2026-01-19 21:07:26For days, he had been searching the underworld for the perfect person in the crime zone to handle this case for him. He has gotten books from the family archive, and they were lyingon the bed wide open as he ran his eyes through them.
But one name was prominent in all of them.
“Elira Nightshade…”
Just then, the door flung open and his mom stormed in.
“Did I just hear Elira Nightshade…” she queried, her face stern.
“Uhm.”
She quickly rushed over, took a look at the books, and turned to him coldly.
“You've been studying about the Nightshades?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Uhm…I…”
She took a seat beside him now and stared.
“It's just a little research mom, nothing serious. And besides, if you had told me about them when I asked you before, I wouldn't be studying about them.”
She stared at him coldly and a sigh escaped her lips.
“Alright, drop those books. They'll mislead you, I'll tell you about them, but one condition?”
He smiled warmly and nodded.
“You'll stop obsessing about them!”
“Sure.” He nodded.
“Well, I don't want to bore you with long stories, but what you need to know is that Luca Nightshade, the strongest of the clan back then, and a noble, caught your father and me when we asked for magic from the whore goddess to save our clan. He learned the blood magic that night, but was a good man and kept it to himself, using it only when extremely necessary. But the same couldn't be said for his daughter, Elira Nightshade…” she paused now, staring at him he was keenly invested in the story and listened calmly.
“Well, after her father's death, she also became a noble, but on one of the council meetings, she blamed the council for her father's death and wanted to kill the entire council with the blood magic…”
“Hmm, so she was once a noble but disgraced and exiled and now turned on the council and became an assassin?”
“You got it. Now shut those books. Dinner is ready. You're coming with me, now!” Her voice echoed across the corners of the room and of course, he couldn't dare hesitate.
He did as she said immediately and headed down with her.
The meal was rather quiet; his father, Duke Severin, was having a bad day, and no one would want him to unleash terror on them.
After the meal, Kael now had a clue on whom he was looking for, what she was capable of and how to find her.
He hurried back upstairs and pretended to be asleep. Knowing the daily routine, his mom came in and checked on him and cloaked him with her spell and headed back to her room.
Once that was done, he immediately stood up and grabbed his robe. With a soft smile, he grabbed his scythe and jumped down the window, landing perfectly without a single noise, using shadow magic.
The night was dark and dreary, but not for someone like Kael who had seen the worst of the nights. He moved swiftly, straight to her chambers as directed by the books and his mother's story and just then, a voice echoed behind him.
“You brat!” She spat. The tone in her voice told him he had found exactly who he was searching for. “How dare you discern my peace?”
He turned slowly to her, but a splash of magical energy was released at once, and he quickly waved it off with his scythe, sending it into the air.
“Impressive,” she smirked.
“You're just another rich noble trying to test my patience. I bet you must have read about me in books, do you really want to get a taste of what you read?”
She slammed another blow now, this time harder than the last and using the blood magic. Once again, he dodged calmly and walked over to her.
“I am Kael,” he explained, but she wasn't listening. She was too busy firing fireballs at him, but he was skilled enough to keep dodging while he explained himself.
“I know you're an avenger and I need your help!” He spat.
“Stupid boy!” She mocked and cloaked herself in the shadows, using blood magic. “You've come to play hero too and deceive me right?”
Immediately, she spun herself into the air, her signature move, the very one his mom used to knock him out and grab his scythe, but thankfully, he was better prepared this time and waved his scythe now.
A clash of magical energy burst now between both of them and forced them away from each other.
She paused now and observed him carefully.
“Who are you?” It now occurred to her that he wasn't just some brat. He knew his onions and could actually beat her.
He didn't say a word, he just burned himself in magical essence and revealed the scars on his soul, the very ones he had masked his whole life from his parents and spoke now with the weariness of a dead man, voice heavy and dreary.
“They killed me and I want revenge.”
She straightened now and smiled softly.
“You're one of those, the reincarnated.”
She smiled now and walked over to him..she isn't scared, she's amused and curious by his confidence. She immediately respects his darkness and sees the hunger for revenge burning in him, the one thing she feeds on.
“I'll help you. I see your scars, you're indeed a wounded warrior.” She smiled.
He now returned to his human self and so did she. Surprisingly, she hid her evil behind a very cute damsel.
He stared too long, in confusion and awe.
“Don't be fooled, I can kill you in a finger snap.”
He hands over the names on his list to her and the very first name amused her.
“Joran, the cowardly mage?” She raised an eyebrow with a chuckle. He nodded softly, his eyes glowing with an unmatched aura.
“Hm,” she grinned softly. “So who are we killing first?”
