The Luna's Second Chance

Chapter 39: The Demon's Hold

**Isla's POV**

The battlefield was chaos-wolves, warriors, and magic clashing in a storm of violence. But Isla's focus was singular. Her eyes locked onto the dark figure standing at the heart of the battle-**Malachi**. The force of his dark magic pulsed through the air like a thick fog, suffocating everything it touched. But there was something else, something darker swirling beneath the surface. It wasn't just Malachi's magic. It was something worse.

"Kian, he's not just controlling the outcasts," Isla said urgently, her voice shaky as she stood beside her brother. "Something else is controlling him."

Kian's face was pale, his eyes wide with realization. "He's possessed..."

Isla could feel it too. The dark magic coursing through Malachi wasn't just his own power-it was tainted, twisted by something far more dangerous. A demon. And it was controlling him, using him as a puppet.

"Isla!" Damian shouted as he ran up beside her, his golden eyes sharp and filled with concern. "We need to take him down, now."

Isla nodded, her heart racing. She knew Damian was right. Malachi's power was spreading, corrupting everything in its path. But even as she prepared herself for battle, a part of her couldn't help but feel pity for her uncle. He had been consumed by something far darker than any of them could have imagined.

But there was no time to dwell on that now.

Suddenly, a commotion to their left caught their attention. Ethan and Vivienne, leading a group of warriors, had broken through the outcasts' defenses. And with them, **Selena**-Isla's aunt-rushed forward, her eyes filled with determination.

"Selena!" Isla called out in relief as she saw her aunt.

Without hesitation, Selena joined them, her face grim. "We managed to rescue the captives," she said breathlessly, nodding toward the wounded being led away from the battlefield. "But Malachi... he's still out there. And he's lost, Isla. Something's controlling him."

Isla's heart clenched as she watched Selena, her aunt's eyes filled with pain. She could see it-the desperate hope that somewhere beneath the demon's hold, Malachi was still there. Still the man she had once known. But Isla knew that the Malachi standing before them now wasn't the same man.

They had to stop him.

"We can't let him destroy himself," Selena whispered, her voice tight with emotion. "There's still a chance we can bring him back."

But before they could act, Malachi raised his hands, and a wave of dark energy exploded from him, sending warriors and wolves flying in every direction. Isla and the others barely managed to throw up a magical shield, protecting themselves from the blast.

"We have to end this!" Damian shouted, his eyes filled with resolve. "Now!"

Isla's heart pounded as she met Kian's gaze. He looked just as conflicted as she felt, but there was no other way. They had to fight. Together.

"Ready?" Isla asked, her voice shaking as she extended her hand toward Kian.

Kian hesitated for only a moment before nodding, his hand meeting hers. "Let's do this."

As their hands clasped, Isla could feel the surge of power flowing through them both. Their twin bond had always been strong, but now, with their magic unlocked, it was like nothing she had ever felt before. The energy crackled in the air around them, and together, they channeled it.

A bright light enveloped them, and slowly, that light began to take shape, forming into a single weapon-a sword, radiant and shimmering with their combined power. Isla's breath caught as she stared at the blade, feeling its warmth, its strength. It was their power, fused together, and it was their only chance to stop Malachi.

"Go!" Damian shouted, fighting off rogue wolves as he held back the chaos around them.

Kian and Isla surged forward, their hands still clasped around the sword as they ran toward Malachi. His eyes glowed with a dark fury, but even now, there was something broken in his gaze. He was fighting the demon's control, but he was losing.

"Malachi!" Isla cried out, her voice filled with desperation. "We're ending this!"

With a swift, decisive motion, Isla and Kian drove the sword through Malachi's chest.

Time seemed to slow as the sword pierced him, and for a moment, the battlefield fell silent. The dark magic surrounding Malachi wavered, flickering like a dying flame. And then, something miraculous happened.

The darkness began to peel away, revealing the man beneath the demon's hold. Malachi's eyes cleared, his face softening as the weight of the demon's control lifted. He looked at Isla and Kian, his expression filled with something Isla hadn't expected.

Gratitude.

"Thank you," Malachi whispered, his voice weak but filled with sincerity. "You freed me..."

Isla's heart clenched at his words, tears stinging her eyes. Malachi's true self, the man he had once been, was back. But it was too late. The damage had already been done.

As the last remnants of dark magic vanished, Malachi collapsed to the ground, the sword still embedded in his chest.

At that moment, the outcast army fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground like puppets with their strings cut. Their minds, once intertwined with Malachi's, were suddenly freed. The hold he had over them was broken.

Some of the outcasts began to stir, confusion flickering in their eyes as they slowly regained consciousness. But others remained still, their bodies lifeless, too far gone to be saved.

"It's over..." Isla whispered, her voice trembling as she looked at the aftermath.

But the sense of victory was fleeting.

A sharp gasp from Kian tore through the air, and Isla's heart plummeted as she turned to see her brother stagger, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His face was pale, his eyes wide with pain as he clutched his chest.

"Kian!" Isla screamed, rushing to his side just as he collapsed.

Damian and Selena were at her side in an instant, but Kian's body was limp, his breaths shallow. Blood trickled from his mouth, staining the ground beneath him. His skin was ice-cold, and his pulse was weak.

"No, no, no!" Isla cried, her hands shaking as she tried to stop the bleeding. "Kian, stay with me!"

But even as she pleaded, she could feel him slipping away. His eyes fluttered closed, his body going still.

"Kian!" Isla shouted, her voice breaking. "No, please, no!"

In the distance, Kian's closest allies-Valen, Liora, and Thorne-also collapsed, their bodies convulsing as they fell into the same comatose state.

Isla's vision blurred with tears as she cradled Kian's head in her lap, her hands trembling. She couldn't lose him. Not now. Not after everything they had fought for.

"Kian!" Isla screamed again, but the world around her began to spin, the edges of her vision darkening as the weight of it all pressed down on her.

The sounds of the battlefield faded into the background as everything went black.

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