please, help us. I will take care of the opposition, and I need you to handle the troops behind us. Please."
Ayamani made his presence known to Nia'le, assuring him, "I am proud of you for taking charge and giving me orders. Move forward, all of you, and leave the rest to me."
In an instant, Ayamani reached out and grabbed a peculiar-looking shaft with a violet gem at its apex. Holding it firmly in his right hand, he tapped it on the ground, causing all humans except Tassa and the others to fall to their knees, immobilized. Seizing the opportunity, they made their escape from the clutches of the military. Nia'le, consumed by urgency, didn't have time to express his gratitude to Ayamani for his assistance, as they needed to flee quickly. However, amidst the chaos, one of the military members managed to resist Ayamani's power, standing up and locking eyes with him.
"That's not how you wield your shaft, Cal—"
"What are you doing here, Aqurion?" Ayamani interjected.
"Don't worry, I won't expose your secret, for your own sake. I suppose we are even now, considering how you took care of my wife."
While Nia'le and the others continued their escape, they suddenly heard five gunshots from above. Ayamani attempted to immobilize Aqurion by tapping the ground twice, but Aqurion deflected his power and taunted Nia'le about the manipulated bullet.
Nia'le turned to face the incoming bullet, attempting to deflect it with his sword of death. However, the bullet evaded his blade and struck Céline directly in front of them. Time seemed to slow down for Nia'le as he witnessed the tragic scene unfold. Céline was hit twice in each shoulder, once in the chest, and twice in the head. Acting swiftly, Nia'le caught her as she began to fall, but when he looked up to confront the demon responsible, they had vanished.
"I told you it was a manipulated bullet," Aqurion remarked, his voice filled with a mix of cynicism and coldness.
"Why would he do this to her?" Ayamani questioned, his confusion evident.
"He's your friend, ask him yourself. I'm leaving now, so release me," Aqurion replied, his tone dismissive.
Ayamani let Aqurion go and approached Nia'le and Tassa, who were now devastated by the loss of their dear friend. Tassa's tears flowed uncontrollably as she held Céline tightly, feeling a profound sense of helplessness. Despite her dire condition, Céline managed to offer a smile and speak to them, her voice filled with strength. "Run, please run. It is too soon for us to be reunited, don't you think?" she urged them, her words reflecting her selflessness.
Tassa refused to let go of Céline, fearing the loss of another loved one. Though she couldn't see Céline's face, she knew she was crying as blood stained the ground beneath them. Céline, feeling numb and fading away, couldn't feel anything anymore. Nia'le was left speechless, overwhelmed by a sense of déjà vu, as memories of a similar loss from five years ago resurfaced, intensifying his devastation. He gazed at Céline, and Yellaine's face flashed in his mind. Overwhelmed by grief and anger, he fell to his knees, his tears mingling with the blood-soaked earth. He pounded the ground in frustration, blaming himself.
"I am useless! The sword is useless! Why can't I protect those I love? Why do I keep losing those who are dear to me? Why can't I protect you and Yellaine!" Nia'le shouted, his voice filled with anguish.
Aqurion glanced back, casting a sidelong gaze at Nia'le. "How pitiful," he murmured, his words laced with a mix of disdain and indifference.