All Chapters of THE DEMON IN ME : Chapter 41
- Chapter 50
54 chapters
SOLA'S LAST STAND
Arden slowly approached his companions, his steps heavy with exhaustion. The scent of smoke and blood still lingered in the air. Lina knelt beside Sola, her palms glowing weakly as she tried to heal him again, but the light faded from her hands almost immediately.“Sola, please… stay with us,” Lina whispered, her voice trembling as tears blurred her vision.Sola gave a faint smile, his breathing shallow. “Don’t cry, Lina… I’ve been through worse, but this time, I think it’s my end.”Arden crouched beside him, eyes filled with desperation. “Don’t say that. You’re strong, Sola. You’ll make it.”Sola chuckled weakly. “You always say that, Arden… but even you know when it’s over.”Maya turned away, trying to hide the tears that slipped down her face. “No… You can’t leave us. Not after everything we’ve been through.”Duke clenched his fists, his jaw tight with frustration. “There’s got to be something we can do. Lina, try again! You’re not doing it right…try harder!”Lina shook her head,
THE RIFT AMONG US
It was dusk, and the air outside the inn felt heavy with sorrow. Inside, the four remaining companions sat in silence, the weight of loss thick between them. The faint light from a lantern flickered across their faces, showing exhaustion and grief that words couldn’t mend.Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Duke looked up, still hollow-eyed, while Arden remained seated with his head lowered. Maya rose quietly and opened the door. Standing there was one of the villagers, bowing slightly.“The Chief wishes to see you,” the man said softly. “He comes with a token of gratitude for saving Virelia from destruction.”Arden exchanged a glance with Lina, whose eyes were still swollen from crying. They all knew the victory had come at a great cost, but refusing the Chief’s visit would be disrespectful. Slowly, Duke stood and said, “Let him in.”Moments later, the village Chief entered, an elderly man with kind eyes and a face marked by time. In his hands was a small chest. “Heroes,” he
BETWEEN LOVE AND DUTY
The night was quiet, the moonlight slipping through the small cracks of the window. Everyone was asleep, except Arden. He sat by the window, staring into the darkness outside, his thoughts drowning him. Memories of his mother’s warm smile, his younger sisters’ laughter, and Sola’s final moments played in his mind like a painful loop. His eyes burned, and before he knew it, tears rolled down his cheeks.“Arden…” a soft voice called from behind.He quickly wiped his face, turning slightly. “Lina, you should be resting.”“I couldn’t sleep,” she whispered, stepping closer. “I saw you sitting here… you’re hurting, aren’t you?”Arden gave a weak chuckle, though his voice trembled. “Hurting? That’s an understatement. I keep thinking… if I were stronger, if I had better control, Sola would still be here.”Lina shook her head and knelt beside him. “Don’t say that. You can’t blame yourself for everything. You did what you could.”He looked at her, eyes full of guilt. “Did I? He died saving m
A BREATHE BETWEEN LIFE AND JEALOUSY
The sun had barely risen when the four set out toward Wraith Mountain. The forest path ahead was rough, covered in fog that crept between the trees. Duke led the way, holding the map the village chief had given them, his eyes scanning every turn.“According to the map, if we follow this route, we should reach the mountain’s base by nightfall,” Duke said calmly.Arden nodded, walking beside him. “Good. Let’s stay together. We can’t afford any surprises this time.”Lina smiled softly, walking close to Arden’s right. “Don’t worry. As long as we stay alert, we’ll be fine.”But behind them, Maya trailed in silence, her eyes cold and distant. She barely heard their voices; her thoughts were consumed by what she’d seen the night before. The image of Arden and Lina together replayed over and over, twisting her chest.Then, a whisper slithered through her mind. A familiar voice, dark, smooth, and commanding.“Maya,” it said, “you saw how he looked at her. You’re fading from his heart. But yo
WOUNDS DEEPER THAN BATTLE
The sun was high above, and the group rested under the shade of a large oak tree near the narrow path leading to the Wraith Mountain. The air was warm, the forest calm, but tension silently crept among them.Lina sat quietly, her eyes fixed on the grass while Duke leaned back, sharpening his blade with steady strokes. He broke the silence first.“Lina,” Duke said, glancing at her. “I’ve been thinking about what happened at the river. You’re sure you didn’t slip?”Lina hesitated, lowering her gaze. “I thought so at first… but…” She took a deep breath, her fingers trembling. “When I fell, it didn’t feel like I lost my balance. It felt like… someone pushed me.”Duke frowned. “Someone pushed you?”She nodded slowly. “I know this sounds unbelievable, but before I hit the water, I caught a glimpse of Maya behind me. Her hand… it was on my back.”Duke’s eyes widened. “Maya? Are you saying she did it on purpose?”Lina’s voice trembled. “I don’t want to accuse her wrongly, but it didn’t feel
