Dancing with the Darkness The halls of the manor were filled with screams. Black-cloaked beings had entered through the magic rings, flowing down the walls like shadows. William, Rafael and Selene formed magic rings and counterattacked. Alison closed her eyes and felt the energy coming from her heart. With each breath, his strength increased, but at the same time, a dark spark rose within him. While Rafael burned one creature with flames, Ivy knocked out another with her poisonous plant tendrils. With his ability to read souls, Noah could foresee approaching enemies.
Selene was fending off every attack with the energy she received from the full moon. Alison lost control for a moment. His eyes darkened, the wave of energy strong enough to shake everyone around him. William immediately jumped up to her and grabbed her by the arms. "Focus, Alison! The light within you will guide the darkness, not destroy it!" But at that moment, the old soul inside Alison whispered: "Release the power…destroy them…" Alison trembled, the energy radiating out in erratic bursts. Rafael and Selene barely managed to swing themselves, and Ivy fell to the ground. William unleashed his dark chains, wrapping them around Alison and trying to control her. At that moment, the leader of the enemies appeared: Lucien Crowe, the Council agent, raising his hands with a wry smile. "Oh, William Damien…how sweet of you to want to protect the girl," he said, laughing. William clenched his teeth. "Alison, don't fall for his tricks!" Alison opened her eyes, feeling her own darkness and light. Suddenly, energy rings shot out from his hands. He parried the attacks and pushed Lucien back. But power was beginning to overwhelm him; He couldn't breathe, he was about to lose control. Raphael shouted at him: "Don't give in to the darkness, or you'll destroy us all!" William put his hands in hers, channeling the darkness. "Together… you and I. You're in control, Alison!" Alison took a deep breath. The darkness and light within him merged. The exploding wave of energy repelled the Council's attack.
Shadows were thrown into the air, Lucien retreated. But the victory was short-lived. Selene collapsed and Rafael received a serious injury. Alison gathered herself and ran to them. "How is the situation?" William was out of breath, his hands were shaking. "You're all… fine. But this is just the beginning. Lucien and the Council… stronger ones are coming." The moment Alison felt her powers, a determination dawned: "Then… I too will become stronger. I will fight this darkness. And I won't lose anyone." Ivy smiled slightly, standing up with difficulty: "Fine. But this war will change you too, girl." At that moment, a distant hum was heard at the end of the corridors. A new shadow, a harbinger of an old curse, was slowly emerging. William and Alison made eye contact. "We're together," Alison said. "No matter what." And the shadows attacked again. This wasn't just training, it was their first real test between life and death. The manor was shaking. The stones of the ceiling were cracking, and an ominous murmur was rising from under the ground.
Every corner, every column groaned as if it were a living thing. William squinted his eyes at the being that appeared behind the wall of shadow. "This energy... is not the Council's," he said through clenched teeth. Selene whispered, holding her injured shoulder. "No. It comes from the seal. Lilith's echo is still here." Alison looked up. A dark light flickered in his eyes; It was as if there was another pair of eyes inside. "I feel it…" he said quietly. "He wants to wake up." Rafael staggered to his feet, raised his bloody hand and drew a spell sign. "Great. And the trouble from within was missing. Someone remind me why we're still here?" William gave him a stern look. "Because if it weren't for you, this place would have burned down long ago." The darkness at the end of the corridor wavered. A human-shaped but faceless being emerged from the shadow — it was in a pitch black mist. With every step he took, the ground cracked and the lights went out. Lucien was back. But this time, he just wasn't there.
Something else was walking with him, born of nothingness. A being speaking like the voice of darkness: "Do you want to fight me, William Damien?" he said in a resounding tone. "You broke the seals. Now you will pay the price of darkness." Alison took a step forward. "I didn't call him." "No," said the voice, "but the spirit that united with me chose you." A roar arose. Dark markings appeared on the walls—circular, interlocking symbols. Selene's face turned pale. "These… Soul Chains. Used to bind souls." William summoned his sword; A magical weapon covered in black-purple flame appeared in his hand. "We will break these chains." Lucien smiled. "Heroism again, huh? But what's inside you is even darker than you." Suddenly, the magic rings collided. When William and Lucien's forces collided, the entire mansion shook. Ivy ran to the base of the wall and built vegetal barriers.
Raphael threw his flames into the sky, illuminating the corridor. But the shadows were faster—reborn at every point they burned. Alison opened her hands. "Enough!" he shouted. The air around him vibrated. Suddenly, both light and darkness exploded together. That force knocked everyone back a few steps. There was silence. Then Lilith's voice echoed in Alison's mind: "Your power is born from mine. Use me instead of resisting." Alison fell to her knees and put her head in her hands. "No! I'll control you, not you me!" William immediately came to him. "Don't let go of your hand, Alison. Your strength should be with you, not with her!" But it was too late. Chain symbols began to revolve around Alison.
A dark beam rose into the sky. Lucien stepped back, his face filled with admiration and fear. "That's it! The real bearer is finally waking up!" William hugged Alison. "Listen to me. If we don't cut this bond, we will lose you." Alison's voice was now two-layered—one was her own, the other was Lilith's. "Lose? Maybe that's what I was meant to find." Suddenly everything brightened. Time slowed down. The sky seemed to be split in two — purple lightning on one side, black smoke dancing on the other. Alison was floating in the air. He opened his hands. "We are one now," he said. "But I'm in control." The shadows screamed. Lucien's magic shattered, merging with Rafael's flames, colliding with Selene's light.
At that moment, William saw both fear and strength in Alison's gaze. And he knew nothing would ever be the same again.
There was an explosion. The Mansion's roof collapsed, the walls cracked, a pillar of black energy rose into the sky. Ivy shouted: "William! We have to get him out!" But William did not take his eyes off Alison. "No. This is his fight." The energy wave suddenly stopped. When the dust cleared, Alison was kneeling on the ground. His eyes had returned to their own color but his silence was a frightening silence. Rafael approached slowly. "Is he alive?" William put his hand on her heart, felt a faint pulse. "Yes… but there are two souls inside you now." Selene slowly stood up and turned her gaze to the horizon. The sky was covered with darkness and the light of the moon was extinguished. "This war is not over," he said. "Only the front has changed." William held Alison's head in his arms. He whispered: "Hold on, Alison. Because from now on… the real battle begins." And from far away came a bell, the echo of an old, forgotten call. The Circle of Darkness was reforming. But this time, it was almost impossible to distinguish who was friend and who was foe.