Page 1 of The Shadows of Excess

CHAPTER ONE

The oppressive darkness of the catacombs clung to us like a living entity, an inky void where light dared not tread. Maci’s form, barely distinguishable in the gloom, moved with a predator’s grace, her voice a chilling whisper that cut through the still air.

“You already know they’re demons.” Cruel amusement laced her words. “But what you don’t understand is how deep this goes. The Seven Deadly Sins…they’re not a myth, and they’re far more than demons.”

Her evil tone struck me like a physical blow, sending a wave of dread coursing through me. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat echoing in the deathly silence.

I cast a glance at my arm adorned with the rose tattoo I had gotten in the Court of Blossoms, a reminder of when I first picked up my bow and arrows. As the word ‘demon’ left Maci’s lips, the tattoo began to warm, reacting as if the mere mention of these malevolent beings was enough to stir it into action.

A knot of apprehension gripped my stomach. Her words implied a conspiracy much larger than we had imagined. The Demons of Gluttony were only the beginning, and now we faced an unknown, possibly more terrifying aspect of this dark puzzle.

“Why are you doing this?” I managed to ask, my voice steadying despite the fear.

Maci’s laugh echoed through the catacombs, devoid of warmth. “Why? Oh, dear hunter, that’s the least of your worries. Right now, you should be more concerned about how you’re going to survive the night. As for my plans…well, let’s say you’ll find out in due time.”

The threat in her words was unmistakable, a promise of more sinister revelations to come. My hand tightened around my weapon, a feeble comfort against the overwhelming dread that filled the air.

Maci continued, her tone shifting to one of mock concern. “Now, you should be very, very afraid of what’s waiting for you in the shadows. The next Sin is hungry for more than flesh.”

With a final, menacing laugh, she vanished into the darkness, leaving us in a far-from-comforting silence.

Shadowy forms were moving, and they were getting closer.

Beside me, I heard the sharp intake of Justice’s breath, a sound that seemed too loud in the void.

Grrrrr…

A growl reverberated off the walls like a foghorn. My breath dried up, and I narrowed my eyes, trying to pierce the darkness. Was this next demon a monster? It sounded like Godzilla.

“Stay close, Sawyer,” Justice’s voice sliced through the eerie stillness, his tone laced with urgency yet strangely comforting. It was a beacon of strength in the suffocating darkness, a reminder that I wasn’t alone in this nightmarish scenario.

Instinctively, I reached out, my fingers finding the cool, reassuring leather of his jacket. The moment our hands touched, a jolt of unexpected warmth surged through me despite the cold fear that had settled in my bones. His steady and protective presence was grounding, offering a semblance of stability amid the chaos swirling around us.

As I clung to him, the fear inside me was momentarily overshadowed by a rush of emotions far more complex and unsettling than mere terror. There was a sense of intimacy in this simple touch, a connection that seemed to transcend the immediate danger. In these moments of heightened peril, I felt most acutely aware of the bond forming between us, an unspoken understanding that was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Something my dad would never approve of. Vampires were his enemy, and he blamed the whole species for the death of my mom.

Justice’s hand gently tightened around mine, a silent promise of protection, sending a flutter of hope through my heart. In the face of unknown horrors, his touch became an anchor, not only to safety but to an emotion I hadn’t fully acknowledged yet. In this chaos, this dance with danger, I found myself inexplicably drawn to him. Not only as a guardian but as something more, something deeper.

Dad came alongside me, and I hoped he hadn’t noticed the tender moment between Justice and me. He was still pumped up from Justice’s blood and no longer looked like he’d fall over on his face. It had saved his life. He would never forgive me for allowing it, but it was either that or death.

And I wanted my dad alive.

“Remember everything I taught you.” His voice was strained but full of urgency.

I thought of every single self-defense and combat technique Dad had drilled into me since I was a kid, but I wasn’t sure it would be enough to defeat the demons slowly approaching us. We might not get out of here alive, but I was taking some of the bastards down with us.

Another deep growl echoed through the corridor, sending shivers down my spine. This one was louder and closer and seemed to come from upfront, blocking our only way to escape.

Clomp-clomp-clomp.

The growling sound echoed down the stairwell, growing louder with each passing moment. The sound of massive nails like daggers scraped against the stony steps, sending shivers down the spine. The walls trembled, groaning under the strain, as hairline cracks webbed across their surface, releasing small showers of stone and dust.

Then, a searing heat preceded the beast as flames roared from the stairwell, illuminating the dark corridor with a fearsome, flickering light. The air grew thick with the scent of brimstone, and the oppressive weight of the dragon’s presence became undeniable.

Its massive head emerged first, scales glistening like molten rock, eyes glowing like embers in the gloom. With each thunderous step, the dragon’s colossal body forced its way into the space, powerful and awe-inspiring.

The dark creatures caught in the wake of this titanic force hesitated. Their shadowy forms recoiled, shrinking away from the blistering light and scorching fire. They released ear-piercing shrieks, their essence dissolving, melting into the walls as if the dragon’s mere presence had undone the very magic that sustained them.

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