Hostages

Buck stood firm, his heart pounding with a mix of rage and betrayal. "You think I can just forget everything, Nem? You, Layla, and Mira have meticulously hunted down Lin, trying to kill her at every turn! How can I trust you now?"

Nem struggled against the vines, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Buck, please! I'm so sorry for everything. I never wanted it to come to this. We were misled. I need your help. We can fix this together!"

Buck's voice rose, fueled by his anger. "Fix this? You've been working with the vampire lord, haven't you? I fought them off, risking my life for Lin, while you were plotting behind my back!"

Lin stepped forward, her voice trembling with urgency. "Buck, listen to her! We can't let this divide us further. We need to work together, for all our sakes. We can find a way to end this!"

Buck shook his head, his expression resolute. "I won't work with those who tried to take my lover away from me. Not now, not ever. Your apologies mean nothing when you've tried to end her life!"

As Buck's words hung in the air, Ivy moved closer to Nem. With a flick of her wrist, the vines released their grip, letting Nem fall to her knees at Buck's feet, sobbing. "I'm so sorry, Buck! I've done so many wrongs. Please, I'm begging you! Help us! Help me!"

Buck's heart twisted at the sight, but he remained unyielding. "You think kneeling before me will change anything? You've caused too much pain. I can't just forget it."

The others exchanged glances, a hint of mercy flickering in their eyes. Ivy spoke up, "We're not sure what to do, Buck. But we can't just leave her here."

Buck's voice was firm, cutting through their uncertainty. "Then choose a side. If you stand with me, we walk away from her. If you choose her, you're on your own."

The tension hung thick in the air as they hesitated, glancing between Buck and Nem. Finally, one by one, they stepped back, aligning themselves with Buck, unsure of the consequences but certain of their loyalty.

As they turned to leave, Nem's cries echoed behind them, a haunting reminder of their fractured bonds. Just then, a smoky mist enveloped the area, swirling around them like a living entity. Buck's heart raced as he felt the darkness creeping in, pulling at his consciousness. Creatures ran fast around them from all directions such that they only saw blurs and heard air waves. They saw shadows appear from the horizon and head towards them as a tremendous speed.

Aquarius instinctively pulled his hood over his head, trying to shield himself from the encroaching shadows. He extracted a swarm of sharp icicles from the air around him and aimed them at the alleged source of the attackers. Before he could react, a dark tendril shot forward, wrapping around his neck. He gasped, eyes wide, and then fell unconscious to the ground.

Buck turned, panic surging through him as he realized what was happening. The mist thickened, and one by one, they all succumbed to its grasp, falling into darkness. 

As Buck fell to the ground, he could see a person who was an exact replica of Nem pulling his leg along with her. Multiple others emerged from the bushes, dragging the others along. He wanted to fight back when he saw one dragging Lin by her hair, but he was too weak to do anything. In that moment of desperation and helplessness, he fell back down and lay unconscious, overwhelmed by the chaos around him.

 **************

As they were dragged into the Vampire Lord's presence, Buck and the others slowly regained consciousness, only to realize they were all chained to the walls. Their hands were outspread and chained upwards and outwards, rendering them helpless. The interior of the castle was a haunting sight, an ancient gothic structure with towering stone walls that seemed to breathe an air of despair. The flickering light of torches cast long shadows across the intricately carved stone, revealing grotesque gargoyles perched high above, their stone eyes watching the unfolding drama with a predatory gaze. 

The air was thick with the scent of dampness and decay, and the high, arched ceilings echoed with the distant sound of dripping water. Elaborate stained glass windows, depicting scenes of battles and betrayal, filtered the light into eerie patterns on the cold stone floor. Cobwebs hung in the corners, and the atmosphere was heavy with an oppressive silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of something unseen in the darkness.

Buck looked around in a panic and caught sight of his father, who was also chained to the wall next to Mira and Layla. The two girls were awake, but their dad remained unconscious, and Buck noted with a sinking heart that he was missing one of his hands. They all appeared disheveled, their clothing in tatters from the rough treatment they had endured. Dust and dirt clung to their skin, remnants of the struggle that had brought them here. Bruises marred their arms and legs, evidence of the violent dragging they had experienced.

Just then, the Vampire Lord stepped in, his gaze sharp and his appearance elegant and surreal, commanding the room with an air of authority. He was dressed in an opulent black cloak that flowed like shadows around him, adorned with intricate silver embroidery that shimmered in the dim light. Behind him stood his three ethereal and aesthetically beautiful wives, draped in flowing gowns of deep crimson and midnight blue, their presence both mesmerizing and threatening. Next to them were the Silver werewolf and the Jade werewolf, both looming ominously, their fur glistening under the flickering torchlight. 

In the shadows, a dark creature blended into the wall, almost invisible, but Buck could see its eyes glowing with a menacing red and a tinge of orange. They all stood there, looking at their hostages with taunting smirks on their faces. 

"I'm glad you could join us," the Vampire Lord said, a disdainful smirk stretching across his face, as he surveyed the helpless group before him.