Black mist erupted around us—Amir’s power surging, dark, and swirling, cloaking us in shadow.The cottage walls blurred, vanishing into the abyss of his darkness as he tried to pull us away, to escape.
But before we could vanish, Salvatore raised a single hand, his fingers curling in the air as if clutching something unseen.
And Amir screamed.
The mist shattered around us as Amir buckled, his cry ripping through the space, filled with such agony that it pierced my soul.
“Amir!”I caught him as he fell, his body writhing in pain.His hands clutched his chest, fingers digging in like he was being torn apart from within.
Salvatore’s cruel and cold smile widened.“Did you forget, Amir?”His voice slithered through the air, thick with venom.“I am the Father of Darkness.You were born from my power—you cannot outrun me.”
Amir gasped, convulsing, veins darkening beneath his skin.“No—” he choked out.“I’m not yours.”
Salvatore’s eyes burned with malevolent delight.“You were always mine.Every shadow you command...bends to me.Your heart was forged in my darkness.And now, it answers me.”
I dropped to my knees beside Amir, my hands on his chest, trying to steady, save, and do anything.“Amir, please—stay with me.Just breathe.Stay with me.”
His eyes met mine, wild with pain.“Run...Elizabeth...go?—”
“No!”I cried, pressing my hand to his heart, feeling it falter beneath my palm.“I’m not leaving you—I won’t?—”
Salvatore stepped closer, the shadows recoiling and then surging at his feet like waves.His voice dropped, cold and commanding.
“Tell me where it is.”
I looked up, my hands still trembling over Amir’s body, tears streaking my face.“What...?”
“The Noctyss flower,” Salvatore said, his eyes gleaming.“Tell me where it is, Elizabeth, or I will tear his heart from his chest and make you watch.”
My blood turned to ice.Amir groaned beneath me, his body seizing again.
“Don’t...”he gasped.“Don’t tell him...”
Salvatore stepped closer, towering, merciless.“Your choice, Elizabeth.His life...or the flower.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Salvatore’s hand shot out like a viper, his fingers clamping around my chin, bruising the skin.His grip was ice-cold, but his eyes were fiery with rage.
“Lies,” he hissed, his voice dripping venom inches from my face.“Lies will only make this more painful.Where does it grow?Where did you find the Noctyss flower?”
I met his gaze, my heart pounding, but my voice was clean and cold.“I will never tell you.It’s hidden far beyond your reach.”
His eyes darkened, and the air around him became heavy with power.Shadows surged, coiling at his feet like serpents.His anger bled into the space, choking it.
“I made the poison strong enough to annihilate your power,” I said, my voice laced with cold fire.“I crafted it to bring you to your knees.”
A snarl tore from his lips, his shadows crackling like a storm.“You think you can destroy me?”he spat, his voice rising with fury.“Foolish girl.No poison, no flower, no one can stop me.My power is eternal.”
I curled my lips into a bitter smile, eyes blazing with defiance.“There was one man who could.One man who held the power to rival yours.And he was the one who told my mother about the Noctyss flower.”
His expression flickered, suspicion honing the lines of his face.
“There’s only one other who would know of that flower...”Salvatore murmured, voice low and wary.Then, realization struck.His eyes narrowed into slits.“Lazarus.It had to be him—he gave it to her?—”
“No,” I cut in, my voice a dagger.“It wasn’t Lazarus.It was a man named Morgrath Severn.”
At the sound of that name, Salvatore exploded.
