Page 21 of The Darkness Within

The others notice too, their movements faltering as they turn to their fallen brother. Gage reacts first, reaching out with his mind to anchor Scar, sending him a wave of steadying energy. “Stay with us, Scar. Don’t let it take you.”

Talon steps forward, his flames burning brighter as he directs them toward Scar, the warmth cutting through the cold that surrounds him. “Come on, Scar. You’re stronger than this. Fight it.”

Reed and Soren join in, their powers blending together as they form a protective barrier around Scar, their combined strength creating a tether that pulls him back from the brink. Scar’s breathing steadies, his eyesclearing as he looks up at them, a flicker of gratitude crossing his face.

Blade kneels beside him, his hand on Scar’s shoulder, grounding him further. “You’re not alone, brother. We’re all here. Remember that.”

Scar nods, a determined glint returning to his eyes as he rises to his feet. The darkness receding, beaten back by the strength of their bond, their unity a force that even the shadows could not break.

With Scar back at their side, the Elite turn their focus to Rake, who watches them with a mixture of rage and disbelief. Blade steps forward, his eyes blazing with a dark fire as he summons his power, the energy crackling around him as he prepares to end this once and for all.

“You’ve taken too much from us, Rake,” Blade states, his voice cold and deadly. “It ends here.”

Rake snarls, launching himself at Blade with a ferocity born of desperation. But the Elite are ready, each man tapping into his power as they close in, surrounding Rake and cutting off any chance of escape. Talon’s flames roar to life, engulfing Rake and forcing him back, while Reed’s speed allows him to strike with blinding precision, his movements too fast for Rake to counter.

Gage twists Rake’s perception, making him see enemies where there are none, leaving him vulnerable to Soren’s illusions, which traps him in a maze of false images, each one reflecting his own fear and madness back at him. Scar uses his shadows to bind Rake’s movements, holding him in place as Blade steps forward, his power surging as he reaches out, drawing the last of Rake’s strength from him, draining him until there is nothing left.

Rake’s body crumples, his face twisting in a final expression of rage as he falls to the ground, his life force fading, his power dissipating into the ether. The room falls silent, the oppressive darkness lifting as the Elite stand over Rake’s lifeless form, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as they absorb the reality of their victory.

They had done it. Rake was gone, his threat extinguished, his reign of terror brought to an end. Blade looks around at his brothers, a fierce pride swelling within him as he notices the exhaustion, the relief, and the unbreakable bond that holds them together.

The battle is over, but their fight has only just begun. They have faced the darkness and emerged victorious, each of them stronger for it, each of them bound by the knowledge that they had fought not just for themselves, but for each other—and for the light that awaits them at home.

Blade turns his thoughts to Rayne, a smile breaking through the weariness as he imagines the warmth of her embrace, the peace that her presence will bring. They have faced the darkness, and they have won. And now, it was time to go home.

RAYNE 12

Blade tightens his hold on Rayne, letting the tension of the battle finally melt away in the warmth of her embrace. He had spent the past days in a constant state of vigilance, always a step away from violence, his thoughts consumed by the threat that Rake posed. But now, with Rayne in his arms, he allows himself to feel the relief he had pushed aside. He was home.

Rayne looks up at him, her eyes filled with relief and love, but also something else—something fragile, like she had been holding her breath since he left. He reaches up, brushing his thumb along her cheek, the softness of her skin a balm to his weary soul.

“I’m back,” he whispers, his voice rough with emotion. He hadn’t realized just how much he had missed her until this moment, the reality of their separation hitting him all at once.

Rayne smiles, but her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “You have no idea how much I worried,” she admits, her voicebarely a whisper. “I kept telling myself you’d be okay, that you’d come back, but…”

Blade leans down, pressing his forehead to hers, letting his eyes close as he absorbs the warmth of her presence. “I’m here now,” he murmurs, his voice barely audible. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

Taking her hand, he leads her into their room, the world outside fading into insignificance as the door closes behind them. He pauses for a moment, simply looking at her, marvelling at the strength he sees in her eyes, the resilience that has seen her through their time apart. He can see the worry lines etched faintly on her face, the shadows beneath her eyes from sleepless nights spent waiting for his return.

In that moment, Blade feels a fierce protectiveness surge through him, a need to shield her from every hurt, every worry. He pulls her close, their lips meeting in a kiss that is both tender and possessive, a silent promise that he will always come back to her, no matter what. His hands slide down her back, pulling her even closer as he deepens the kiss, his body instinctively seeking to remind her that he is real, that he is hers.

Rayne’s fingers tangle in his hair, she returns his kiss with a fervour that takes his breath away. He can feelthe desperation in her touch, the unspoken fear that she might lose him, and he wants nothing more than to erase that fear, to replace it with the certainty of his love.

They move toward the bed, their bodies entwined, each touch a reassurance, each kiss a reminder of the bond they share. As he lays her down, Blade takes a moment to simply look at her, to take in the sight of her beneath him, her chest rising and falling with each breath, her eyes filled with a mixture of love and vulnerability that makes his heart ache.

“I love you,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. He runs his hands over her body, enjoying the feel of her skin beneath his fingers, the softness that contrasts so starkly with the hardness of his own life. “I want to give you everything.”

Rayne’s hands come up to cradle his face, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “You already have,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “You’re all I need.”

They move together, each touch, each whispered word a testament to the love they have fought so hard to protect. For that moment, there is no darkness, no threat lurking in the shadows—only the warmth of their bodies entwined, the softness of Rayne’s sighs, and the steady beat of Blade’s heart as he holds her close.

They whisper about the future, about the life they want to build together, a life free from the constant threat of violence and death. Blade feels a sense of peace settle over him, a feeling he had long believed was beyond his reach. But with Rayne, he can see a future that is brighter than anything he has ever imagined.

“You’ve given me more than I ever thought possible,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You’ve shown me that there’s more to life than fighting, that there’s something worth coming back to.”

Rayne smiles, her eyes filled with a love that seems to pierce through the shadows that has long haunted him. “As long as we have each other, we’ll be okay. We’ll face whatever comes together.”

And as they lay together in the quiet of their room, wrapped in each other’s arms, Blade knew that he had finally found the one thing he had been searching for all his life. He had found home.

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