I leaped up the stairs, my heart pounding. Bursting through the door, I saw him—Kayn, the soldier with the scar across his right eye. His sneer sent chills down my spine as he hovered over Faith, who was tied up, her own panties cruelly stuffed into her mouth to muffle her cries.

"You bastard, get off her!" I roared, my voice raw with fury.

With a powerful kick, I sent Kayn flying into the night table. He crashed into it, the impact rattling the room. Faith's eyes met mine, tears streaming down her face, and my blood boiled. Darkness began to creep into the corners of the room, feeding off my rage.

Kayn quickly recovered, his eyes flashing with malicious intent. He grabbed for his gun, but I was faster. I lunged at him, our bodies colliding in a brutal clash. My fist connected with his jaw, sending a shockwave of pain up my arm, but he barely flinched. With a snarl, he swung back, his fist slamming into my ribs, knocking the breath out of me.

The room blurred as we exchanged blows, moving with deadly speed. Kayn's combat training was evident, each punch and kick precise and powerful. But I had something he didn't—the shadows. They wrapped around me, bolstering my strength, guiding my movements.

Kayn landed a blow to my face, sending me reeling. Blood filled my mouth, but I ignored it, diving back into the fight. I ducked under his next punch, driving my elbow into his gut. He grunted, doubling over, and I seized the opportunity. Grabbing his arm, I twisted it behind his back, forcing him to his knees.

"You think you can hurt her and get away with it?" I hissed, my voice low and dangerous.

Kayn let out a guttural laugh, even as he struggled against my grip. "You have no idea what you're dealing with, you little shit."

With a surge of strength, he broke free, elbowing me in the ribs. I stumbled back, and he was on me in an instant, his fists raining down like hammers. Pain exploded in my chest and head, but I refused to go down.

Using the shadows in my domain, I let them envelop me, my vision sharpening. I moved with inhuman speed, dodging his blows and countering with my own. My fists blurred as I struck, each punch fueled by the darkness within.

Kayn staggered back, blood streaming from his nose. His eyes widened in shock and rage. "What the hell are you?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I let the shadows guide me, moving faster than ever. In a flash, I was behind him, my arm wrapping around his throat in a chokehold. He thrashed and struggled, but I held firm, tightening my grip.

"You're nothing," I whispered into his ear. "And you will pay for what you've done."

With a final, desperate surge, Kayn broke free, gasping for air. He turned to face me, eyes blazing with hatred. "This isn't over," he spat, clutching his throat.

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But I was already moving, a blur of shadows and fury. My fist collided with his jaw, sending him crashing to the ground. He lay there, dazed and bleeding, unable to rise.

I turned to Faith, quickly untying her bonds and removing the gag. She gasped for air, tears still streaming down her face. "It's okay," I murmured, holding her close. "You're safe now."

Faith sobbed uncontrollably. "Keinan, I was so scared," she managed to say, her voice trembling. "I thought... I thought he would..." She sobs into tears placing her head onto my chest.

"I'm here," I assured her, gently stroking her hair. "I won't let anything happen to you. We need to move, though. More soldiers are coming."

Faith nodded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "What do we do now?" she asked, her voice still shaky as I turned away letting her getting her clothes on.

"We find a way out," I said, determination hardening my tone. "And we get you to safety."

The voice inside me hissed a warning. "Boy, his men are closing in. You need to move, now."

Panic surged through me as I scanned the room, searching for an escape route for Faith and me. My mind raced, analyzing every possible option. Suddenly, I sensed imminent danger and instinctively dove to cover Faith. The air exploded with the deafening roar of gunfire as bullets tore into the room, hitting me again and again.

In that suspended moment, as time seemed to slow, I was on top of her petite body and locked eyes with Faith. Her terrified gaze met mine as I smiled at her with my usual smile, and I locked her serene blue ocean eyes. "It's okay, Faith," I murmured, blood bubbling up in my mouth.

Her scream cut through the chaos, raw and desperate. "Please, Keinan, you're hurt! Don't do this!" She pushed against me, but my resolve was unyielding.

Bullets flew around us, tearing through the air with lethal intent. The room seemed to close in, a cacophony of violence and fear. I braced myself, feeling each impact as the bullets ripped through my body. The pain was immense, but I refused to let it show. My sole focus was on Faith, shielding her with everything I had.

Faith's eyes were wide with horror, her tears mixing with the blood that now covered both of us. Her hands, trembling and frantic, tried to push me away, to protect me in return, but I stood firm. The sound of gunfire was deafening, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart and Faith's desperate cries.

Time seemed to slow. With a trembling hand, I brushed a loose strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. Our eyes closed as we shared a tender, fleeting kiss. Her cheeks flushed, but when she pulled back, the realization hit her. My lips had gone still. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw the lifelessness in mine. The bullets had ravaged me—twenty rounds at least—and I lay there, smiling even in death.

Faith's scream echoed through the room. "No, Keinan! Please, no!" She shook me, her hands stained with my blood. "Wake up! You can't leave me!"

But I was already gone, my last act to protect her. Soldiers grabbed Faith, dragging her away as she fought and cried, her eyes never leaving my lifeless body. "Keinan! No! Please, don't take me away! Keinan!"

Her voice faded as they pulled her from the room, her sobs the last sound I heard as darkness enveloped me.

Faith's sobs grew louder, echoing through the room as soldiers burst in, roughly dragging her and Kayn away. Her screams filled the air, her eyes never leaving my lifeless form. The room, now silent and still, bore witness to the end of one life and the shattering of another.

The voice inside me, now distant and cold, whispered, "How can this be my fucking bloodline? Boy love make you blind and weak. You gone learn in time... Hihihi"

As the room fell silent, a strange sensation coursed through me. The bullets lodged in my body began to push out, the wounds closing with an eerie, almost mechanical precision. Pain surged and then ebbed, replaced by a tingling warmth as my flesh knitted itself back together. Minutes dragged by, each one an eternity, until finally, my chest heaved with a long, gasping breath. I was back alive...