Chapter 121: The Coven And The Beast pt 1
**Avery**
Draven and I utilized every spell we had practiced while Rory pelted the witches with arrows before shifting into her wolf. Draven beamed when he saw how effortlessly she shifted. I know their bond gave her that strength. I nodded in approval to him as we took on the coven. Once we had decimated a majority of the coven, the former captives led us to a passage to avoid having to take on the rest of the coven. We can come back for them later.
The captives, their eyes wild with a mix of fear and gratitude, huddled close to us. The air in the dimly lit chamber was thick with the scent of sweat, blood, and the acrid tang of magic. The group had barely escaped the ambush by the coven of dark figures, their clothes torn and their bodies bruised, but they were alive. For now.
"This way," one of the freed werewolves, a woman with a jagged scar across her cheek, whispered urgently. "There's another passage—hidden, ancient. It leads out of Nightshade territory, but... but it's not safe. Not by a long shot."
My eyes narrowed, my regal demeanor unwavering despite the chaos. "Speak plainly. What lies at the end of this passage?"
The woman hesitated, her gaze flicking to the shadows as if afraid of what might emerge. "The Lair of the Ancient One. A beast older than the forests, territorial and unforgiving. It demands a sacrifice for safe passage."
Draven, his dark hair falling over his sharp features, stepped forward, his voice low and commanding. "And if we refuse?"
"Then it hunts," the woman replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "And it always catches its prey."
Rory, her thin frame trembling slightly, bit her lip. "We can not just... give someone to it. That is monstrous."
I placed a reassuring hand on Rory's shoulder, her touch firm but gentle. "We will find another way. We always do." But as we followed the captives through the narrow, winding passage, the weight of our predicament pressed heavily on our minds. The walls were damp, the air cold, and the silence was broken only by the soft scuff of our muddy and bloody boots and the occasional drip of water. The passage seemed to stretch on forever, a labyrinth of stone and shadow.
Finally, we emerged into a vast, cavernous chamber. The air was heavy with the scent of earth and something primal, something ancient. The walls were lined with glowing crystals, their light casting an eerie, pulsating glow. In the center of the chamber, a massive figure loomed, its form shrouded in darkness.
The beast's eyes glowed like embers, piercing the shadows as it stepped forward. Its voice was a low, rumbling growl that vibrated through the chamber. "Intruders. You dare enter my domain."
I stepped forward, assessing the beast, dragon marks glinting in the dim light despite my clothing covering them, my voice steady. "We seek safe passage. We mean no harm."
The beast tilted its head, its gaze sweeping over the group. "Safe passage is not freely given. It is earned. A life for a life. That is the price."
Draven's hand rested on the hilt of his dagger, his expression dark. "We will not sacrifice one of our own."
The beast's eyes narrowed, and the air around it seemed to crackle with tension. "Then you will not pass. The choice is yours."
Rory, her voice trembling, spoke up. "What if... what if we offer something else? Something of value, something that isn't a life?"
The beast's gaze shifted to her, its expression unreadable. "Speak."
My mind raced. I knew we couldn't afford to lose anyone, but we couldn't stay here either. The coven would be on our heels soon. "We have treasures, ancient artifacts, knowledge..."
The beast snorted, a sound that echoed through the chamber. "Trinkets and baubles mean nothing to me. You obviously don’t know what I am or what I could do to you and your friends. I seek what is rare, what is precious. I seek power."
Draven's eyes narrowed. "And what could we possibly offer that you would consider powerful enough?"
The beast's gaze lingered on me, its eyes gleaming with a hunger that sent a chill down my spine. "You, dragon shifter because you are no normal dragon shifter. You bear the Mother’s Mark. Your power, your essence. It is rare, ancient. It would be a worthy sacrifice."
My heart pounded in my chest. I could feel the weight of the beast's gaze, the intensity of its desire. "You would take my life?"
"Not your life," the beast corrected, its voice almost gentle. "Your power. A portion of it. Enough to satisfy my hunger and grant you safe passage."
Rory stepped forward, her voice firm. "We can't let you do that, Avery. It's too dangerous."
Draven warned, “Avery, remember what we discussed. You need your life force.”
I placed a hand on Rory's and Draven’s arms, my touch reassuring. "It's the only way. We have no other choice."
Draven's expression was unreadable, but his voice was steady. "If you do this, there's no guarantee it will keep its word. It could take your power and still attack us."
The beast's eyes flashed with annoyance. "I am bound by ancient laws. I am a strigoi, the last of my kind. My word is my bond. If she agrees, I will grant you safe passage."
I took a deep breath, my mind racing. I knew the risks, but we were out of options. "Very well. I agree."
The strigoi’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Wise choice. Kneel before me, dragon shifter." I knelt, my cloak pooling around me. The beast stepped closer, its massive form towering over me. I could feel its power, ancient and overwhelming, as it reached out with a clawed hand.
"Wait!" Rory's voice was sharp, cutting through the tension. "What if... what if we offer something else? Something that isn't a life, but still holds power?"