Fate's Final Act

-CH 21- Venomous blood

Zolaris (Zane): At home.

The house was shrouded in the heavy silence of night, broken only by the occasional creak of settling wood and the distant howl of the wind outside.

I moved with deliberate care through the darkened hallway, the cold, pale light of the streetlamp outside barely filtering through the frost-covered windows.

The storm outside raged on, its fury muted by the thick walls but still persistent enough to make the glass panes shudder.

In the bedroom, where my unsuspecting guests lay, the only sound was the steady rhythm of their breathing, a peaceful cadence that contrasted sharply with the storm outside.

Aiden slept soundly, his head nestled against Mila’s shoulder, his expression serene and unaware of the darkness creeping into his life.

My companion, the serpent Nythrak, coiled itself around my neck like a living necklace, its cold scales brushing against my skin.

Occasionally, it would hiss softly, a quiet reminder of its presence.

I approached their bedside with the stealth of a shadow, careful to avoid the creaky floorboards that might disturb the dog curled up at their feet.

My eyes gleamed as they settled on the Frost Chain around Aiden’s neck, the gem at its center now marred by a fine crack.

A smirk tugged at my lips as I gently stroked Nythrak’s head, my fingers brushing over the smooth, cool scales. “You were right,” I murmured to the snake, though my voice never broke the silence of the room. Our connection was deeper, words unnecessary. It did crack.

Nythrak responded with a slow, deliberate tightening around my arm as it curled around it, moving away from my neck, its coils squeezing slightly before it suddenly bit down into my hand.

The bite was swift and precise, its fangs sinking deep into my hand. I felt the familiar sensation of venom entering my bloodstream, a burning cold that traveled through my veins, but it was a sensation I welcomed.

This was our ritual, a bond that strengthened me and solidified our dark pact.

I watched as the venom’s influence spread, my skin glowing faintly in the darkness. Then, with a slight tilt of my hand, I let a few drops of my venom-laden blood fall onto the cracked gem of the Frost Chain. Making it slowly get swallowed into the crack.

The effect was immediate. The once-blue gem darkened, turning a shade of murky black as if it had been poisoned.

Aiden stirred in his sleep, his peaceful expression contorting into one of discomfort.

The temperature in the room plummeted cold enough that even I could feel the chill. Frost began to creep across the walls and ceiling, delicate ice patterns forming as if the very air was freezing.

Outside, the storm intensified, and a thick layer of ice formed over the window, obscuring the faint light from outside.

"What happens now?" I asked, but my lips didn't move ever so slightly.

Nythrak hissed, the sound a mix of amusement and cruelty. The venom will weaken him. It will seep into his mind, distorting his senses, making him see illusions and hear voices that aren’t there. But more importantly, the snake’s voice lowered, almost reverent, it will hasten the breaking of the Frost Chain.

I watched as Aiden shivered, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Mila, still asleep, unconsciously pulled the blanket closer over herself, seeking warmth as the cold began to seep into her skin.