The appearance of Marcus Valerius was a shock that reverberated through the ruined temple. Lord Valerius stared at his brother, his face a mask of disbelief and barely suppressed rage. Elias, still reeling from his broken arm and the loss of Stefan, could only watch in stunned silence.
"Marcus," Lord Valerius finally said, his voice a low growl. "What are you doing here? I thought I made it clear that you were no longer welcome in my life."
Marcus stepped forward, his face etched with a mixture of regret and defiance. "I know I've made mistakes, brother," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "But I've come to help you. I know about the Dracul, about the ritual they're trying to perform. And I know how to stop them."
Lord Valerius scoffed. "You? Help me? After everything you've done? I'll never trust you, Marcus."
Marcus sighed. "I don't expect you to trust me," he said. "But I'm the only one who knows the secrets of the Dracul. I was once one of them, you know. I know their weaknesses, their rituals, their plans. I can help you defeat them, but only if you let me."
Elias looked at Lord Valerius, his eyes pleading. He knew that they were desperate, that they needed any help they could get. And if Marcus truly knew the secrets of the Dracul, he could be their only hope.
"My Lord," Elias said, his voice weak. "We need his help. We can't do this alone."
Lord Valerius hesitated, his face a battleground of conflicting emotions. He clearly loathed his brother, but he also knew that Elias was right. They were outmatched, outgunned, and running out of time.
"Fine," he said, his voice grudging. "But one wrong move, Marcus, and I'll kill you myself."
Marcus nodded. "I understand," he said. "Now, listen carefully. The ritual requires a sacrifice, a sacrifice of pure blood. But the blood must be given willingly, freely offered. That's why they need you, Valerius. Your blood is the key to unlocking their power."
He paused, then looked at Lord Valerius with a serious expression. "But there's a way to stop them," he said. "A counter-ritual, a ritual of sacrifice that can negate their power. But it requires a different kind of sacrifice, a sacrifice of something even more precious than blood."
"What are you talking about?" Lord Valerius asked, his brow furrowed.
"It requires a sacrifice of love," Marcus said. "Someone must willingly offer their life to protect another, to save them from certain death. The power of that love, that selflessness, can break the Dracul's hold on this world."
Elias felt a chill run down his spine. He knew what Marcus was implying. He knew that someone was going to have to die.
He looked at Lord Valerius, his heart filled with a mixture of love and fear. He couldn't bear the thought of losing him, of seeing him fall victim to the Dracul's evil plan.
He made a decision. He would sacrifice himself. He would offer his life to save Lord Valerius, to protect him from the darkness that threatened to consume him.He stepped
forward, his voice trembling but firm. "I'll do it," he said. "I'll offer myself as the sacrifice."
Lord Valerius stared at Elias, his eyes filled with horror. "No!" he exclaimed. "I won't let you do that, Elias. I won't let you sacrifice yourself for me."
"I have to, my Lord," Elias said. "I love you. And I can't live without you."
He reached out and took Lord Valerius's hand, his touch sending a surge of warmth through his body. "Please, my Lord," he said. "Let me do this. Let me save you."
Lord Valerius looked at Elias, his eyes filled with tears. He knew that Elias was serious, that he was willing to give his life for him. And he knew that he couldn't stop him.
He nodded slowly, his voice choked with emotion. "Alright, Elias," he said. "I'll let you do it. But I swear to you, I'll never forget this. I'll never forget the sacrifice you're making for me."