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The night grew unnaturally still, the kind of silence that hangs heavy in the air just before something terrible happens. Evangeline, Ethan, Rian, and Sam were standing waiting when the first tremor shook the walls of the academy. It was faint at first, a barely perceptible vibration that seemed to come from deep within the earth. Then, the ground shuddered violently, and the night erupted into chaos. Without warning, dark portals tore through the fabric of reality, spilling demons into the halls of the academy. The air crackled with malevolent energy as the creatures emerged—twisted, monstrous beings with eyes glowing like embers in the darkness.

Panic surged through the group as the demons advanced. Evangeline quickly summoned a barrier of light, trying to protect her friends from the onslaught. Ethan, his face set with grim determination, conjured a wall of fire, its flames roaring to life as he pushed back the nearest demons. Roan, channeling his earth magic, caused the ground to quake beneath the demons' feet, sending them stumbling. But there were too many of them, and they were relentless. For every demon they managed to push back, two more took its place. Sam, his illusions flickering around them like ghostly apparitions, struggled to keep the demons disoriented.

The battle raged on, a blur of fire, earth, light, and shadows. The demons attacked with savage ferocity, their claws rending through the air as they sought to tear the group apart. But as fierce as the demons were, nothing could have prepared them for the sudden appearance of Liam. He emerged from the shadows, his presence more chilling than any demon. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair that framed a face twisted in a cruel smirk. But it was his eyes—black as the void and filled with a cold, calculating malice—that struck fear into their hearts.

"Rian!" Evangeline heard a voice, half-strangled in shock and rage, and she turned to see Rian standing frozen in place, his face ashen. His brother, Liam, had arrived, and with him came a wave of dread that nearly overwhelmed her. Rian and Liam locked eyes, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. Then, without warning, Liam attacked. He moved with lightning speed, slamming into Rian with brutal force and sending him crashing into the stone wall with a sickening thud. Rian crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath, and Evangeline's heart lurched in her chest.

Liam approached Rian, his black eyes glinting with dark amusement. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, little brother," he sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "It's time you learned your place." Rian struggled to stand, but Liam was on him in an instant, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him off the ground as if he weighed nothing. Evangeline felt a surge of fury as she watched Rian, her dear friend, being tossed around like a ragdoll. She couldn't stand by any longer.

With a cry of rage, Evangeline charged at Liam, her magic flaring to life around her. Shadows coiled around her like living creatures, fueled by her anger. She unleashed a blast of dark energy at Liam, but he was ready. He twisted to the side, dodging the attack with ease, and retaliated with a blast of his own. Their powers collided, sending shockwaves through the air. "So, you're the prophecied girl," Liam said, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he casually tossed Rian aside. "I've been waiting for you, Evangeline."

The two of them clashed, their magic crackling and sparking in the air like a storm unleashed. Liam was fast, almost impossibly so, and every time Evangeline thought she had him cornered, he would slip away, leaving her to defend against his counterattacks. Shadows and light intertwined around them, a chaotic dance of darkness and brilliance. Evangeline poured every ounce of her strength into the fight, but Liam was relentless, always one step ahead. He taunted her, his voice a low, mocking drawl that grated against her nerves. "Is this the best you can do?" he sneered. "I expected more from the girl who's supposed to bring about the end of days."

Evangeline's breath was coming in ragged gasps, her energy waning, but she refused to back down. She was about to launch another attack when a demon suddenly appeared beside Liam, dragging a struggling Ethan behind it. The sight of Ethan, bruised and bloodied, sent a bolt of fear through her. Liam's smirk widened as he tightened his grip on Ethan's arm, his black eyes gleaming with malice. "Turn, or I'll kill him," Liam said, his voice cold and devoid of any hint of mercy. "Your choice."

"No!" Evangeline screamed, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes. Ethan struggled in the demon's grasp, his face twisted in pain, but he managed to shout, "Don't do it, Evangeline! Don't listen to him!" But before Evangeline could respond, Liam twisted Ethan's arm with a sickening crack, breaking it cleanly. Ethan cried out in agony, and Evangeline felt her heart shatter.

"Stop it!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to control the overwhelming despair that threatened to consume her. But Liam wasn't done. His gaze darkened, and without a word, he reached out and snapped Ethan's neck. The sound was sickeningly final, and time seemed to freeze as Ethan's lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

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