Shadow Market

Chapter Fifteen

The showdown:

The workshop was a flurry of activity as we prepared for the final confrontation with Viktor. The cluttered space, once a haven of secrets and spells, now felt like a strategic command center. Cassius, Dante, and I worked tirelessly, each of us focused on our specific tasks.

 Every so often, Cassius would mutter to himself, frustration evident in his furrowed brow. Dante was busy assembling a range of weapons and protective gear. His movements were precise, almost mechanical, as he checked and rechecked each item.

I was stationed at a makeshift map spread across a table, plotting out possible locations and escape routes. The urgency of the situation fueled my focus, and I was determined not to make any mistakes.

As I worked, Cassius approached, carrying a dusty book. "Lene, I need you to take a look at this," he said, his voice steady but carrying an undertone of fatigue.

I glanced up, wiping a smudge of ink from my cheek. "What's up?"

He laid the book on the table, opening it to a page filled with complex symbols and diagrams. "This is an ancient ritual. It might be our best bet to counteract whatever Viktor's planning. But it's not straightforward."

I frowned at the intricate designs. "What does it do?"

Cassius pointed to a symbol. "This particular rune is designed to disrupt magical energy. If Viktor is using the souls to fuel his plans, this could potentially neutralize that energy, but we have to be careful. The ritual requires precise timing and alignment."

Dante walked over, his expression skeptical but hopeful. "And you think this will work?"

Cassius nodded. "It's our best shot. If we can manage to perform it correctly, it might buy us the time we need to deal with Viktor."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. "And if it doesn't work?"

"Then we're out of options," Cassius replied grimly.

When everything was ready, we took a moment just to be. Who knew we could be walking into our deaths. And I need a minute to come to terms with that.

"I am ready," I said, breaking the silence.

We made our way to the warehouse where Raven had lost her life. Viktor had set up his base there. The building loomed in the distance, its derelict state a stark reminder of the danger we were about to face.

I couldn't help but wonder if they moved the body or if I would have to look at it again.

We approached with stealth, our footsteps barely making a sound on the cracked pavement. The plan was to get in, disrupt Viktor's ritual, and take him down before he could complete his nefarious plot. A hopeful be done with all this cursed bullshit.

 Viktor's men were stationed strategically around the perimeter, "How do we get past them?' I whispered.

"With a little magic." Cassius grinned and pulled out two vails, both gold in color. He rolled them across the pavement, and they exploded when they were right in front of the guards.

"Move now!" Dante yelled.

 I nodded, my heart racing as we moved forward. The warehouse was a maze of rusted machinery and abandoned crates, but we navigated it with practiced ease.

We reached the heart of the warehouse, where Viktor stood in the center of an elaborate ritual circle. He had managed to collect almost all the souls. 

Will it still work without the other souls?

Dante moved first, his movements swift and calculated. He navigated the shadows with practiced ease, taking out the guards positioned near Viktor. Each guard fell silently, their bodies hitting the ground without a sound. I could see the tension in Dante's posture, his focus unyielding as he cleared the path.

Cassius followed closely behind, carrying the book and the dagger. His face was set with determination, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. I could tell that he was grappling with his own internal conflict.

"Ready?" Cassius asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

I nodded, clutching my own weapon tightly. "Let's end this."

As we approached the circle, Viktor's voice rang out, distorted by the magic surrounding him. "You're too late," he declared, turning to face us. "The ritual is nearly complete."

Cassius shouted over the noise, "We need to disrupt the circle! The dagger might be able to break the connection!"

Dante, moving with a blend of fury and precision, engaged Viktor in a fierce battle. The two clashed in the center of the circle, their movements a blur.

Cassius, looking increasingly anxious, held the dagger high. He chanted an incantation from the book, aiming to counteract Viktor's spell. The dagger glowed with a bright, pulsating light as Cassius brought it down toward the circle.

The impact was immediate. The circle's glow faltered, and the souls within the orbs emitted a haunting wail. Viktor's face twisted in anger and frustration as the ritual began to unravel.

You think you can stop me?" Viktor roared.

Dante pressed the attack, his movements fueled by a mix of determination and desperation. He fought with everything he had, trying to prevent Viktor from completing the ritual.

With a final, powerful swing of the dagger, Cassius disrupted the circle entirely. The magical energy exploded outward, sending shockwaves through the warehouse. The orbs containing the souls shattered, and the souls themselves were released, their light scattering in every direction.

Viktor staggered back, his ritual undone. The dark energy around him dissipated, and the warehouse fell silent. Dante, breathing heavily, turned to me. "Is it over?"

I nodded, still trying to process the whirlwind of events. "For now, yes. But we need to get out of here."

We returned to the market. Cassius led us through the narrow, winding paths, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and relief. Dante walked beside me, his face set in a serious expression, clearly still processing the events.

I looked down at my arm, and I noticed something odd. The mark on my arm, the one that had been so dark and menacing, was now visibly faded. The deep black lines had lightened considerably, though a faint outline remained. I stopped, holding my arm up to the light, examining the changes.

"Dante, Cassius," I called, "come look at this."

Dante stopped beside me, concern etched on his face. "What's wrong?"

I pointed to the mark. "It's fading. The skin isn't blackened anymore, and the pain is gone. But the outline is still there."

Cassius frowned, his eyes narrowing as he examined the mark. "It's not completely gone, but it's an improvement. The ritual must have had some effect, even if it didn't completely remove the curse."

Dante's gaze was intense. "Do you think it's enough? Or is it a temporary fix?"

Cassius shook his head. "It's hard to say. The curse was deeply tied to your life force, and while the ritual disrupted Viktor's plan, it might not have fully eradicated the curse. The faint outline suggests that the curse still has some hold, but it's lessened."

Dante placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I gave him a small, appreciative smile." I just hope we can find a way to completely lift it."

Cassius took a deep breath. "I'll keep working on it."

We entered the workroom and found it in disarray. It had been ransacked while we were away. Cassius's eyes nervously darted toward the worktable, where an old, leather-bound book lay partially open. Cassius's face turned pale. "This is not good. I recognize this sign. It's an ancient warning symbol used to signify an approaching magical entity, something powerful and malevolent. We've disturbed something."

The room was filled with a low, rumbling sound as the light from the candles began to flicker erratically. A shadowy figure seemed to move just at the edge of my vision, causing me to shiver.

"It's here."