The Warden’s Gambit

The weight of Saraphine's words lingered like a phantom, curling around Dorian's mind, clawing at his carefully built control.

Foolish nephew.

The revelation coiled around his ribs like a snake, squeezing tighter with every second. He had spent years mastering the art of deception, of ensuring that nothing and no one could hold power over him. Yet, with two words, Saraphine had shaken the foundation of everything he thought he knew.

But Dorian Veyl was not a man who let emotions rule him. Not anymore.

His eyes darkened as he lifted his gaze to the space where Saraphine had vanished. The obsidian throne loomed before him, its runes still pulsing with lingering energy.

His fingers twitched at his sides, barely resisting the urge to unleash the storm churning beneath his skin.

Saraphine had made her move.

Now, it was time to make his.

---

Aria barely had time to register the explosion before the shockwave slammed into her.

The impact sent her sprawling against the cold stone, her lungs seizing as dust clouded her vision. Her pendant burned against her skin, reacting to the violent pulse of energy in the air.

Through the haze, she heard Kael grunt as he braced against the blast. Lyric had thrown up a barrier just in time, but even that was fracturing under the sheer force of the attack.

And standing in the midst of the destruction, golden eyes glowing with unearthly light, was Saraphine Vale.

"Oh, Aria," Saraphine murmured, stepping forward as the debris settled. "Did you really think I'd let you wander unchecked for much longer?"

Aria forced herself to her feet, fingers tightening around her pendant. "If you wanted to stop me, you should've done it earlier," she shot back, wiping dust from her cheek. "I'm not exactly easy to catch."

Saraphine's lips curled into an amused smirk. "No, you aren't. But I don't need to catch you, little Seeker." Her voice dipped lower, silky and laced with something dangerous. "I only need to break you."

Before Aria could react, the ground beneath them shuddered.

Kael moved on instinct, stepping in front of her, sword raised. Finn was already conjuring defensive wards, golden light flickering at his fingertips. Lyric muttered an incantation under her breath, and Quinn tensed, fingers curling toward the daggers at his belt.

But Saraphine didn't strike immediately.

Instead, she lifted a single hand.

And the world changed.

The torches that lined the walls flickered once—then snuffed out entirely, plunging the chamber into a twilight gloom. The air thickened, heavy with magic so potent it made Aria's bones vibrate.

Then came the whispers.

Soft at first. A low murmur weaving through the chamber, barely distinguishable. But the longer it lingered, the louder it grew. Layered voices, overlapping, echoing, speaking words that didn't belong to this world.

Aria's breath hitched as the darkness moved.

Not shadows—something more. A swirling abyss of void and hunger, shifting like liquid, yet reaching like grasping fingers.

Finn cursed. "That's—what is that?"

Quinn's jaw clenched. "Not something we want to fight."

Saraphine smiled. "Oh, but you will."

And then the shadows attacked.

A tendril of darkness lashed out, striking toward Aria's chest. She barely dodged, rolling to the side as another tendril slammed into the ground where she had stood.

Kael swung his sword, the enchanted steel slicing through one of the tendrils. It recoiled—but reformed almost instantly.

"They're regenerating," he grit out.

"Lovely," Finn muttered, dodging another strike. "And here I was hoping for a fair fight."

Lyric threw up a hand, sending a burst of blue fire into the writhing mass of shadows. The flames caught—but instead of dissipating, the darkness absorbed the energy.

Lyric swore under her breath. "She's feeding off our magic."

Aria's heart pounded. Think, think. Saraphine was toying with them—testing them. If they kept fighting recklessly, she would wear them down before they even touched her.

They needed a new approach.

She turned to Lyric. "Can you disrupt the energy flow?"

Lyric's brow furrowed. "If I can find the source."

"I'll give you time."

Kael heard the exchange and immediately stepped beside Aria. "I'm with you."

Finn flashed a grin, though it didn't reach his eyes. "What, and leave you two to have all the fun?"

Quinn twirled a dagger. "Let's make this quick."

Aria took a breath. Then—

They charged.

Kael reached Saraphine first, his blade a blur of motion. He struck low, then high, aiming for gaps in her defense. Saraphine didn't move—not at first. She merely lifted a hand, blocking his strike with a flick of her wrist.

Then she retaliated.

A pulse of energy exploded from her palm, sending Kael flying. He hit the wall hard, groaning as he slumped to the ground.

"Kael!" Aria barely had time to react before Saraphine's attention snapped to her.

The Warden's gold eyes gleamed. "Your turn."

Darkness rushed toward her.

Aria moved.

She ducked low, sliding beneath a tendril, then twisted to avoid another. Her pendant pulsed against her skin, a strange warmth guiding her movements. She leapt onto a fallen stone slab, then launched herself forward—

Straight toward Saraphine.

Their eyes met.

For the briefest moment, Aria thought she saw something flicker in Saraphine's expression. Recognition? Surprise?

Then the moment shattered.

Saraphine caught her by the throat.

The impact stole the air from Aria's lungs. She struggled, but Saraphine's grip was like iron.

"You are reckless," the Warden murmured, tilting her head. "Just like her."

Aria's eyes widened. "What—"

Saraphine squeezed.

Pain exploded through her skull, her vision dimming.

Then—

A sudden, blinding burst of light erupted between them.

Saraphine recoiled, her grip loosening just enough for Aria to twist free. She hit the ground, coughing, as Finn rushed forward, golden energy crackling around his hands.

"That's enough of that," he muttered.

Quinn was already moving, daggers flashing in the dim light. One blade caught Saraphine's shoulder, drawing a thin line of blood.

She hissed.

Lyric, having used the distraction to work her spell, finished her incantation.

The chamber shook.

The runes on the walls flared, pulsing wildly as the shadows recoiled. For the first time, Saraphine looked…surprised.

Lyric smirked. "Not so fun when someone else rewrites the rules, huh?"

Saraphine's eyes darkened.

Then, with a wave of her hand, the entire floor collapsed.

Aria barely had time to scream before she was falling.

Darkness swallowed her whole.

And somewhere above, she heard Saraphine's voice, smooth and victorious.

"Let's see how well you play in my domain."

Then—silence.

---

Elsewhere…

Dorian stood at the precipice of a choice.

Saraphine had made her move.

And if he didn't act now…

He would lose everything.

With a flick of his wrist, he vanished into the shadows.

It was time to end this game.