A strange, demonic gurgle echoed through the halls of the manor as Seraphia and Elara anxiously waited outside Nyx's room. The unsettling sound seemed to crawl under their skin, leaving them on edge and uncertain of what awaited them inside.

"I don't like this, Mother. Something feels terribly wrong," Seraphia whispered, her brow furrowing with worry.

Elara nodded, her expression mirroring her daughter's concern. "I know, Seraphia, but we can't let fear hold us back. We have to face whatever awaits us."

Summoning their courage, they approached the door, their hands trembling with a mix of fear and determination. Elara reached for the doorknob, intending to enter Nyx's room and put an end to the confrontation, but before she could turn the knob, a sudden, searing pain shot through the air.

An arrow whizzed past Elara and buried itself deep into her hand, causing her to cry out in agony. The arrow's sinister tip was laced with poison, and Elara's hand began to swell and redden as the venom coursed through her veins.

"Mother! Are you alright?" Seraphia exclaimed, fear and panic evident in her voice.

Elara gritted her teeth, trying to bear the pain as she clutched her wounded hand. "I-I'm fine, Seraphia. The arrow... it's poisoned."

Seraphia's mind raced as she tried to think of a way to help her mother. She could feel the anguish radiating from Elara, and she knew she had to act quickly.

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"We need to get you out of here, Mother. I'll find a way to heal you," Seraphia said, her voice determined.

But before they could escape, the door to Nyx's room burst open, revealing a chilling sight. Nyx stood in the doorway, his expression a mix of pride and malevolence. Behind him were the figures in red monk robes, their black masks concealing their faces, yet their red eyes and horns glowing ominously.

"Nyx... what have you done?" Elara gasped, her voice tinged with both heartache and disbelief.

Nyx: "Mother, Sister, there's no need for this pain. Embrace the darkness with me, and I'll give you the antidote."

Seraphia's heart pounded in her chest as she weighed her options. The thought of succumbing to the darkness to save her mother was a painful one, but she couldn't bear the thought of losing her.

"What about Father?" Seraphia cried out, her voice trembling. "What have you done with him?"

Nyx's lips curled into a haunting smile. "Oh, don't worry about Father. He's in good hands, being cared for by loyal servants."

Seraphia's mind raced with conflicting emotions. She knew she had to do something to save her mother, but at what cost? The weight of the decision bore down on her, and she felt the darkness closing in around her.

In a moment of desperation, Seraphia made a choice that would change the course of their lives. She accepted Nyx's outstretched hand, sealing their fates together. The figures in red monk robes closed in, their presence enveloping Seraphia in darkness, and as she glanced back at her wounded mother, the world around her blurred and faded.

The darkness claimed her consciousness, and she blacked out, unaware of the path she had chosen and the intricate web of destiny that now bound her and Nyx together. As the shadows deepened, the fate of Altheria hung in the balance, with the light of hope flickering in the face of malevolence and the struggle between love and darkness taking center stage in the hearts of those entangled in the prophecy's veiled truths.