The air around Rave University was thick with the hum of nocturnal life and the ever-present thrumming basslines of a distant party. Xyra strode purposefully through the darkened streets leading to the Umbrus Pact clubhouse, her black and violet attire shimmering faintly under the flickering neon lights of the campus.
She wasn’t here for fun, though. Her white hair glinted under the flickering streetlights, and her sharp green eyes scanned the crowd with a purpose. She was pissed, and anyone with half a brain could feel it from the way her steps cracked against the pavement. Her sister Selene had been wildin’ again, dragging their family name through mud that didn’t come off easy. And that? That was unacceptable.
The smell hit her first—something dark and ancient, like iron and decay wrapped in shadows. Her lip curled in disgust as her senses flared. Something was hunting her.
“You really think I don’t know you’re there?” Xyra muttered, her voice low but carrying enough venom to make the crowd around her pause.
No response, but the air shifted, thickening with a weight she didn’t like. Her smirk came quick, though, because she was ready for it. With a flick of her wrist, she activated her Domain: Chains of Fate.
Glowing silver chains erupted from the ground like lightning bolts striking in reverse, twisting and writhing through the air until they found their target. There was a loud, almost metallic snap as they latched onto the unseen force, dragging it into visibility.
The crowd gasped as a figure emerged from the shadows, forced into the neon light of the street.
At first glance, he looked human—tall, lean, and pale with messy white hair and stormy grey eyes that held an unnerving calm. But then, his aura flared, and his true nature came out swinging.
His transformation was grotesque and mesmerizing, a twisted display of primal power. His skin darkened to an inky black, veins glowing faintly like magma crawling under the surface. Massive, skeletal wings burst from his back, dripping with a viscous black liquid that sizzled on the ground. His eyes burned brighter now, a silvery storm rimmed in crimson. His jaw extended slightly, revealing a set of razor-sharp fangs that looked more like weapons than teeth. Clawed hands flexed at his sides, and his voice came out as a guttural snarl.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
“Do you know what you’ve just done?”
“Oh, I know,” Xyra said, her smirk sharp enough to cut glass. “You thought you could creep on me? Nah. Wrong girl for that.”
Dante roared, his voice a blend of fury and hunger, shaking the air itself. He lunged forward, his claws slicing through the air, but the chains held fast, glowing brighter with every attempt he made to break them.
The crowd scattered, students yelling, “Yo, what the hell is that?!” as they scrambled to get their phones out or just plain ran.
“Keep strugglin’, sweetheart,” Xyra said, tightening her grip on the chains. “You’re just makin’ yourself look bad now.”
For a moment, Dante froze, his chest heaving as he looked up at her. Despite his monstrous form, there was something oddly captivating about the way he carried himself—like chaos wrapped in a sharp suit.
“You’re an interesting one,” she mused, her voice low but carrying an undeniable authority. “It’s a shame you’re wasted on Adrian and the Seraphi Pact.”
Dante sneered but said nothing, his storm-like eyes locked onto hers. Xyra stepped closer, her chains tightening around him like a leash.
“You have potential,” she continued, her tone almost teasing. “Maybe I should poach you, bring you into a pact that knows how to properly wield power.” She allowed her words to hang in the air, savoring the tension. Though he didn’t respond verbally, his expression shifted—not fear, but something akin to intrigue flickered across his sharp features.
Before she could decide what to do with him, two familiar figures appeared in the distance, she saw Rhea and Aislin hurrying toward her. Rhea’s feathers still trembled faintly, her earlier encounter with Selene clearly leaving its mark. Aislin, however, seemed to brighten at the sight of Xyra, her face lighting up with a relieved smile.
“Xyra! ” Aislin called, her voice cutting through the tension. She skidded to a stop a few feet away, her gaze darting nervously to Dante before returning to Xyra. “Uh… is everything okay here? ”
Xyra gave a short nod, dismissing the chains with a wave of her hand. Dante staggered slightly as the bindings vanished, his form reverting to a less imposing state—still elegant and sharp but no longer monstrous. He shot Xyra a look of warning before stepping back into the shadows, though the tension between them lingered like static electricity.
“Fine,” Xyra replied smoothly. “What were you two doing near the Umbrus Pact? ”
Rhea crossed her arms, trying to regain her composure. “Nothin’ serious. Just… scoping the place out. But yeah, Selene was there.”
At the mention of Selene, Xyra’s expression darkened slightly. She turned on her heel without another word, heading toward the clubhouse. Aislin hesitated, glancing at Rhea before calling after her.
“Wait, Xyra! Are you… are you going to talk to her? ”
Xyra paused, looking over her shoulder. “I’m going to make sure she understands the consequences of her actions,” she said, her tone carrying a weight that silenced any further questions. With that, she strode off into the night, her presence leaving an unmistakable ripple in the air that lingered long after she disappeared from view.