NARIO

### **Synopsis:**

**Title: "Dominion of the Monstrous"**

Dominic never believed in monsters—not the way the old tales spoke of them. But everything changes when his father, in his final moments, reveals a chilling secret: Dominic possesses a rare gift—the ability to control the very monsters that have haunted humanity for centuries. 

After his father's death, Dominic is thrust into a world of danger and uncertainty. A massive, deadly beast, whom he names Nightshade, begins following him, obeying his commands with eerie loyalty. But as the creatures around him grow more aggressive, Dominic discovers the deeper truth of his lineage: he's the last of an ancient bloodline capable of controlling these beings, and his power runs deeper than he can imagine.

As he struggles to understand his newfound abilities, Dominic finds himself torn between using this power for good or succumbing to the dark forces that seek to use him as their weapon. When his father mysteriously returns—not as the man Dominic remembers, but as something twisted by the very creatures he controlled—Dominic is forced to confront the truth about his family's legacy and the monsters that are drawn to him.

Now, with enemies closing in and monsters lurking at every corner, Dominic must master his gift before it consumes him, or he risks becoming the very thing he fears. But the line between control and destruction is razor-thin, and the fate of both humanity and the monstrous world rests on his shoulders.

**"Dominion of the Monstrous"** is a tale of power, legacy, and the cost of control, set against a world where the line between monster and man is not as clear as it seems. Can Dominic survive the power within him, or will the monsters inside and out claim him forever?

dominion of the monstrous

### Chapter 12: A New Power, A New Problem

The forest was too quiet. The kind of silence that pressed against my ears, thick and unnatural. Ember and Kael were still staring at me, their faces tense with confusion.

"What do you mean, 'you made a new friend'?" Ember asked, gripping her staff like she expected something to lunge out of the shadows.

I turned, staring at the faint shimmer where the creature had been. The hum in my chest was still there, but different now—stronger. Like a second heartbeat pulsing beneath my own.

"I don't know how to explain it," I admitted. "But I can feel it. Like it's… waiting."

Kael stepped closer, his sharp eyes studying me like he was looking for any sign of injury. "The creature. You bonded with it?"

I hesitated, then nodded. "I think so."

Ember exhaled, rubbing her temple. "Great. Fantastic. Because we definitely needed another terrifying monster in our lives."

Before I could argue, Nightshade growled low in its throat, ears pinned back. Something was wrong.

Kael shifted his grip on his sword. "We need to move."

I turned to Ember. "Can you still sense the Caretakers?"

She closed her eyes for a second, then opened them, her expression grim. "No. They're gone."

The Caretakers weren't the kind of beings that just *left*. They were ancient, tireless, and bound to protect the gate. If they had vanished, it meant one of two things: either something stronger had forced them away, or something worse had already come through.

A low, distant sound rumbled through the trees—a deep, echoing *thud*. Then another.

Kael's jaw tightened. "We're leaving. Now."

We broke into a run, weaving through the thick trees, our breaths quick and controlled. Nightshade moved beside me, its golden eyes flicking toward the shadows. The hum in my chest pulsed again—faster this time, like an urgent warning.

A presence. A cold, dark pressure, curling around my mind like fingers tightening on my skull. It wasn't the same as the bond I had with the creatures. This was different. Wrong.

I staggered, grabbing onto a tree for balance.

Kael was at my side in an instant. "What is it?"

I clenched my teeth. "Something… is watching us."

Ember spun, her staff glowing. "Where?"

I didn't have an answer. The presence wasn't physical—it was in my head, pressing against the bond like a predator testing a cage.

A sharp pain lanced through my skull, and I dropped to my knees. My vision blurred, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

Kael grabbed my shoulders. "Dom? What's wrong?"

I barely heard him. The voice was still there, curling around my thoughts. It wasn't a whisper. It was a *smile*.

**"You're stronger than I expected. Good. That will make this more interesting."**

A wave of nausea hit me, and the world tilted sideways. I could feel my bond with the creature—the new one—thrashing inside me, resisting, pushing back against whatever was trying to break in.

Then, as suddenly as it came, the presence vanished.

I gasped, the pressure in my head disappearing, and I realized I had been holding my breath.

Kael's grip on my shoulders tightened. "What just happened?"

I swallowed hard. "Someone—*something*—was in my head."

Ember's face paled. "Was it the thing from the gate?"

I shook my head. "No. This was… different."

Nightshade let out a sharp bark, and I followed its gaze. There, in the distance, half-hidden between the trees, was a figure.

Then, in the blink of an eye, it was gone.

Kael pulled me to my feet. "We *really* need to go."

I didn't argue. Because whatever that thing was, it had been waiting for me.

And now, it knew exactly where I was.

A New Power,A New Problem