For You

Visenya looked down at her arm and flinched at the sight of the bloody gash from the dagger, marking her own skin. Trembling with disbelief, she stumbled out of the crystal cave, the dagger slipping from her grasp and falling to the dirt below, lost amidst the chaos of her thoughts.

She felt dazed and disoriented, struggling to fully comprehend the magnitude of what had just transpired. Marienne's voice echoed in her mind, a harrowing reminder of the darkness that still lingered. She had thought that leaving the cave would free her from Marienne's grasp, but the reality was far more sinister.

"You see, Visenya, your power knows no bounds," Marienne's haunting presence persisted, her voice resounding unnervingly inside Visenya's head. "Why settle for this feeble world when there are countless others waiting to be conquered? You can be a god, worshipped and revered in every corner of the universe. This world is but a pitiful speck, and it's time to leave it behind."

Seizing control, Marienne unleashed a sudden burst of power, and a massive vortex of fire engulfed her, its flames soaring towards the sky. It spread like a wildfire, devouring everything in its path—trees, rocks, even the very air. The inferno's intense heat radiated, causing the ground to tremble beneath Visenya's feet.

Lucian had already taken flight, his eyes scanning the vast lands below in search of Visenya. Suddenly, a colossal tempest of flames erupted high into the sky, its fiery tendrils reaching towards the heavens. The intense blaze painted the landscape in shades of orange and red, casting an eerie glow upon the land.

The blazing cyclone dispersed like a scorching tsunami, obliterating everything in its path. Lucian quickly circled back, his strong wings straining against the sheer force of the flames that threatened to engulf him.

With a surge of adrenaline and unwavering determination, Lucian raced back to the mountaintop where he had left Sarai and Caspian, his wings slicing through the air with incredible speed. The raging inferno trailed closely behind, spreading with alarming velocity, threatening to devour them and reduce their existence to ashes.

Right before the flames could incinerate the terror-stricken lycans, Lucian swooped in at the very edge of catastrophe. With his powerful claws, he quickly scooped them up, cradling them protectively. The flames left nothing but devastation and ash in their wake, where Sarai and Caspian had stood mere moments before.

They clung onto his massive claws, their hearts pounding with a mixture of fear and trust, as they soared away from the raging storm. The scorching heat nipped at their skin, yet they maintained their unyielding grip.

Lucian valiantly fought against the relentless force, his muscles straining to counter the powerful currents. Nevertheless, the energy unleashed by Visenya's power proved unstoppable, sending them closer and closer to the brink of disaster.

"No!" Visenya's voice erupted from the core of the vortex, a fierce battle cry against the grip of Marienne's control.

She delved deep within herself, tapping into the light that separated her from the encroaching darkness. Determination surged through her, fueling her to push against it and claw her way back to the surface.

With each passing moment, Visenya's willpower grew stronger, causing the swirling vortex of fire around her to abruptly come to a halt. She exerted every ounce of her being to prevent it from spreading further. The forces of light and dark clashed fiercely, with Marienne striving to regain control while Visenya struggled to reel back the vortex, aiming to dissolve it completely.

Lucian was able to land somewhere safe, carefully placing Caspian and Sarai on steady ground. They watched in consternation as the vortex began to dissipate before them, although not entirely. Its chaotic flares hinted at an internal battle happening from within.

Without another thought, Lucian left the two lycans behind and flew straight towards the fiery whirlwind. He had to save Visenya... even if it meant saving her from herself. The swirling inferno engulfed him, lifting him high into the air and spinning him around in its fiery grasp. He fought against the powerful currents, his wings beating with all their might.

His eyes locked on the center of the vortex where Visenya knelt, and the sight of her was all he needed to muster up the strength to push forward and break free from the Vortex's deadly clutches. He was hurtled out of the fiery whirlwind, colliding with the ground in the eye of the blazing storm.

Quickly shifting back into his human form, his eyes were drawn to Visenya, her conflicted features illuminated by the blazing light.

"You can't stop me, Visenya! So you might as well join me!" Marienne asserted, her hunger for power and dominance blatant in every word.

"But you are wrong," Visenya retorted. "You told me that if I wanted to destroy you, I'd have to destroy myself."

Visenya reached out her hand, teleporting the enchanted dagger back into her possession. "Then that's exactly what I will do."

Lucian's steps were steady and resolute as he walked towards Visenya. The scorching heat intensified, searing his flesh and causing him to grit his teeth against the pain. This inferno, unlike anything he had ever experienced, challenged even a dragon's ability to withstand fire.

With each stride, he battled against the powerful forces that sought to hold him back. The fiery winds singed his clothes and threatened to throw him off balance, but his determination remained. His love for Visenya is what propelled him forward, refusing to give up on her.

"Visenya," He whispered through their mind link, his voice cutting through the chaotic turmoil in her head.

The look in her eyes spoke of pain and desperation, revealing the conflict raging within her. She was tormented by the power she possessed and the destruction it had caused. Her gaze wandered through the haze until it finally rested upon him, a glimmer of comfort shining in her eyes as she realized she wasn't alone. His mere presence seemed to bring some calm to the storm, making his steps feel less burdensome.

"Lucian?" She called out to him, her voice drowning in agony. "You shouldn't be here. Please, get away from me... go far away from me."

"And why would I go and do something like that?” His voice gentle and soothing. “I'm exactly where I want to be, my little firebird.”

Tears streamed down Visenya's cheeks, her eyes filled with despair. "I can't hold her back much longer, Lucian. She won't let me go.”

Lucian’s heart broke into pieces at the very sight of her, his own heart now too heavy to bear. The weight of all his guilt and regret threatened to suffocate him. How had he let it come to this? How could he have hurt her so deeply?

"I'm not crazy," she pleaded, but whom was she trying to convince? Him? Herself? Or was it just a desperate attempt to hold onto the shreds of her sanity?

"No," he replied, his voice bleeding with sorrow. "You're not crazy, baby... You're just not well. And that's my fault. Do you understand? It's all my fault, not yours."

"I have to end it. It's the only way to save this world, to sacrifice myself for the lives of many.” Visenya declared with conviction.

With both hands, she tightly gripped the dagger, its blade pointed towards her chest as she prepared to plunge it right through her heart.

"No!" Lucian's voice cut through the howling winds, as if his very soul cried out in protest.

He fell to his knees in front of her, placing his hand gently on her belly. "And what about this life?"

Visenya's gaze lowered to where his hand gently rested, serving as a reminder of the life growing within her. Her endless stream of tears blurred her vision, mirroring the inner conflict that left her feeling adrift, as if she were wandering aimlessly in the abyss of darkness.

“What do I do, Lucian?” She wept. “I don’t know what to do… I don’t know what to do.”

He tenderly brushed his thumb against her cheeks, gently wiping away her weary tears. "I know what to do."

With graceful and meticulous motion, Lucian conjured the power of his blue flame, its mesmerizing hues dancing across his palms, as he gently brought each hand to her temples.

"What are you doing?" She looked at him, completely mystified.

A small, yet affectionate smile graced his face, his love and adoration for her evident in his eyes. "Something right in my life for a change."

He gently placed the tips of his fingers upon her temples, allowing his healing powers to flow out of him and penetrate the depths of her fractured mind. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as the heavy grip of darkness began to wane. Marienne's voice and very presence became nothing more than a faint echo.

"Alright, Lucian, that's enough," she said firmly, her eyes searching his face.

"Just a little more," he persisted, determined to mend every broken piece of her shattered soul.

"Stop, Lucian! You'll die!" She pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation, her hands clutching his tightly.

"But it would be for you," he whispered, his voice filled with infinite devotion. "I will die for you."