THE FRIENDSHIP SONG
The night was quiet, the air still and heavy with unease. The soft crackle of the dying campfire flickered against the shadows of the forest. Everyone was asleep, except Maya. She sat alone, trembling slightly as she gripped her head, her breath uneven. Her eyes glowed faintly green, and the faint trace of serpent-like scales crept across her cheek. Inside her mind, the ancient serpent hissed, “You can’t hide it anymore, Maya. I live within you. You and I are one.” Maya whispered through clenched teeth, “No… stop bothering me .” Her body tensed, her hands digging into the ground. The serpent’s voice grew darker. “You’ve already begun to change. Your jealousy, your pain… It feeds me. You crave Arden’s attention, don’t you?” Maya’s face twisted in frustration. “Shut up!” she muttered, her voice shaking. Arden, who was nearby, stirred from his sleep. He noticed the faint glow and the strange sound of Maya’s voice. Concerned, he stood and walked quietly toward her. “Maya?” he
SHADOWS IN THE MIST
The realm of the Watchers was vast and shrouded in golden mist. Ancient pillars stood tall around a massive circular table made of glowing stone, and seated upon it were the beings who had been observing the balance of worlds for centuries. Their eyes gleamed like stars, and their voices echoed softly like whispers carried through time.One of the elder Watchers, his robes flowing like smoke, spoke first. “The balance trembles once again. The vessel that carries the cursed soul has awakened his power sooner than we expected.”Another leaned forward, her tone calm but firm. “You mean the boy from Eldervale—the one harboring the soul of Narlok, the Demon King?”“Yes,” the elder replied. “The one called Arden. His actions in Virelia did not go unnoticed. The demon within him stirred, and its presence was felt across the realms.”A deep voice came from the far end of the table. “I warned this council long ago that sealing Narlok’s soul in a mortal vessel was dangerous. Now the seal is
BEFORE THE STORM
In Eldervale village, the golden rays of dusk bathed the small huts in a gentle glow. Inside one of them, Shina, Arden’s mother, sat by the fire weaving a mat. The quiet crackle of the flames filled the room while her two daughters, Fira and Leina, sat beside her.Fira glanced up at her mother with worried eyes. “Mother, do you think brother Arden is safe out there?”Shina’s hands paused mid-weave. She looked at the flickering flame before replying softly, “Your brother has always been strong, my dear. Wherever he is, the spirits are surely guiding him.”Leina frowned as she hugged her knees. “But it’s been moons since he left. What if he doesn’t come back?”Shina reached over and gently brushed a strand of hair from her youngest daughter’s face. “Arden made a promise to us, remember? He said he would return once his purpose was fulfilled. I believe in that promise.”The fire crackled louder, filling the silence that followed. Outside, the wind whispered through the tall trees, ca
THE SHATTERED BOND
The morning sun barely rose over the fog-covered hills when Arden slowly opened his eyes. His body ached from exhaustion, but what truly froze him was the sight before him.Dozens of masked captors stood in a circle around them, their faces hidden behind black veils, weapons pointed directly at the four companions.“Wha—what’s going on?” Lina gasped, sitting up quickly. But before she could move, a blade was already at her throat.Duke clenched his fists, his usual calm replaced by anger. “Damn it… they caught us off guard.”Arden’s sword and dagger were gone. He looked to his side and saw all their weapons piled together in a heap at the captors’ feet. His heart pounded as he realized how outnumbered they were.Maya’s eyes darted around. “There are too many of them,” she whispered under her breath. “At least thirty…”One of the captors stepped forward. His mask was different—painted crimson. He seemed to be their leader.“Awake already?” the man said with a cold smirk in his voic
WHEN DARKNESS RECOGNIZED HIS OWN
Moments later, they stepped into the ancient temple, the air shifted thick, heavy, and humming with energy that made every breath feel like smoke. The captors pushed Arden, Lina, and Maya forward until they fell to their knees. Chains made from glowing runes wrapped around their wrists and ankles, binding them tightly to the cold stone floor.The faint light from the torches flickered as if struggling to stay alive. Strange markings pulsed on the walls, whispering in a forgotten tongue. The deeper they went, the more Arden’s body began to tremble. His heartbeat quickened, and the color in his eyes darkened.Lina, bound beside him, turned her head toward him and asked softly, "Arden, what’s happening to you?"He didn’t respond. His breathing grew ragged, and his fingers dug into the ground as if trying to fight something inside. A voice low and monstrous echoed from deep within him."Arden," the voice growled, "he’s here, the one who hunted me long ago."Maya glanced between them, h