The Life As The Devil's Son

Chapter Sixteen: Darkness Unleashed

 A familiar voice reverberated through my ears as my mind faded away. From that moment on, it was as if I were being dragged into the depths of my own body, helpless and unable to move a muscle. My eyes snapped open, not of my own will but by some force beyond my control. They scanned the area until they landed on Valia, who was looming over me.

Without warning, an unnatural compulsion seized me. My fingers closed around her throat, my hand tightening with an iron grip. Michael, just a few feet away, sprinted over in a desperate attempt to pull me off.

"Austin, stop!" His voice echoed in my mind, but I couldn't force myself to comply. My body was a prison, my soul was bound in chains, and I was a helpless spectator to my own descent into darkness. It was a terrifying revelation, a cruel reminder of the monster lurking within me.

I watched, a helpless observer, as Valia's face began to change. Her skin grew paler, and her eyes lost their warmth, transforming into a haunting, empty void. It was as if she was being drained of life, her essence fading away before my eyes. I hoped Valia's powers would have kicked in by now and that her innate abilities as a healer would miraculously stop me from inflicting more pain on her. But it was like her healing abilities had no effect on me. She couldn't stop me, and I was spiraling deeper into the abyss.

Suddenly, I felt Michael's tight grip on my arm, his nails digging into my skin until my body was completely frozen. I hit the ground, my eyes still wide open, unable to move a muscle. Valia fell hard on her hands and knees, coughing out blood. She then gazed up at Michael, her voice cracking from the strain. "What did you do to him?"

"I froze his body, just until we could figure out why he's acting like this," Michael mentioned, his eyes scanning around the cave.

Valia's coughing finally subsided, and she gripped her throat as she spoke, "Michael, something isn't right. My powers were not responding to his grip. For once, I was actually afraid for my life."

As I lay there, unable to move or speak, a flood of guilt and horror washed over me. I had almost taken Valia's life, and now I was a prisoner in my own body, unable to control the darkness that lurked within me. The weight of my own actions and the danger I posed to those I cared about bore down on me like a crushing weight.

"Austin is a Nephalem; his abilities are unpredictable," Michael mentioned as he gazed down at me.

Valia's confusion deepened as she struggled to her feet. Her brows knitted together in bewilderment. "What's a Nephalem?"

Michael's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You don't know?"

Valia shook her head vigorously. "Know what?"

"Austin is a hybrid angelic demon," Michael revealed in a low voice.

Valia's eyelids lit up as her jaw dropped in shock. "What?"

She tilted her head, her expression a mix of astonishment and confusion. "I thought he was just an angel and a warlock."

Michael sighed, realizing the need for an explanation. "His warlock abilities were granted to him by Jack. But his true nature is much more complex."

As Valia processed this information, a profound sense of vulnerability welled up within me. It was one thing to be an angel, but to be a Nephalem was something entirely different. I had always tried to hide the demon side of my heritage, fearing how others would react.

"Is that why he is acting like this?" Valia asked as she gazed down at me.

Michael's brow furrowed in thought as he considered the question. "Possibly. Something about this situation makes me believe that the artifact is close."