The Lord of Veins | Shadow Slave

"We should've waited a little while longer before deciding to venture out to that village you claim you saw in your visions," Evan muttered.

"Waited?" Seren shot back, folding her arms across her chest. "Evan, we've been waiting for weeks. And, by the way, they haven't failed us yet."

He shook his head, his eyes raising past the wall of snowy trees before them as they waited just outside the deep forest.

"The gate is close. If we head deep into the forest to this village, we're going in the opposite direction."

Seren's lip curved into a smirk, but her eyes locked onto his. "Oh... you are really using that brain of yours—you know I love it when you try so hard..."

Evan blushed suddenly as he stuttered. "What?!"

"Since you are so smart, tell me... do you have any idea how to open the gate, hmm?" She took a step closer, her eyes still fixated on his. "Go on. Tell me your grand plan, Sir."

Evan clenched his jaw as he sighed, saying nothing. His once flushed face was now filled with annoyance at her sarcastic remarks.

Calmly waiting behind them was a smaller girl. She hesitantly stepped between them, her blue eyes flickering between Evan and Seren. Her breath clouded the cold air as her hands rubbed together, seeking warmth. The tips of her nose and cheeks were tinged red from the biting wind, and her short, choppy blond hair, cut in a wolfish style, framed her delicate features.

"She's right, Evan," she said softly. Her voice was gentle but held conviction. "We don't know how to open the gate."

She ended her sentence with uncertainty, not expecting an answer, and only silence followed.

Seren shifted her weight and placed her hands on her hips, standing taller as she looked up at Evan. "Besides, you promised we'd leave today." Her tone was defiant, as though she was daring him to go against his word.

Evan opened his mouth to respond, but the smaller girl cut him off with a gentle, knowing smile.

"A promise is a promise, Evan," she reminded him, stepping to Seren's side.

Leaving him behind, the two girls started walking ahead, their footsteps crunching in the frozen snow.

Evan watched them walk ahead of him, his hands tightening into fists at his sides.

He closed his eyes and exhaled, a weary sigh escaping his lips.

Why, gods... why?

He cursed inwardly. His thoughts swirled with doubt, frustration, and helplessness. He was supposed to be a leader, but without a clear path, how could he lead?

But then, he found a smirk rise on his face.

Dad said it wasn't going to be easy…

I hate that he's right.

Evan jogged forward, his breath visible in the cold air as he caught up with the girls.

"You know," he called out, falling into step beside them, "if you two freeze to death out here, I'm not carrying you both back. One of you will have to haunt this realm for me."

The smaller girl with striking blue eyes flashed him a mischievous grin. "Don't worry. I'll go first, and I'll haunt the both of you, but that's if you two can even survive without me."

Seren tilted her head back, her long dark hair catching the breeze as she gazed up at the overcast sky. "Unlike you two, I will survive. No haunting necessary."

Evan tilted his head back for a moment and arched his brow. "Hmm... is that so?"

"Of course," Seren replied with confidence. "I have the gods on my side now. Their visions guide me." She flicked her hair back and gave him a playful smile. "Naturally, I'll make it."

She glanced back over her shoulder and added, "And I'll extend my gifts only to Ecludia—because she is the cutest."

Evan blinked, his stride faltering for a second. "Oh, shut the hell up. You're not in contact with any gods. They're all dead...every single one of them." His frustration was evident in his tone.

Seren gave a soft, dismissive hum and turned away. "Hmph. Ecludia, remind me to report Evan's heresy when the gods finally join our side."

"Yes, ma'am." The blond-haired girl smiled as she leaned her head against Seren's shoulder. Together, they walked ahead, leaving Evan once again.

Stunned, confused, and mildly exasperated, he called out and rejoined them once again.

"Hey! Wait up!"

***

A Few Days Later

Evan summoned his weapon. "You bastard!" His roar echoed as he swung his warhammer in a wide arc.

The weapon connected with a sickening crunch against the jaw of a leaping nightmare creature that bore features resembling a lion, but much sleeker.

The creature's neck snapped from the sheer blunt force of the strike alone, its lifeless body tumbling and crumpling into the snow.

[You have slain a Dormant beast, Kaldrmane.]

Evan barely registered the voice of the spell before a snowy white, icy blue blur attacked him from his peripheral vision.

Another creature of its likeness lunged from the side, its bone-crushing jaws clamping down on his shoulder, the force sending pain throughout his body.

"Argh!" Evan snarled, reaching over his shoulder with his free hand. His fingers found the beast's eye, and he jammed them deep.

The predator growled, and Evan's blood spilled from its mouth as its grip tightened on his shoulder. Evan gritted his teeth, feeling bones in his shoulder shift and crack.

Evan then raged back, digging deeper, his fingers curling into the beast's eye socket.

Finally, with a wet, vile pop, the eyeball left its socket.

The Kaldrmane howled in agony, thrashing violently as it released him, its eye hanging from it's socket. Blood gushed from the ruined cavity, staining its once pristine bluish-white fur a deep crimson. Its remaining eye fixed on Evan with a murderous glare.

Evan stumbled back, clutching his limp shoulder. Every shift caused agonizing pain as he felt the jagged edges of broken bones grinding with every movement. Still, he reached for his warhammer with his good hand.

I can still fight.

To think that taking my eyes off them for a second could lead to this…

"Just one more..." He tried to motivate himself, but the growl to his left made his heart sink.

Emerging from the swirling snow was another Kaldrmane. This creature was much larger, vastly more imposing, its body armored with ice, and its tail flicked behind it like a whip tipped with frozen blades.

Damn it... Now I have to kill two more?!

Evan's gaze darted back to Seren and Ecludia. The girls lay behind him, their bodies bleeding in the snow, impaled by the creature's sharp spikes of ice that had incapacitated them.

He clenched his jaw, and a bitter thought crept into his mind. If I didn't have to protect them... just maybe I could make it out alive.

He shook his head, disgusted with himself. "Shut up, Evan! Shut the fuck up!" he growled under his breath, forcing himself to bear the pain.

His shoulder throbbed, but he inhaled deeply, pushing the pain to the back of his mind. He straightened, gripping his warhammer tightly. "Go for broke... If anything goes wrong, Ecludia will fix it."

The beasts shifted around him, circling with predatory intelligence. For a brief moment, they locked eyes—two hunters surrounding their prey.

Then, from behind Evan, the soft sound of footsteps crunching through the snow caught his attention. They were slow, deliberate, and far too calm.

Evan's breath hitched. He didn't turn. His instincts told him to remain focused and defend them with his life. But something about those footsteps sent a chill down his spine.

The Kaldrmanes hesitated, their gaze flicking past Evan to whatever was approaching.

Evan's fingers tightened around the hammer. What the hell is behind me?

He limped back, casting a glance over his shoulder. Emerging from the shadows of the trees, a figure swayed unsteadily with each step. His jacket and pants hung in tattered shreds, torn beyond recognition, and a dark trail of blood followed him through the snow.

In his hand, he clutched a single-edged black sword, but his grip was iron-tight, as if it were the only thing keeping him upright.

His face was pale, his hollow eyes sunken deep into their sockets, and for a chilling moment, Evan couldn't tell if this individual was still alive—or something that should have stayed dead.