Blade institute: the unseen prophecy

23

The forest grew darker as Evangeline and Rian ventured deeper, the trees twisting into ominous shapes against the dimming sky. The chill of the morning air had given way to a tense, stifling silence, as if the woods themselves were holding their breath, waiting for something terrible to unfold.

Evangeline walked slightly ahead, her senses heightened, every rustle in the leaves putting her on edge. Rian was close behind, his footsteps nearly silent despite his bulk, his eyes scanning the shadows. They hadn't spoken much since they'd left camp, the weight of their earlier conversation still hanging between them. But the mission required their full focus, and they both knew there was no room for personal distractions now.

They were nearing the mission site, a secluded area known for frequent demonic activity. The Institute had sent them to investigate reports of a group of demons gathering there, likely planning an attack or some other dark scheme. Their task was simple—find the demons, gather intelligence, and if necessary, eliminate the threat.

But as they approached the site, hidden beneath the canopy of twisted trees, it became clear that this mission was going to be anything but simple.

Evangeline froze, holding up a hand to signal Rian to stop. She crouched down behind a thick tree trunk, motioning for him to do the same. He moved beside her, his eyes narrowing as he followed her gaze.

In the clearing ahead, a group of demons—twisted, grotesque figures with eyes that glowed with malevolence—were huddled together, their voices a low, guttural murmur. Evangeline strained to listen, her breath catching in her throat as she picked up fragments of their conversation.

"She's close," one of the demons hissed, its voice like nails on glass. "The pink-eyed girl... The boss wants her alive."

Evangeline's heart skipped a beat. Pink-eyed girl? Could they mean her? But that didn't make sense. Her pink eyes were unusual, sure, but she wasn't the only one in the world with them, was she?

"She's too dangerous," another demon snarled, its tone laced with fear. "We should just kill her now. The boss—"

"The boss said alive," the first demon interrupted, its voice sharp. "You know what happens if we disobey. He was pink-eyed once, too. Before... before he became what he is now."

Evangeline felt a chill run down her spine. The way the demon spoke, there was reverence in its voice, mixed with terror. Whoever this boss was, he commanded fear and respect among these creatures. But who could they be talking about?

Then one of the demons said it, a name that made her blood run cold.

"Liam."

Her heart pounded in her chest as she slowly turned to look at Rian. His face had gone pale, his usual stoic expression replaced by something she hadn't seen before—pure, unfiltered fear. His hands, which were usually steady, trembled slightly as they gripped the hilt of his blade.

Evangeline leaned closer to him, her voice barely a whisper. "Is that why you keep commenting about my eyes? Because of... him?"

Rian didn't look at her, his gaze fixed on the demons as if he were staring at ghosts. "Yes," he whispered back, his voice strained. "Liam had pink eyes. Just like you."

Before Evangeline could process this revelation, one of the demons turned, its glowing eyes scanning the trees. "We're not alone," it hissed, its voice rising in alarm. The other demons snapped to attention, their twisted faces contorting into snarls as they began to move toward the tree line.

"Shit," Rian cursed under his breath, his hand tightening around his blade. "We've been spotted."

There was no time to think, no time to dwell on the terrifying implications of what they'd overheard. The demons were upon them, their grotesque forms crashing through the underbrush with a ferocity that sent birds scattering into the sky.