The Dagger Of Shadows

As Visenya and Lucian emerged from the portal, a collective gasp escaped from the crowd of bystanders who had gathered to witness the phenomenon. The sight of this unlikely couple, notorious for their intense animosity towards one another, filled the onlookers with a profound sense of awe as they strolled hand in hand through the quiet city.

As they approached the quaint house at the end of the road, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. Lucian, attuned to Visenya's emotions, noticed a trace of unease in her eyes. With a gentle squeeze of her hand, he conveyed his understanding and reassurance, silently reminding her of the warm welcome awaiting her inside.

Lucian opened the door, guiding a cautious and hesitant Visenya into the home. As soon as she stepped inside, a collective sigh of relief swept through the room as all eyes settled on her. Sarai, unable to contain her emotions, rushed over to Visenya and enveloped her in a tight embrace.

"I'm sorry... for everything," Sarai whispered, her voice filled with genuine remorse.

Visenya, felt a gentle tug at her hand and almost couldn’t believe her eyes when she looked upon her sister’s face. She leaned down, gently running her fingers along Synora's cheek, her astonishment evident.

“Your burn… I thought I scarred you for life.” Visenya’s voice trembling with emotion.

"He made it better," Synora said, gesturing towards Lucian.

Visenya's gaze fell on her mate, pure admiration shining in her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered, gratitude lacing every word.

A warm smile graced Lucian's face, his eyes reflecting the depth of his emotions as he watched the two sisters embrace each other tightly, their love for one another evident. A bittersweet feeling tugged at his heart, a longing to turn back the hands of time and forge the same bond with his little brother.

Caspian suddenly approached, and a profound sorrow filled Visenya's eyes. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. But before she could say another word, Caspian pulled her into his arms, and they shared an emotional embrace.

"It wasn't me... I never wanted to hurt anyone," Visenya explained.

"I know," Caspian reassured her. "Lucian told us about the witch."

"You're not alone in this," Victoria reassured, stepping out from behind Caspian.

Visenya's face lit up with a mix of surprise and a welcoming smile as she looked at Victoria. Victoria extended her hand, and Visenya eagerly took it, a friendly exchange between the two.

Visenya's gaze shifted between Victoria and Caspian, her heart swelling with joy at the realization that he had been united with his mate after all.

"I knew there was something about you," she said to Victoria, her voice filled with warmth.

Victoria reciprocated the smile, resolute in her words. "We're all going to help you put an end to this mage."

Eleanora's sudden appearance disrupted the conversation as she stepped forward, making her presence known. "No, you're not," she asserted firmly.

Caspian couldn't help but interject, his voice filled with defiance. "Yes, the hell we are!"

Eleanora approached Visenya, her eyes brimming with mystical knowledge, harboring a hidden understanding she was forbidden to share. "She must do this alone."

"Absolutely not!" Lucian exclaimed. "I won't allow Visenya to go anywhere near that demon alone."

"Eleanora is right," Visenya agreed. "I can't risk her hurting anyone else... or worse."

"The dragon can aid you, but it wouldn't be safe for anyone else to be in close proximity," Eleanora explained, her tone filled with caution.

"Good," Lucian declared, his unwavering gaze fixed on Visenya. "Because I refuse to leave your side."

"And so do I." Sarai added.

"No..." Visenya interjected. "I'll transport everyone somewhere safe, somewhere she can't harm anyone. But I have to face her alone."

"I am coming with you," Lucian insisted, his voice burning with demand. "Eleanora said I can help."

"Lucian, she nearly killed you! I can't risk her using my powers against me like that again. It has to be me against her, and that's final."

"We'll keep our distance then, but you're not going to be alone, Visenya," Sarai said, authority in every word. "You will not change my mind on this.”

"But what about Synora? She needs you, mother," Visenya insisted.

"I'll look after her," Victoria assured. "I'll guard her with my life. You have my word on that."

Synora clung to Visenya's waist, her tearful face buried. "I'm scared, Vee."

Visenya knelt down to meet Synora's eyes. "Hey, don't be afraid, little wolf. Everything will be alright, but you must be brave."

"I'm not brave," Synora confessed.

"Of course you are," Visenya encouraged, placing a gentle hand on Synora's trembling shoulder. "You're an alpha. Alphas are always brave."

"But I'm not a good alpha. I'm too scared," Synora admitted.

"Being an alpha doesn't mean we're never scared," Visenya reassured. "It means we face our fears head-on, for the sake of those we care about. I recall a certain ten-year-old who refused to stay in the bunker when she was told to and tried to protect her mother from a scary dragon."

Synora smiled, reminiscing. "That was pretty brave, wasn't it?"

"Hell yeah, it was," Visenya grinned, embracing her little sister. "Now, I need you to be brave for me. Can you do that?"

A single tear rolled down Synora's cheek as she nodded, her agreement sealed with a tight hug from Visenya.

Visenya then looked to Eleanora, desperation evident in her eyes. "Tell me... how do I stop her?"

"Yes, how do we kill a mage who’s possessed a powerful phoenix?" Caspian inquired.

