The Assault

The Monte Riego estate stood silent under the blanket of night, the cool breeze rustling the leaves in the garden. All seemed peaceful, but the calm was deceptive—danger loomed, slipping through the shadows like a predator waiting to strike.

Inside the mansion, Seraphine tossed in bed, the warmth of the obsidian key around her neck grounding her amidst the turmoil of her thoughts. A strange tension sat heavy in the air, making her heart race without reason.

Suddenly, the stillness shattered.

A loud crash echoed from the front of the mansion, followed by the sound of shattering glass. The alarmed shouts of the household guards reverberated through the hallways. Seraphine bolted upright, her heart hammering.

She leaped from bed and threw open her door just as her mother appeared in the hallway, her regal composure cracking under the sudden chaos. "Seraphine, stay close!" Paula Monte Riego's voice was sharp with command.

Before Seraphine could respond, the walls shook, and the distinct sound of claws scraping against wood echoed through the estate. A group of Ravagers had broken through, their eyes glowing with a predatory gleam as they tore through everything in their path.

Paula's expression hardened, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes. The air around her seemed to hum with energy, as though the very elements were waiting for her command. "Stay behind me," Paula ordered, her voice low and steady.

With a flick of her hand, the air rippled, and a blast of force swept through the corridor, slamming two Ravagers against the wall. They crumpled to the ground, snarling but momentarily subdued.

Seraphine felt the strange pull within her again, the energy she had sensed awakening inside her. But there was no time to think—the Ravagers regrouped, snarling as they lunged forward.

Before Seraphine could react, Kieran appeared from the shadows, his movements fluid and deadly. His eyes blazed with fury, and without a word, he intercepted the creatures mid-attack. The first Ravager swung its claws toward him, but Kieran caught its wrist with unnatural speed, twisting until bone cracked under his grip.

He tossed the creature aside like a ragdoll and spun toward the next. A brutal uppercut sent it crashing through a wooden banister. He fought with a precision that was terrifying to witness—each movement deliberate, every strike calculated to cause maximum pain.

"Get her out of here!" Kieran barked at Paula without looking back, his voice laced with fury.

Paula grabbed Seraphine's arm, her expression tight with concern. "We need to go—now."

Seraphine resisted for a moment, her gaze flicking between Kieran and the chaos unfolding around them. But Paula's grip tightened, and Seraphine nodded reluctantly, following her mother toward the back of the mansion.

As they ran, Kieran disappeared deeper into the shadows, his fury barely contained. He knew Seraphine was in danger—and the Thornstones had dared to come for her.

Once Seraphine was out of sight, Kieran's demeanor shifted entirely. His eyes darkened, and his expression hardened into something unrecognizable. He caught one of the Ravagers that had tried to retreat, slamming it against the stone wall with inhuman force.

The creature hissed and struggled, but Kieran's grip was unrelenting. "You thought you could waltz into the Monte Riego estate and leave intact?" Kieran growled, his voice dangerously low.

The Ravager spat at him, its crimson eyes defiant. "She won't be safe for long… We'll keep coming for her."

Kieran's expression twisted into something cold and merciless. "You'll regret that."

With a swift motion, he crushed the creature's wrist, reveling in the sound of bones snapping. The Ravager howled in pain, but Kieran didn't stop. He dragged it deeper into the estate grounds, where the garden met the dark forest, shrouded from prying eyes.

With brutal efficiency, Kieran pinned the creature to the ground. His hand clamped over its throat, and he leaned in close. "You tell the Thornstones," he hissed, his voice like ice. "The next time they come for her, they won't leave alive."

The Ravager wheezed, trying to claw at Kieran's hand, but he tightened his grip until the creature's struggles became weak and desperate. Kieran's fangs glinted under the pale moonlight—a reminder of the predator he truly was.

He leaned closer, whispering with venom, "This is your last warning."

Without waiting for a response, Kieran struck, draining the Ravager's life essence in one swift, ruthless motion. The creature dissolved into ash beneath him, its essence snuffed out in an instant.

Kieran wiped his hand across his jacket, his expression blank once more. He stood there for a moment, the night wind ruffling his dark hair as he stared into the distance. For a brief second, a flicker of guilt crossed his features—this was the side of himself he never wanted Seraphine to see.

When Kieran returned to the balcony outside Seraphine's room, his fury was carefully buried beneath his usual calm exterior. He stepped through the open doors, finding her sitting on the edge of her bed, clutching the obsidian key.

She looked up as he approached, relief washing over her features. "Are you okay?" she whispered.

Kieran gave her a faint, reassuring smile. "I'm fine."

He wanted to tell her everything—about the creatures, about the Thornstones' plans—but instead, he sat beside her, allowing the silence to stretch between them.

"You don't have to worry," Kieran said softly, his voice steady. "I'll keep you safe. Always."

Seraphine reached for his hand, her fingers cool against his skin. For a moment, the world outside didn't matter. There was only them, sitting together in the quiet aftermath, the weight of unspoken promises hanging between them.

And though Kieran knew the fight was far from over, he vowed silently to himself: no matter what came next, he would protect Seraphine—even if it meant unleashing every dark part of himself to do so.