Evening was quietly creeping over the halls of Draconis Manor, wrapping the wide gardens in a cloak of gentle shadows. The stars began to appear one by one in the clear sky, and the silver moon cast threads of calm light through the large windows. Everything seemed peaceful and familiar, but something hidden in the air was different tonight.
In his private library, Victor Draconis stood before the tall window, gazing at the darkened gardens with unusual focus. He held a cup of warm tea, but hadn't taken a single sip since pouring it half an hour ago. His deep blue eyes scanned every shadow, every movement in the trees, every shift in the light.
Something wasn't right. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, but his trained instincts—honed by years of working with the "Guardians of Balance"—were screaming in warning. The very air carried a subtle tension, as if the world was holding its breath, awaiting something terrible.
"Victor?" Isabella's gentle voice came from behind him, full of concern. "You've been standing there for a long time. Is everything alright?"
Victor turned slowly, trying to hide the worry gripping his heart. Isabella stood in the library's doorway, wearing a soft white nightgown, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders. Even in the dim candlelight, she was breathtakingly beautiful, but her green eyes mirrored the same concern he felt.
"I think I'm just a little too tense," Victor said, trying to sound reassuring. He set the cup down on the desk and walked toward her. "Maybe I need to spend less time reading troubling reports."
But Isabella wasn't convinced. She stepped closer and placed her soft hand on his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat. "Victor, I've known you for ten years. This isn't just ordinary tension. What are you feeling?"
Victor looked into her eyes, and for a moment he considered telling her everything—about the encrypted messages he had received recently, the warnings from his colleagues in the "Guardians of Balance," the growing sense that the "Order of the Black Dawn" was closing in on their location. But he didn't want to frighten her unnecessarily.
"I feel like something is watching us," he finally said, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. "Maybe I'm wrong, but..."
Before he could finish his sentence, they both heard a strange sound from outside—the frantic fluttering of birds fleeing the trees. Then another, even more troubling sound—the village dogs howling in an unnatural way, as if sensing a danger that humans could not perceive.
Isabella froze in place. "Victor... this isn't normal."
Victor nodded gravely and quickly moved to a hidden cabinet behind one of the shelves. He opened it with a swift magical touch, pulling out a long sword with a jeweled hilt and a wand of black wood. These were the weapons he had used in his youth, when he was an active warrior.
"Isabella, I want you to go to the children," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Stay with them, and don't leave them no matter what happens."
"What do you think is happening?" Isabella asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"I'm not sure, but I won't take any risks with my family's safety." He stepped toward her and kissed her forehead gently. "Go now. If anything happens, take the children and escape through the secret passage in the manor's cellar. Do you remember where it is?"
Isabella nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "Yes, I remember. But Victor..."
"Everything will be fine," he interrupted softly, though he wasn't sure himself. "I'm just taking precautions. Maybe nothing will happen at all."
But even as he said these words, he knew deep inside that something terrible was approaching. The very air seemed to vibrate with dark energy, and his warrior's instinct screamed of danger.
Isabella hurried out of the library, her heart pounding. She moved quickly but silently through the dark corridors toward the children's rooms, trying to appear calm, though every fiber of her being sensed the impending threat.
She reached Arius's room first. She quietly opened the door and looked at her sleeping son. He seemed so peaceful, his small face relaxed, his black hair spread over the white pillow. For a moment, she felt a wave of relief—maybe Victor was just being overly anxious.
But suddenly, Arius opened his eyes. It wasn't a gradual, natural awakening, but sudden and sharp, as if something had forcefully roused him.
"Mama?" he whispered sleepily, but his eyes were unusually alert. "Why are you here? Did something happen?"
Isabella sat on the edge of his bed, gently running her hand through his hair. "No, sweetheart. Everything's fine. I just wanted to check on you."
But Arius wasn't convinced. He sat up in bed and looked toward the window. "Mama, I feel something strange. Like... like there are shadows moving outside."
Isabella froze. Arius was developing a special sensitivity to magical energies, and if he sensed something, it meant the danger was real.
"Arius, I want you to come with me to Luna's room," she said calmly, trying not to show her fear. "We'll all sleep in one room tonight. Wouldn't that be fun?"
Arius looked at her with eyes far older than his years. "Mama, you're scared. I can feel it."
Isabella could no longer deny it. She took her son's hands in hers. "Yes, Arius. I'm a little worried. Your father feels that something might happen, and we just want to be cautious."
Arius got out of bed quickly, his face serious beyond his age. "Will we be alright?"
Isabella hugged him tightly. "Yes, my love. Your father is very strong, and he'll protect us. But I want you to promise me something."
"What is it?"
"No matter what happens, I want you to protect Luna. Will you promise me?"
Arius nodded with absolute seriousness. "I promise, Mama. I won't let anyone hurt Luna."
Together, they went to Luna's room. The little girl was sleeping soundly, hugging a small doll, a peaceful smile on her angelic face. For a moment, Isabella hesitated to wake her—she looked so serene, so far from the fear and worry filling the manor.
But Arius stepped forward and gently touched his sister's shoulder. "Luna, wake up. Mama wants us to play a game."
Luna opened her beautiful blue eyes and looked at her mother and brother. "A game? At night?"