"Kill her? Is that the only way?" Visenya questioned.

"Visenya, she tried to kill half the people in this room. Do you suggest we sit her down for some tea and hope she changes her ways?" Caspian's voice oozed with sarcasm.

"If only it were that simple," Visenya muttered.

"What if it were that simple?" Lucian chimed in. "Are any of you familiar with the Dagger of Shadows?"

"Isn't that just a myth?" Sarai asked, skepticism in her tone.

"No, it's very real. I've seen it with my own eyes... held it in my hands, in fact," Lucian explained. "When my ancestors destroyed the mages, supposedly this dagger was gifted from the gods as a less violent means of putting an end to their evil, but of course, they chose to burn them all alive instead."

"What is the Dagger of Shadows?" Visenya inquired, her voice filled with curiosity.

"It's an ancient artifact that allegedly drains the mage's dark magic, essentially leaving them powerless.”

"Or we can just... you know, kill her," Caspian suggested.

"No, death is too merciful. I'd rather watch her rot in a cell for the rest of her days," Visenya declared.

"But where do we find this dagger?" Sarai asked, her voice tinged with eagerness.

"That's the problem. It was kept in a vault in the Dragon Empire, so it's undoubtedly buried beneath mountains of rubble now," Lucian revealed.

“So, you thought you'd just slip in some pointless story time, huh?" Caspian huffed at Lucian.

“How about I slip my foot up your ass?” Lucian snapped back.

“Alright, that’s enough, you two,” Visenya intervened. “Maybe... just maybe, Lucian might be on to something here."

Visenya walked over to the dining table, grabbing a fork. “If I can transport myself... and other people... I must be able to transport objects too.”

Visenya focused her powers, channeling them through her fingertips. As she concentrated, a soft glow enveloped the fork, and with a swift motion, she made it vanish from her hand. The room fell into a momentary silence as everyone's eyes widened in awe.

"Now the real question is, can I transport things to me?" Visenya pondered aloud.

She extended her hand once more, her powers flowing through her with graceful ease. And just as suddenly as it had disappeared, the fork materialized again, resting gently in her palm.

"Wow," Victoria exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement. "That was cool."

"Lucian, could you do that thing again? The one where you showed me your memories?" Visenya asked eagerly. "I think if you can guide me to the exact location within my mind and show me what the dagger looks like, I might be able to transport it."

Lucian approached her and gently placed his hand over her chest, aligning it with her marking. He closed his eyes, delving deep into the recesses of his own memories, searching for the precise moment when he had first encountered the dagger. As the images flickered through his mind, he focused intently on the intricate details, allowing Visenya to witness them vividly alongside him.

Visenya's eyes fluttered closed as her mind connected with Lucian's through the ethereal bond they shared. With Lucian's guidance, she saw the gleaming blade of the dagger and immersed herself in the memory, feeling its weight in her hands.

Anticipation filled the room as everyone held their breath. Moments stretched into what felt like an eternity until, suddenly, a glimmering light materialized in the air before Visenya. The room erupted in astonishment as the dagger hovered in front of her, suspended by her powers. Relief swelled in Visenya's heart as she gently grasped the dagger, its weight familiar in her hand.

“Bloody hell, she did it,” Caspian exclaimed.

Lucian’s face reflected his own amazement. “Have I told you how incredible you are?”

Visenya felt a rush of blood to her cheeks, and a smile formed on her face at his compliment. Though she tried to hide it, playing it off nonchalantly, it didn’t go unnoticed by anyone in the room.

“Now, let's find a safe place for all of you,” Visenya said, her determination evident. “Starting with your people, Victoria.”

“My people are already long gone,” Victoria revealed. “My fathers led them far away from here, back to the underground tunnels that we used to occupy. They should be safe there.”

“Then that leaves everyone else,” Visenya concluded.

"Where are you sending them?" Sarai asked.

"Somewhere far away," Visenya replied. "To an island on the other side of the world called The Abode of the Gods. It's a place where everyone will be safe."

"How will we convince everyone to leave their homes?" Caspian asked.

"You won't have to," Eleanora said confidently. "I've already convinced them."

"You did?" Visenya asked in surprise.

"Mhm..." Eleanora nodded with a warm smile. "It was quite simple. All I had to do was tell them that it was our Queen's wish."
______

In a remarkable display of unity, the Kingdom's inhabitants, both Lycans and humans, gathered at the town square. The air crackled with anticipation as the crowd exchanged glances, their faces reflecting their apparent apprehension. And there, before their very eyes, Visenya conjured yet another portal, a shimmering gateway to their fate.

Among the throng stood Eleanora, her presence radiating a quiet strength. With tears glistening in her eyes, she reached out to touch Visenya's cheek, her voice laced with a bittersweet blend of love and uncertainty. "May fortune favor you, my dear."

Visenya clasped Eleanora's hand, her voice trembling as she posed a question that weighed heavily on her heart. "Eleanora... will I defeat her?"

Eleanora's response was laden with emotion, her voice quivering. "I cannot say, for my dreams have never dared to venture this far."

And with one last downhearted look, Eleanora stepped through the portal.