Chapter 10

The hunt for Elara was far from over. Even with the remnants of Erik's past now buried under the rubble of his old mentor's defeat, the shadows that had followed him throughout his life were far from dispelled. They clung to him like a second skin, growing thicker the closer he got to his true objective. Elara, the woman who had once been a part of his family, was out there, lurking in the depths of a dark plot that seemed endless in its complexity.

Erik stood at the edge of a large, bloodstained stone altar in the heart of a forgotten crypt, his brow furrowed as he examined the runes carved into the cold walls. This place felt wrong, it thrummed with an energy he had long since come to understand—a mix of witchcraft, dark magic, and something older. Something that resonated deep within his demon-blooded veins. Elara had been here recently, her scent lingering like an unholy perfume, thick in the air, taunting him.

"She's close," Astrid said, her voice a low growl, her senses heightened as always. Her werewolf form, though still new and wild, had developed a sharpness that made Erik proud. She was becoming the force she was always meant to be, just as he was learning to balance the magic coursing through his veins. But despite their growing strength, the danger they faced was immeasurable.

"Yes," Erik said, his voice steady but tinged with frustration. "But how close? She's always one step ahead. This game... it's wearing me thin."

He clenched his fists, the long sleeves of his dark tunic stretching over his arms. It wasn't just that Elara had left him to face his own past—her schemes went deeper than that. She had sought to exploit the very power that made him what he was, manipulating their family's history for her own gain. Her ties to the dark forces at play made her dangerous, but it was the nature of her betrayal that haunted Erik the most.

Elara was family—once.

When Erik had first been born as part of the original line, his mother had made a deal with Dalhaila, an ancient entity tied to the firstborns of every generation. It was a bargain that sealed Erik's fate—one that led to the unimaginable power he now possessed, but with consequences that were as old as time itself. The knowledge of his birthright had been carefully hidden from him, until Elara had revealed the truth during one of their many encounters in their younger years. She had always known the full extent of their lineage, and with that knowledge, she had manipulated him into seeking more—more power, more understanding, and more destruction.

But Erik wasn't the naïve child he had once been. He had grown—too much, perhaps, for his family to truly accept him again. And now Elara, the woman who had been like a second mother to him, had become a traitor in every sense of the word.

Astrid, sensing his turmoil, placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find her, Erik. But you need to focus. We can't let her drag you back into the past."

Erik's expression softened for a brief moment, his gaze flickering to her. The wolf in her had changed her, had made her strong, and her strength was a beacon he hadn't known he needed until she had come into his life. There was more to this journey than just stopping Elara—it was about protecting those he cared for, those who had become part of his fragmented family.

"I will," he said quietly, his voice steel. "But we cannot afford to underestimate her again."

They moved deeper into the crypt, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The air grew colder, the weight of centuries pressing in, as if the very earth beneath them held secrets that were never meant to be uncovered. It wasn't just magic that had tainted this place—it was blood. Blood that belonged to the Mikaelsons, to those who had come before them.

Ahead, a light flickered faintly. It wasn't natural, the way it pulsed in the dark, the shadows surrounding it like a shroud. Erik's heart quickened as they drew closer, and his grip on his sword tightened instinctively.

Elara was here.

Astrid didn't need words to communicate her readiness. Her body had already shifted, her claws extending as she stepped forward, moving in sync with Erik's every step. The crypt had an oppressive air, but it wasn't just the darkness that unnerved Erik—it was the silence, broken only by the occasional whisper of wind that seemed to come from nowhere.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows.

She was tall, with long, flowing black hair that framed her pale face like a dark halo. Her eyes were pools of night, shining with an inner darkness that seemed to swallow the light around her. Elara stood before them, her lips curling into a knowing smile as she watched them approach.

"I knew you'd find me eventually," she said, her voice smooth, almost too calm for the situation. "But did you really think you could stop me, Erik?"

Erik stepped forward, his gaze hardening. "I never thought I'd have to stop you. I thought you were family."

"Family?" Elara laughed, the sound hollow and cold. "I am family, Erik. But you—" She paused, her eyes flashing dangerously. "You were always too weak to see the truth. You were always too caught up in your own power to realize that you were nothing more than a pawn in my game."

"Enough," Erik growled, his anger flaring. He raised his hand, the power within him coiling like a snake ready to strike. The runes on the walls seemed to shimmer, alive with magic, but Erik was ready. He could feel the energy building within him, drawing on the magic of his warlock blood, the demon blood coursing through him. He had faced down worse than this. He had fought battles that had torn him apart and rebuilt him stronger. He wasn't going to let Elara take everything from him.

"You don't know what you're dealing with," Elara continued, her voice almost a whisper now, as if savoring the moment. "You think your power makes you invincible, but in the end, it's the price you'll have to pay that will destroy you."

Erik's eyes narrowed. "You've already made your move. You're finished."

In a heartbeat, Elara raised her hand, and the magic within the crypt surged to life, but Erik was faster. He struck first, his spell breaking through her defenses, sending her crashing back against the stone wall. But as she fell, she smirked, a dark, satisfied look crossing her face.

"Not yet, Erik. Not yet."

The ground beneath their feet trembled, and the air grew thick with a sinister energy. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Erik's heart raced as he felt the surge of dark power building around them. There was no escaping it now. The final confrontation had begun.