The world had stilled, but the air remained thick with the remnants of what had just transpired. The weight of their victory was a fragile thing—an uneasy silence that carried the knowledge that this was not the end, only a momentary pause. The pendant in Vivian's grip was proof of that, its runes still faintly pulsating, as if the darkness within had not yet settled.
Sebastian kept his arm around her, steadying her weakened frame. He could feel the tremors running through her, the aftershock of channeling something so vast, so ancient, into such a small vessel. She had severed the bond, sealed the entity—but at what cost?
Elaria stepped forward, her sharp gaze locked onto the pendant. "We don't have much time."
Lucian nodded grimly. "We need to move before it tries to break free."
Sebastian could still hear the echo of the abyss, feel the unnatural weight pressing on his senses. The darkness had been driven back, but it had not been vanquished. He glanced at Vivian, whose breathing was shallow, her lips slightly parted as if she was trying to form words but couldn't quite find them.
"We need to get you somewhere safe," he murmured, his grip tightening.
She shook her head. "No. The pendant."
Lucian shot her a look. "You are in no condition—"
"I'm the one who sealed it," she interrupted, her voice stronger than before, though it still wavered. "I can feel it. It's still trying to escape."
Elaria studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Then we don't delay. There's a sanctuary two days' journey from here—one designed to hold artifacts of this nature."
Sebastian frowned. "Two days is too long."
Lucian exhaled sharply. "We have no choice. Moving it too fast, too recklessly, could weaken the seal."
A sudden pulse from the pendant sent a ripple of energy through the air, making them all tense. The glow of the runes flickered, and for a split second, shadows curled at the edges of the metal. Vivian's grip tightened instinctively, her knuckles turning white.
Sebastian swore under his breath. "Then we leave now."
The journey was grueling.
Vivian remained in the center of the group, the pendant secured in a cloth and bound tightly to her wrist. Despite the exhaustion written across her face, she refused to let anyone else carry it. She had been the one to contain it—she would bear the weight of it until it was locked away.
The first night, they made camp in the ruins of an old temple, its crumbling walls offering little in the way of protection but enough to conceal them from sight. The fire crackled between them, casting flickering shadows against the stone.
Sebastian watched Vivian closely. She sat across from him, her posture rigid, her fingers curled protectively over the wrapped pendant. The firelight caught in her eyes, and for a moment, he could see something else there—something lingering.
She had fought it, but it had touched her. He knew it.
Elaria shifted, breaking the silence. "You need to rest."
Vivian didn't move. "I can't."
Lucian, leaning against a fallen pillar, exhaled. "If you don't, you'll be of no use when we reach the sanctuary."
Vivian finally looked up, her gaze steady. "If I sleep, I don't know if I'll wake up myself."
Silence.
Sebastian's jaw tightened. He had seen what the darkness could do—what it had nearly done to her. The whispers, the loss of self, the way it had clawed into her very essence. Even now, she was fighting something they couldn't see.
And they had no idea if she would win.
Elaria's expression softened, but her tone remained firm. "You're stronger than it. You proved that."
Vivian hesitated. Then, slowly, she exhaled and closed her eyes. "I just—" she faltered, fingers twitching against the cloth. "I just don't know how much of me it took."
Sebastian felt a pang in his chest. He moved before he could second-guess himself, crossing the distance between them and lowering himself beside her. "Then we remind you," he said simply.
She glanced at him, something unreadable passing through her eyes. After a moment, she nodded, the tension in her shoulders easing—if only slightly.
The night passed in uneasy silence.
By the time they reached the sanctuary, the pendant was burning.
Not in a physical sense—its surface was still cold to the touch—but the energy pulsing within it had intensified. The closer they came to the temple ruins that housed the ancient seals, the more violently the darkness fought against its confinement.
Vivian's breathing was labored, sweat beading on her forehead. The burden was wearing her down.
The entrance to the sanctuary was hidden beneath the roots of an ancient tree, its twisted limbs curling around the stone like a guardian standing watch. Lucian moved first, pressing his hand against the worn carvings, muttering an incantation under his breath. The ground trembled, and the roots shifted, revealing a spiraling staircase that led into the depths below.
Sebastian didn't hesitate. He wrapped an arm around Vivian's waist, guiding her down the steps as the others followed.
The deeper they went, the heavier the air became. The walls were lined with glyphs, glowing softly in the darkness, pulsing in tandem with the pendant's weakening seal. Whatever lay ahead—whatever this sanctuary was meant to contain—it was meant for things far worse than what they carried.
The chamber at the bottom was vast, a circular expanse with intricate symbols carved into the stone floor. At its center stood an altar, surrounded by pillars adorned with ancient runes.
Elaria moved swiftly, retrieving a vial of shimmering liquid from her satchel. "This will reinforce the seal," she said, stepping toward the altar. "Vivian, place the pendant here."
Vivian hesitated, her fingers tightening around the cloth-wrapped artifact. The shadows curling around its edges had grown more aggressive, lashing out in invisible tendrils. Her entire body shook as she forced herself forward.
Sebastian could see it—the fight within her, the pull of something unseen.
"Vivian," he said softly. "You control it. Not the other way around."
Her breath hitched.
And then, with one final step, she placed the pendant on the altar.
The moment it left her fingers, a shockwave of energy erupted outward. The runes on the floor flared to life, chains of light wrapping around the pendant, pulling it down into the stone. The air crackled, and the shadows screamed—a final, desperate cry before they were consumed.
The glow of the glyphs brightened one last time before fading into a quiet hum. The pendant was gone. The darkness was sealed.
And for the first time in days, the weight on Vivian's shoulders lifted.
Sebastian exhaled, his hands still half-raised as if ready to catch her. "It's done?"
Elaria nodded, a small smile playing at her lips. "It's done."
Vivian let out a shuddering breath, her body sagging. And for the first time since it all began—
She let herself rest.
To be continued...