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CHAPTER 80
The journey back to the Duskborne estate was heavy with the silence of the night. Kael rode ahead of the wagon with his shadow magic hiding their presence from the King's scouts still lurking around the bushes.When they finally arrived, the massive stone gates of his home opened slowly, revealing the dark courtyard. The odd smell of old magic and dried blood still hung in the air from the basement where his parents almost died for him. He could feel it with his magic, that familiar scent that reminded him of the sacrifice they made.Lord Severin and Lady Morrigan were waiting for them in the main hall. They looked tired but their eyes widened when they saw Kael walking in with the violet flames dancing softly around his shoulders. He was no longer dying, he was pumped up and ready to strike the people who ruined his life. His mother ran to him and hugged him tightly, shedding tears of relief on his dark robes. Kael held her and a soft smile curled across the corners of his lips.
CHAPTER 79
Marcus charged forward, his fire sword cutting through the cold air, but the guards slept peacefully far away, forgetting that the shadow and devil they had made now walked among them. While men slept, the enemy attacked and Kael was pumped up and ready to strike. The odd smell hit Marcus first, the smell of pure overwhelming power.Old paper, dry and heavy with dust that dated back centuries, surrounded Marcus, choking his fire magic. He could feel it with his magic and beneath it was something else, it felt like dried blood, that metallic scent filled the air. He knew of course that shadow magic always carried a strange aura even when it was old and unknown, but this was the power of a Prince reborn, a power he could not match. And somehow, it felt like its presence was here, apart from the ones he knew, crushing his confidence completely.But of course, darkness couldn't be owned by men who just wanted it for pleasure, it needed men who had the grit to do whatever it takes to pr
CHAPTER 78
The guards slept peacefully in the fortress they had just conquered, forgetting that the shadow and devil they had made now walked among them, and was leaving them behind. While men slept, the enemy attacked and Kael was pumped up and ready to strike, but there was no enemy left in the stone walls now. He walked out of the broken gates with Elira and Cassidy, moving his fingers carefully in the cold night air.The odd smell hit him first.It was not the smell of the dungeon anymore, it was like old paper, dry and heavy with dust that dated back centuries, coming from the dark forest ahead of them. He could feel it with his magic and beneath it was something else. It felt like dried blood, that foul scent filled the air of the woods, wrapping around the trees. He knew of course that shadow magic always carried a strange aura even when it was old and unknown, but this was different, this felt like danger that was hiding. And somehow, it felt like its presence was here, apart from th
CHAPTER 77
Elira lay curled up in the corner of the wet cell and she was shivering uncontrollably. Her wrists were bleeding from the tight ropes and her face was covered in dirt and bruises. Cassidy was lying beside her and the old healer was breathing very heavily. They looked broken and defeated. They were actually dying in this terrible place because they tried to save his life.Kael did not waste any time. He grabbed the iron bars of the cell door and he pulled. The metal bent and snapped under the sheer force of his shadow magic. He threw the broken door aside and he stepped into the small space.The sudden noise woke Elira up. She raised her head weakly and she covered her eyes at the bright violet light that filled the dark room. Her green eyes widened in absolute shock as she saw him. She thought she was hallucinating or maybe she was finally dead."Kael," she whispered and her voice was heavy and no longer sassy as it used to be, and it hurt him badly. "Is it really you?” She asked.
CHAPTER 76
The night was cold and heavy with the smell of death and anticipation. Kael Duskborne walked out of the basement and left the Duskborne estate behind him. He was no longer the weak boy who was dying on the altar. He was a force of nature now and he was pumped up and ready to strike. The shadow magic inside him was no longer a chaotic storm but a pure violet flame that burned away his pain and his fear. He did not need a wagon or a horse. He had the shadows and the shadows listened to him completely. He moved through the darkness like a ghost and the miles between his home and the fortress in the North disappeared under his boots.He thought about the king and the anger boiled inside him again. King Aldric thought he had won the game. The king thought he could crush the Oak Flower and leave Kael to rot while he sat on his throne of cheap iron and fur. But the king was playing chess with a cheater. Kael was the devil they made, and he had the grit, courage, and strength to do whatev
CHAPTER 75
The battle inside Kael was merciless and shook the walls of his mind. The poison was heavy and boldly written across his soul and it wanted him dead. It burned like fire and it tore at his magic trying to destabilise the room of his heart, his very core. Of course, that was why the magic was very strong and effective. It excelled at destroying its victim from the inside out and leading it his or her death.But Kael was no longer afraid of the fire. He was the devil they made and he had the courage and evil to do whatever it takes.He pushed the shadows forward and they clashed with the poison. It was a terrifying process. He could feel every ounce of pain inflicted by the toxic poison that was unwilling to let go. It felt like needles piercing his soul but he did not pull away. He remembered the words of the Whore Spirit. He remembered the vision of the king sitting on the throne and laughing at his death."You are a threat to the throne," the king had said."I am the end of the thron
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