The storm reached a terrifying new height.
It no longer felt like ordinary weather. It felt alive.
The Blackclaw estate trembled beneath the assault of wind and thunder as if the ancient fortress itself could feel the approaching destruction.
Rain crashed against the stone towers like waves against cliffs. Lightning split the sky again and again, illuminating the battlefield in blinding white flashes before plunging everything back into darkness.
Selara stood on the northern tower balcony, soaked from head to toe, her silver-black hair whipping violently in the wind.
But she didn't move.
Her silver eyes were fixed on the sky.
Above the estate, the vortex Kaelen had summoned continued to churn, twisting clouds and lightning into a violent spiral. It looked like the sky itself had cracked open.
And something inside that vortex was building.
Something enormous.
Nightborne energy pulsed beneath Selara's skin like living lightning. It wrapped around her body in faint strands of glowing silver, flickering brighter every time the vortex pulsed.
She could feel it.
Kaelen's power.
It was everywhere.
Inside the wind.
Inside the rain.
Inside the shadows clinging to the stone walls.
The storm wasn't natural.
It was him.
Draven stepped onto the balcony beside her.
Even in the raging storm, his presence felt solid and grounded, like a mountain standing against the wind.
His dark coat was soaked through, rain sliding down his face, but his expression remained calm and focused.
Predatory.
Dangerous.
His storm-grey eyes studied the vortex above them.
"He's almost finished," Draven said quietly.
Selara didn't look away from the sky.
"I know."
Another pulse of dark energy rippled through the air.
The entire tower trembled.
Draven's gaze shifted to her glowing hands.
"Your power is reacting again."
Selara clenched her fists.
"I can't stop it."
The Nightborne energy was stronger now than ever before. It surged through her veins like molten fire, responding instinctively to Kaelen's magic.
Like two storms colliding.
Draven stepped closer.
"So don't stop it."
Selara looked at him, surprised.
"What?"
His voice was firm.
"Use it."
Lightning flashed, illuminating his face.
"You've been trying to contain your power since the moment I met you," he continued.
"But tonight isn't the night for restraint."
Selara stared at him.
"You're telling me to unleash it?"
A faint, dangerous smile touched Draven's lips.
"I'm telling you to show Kaelen exactly why the Nightborne bloodline terrifies the world."
Her heart skipped.
The words sent a thrill through her chest.
Before she could reply
The sky exploded.
A violent surge of energy erupted from the vortex above the estate.
The clouds split apart like torn fabric as a massive column of dark lightning crashed toward the ground.
Selara's eyes widened.
"It's coming!"
Draven grabbed her arm.
"Move!"
They leapt from the tower just as the blast struck.
The entire northern tower shook violently as the dark energy slammed into the courtyard below.
Stone shattered.
Windows exploded.
The ground cracked open.
Selara landed hard on the rain-soaked courtyard stones and rolled to her feet.
The air buzzed with raw magic.
When the smoke cleared, something stood at the center of the crater.
Selara's breath caught.
It was enormous.
A creature made entirely of swirling darkness and storm energy slowly rose from the impact point. Its body towered nearly forty feet tall, formed from black mist and lightning.
Its glowing eyes opened.
The ground trembled as it took its first step.
Draven landed beside her.
"Well," he muttered, gripping his sword tighter.
"That's new."
The creature roared.
The sound shook the entire estate.
Selara's pulse raced.
"That thing is made from the vortex energy."
Draven nodded grimly.
"And Kaelen's control."
As if summoned by the thought
Kaelen stepped forward from the forest.
He looked almost untouched by the storm.
Shadows swirled lazily around him, bending to his will.
His silver eyes locked onto Selara.
"Magnificent, isn't it?" he called across the courtyard.
Selara stepped forward.
"You call that magnificent?"
Kaelen smiled faintly.
"I call it evolution."
He gestured toward the massive creature.
"The storm obeys me now."
The monster took another step.
Each footfall cracked the stone courtyard.
Selara lifted her dagger.
Silver energy sparked along its edge.
"Then I guess we break your storm."
The creature attacked.
Its massive claw swung down toward them like a falling building.
Draven shoved Selara aside.
"Down!"
The claw smashed into the ground where they had been standing.
Stone exploded.
Selara rolled across the courtyard and sprang to her feet.
The monster turned toward her.
