38.

Stillness.

Kaelen rose.

But it wasn't Kaelen anymore.

His body straightened, too fluid, too graceful. When he looked at them, his eyes were solid black. No whites. No pupils.

Just void.

"You shouldn't have come," the voice said—not his voice. Something deeper. Something vast.

Ariana stepped forward. "Let him go."

The thing smiled. "He opened the door. He let us in. He is the path."

"No," Gareth growled, drawing his blade. "You don't get to take him."

"You misunderstand," the entity replied. "We were always here. You simply gave us flesh."

With unnatural speed, Kaelen—or whatever had taken him—thrust a hand outward. Shadows spilled across the floor, forming into claws and tendrils.

Gareth leapt, slashing at the dark, but it was like cutting smoke.

Daniel flanked left, driving a spear at Kaelen's side. The creature turned, caught the weapon mid-air, and crushed it with one hand.