Heart of a Hunter

The Fall

Blair's POV:

The darkness swallowed me whole. It was endless, suffocating, and cold—so cold I thought I might freeze from the inside out. I couldn't feel my body. I couldn't feel anything, really, except the overwhelming weight of the power coursing through me, tearing at every fiber of my being.

For a moment, I wasn't sure if I was still alive. I wasn't sure if I existed at all.

But then, through the suffocating void, I heard it—Sam's voice, faint and distant, calling my name. It was like a lifeline, pulling me up from the depths of whatever abyss I'd fallen into. I clung to it, desperately, trying to find my way back to him.

Slowly, painfully, I felt myself coming back to consciousness. The darkness around me began to lift, and I could feel the ground beneath me again—cold, hard, and trembling. My body was heavy, like I'd been submerged in ice for days, and it took every ounce of strength I had just to open my eyes.

The first thing I saw was Sam, kneeling beside me, his face pale and etched with fear. His hands were on my shoulders, gently shaking me, his voice raw with panic.

"Blair, come on. Please, wake up. Blair!"

I blinked, my vision hazy and unfocused, but I could feel him—his warmth, his desperation. I tried to speak, to tell him I was okay, but my throat felt raw, and all that came out was a weak gasp.

Sam's face crumpled with relief the moment he saw me stir. "Thank God," he breathed, his grip on my shoulders tightening. "Blair, are you okay? Say something."

I swallowed hard, my voice barely a whisper. "Sam..."

He let out a shaky laugh, though there was still fear in his eyes. "You're here. You're okay." He pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me like he couldn't bear to let go.

I tried to move, to sit up, but my body screamed in protest. Everything hurt—my head, my chest, my limbs. It felt like I'd been torn apart and stitched back together wrong.

"What happened?" I croaked, the words barely audible.

Sam pulled back slightly, his eyes searching mine. "You did it. The seal... it's gone. It's destroyed."

I blinked, trying to process his words. The seal was gone. I'd done it. I'd broken it, destroyed the one thing the Arcani had been after all along. But something felt wrong—something inside me.

I wasn't whole.

I looked around, my heart pounding as I took in the clearing. The ground was scorched, blackened like it had been struck by lightning. The air felt thick, heavy with the remnants of whatever power I'd unleashed. And yet... it was eerily quiet. Too quiet.

"Where's Dean?" I asked, my voice weak and hoarse.

Sam glanced over his shoulder, and I followed his gaze. Dean was standing near the edge of the clearing, his shotgun in hand, scanning the treeline like he was waiting for something. His face was tense, his body rigid with unease.

"They're coming, aren't they?" I whispered, a sinking feeling settling in my stomach.

Sam nodded, his expression dark. "The Arcani won't stop. They know the seal is broken now. They'll come for you, Blair."

My heart skipped a beat. Of course they would. The seal was gone, but that didn't mean I was safe. If anything, it made me even more of a target. The power that had been tied to the seal was now loose, and I could feel it, burning inside me like a fire that couldn't be put out.

"What... what do we do?" I asked, my voice trembling. "I don't know how to control this."

Sam's grip on me tightened, his eyes filled with a fierce determination. "We fight. We keep fighting, like we always do. Together."

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that we could stop the Arcani, that we could win this battle like we'd won so many others. But I wasn't sure anymore. This wasn't just about me or the seal. It was bigger than that. The power inside me—it was growing, shifting, and I didn't know if I could contain it for much longer.

Dean's voice cut through the tension, sharp and urgent. "We've got movement."

I tensed, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end as I looked toward the treeline. The shadows seemed to be moving, shifting, and for a moment, I thought I was imagining it. But then I saw them—figures emerging from the darkness, their eyes glowing that eerie gold.

The Arcani.

Sam pulled me to my feet, his grip steady even as the ground beneath me swayed. "Blair, you need to stay back. We'll hold them off."

"No," I said, shaking my head. "I can't. I have to face them. They're here because of me."

Sam's eyes darkened with worry. "Blair—"

"I'm not running," I interrupted, my voice stronger than I felt. "I need to do this. I need to face them."

Dean cocked his shotgun, his eyes narrowing as he counted the figures stepping out from the shadows. "Looks like they brought the whole damn army."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm inside me. The power was surging, twisting, pulling at the edges of my consciousness. It wanted out. It wanted to destroy.

Sam turned to me, his face inches from mine, his eyes filled with fear and love and everything in between. "Blair, listen to me. Whatever happens, you don't have to fight this alone. We're here. We'll get through this."

I nodded, but deep down, I knew what he couldn't admit. This wasn't a fight that could be won with guns and salt. This was a fight that would end with me—one way or another.

The Arcani moved closer, their golden eyes locking onto me, and I felt the power inside me rise, like a wave crashing against the shore. They wanted the power I had unleashed. They wanted to use it. But I wasn't going to let them.

"I'm not afraid of you," I whispered, though my heart was racing with fear. I wasn't sure who I was saying it to—the Arcani, the power inside me, or myself.

As the Arcani closed in, Sam and Dean moved to my sides, their weapons ready, but I could feel the truth settling in my chest.

This was it.

This was the final stand.

And whatever happened next, I wasn't sure I'd survive it.