The bloody hands were taken care of. Atleast for now.

I looked ahead in the eyes of the creature. He was baffled. It seems he didn't expect my fire to burn that ferociously.

The darkness was still enveloping the world. I tried burning it down but like a hungry void it just consumed.

I poured more and it consumed more. Realising i wasn't getting anywhere, I decided to target the caster.

He hasn't move from where he was until now.

It appears as if his whole focus was on maintaining the darkness. If my thoughts were running correctly, then I knew what this darkness was. And why this creature was so hell bent for me to sit inside the car.

More of the reason, I had to finish this early.

I felt like this creature might not be the physical type. The bells of danger and death that were ringing earlier started to fade , the moment I steeped away from the car.

Taking my chances, I decided for close combat. Placing Sylv down in a safe corner, I readied myself. It wasn't the best decision but options were limited.

Tensing the muscles in my calves, I surged towards him.

The flame in my hand reforming into a fine, beautiful sword. It blazed with a fierce dark glow, flames dancing along its blade like vengeful spirits.

Each swing whispered of vigorous energy, crackling with the heat of a thousand forge.

I swung my sword low, the blade cutting through the air with a *whoosh*

The creature retaliated with his own claws.

*fizzle*

Sparks flew at the place of impact,illuminating the dark smirk on its face.

It knew, time wasn't in my favour.

With a kick to his chest, I jumped backwards. The creature staggard due to the impact, it's growl rumbling deep in its throat.

It balanced itself before lunging towards me with all its might. I tightened my grip on my burning sword, it's heat almost painful against my arm.

The creature charged, and i braced myself, pivoting just in time to avoid a strike that could have been deadly. I turned around and swung my sword at its back. It whirled and it's claws barely in time to intercept my sword.

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*clang*

*crash*

*clink*

We exchanged blows and it was evident that the creature was just binding for time. And I couldn't let it do that.

I remained at the spot and gathered my energy. I let it all flow, the fire now black as void itself, so dark that it was eating away the light surrounding it.

But I knew this power was a double-edged sword, a danger not only to my enemies but to me as well.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see the dome of darkness almost complete. Again reminding me that it was as much as a race against time as it was a fight against this despicable bastard.

It was circling me. It's long claws scraping against the ground causing sparks to roar. It was observing me, anticipating my next move.

I took a step back, and was ready to go another round. The creature was doing the same, it seems like he has the same thought.

These things were arrogant to begin with.

We both moved at the same time, but the creature moved past me. It didn't take me a second to understand his motive .

This motherfucker was going for my daughter.

I twisted my body, and attacked him. But it was a step ahead. Anticipating my attack, with ruthless precision it aimed for my head, sacrificing his hand in the process.

My instincts kicked in. I tried to duck, but too late. His sharp claws slashed across my skin, slicing my face upto my chest in a searing line.

*thump*

I crashed in the ground. My body ached, and my muscles spasmed. My whole existence was in pain, but I had to bear through.

A moment of weakness was all that decides difference between life and death.

*drip drip *

I stood up, blood trickling from my face, staring at the thing wearing Lily's face.

Its crooked grin twisted her features, a perversion of everything she was.

The creature lunged for Sylv, claws outstretched, but i threw myself in the way , feeling a sharp pain as its talons grazed my side.

*thump*

I hit the ground hard, air forced out of my lungs. I scrambled to my feet, desperation clawing at my chest.

As the monster hovered over Sylv, its claws gleamed in the dim light, dripping with a viscous black substance.

The creature raised Lily's arm, its fingers elongating into jagged blades, poised to strike.

Sylv, barely conscious, gasped as the cold, rancid breath of the creature brushed her skin. The moment stretched, the sound of Sylv's heartbeat pounding in my ears, before the deadly strike descended.

But then, the chaos stilled.

For a fleeting moment, Lily's face softened. Her eyes-those warm, familiar eyes-looked back at him, clear and knowing.

No words were spoken, but her lips curled into a faint smile, serene and accepting. It was the kind of smile that broke my heart, one that spoke of goodbye, of sacrifice.

I have seen that smile before and I understood. She was still in there, even now, fighting, asking me for the unthinkable.

She knows. She's letting go... she wants me to end this.

I looked at my trembling hands. Every fiber of his being screamed against it, but i knew this had to end.

For her. For Sylv.

With a roar, i drove the blade through her chest. That one moment lily provided was all I needed.

" Eeeeeeeekkkk!! "

The creature inside her shrieked loudly ,a sound like shattered glass grinding against metal, furious and raw.

Black fire burst from the wound, consuming her body from the inside. The flames tore through her veins, the creature thrashing wildly in agony as it tried to pull itself free.

Lily's body thrashed violently, bones snapping with sickening cracks. Her skin bubbled and peeled, revealing dark, pulsing muscle as the fire ravaged her.

" ahrghhhhhh "

The thing inside her screamed through her throat, a grotesque chorus of agony, limbs flailing uselessly as blackened blood splattered across the ground.

The fire grew hotter, fiercer, its flames

licking up her spine, twisting her body into a blackened husk.

The creature's claws scraped my hands, leaving deep wounds as it tried to crawl away, but its strength was gone.

It was dying, slowly, painfully.

And so was Lily.

My heart clenched with every scream, each second of her suffering stretching into eternity.

My chest tightened as i watched my love get consumed by my own fire.

" I'm sorry " I muttered .

Tears started to accumulate.

They pooled at the corners of eyes before spilling over, trailing down my cheeks.

Their warmth in contrast with the coolness of her body. Each drop a testament to words unsaid and memories we made.

My hands trembled, hazy eyes locked on her as the last remnants of the creature crackled and crumbled into ash.

And then, silence.

" Goodbye " was all I could manage.

Lily's body, once possessed by darkness, lay motionless, burned beyond recognition.

But in her eyes, just for that brief second I had seen her.

That final, heartbreaking smile.