"Yes, darling," Isabella said as she lifted her from the bed. "We'll all sleep in one room, like adventurers in the stories."
Luna giggled with delight, unaware of the tension filling the air. "That's fun! Can I bring my doll?"
"Of course, sweetheart."
Isabella took the children to her and Victor's bedroom, the safest room in the manor. It was a large room with a huge bed and a warm fireplace, the windows protected by powerful magical wards. She arranged a comfortable spot for them on the soft rug in front of the hearth.
"Now, I want you both to sleep here," she said, covering them with a soft blanket. "And if you hear any strange noises, do not leave this room no matter what. Do you understand?" Arius nodded seriously, but Luna looked confused. "Mama, why are you speaking like this? You're scaring me."
Isabella knelt beside her and kissed her soft cheek. "Don't be afraid, my darling. I just want to make sure you're both safe. I love you both more than anything in the world."
"And we love you too, Mama," Luna whispered, closing her eyes again.
But Arius stayed awake, his eyes watching his mother anxiously. "Mama, where is Father?"
"He's making sure the castle is safe. He'll be here soon."
Yet even as she said this, she could hear strange sounds from outside—soft footsteps on the gravel, whispers in a language she couldn't understand. Her heart began to pound harder.
Downstairs, Victor moved cautiously through the castle, his sword in one hand and his magic staff in the other. He had extinguished most of the candles, leaving the castle in near-total darkness. This would make it harder for any intruder to see him, but it would also make it harder for him to see the enemies.
He stopped at the large window in the main hall and looked outside. At first, he saw nothing unusual—just the dark gardens and the trees gently swaying in the night breeze. But after a few moments of focus, he began to see shapes moving in the shadows.
Masked figures, dressed in black, moved in utter silence through the gardens. They were surrounding the castle from all sides, like wolves stalking their prey. Victor counted at least ten of them, and perhaps more were hidden in the shadows.
"The Black Dawn Order," he whispered to himself, feeling a chill seep into his bones. They had finally found them.
He backed away from the window cautiously and headed toward the stairs. He had to reach his family and protect them, but he knew time was running out quickly. The attackers were professionals, moving with perfect coordination.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of glass shattering from the back of the castle. The attack had begun.
Victor ran up the stairs, his heart pounding. He had to reach Isabella and the children before the attackers did. But even as he ran, he could hear footsteps moving on the lower floor, and whispers in an ancient, dark language.
He reached the upper floor and quickly entered his bedroom. Isabella was sitting on the bed, watching the sleeping children, but when she saw him enter so quickly, she knew their fears were justified.
"How many are there?" she asked in a low voice.
"At least ten. Maybe more." Victor sat beside her and took her hand. "Isabella, I want you to take the children and go to the secret passage now."
"And what about you?"
"I'll try to slow them down, give you time to escape."
Isabella shook her head firmly. "No, Victor. I won't leave you alone."
"Isabella, please…" Victor began, but the sound of footsteps on the stairs interrupted him. They were getting closer.
Arius suddenly woke up, his eyes wide with fear. "Father? What are those sounds?"
Before Victor could answer, the door burst open. Three masked figures entered, carrying swords and magic staffs. Their faces were hidden behind black masks, but their eyes glowed with a terrifying red light.
"Victor Draconis," one of them said in a voice cold as ice. "We've come for you."
Victor stood in front of his family, sword raised. "You will not touch my family."
The masked man laughed a chilling laugh. "Your family? We're not here for your family, Victor. We're here for what you know. For the secrets you hold."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Lies. You know the location of the lost archive. You know the secrets of the ancient gods. And you will tell us, or…"
He didn't finish his sentence. Instead, he raised his magic staff and fired a beam of red light at Victor. But Victor was ready—he raised his sword and deflected the attack, the light reflecting and illuminating the room with an eerie glow.
"Isabella, take the children and go!" Victor shouted as he charged at the attackers.
The battle began.
Isabella grabbed Arius and Luna, who were crying in fear, and tried to reach the door. But one of the masked figures moved to block her way.
"No one leaves," he said in a menacing voice.
But Isabella was not helpless. She raised her hand and unleashed a beam of pure white light, forcing the masked man to retreat. "Arius, take Luna and run!"
But Arius did not move. Instead, he stood in front of his sister, his eyes glowing with a strange blue light. Something was happening to him—something that had never happened before.
"You will not hurt my family," he said in a voice far beyond his years, filled with a power and anger that could not be explained.
Suddenly, a wave of dark energy burst from Arius's small body, sweeping through the room and forcing the attackers to fall back. Even Victor stopped fighting for a moment, stunned by the power his son had shown.
But this surge of power drew the attention of more attackers. More footsteps echoed on the stairs, and the sounds of breaking and destruction came from other parts of the castle.
"There are too many," Victor whispered to himself, realizing that the battle might be lost.
But he did not give up. This was his family, and he would fight to his last breath to protect them.
The battle raged on, and the castle that had been filled with happiness and love just hours before was now a dark battlefield. Shadows danced on the walls, terrifying sounds filled the air, and the bright future the Draconis family had dreamed of was crumbling before their eyes.
But this was only the beginning. The worst was yet to come.