Page 16 of The Darkness Within

As they approach the main building, Reed holds up a hand, motioning to a faint glow emanating from one of the windows. “He’s here,” he whispers, his voice barely more than a breath. “I can feel it.”

Blade nods, his jaw tightening as he feels the pulse of dark energy growing stronger, resonating through the ground beneath their feet. He reaches out, letting his demon senses expand, searching for any sign of movement, any hint of a trap. He can sense Rake’s presence, a dark and twisted force that lingers just out of reach, taunting him, daring him to come closer.

They slip through the main doors, their weapons drawn, their movements silent as they navigate the labyrinthine halls. The walls are lined with tattered portraits and faded tapestries, relics of a time long past, but now they seem twisted, almost alive, their empty eyes watching as the Elite move through the shadows. Blade’s heart pounds in his chest, each step a reminder of the danger that lay ahead, of the lives that hung in the balance.

Suddenly, a flicker of movement catches his eye, he holds up a hand, signalling for the others to stop. They freeze, their bodies tense, their eyes scanning the darkness. Blade can feel it—Rake is close, closer than he had expected, his presence a dark, suffocating force that seems to press in from all sides.

Without warning, the air around them crackles, a bolt of dark energy shot out from the shadows, barely missing Gage as he dodges to the side. The attack is followed by a low, mocking laugh, a sound that echoes through the halls, sending a chill down Blade’s spine.

“Welcome, Elite,” Rake’s voice drawls, dripping with malice. “I’ve been expecting you.”

Blade tightens his grip on his weapon, his eyes narrowing as he scans the room, searching for the source of the voice. “Come out and face us, Rake,” he growls, his voice low and deadly. “Or are you too afraid to fight us head-on?”

The shadows shift, Rake steps into the dim light, his face twisted into a cruel smile. He is taller than Blade remembers, his form wrapped in a cloak of darkness that seems to writhe and twist around him like a living thing. His eyes gleam with a sickly, unnatural light, and the symbols carved into his skin pulse with dark energy, as if feeding off the hatred that radiates from him.

“Afraid?” Rake sneers, spreading his arms wide. “I have no reason to fear you. You’re the ones who walked into my trap.”

With a flick of his wrist, Rake sends another wave of dark energy toward them, the force of it slamming into Scar and knocking him back against the wall. Blade and the others barely have time to react as Rake advances, his movements fluid and predatory, his power radiating in waves that seems to distort the very air around them.

Blade launches himself at Rake, his weapon slicing through the air as he moves with deadly precision. Rake meets his attack with a twisted grin, parrying with a blade of his own, their weapons clashing with a force that reverberates through the room. Sparks fly as they fight, each strike a test of strength and will, the fury between them palpable, a raw, electric tension that fills the space between them.

Scar recovers quickly, joining Blade as they press the attack, their movements synchronized, each one anticipating the other’s next move. Reed and Soren flank Rake from either side, their weapons cutting through the darkness, their faces set with grim determination. But Rake is fast, his body shifting and contorting as he dodges and counters, his laughter echoing through the hall as he evades their attacks with a grace that borders on inhuman.

“You’re all fools,” Rake taunts, his voice a sinister whisper that seems to fill the room. “You can’t stop me. You never could.”

Talon and Kade move in from behind, their weapons flashing as they close in, but Rake twists away, a bolt of dark energy shooting from his hand and striking Talon in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. Blade felt a surge of rage, his vision narrowing as he watched his friend fall, but he forced himself to stay focused, to push forward, his every sense trained on Rake.

The air crackles with power, the room fills with the clash of metal and the hiss of dark magic as the battle rages on. Bladecould feel his demon side rising to the surface, the darkness within him surging as he fights, each strike fuelled by the memory of Rita’s death, by the pain in Rayne’s eyes, by the promise he had made to protect her.

He could see the strain on Rake’s face, the flicker of fear that passes over his features as the Elite press him back, their movements coordinated, their resolve unbreakable. But Rake is relentless, his attacks wild and frenzied, a desperate attempt to escape the net they had woven around him.

Gage moves in, his blade slicing through the darkness as he closes in on Rake, his face set with a grim determination. “This ends now, Rake,” he says, his voice cold and unyielding.

But Rake only laughs, his eyes gleaming with a dark, twisted light. “You think you’ve won? You’ve only just begun to understand the depths of my power.”

With a final, furious surge, Rake raises his arms, the air around him warping as a wave of dark energy explodes outward, forcing the Elite to stagger back, momentarily disoriented. Blade felt the shockwave hit him like a physical blow, knocking him off balance, but he steadies himself, his gaze locked on Rake as he prepares to attack again.

But Rake is already moving, his form dissolving into shadow, slipping through their grasp with a fluidity that seems almost impossible. Blade lunges forward, his hand outstretched, but it is too late. Rake’s laughter echoes through the room as hisshadowy form slips through the walls, disappearing into the darkness beyond.

Blade stands frozen, his chest heaving, his fists clenched as the realization sets in—Rake had escaped, slipping through their fingers like smoke. He felt a surge of frustration, his anger boiling over as he turns to face his brothers, their faces a mixture of exhaustion and disbelief.

“We almost had him,” Reed mutters, his voice filled with frustration. “He was right there.”

Scar places a hand on Blade’s shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. “We’ll get him next time. He can’t run forever.”

Blade grunts, his expression grim as he takes in the faces of his brothers, their eyes filled with the same determination, the same unbreakable resolve that drove him forward. They had come so close, had fought with everything they had, but the battle was far from over.

Together, they made their way back through the estate, their steps heavy but resolute, their minds already turning to the next encounter, the next chance to bring Rake to justice. Blade knew they would face him again, and when they did, they would be ready. This wasn’t the end—it was only the beginning of the final chapter in their long and bloody battle.

And as they step out into the night, Blade feels a renewed sense of purpose, a fierce determination to see this through to the end. He would protect Rayne, avenge Rita, and bring Rake to justice, no matter what it took. The Elite would stand together, united in their mission, ready to face the darkness and whatever lay beyond.

RAYNE 9

Rayne paces, her heart heavy with the weight of the news. Blade and the others had returned from the estate, their faces a mix of exhaustion and frustration. Rake had escaped, slipping through their fingers just when they’d thought they had him. She clenches her fists, a surge of anger and helplessness coursing through her. She’d been counting on this—on Rake finally being brought to justice, on ending the nightmare that had started with Rita’s death.

Blade enters the room, his expression softening when he sees her. He crosses the room in a few quick strides, pulling her into his arms. She sinks into him, feeling the warmth of his body, the steady beat of his heart beneath her cheek. But even his embrace couldn’t ease the ache inside her.

“He got away, Blade,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “He’s still out there. He could come back, hurt someone else. I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

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