Its glowing eyes locked on her like a predator finding prey.
Selara exhaled slowly.
"Okay," she muttered.
"Let's dance."
She ran straight toward it.
Behind her, Draven cursed.
"Selara!"
But she was already moving.
Nightborne power surged through her body.
Silver energy erupted around her like fire.
She leapt onto a fallen column and launched herself into the air.
Her dagger flashed.
She slashed across the creature's arm.
The blade cut deep.
Dark energy spilled from the wound like smoke.
The monster roared in pain.
Draven charged in.
His sword glowed with Alpha power as he struck the creature's leg.
The impact sent a shockwave through the courtyard.
"Nice distraction," he called.
Selara grinned.
"You're welcome."
The creature swung wildly.
Selara ducked beneath its claw and rolled across the ground.
Draven jumped onto its arm and drove his blade deep into the shadow flesh.
The monster howled again.
But it didn't fall.
Instead
The wound began to close.
Selara's eyes widened.
"It's regenerating!"
Draven landed beside her.
"Then we hit it harder."
The monster raised both arms.
Lightning gathered between them.
Selara's instincts screamed.
"Draven!"
Too late.
The creature slammed the lightning into the ground.
A massive shockwave exploded outward.
The force threw Selara across the courtyard.
She crashed against a stone wall, gasping.
Pain shot through her ribs.
Across the battlefield, Draven staggered but stayed on his feet.
"Selara!"
"I'm okay!" she shouted back, though her lungs burned.
The creature turned toward her again.
Selara pushed herself up slowly.
Her dagger trembled in her hand.
Not from fear.
From power.
Nightborne energy was boiling beneath her skin.
The storm around them began reacting.
Wind swirled around her.
Lightning flickered in the clouds above.
Draven stared at her.
"Selara…"
Her eyes glowed bright silver.
"I think I know how to kill it."
Kaelen watched with interest from the forest edge.
"Ah," he murmured.
"Finally."
Selara lifted her dagger.
Energy surged upward from the ground around her.
Silver light spiraled into the sky.
The vortex above trembled.
Draven felt the air change.
"You're drawing power from the storm."
Selara nodded.
"It's already connected to me."
Lightning flashed again.
But this time
It didn't strike the monster.
It struck Selara.
Draven's heart stopped.
But instead of harming her
The lightning wrapped around her body.
Silver energy exploded outward.
Her power had awakened.
Fully.
Kaelen smiled slowly.
"Yes…"
The monster charged.
Selara didn't move.
She waited.
The creature raised its massive claw to crush her.
Draven started forward.
But Selara lifted her hand.
"Don't."
Her voice carried strange authority.
The monster's claw came crashing down.
At the last second
Selara moved.
She vanished.
A flash of silver light shot upward.
She reappeared above the creature's head.
Her dagger blazed like a star.
"For the Nightborne," she whispered.
She drove the blade down.
The explosion of power was blinding.
Silver lightning tore through the creature's body.
The monster screamed.
Its form cracked apart.
Dark energy shattered like glass.
With a final roar
The creature exploded into mist.
The courtyard fell silent.
Selara landed on the ground, breathing hard.
Draven rushed to her side.
"You're insane," he said.
She smiled faintly.
"But it worked."
He pulled her into a tight embrace before he could stop himself.
"You scared the hell out of me."
Selara froze for a moment.
Then she relaxed slightly against him.
"I had it under control."
"Barely."
She pulled back, meeting his eyes.
Lightning flashed again above them.
Kaelen was still standing at the forest edge.
Watching.
Unmoved.
Selara frowned.
"That didn't scare him at all."
Draven's expression darkened.
"No."
Kaelen slowly began walking toward them.
"Congratulations," he said calmly.
"You destroyed my creation."
Selara lifted her dagger again.
"You sound disappointed."
Kaelen shook his head.
"Not at all."
He raised his hand.
The vortex above the estate began spinning faster.
Violently.
"Because now," Kaelen said softly,
"The real storm begins."
The vortex suddenly split open.
Something enormous began emerging from inside it.
Something far worse than the creature they had just destroyed.
Selara felt her blood run cold.
"What… is that?"
Draven tightened his grip on his sword.
"I think…"
The sky cracked open with a deafening roar.
"…we're about to find out."
And the true nightmare descended from the storm.