ON THE BRINK OF DEATH

Ethan’s vision blurred as he struggled to remain standing. Blood trickled from wounds that covered his body, his strength waning with each passing second. Each breath was a battle, his chest rising and falling with ragged gasps. He felt the edges of consciousness slipping away, the world around him fading into a haze of darkness and light.

“Ethan… please, stay with us,” Lila whispered, her voice trembling as she knelt beside him. Tears streamed down her face, mixing with the dirt and sweat on her cheeks. She could see the life fading from his eyes, his usually sharp gaze clouded with pain and exhaustion.

Amelia, her own face pale and drawn, pressed close to him on the other side, her body acting as a shield. “We won’t let you go,” she murmured, her voice firm despite the fear in her eyes. “We’re not leaving you, no matter what.”

The shadowy figure that loomed before them chuckled, a cold, mocking sound that cut through the tension like a knife. “How touching,” the attacker sneered, his voice filled with contempt. “Love makes you blind to reality. Very well, then—all three of you can fall together.”

With a wave of his hand, the air around them grew heavy, charged with a dark, crushing energy. The ground beneath them trembled, the atmosphere thick with malice. Ethan tried to speak, his voice a faint rasp, “Leave them… they’re not part of this… Let them go…” His eyes, though dimming, held a desperate plea, his heart breaking at the thought of Lila and Amelia getting caught in this madness because of him.

But Lila and Amelia wouldn’t budge. “We’re not leaving,” Lila said firmly, her hands gripping Ethan’s arm tightly, her voice shaking with emotion but filled with resolve. “We’re with you till the end.”

“Whatever happens, we’re together,” Amelia added, her fingers interlaced with Ethan’s, refusing to let go.

Ethan’s chest tightened with emotion, but his body was too weak to respond. He tried to push them away, to somehow shield them from what was coming, but he couldn’t even lift his arms. His vision was dimming further, the edges of his world turning dark. He could feel the crushing weight of despair settling over him—until he felt a sudden surge of energy.

XANTHOS’S DESPERATE RUSH

Far away, Xanthos could feel it—Ethan’s life force, flickering like a dying flame in the wind. His heart clenched with dread. “No… I can’t lose him. Not like this,” he muttered under his breath. He had to get there—he had to protect Ethan. The thought of his young master, the heir to the Tenth Family, being extinguished like this filled him with a fury and desperation he hadn’t felt in centuries.

With a roar, Xanthos pushed his body beyond its limits, his legs moving with blinding speed, his surroundings blurring as he darted through the forest. The branches whipped against his skin, and the ground cracked beneath his feet, but he didn’t care. “At any cost… I must reach him,” he repeated to himself, his voice a mantra of desperation and resolve.

As he ran, the mocking voice of the attacker echoed in his mind, taunting him, as if aware of Xanthos’s desperate rush. “Even if you reach them, Xanthos, do you think you can stop me?” The voice was filled with malice, a chilling reminder of the danger Ethan was facing.

Xanthos gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with determination. “I will not let you take him,” he swore, his voice like thunder in the storm. He could feel his energy draining rapidly, the fight with the three vampires having sapped much of his strength, but he couldn’t afford to stop. Every fiber of his being was focused on one thing—reaching Ethan before it was too late.

A RAY OF HOPE

The attacker’s energy grew more intense, the ground beneath them cracking under the weight of his power. His expression twisted into a malicious grin as he raised his hand, preparing to unleash a devastating attack.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

But just as he was about to strike, a flash of silver cut through the darkness—a blade, gleaming in the moonlight, intercepted his attack. A graceful yet powerful female hand held the sword, pushing back against the attacker's immense force with surprising strength.

The attacker’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “Who dares…?” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Before him, nine powerful figures appeared, their auras radiating with a formidable presence. Some were male, some female, each one exuding an aura of strength and resolve. The tenth figure, the one who had blocked the attack, stepped forward. She was tall and graceful, her eyes cold as steel as she faced the enemy.

“The Ten Generals of the Nightshade Enforcers,” the attacker said, his lips curling into a mocking smile. “So, you’ve come to protect your precious family leader. How noble.”

One of the male figures stepped forward, his eyes narrowing with disdain. “We will not allow you to harm our leader,” he declared, his voice firm and unwavering.

The female vampire, still holding her sword up, her expression fierce, added, “You’ve crossed a line. And for that, you will face the consequences.”

The attacker let out a booming laugh, the sound echoing through the ravaged forest. “Do you think you can stop me, even with all ten of you? I could take you all down right now, but… I think I’ll let you live a little longer. Tell your young leader, Ethan, that he will fall by my hands. This is not over.”

And with that, the attacker vanished in a blur of speed, moving so quickly that even the sharpest eyes among the Nightshade Enforcers couldn’t track where he went. He disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind only a lingering sense of dread.

THE WEIGHT OF RELIEF

The Nightshade Enforcers, still bristling with tension, watched as the attacker vanished. For a moment, they considered chasing after him, but the female leader shook her head. “Stay,” she commanded. “We need to protect Ethan and ensure he’s safe.”

As they gathered around Ethan, Lila, and Amelia, the ground beneath them still crackling with residual energy, they saw Xanthos sprinting toward them, his face a mix of relief and worry. His normally composed expression was strained with exhaustion and fear.

“Chief!” they called out in unison, their voices filled with a mix of respect and concern. “Are you alright?”

Xanthos didn’t answer immediately. His eyes were fixed on Ethan’s battered form, his heart clenching at the sight. Ethan lay crumpled on the ground, barely conscious, his eyes fluttering weakly. Lila and Amelia were beside him, both exhausted and shaken, but unharmed.

“Ethan…” Xanthos whispered, his voice breaking slightly. He rushed to his side, falling to his knees as he reached out, his hands trembling. “No, no… please, hold on…”

Ethan’s blurry eyes flickered open, barely able to make out the figures surrounding him. His lips moved, but no sound came out. All he could hear was the distant, echoing voice of Xanthos. “No need to follow that attacker,” Xanthos murmured to the Enforcers, his voice filled with grim realization. “Even with all ten of you combined, you cannot defeat him.”

THE DAWN AFTER DARKNESS

The Nightshade Enforcers exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions a mix of frustration and understanding. They knew the chief was right. This enemy, whoever he was, was beyond anything they had ever faced. But that only strengthened their resolve to protect Ethan even more.

“We’ll protect him,” one of the Enforcers, a tall male with a scarred face, said firmly. “No matter what comes, we will stand by his side.”

Another, a younger female with bright eyes, nodded. “We owe it to the Tenth Family… to his father… and to him.”

Xanthos looked at them, his face softening with gratitude. “Thank you,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. “He needs you now more than ever. We must keep him safe until he is ready.”

As he spoke, a faint light began to break through the dense canopy of trees, the first rays of dawn piercing the darkness. The forest, though battered and scarred, seemed to come alive with the promise of a new day. The Enforcers, though weary and bruised, stood tall, their eyes set with determination.

Xanthos looked down at Ethan, his expression one of deep affection and pain. “Ethan… your journey is far from over,” he whispered. “But I swear, on my life, I will not let anything happen to you.”

The Enforcers, with Xanthos at their center, formed a protective circle around Ethan, their eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. The night had been long and filled with darkness, but with the dawn, there came a glimmer of hope—a new beginning, a new resolve to stand together against whatever shadows might come.