The car advanced down the dark, winding road, the silhouette of Sanathiel's mansion emerging on the horizon like a towering colossus that seemed to devour the light.Aisha could barely move; the handcuffs dug into her wrists, and the gag silenced any protest.
Lionel, radiating absolute control, gazed at Aisha with a mix of possession and arrogance."You are mine, Aisha. And not even Sanathiel will change that," he whispered, caressing her face with a familiarity she despised.
As they drew closer, Aisha felt a tingling at the base of her neck—a warmth spreading through her.He was near.She knew it.Sanathiel was close.Even though her memories were fragmented, something deep within her soul recognized his presence, as if he had always been there, waiting for her return.
When the car came to a stop, the cold wind shook the branches of the trees, whispering warnings.
Lionel pulled the rope binding her, dragging her toward the mansion's entrance.
Before they could advance much farther, a masked figure emerged from the shadows. His movements were fluid, almost animalistic, and his eyes glowed like two white orbs in the darkness."Release the woman," the creature commanded, his voice charged with an authority that allowed no argument.
Lionel smirked disdainfully, pausing only for a second."Did Sanathiel send you? Or are you just playing hero for fun?" he mocked, resuming his pace.
He deliberately bumped his shoulder against the creature, provoking a low growl.The masked figure's claws began to grow, his fingers curling into a deadly promise.
Before he could strike, another figure emerged from the shadows: Archangel.His imposing stature and icy gaze were enough to freeze the confrontation. He placed a firm hand on the creature's shoulder."Not now. We'll settle this inside," he ordered, his voice grave and undeniable.
The air grew heavier, as if the very atmosphere had been suspended.Lionel continued forward with a steady pace, tugging Aisha along.Blindfolded and disoriented, she felt the tension in the air—and something deeper, an echo resonating inside her mind:Sanathiel.
Lionel barely turned toward Archangel, his face a mask of calculated indifference.But before he could speak again, Risas moved with beast-like speed, grabbing Aisha and throwing her over his shoulder.
"You're going to have to earn this prize, Lionel," Risas taunted, his voice full of defiance.
Aisha, still confused and exhausted, tried to process what was happening as she was carried into the forest.Archangel watched Lionel closely, his patience clearly wearing thin."Follow us," he ordered in a low, threatening tone.
Lionel calmly adjusted his coat, his expression returning to one of cold neutrality."I don't need instructions," he replied coldly, following them.
The group ventured deeper into the forest.The trees seemed to open a path for them, as if they were dark guardians. Shadows danced under the moonlight, twisting into unsettling shapes.
As they advanced, the landscape grew more oppressive with every step.At the end of the path, Sanathiel's mansion loomed—gloomy, towering, and swallowing all light and hope.
Risas dropped Aisha roughly in front of the entrance, while Archangel stood nearby, his narrowed eyes fixed on Lionel."You better have a good reason for disturbing this place. Distractions aren't tolerated here," Archangel warned.
Lionel stepped forward with unwavering composure, his voice ringing with authority."I'm here for Sanathiel. And I bring a gift that will surely catch his attention."
His gaze drifted toward Aisha, who remained motionless, her body exhausted and her mind clouded with confusion.Yet deep inside, she could feel it:Sanathiel was near.And the pull between them was growing stronger with every heartbeat.
The mansion doors slowly creaked open, as if an unseen force welcomed them in.Shadows swallowed everything around them, cloaking the scene in a veil of mystery and danger.
The hunter had entered the wolf's lair—and fate was about to change for everyone.
Inside the mansion, the air was cold and oppressive.Chandeliers hung like silent witnesses to the horrors within.Aisha was handed over to Arceo's men—another dark member of the Thirteen Community.
"This is what we have," Arceo said with a twisted grin, as they subjected her to electric shocks that knocked her unconscious.
When Aisha awoke, her vision was blurry, and every muscle ached.A chill ran down her spine as she realized she was being watched.Before her, a disfigured figure leaned in, sniffing her like an animal.
"You are interesting, girl. Very interesting," the creature murmured, squeezing her throat until darkness consumed her once again.
In another corner of the mansion, Steven struggled against the ropes that bound him.Arceo's words echoed in his mind, igniting a rage that burned deep within.
"You're a beast, just like the ones you've always hunted, Steven. How much longer will you pretend otherwise?" Arceo whispered, savoring every moment of psychological torment.
Steven clenched his fists, forcing himself not to lose control."I'm not like you," he growled, his voice hoarse with fury."I'll never be like you."
The image of Itzel pierced his heart like a dagger.
A sudden explosion shattered his thoughts.The windows blew out as Rasen burst into the mansion, covered in dust and wounds.His eyes searched frantically for Aisha—and when he found her, his despair was raw and real.
"Aisha," he whispered, falling to his knees beside her, his hands trembling as they gently touched her face, trying to wake her.
Before he could take her, Archangel appeared, seizing him by the neck and throwing him to the floor as if he were nothing."This human has nothing to do with Sanathiel," he declared coldly, watching Rasen struggle to rise.
Despite his injuries, Rasen refused to back down.He knew Aisha needed him—and even if he was hopelessly outmatched, he would fight for her.
Aisha's eyes fluttered open, pain and confusion clouding her senses.But something called to her—A presence that filled the room, familiar and undeniable.
Sanathiel.
The echo of his voice whispered inside her mind, comforting and terrifying her at once.Her heart pounded, a blend of fear and a mysterious attraction she couldn't explain.
"I'm here for you. Soon, you will understand," the voice seemed to say, as a familiar shadow approached.
For a brief moment, all fear vanished, replaced by a certainty she couldn't deny.Sanathiel wasn't just danger—He was the key to the answers she had been seeking.
With her last ounce of strength, she whispered his name before the darkness claimed her once more:
"Sanathiel..."
The awakening had begun.And there was no turning back.