Tainted Bloodline...🩸

39.

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"It's him," Kael muttered, his voice barely audible over the crackling flames.

"What has he turned into?"

Aria whispered, her eyes fixed on Asher's eerie form, illuminated by the fiery circle surrounding them.

"What do we do now?" Lax asked, his gaze locked onto Asher's unsettling appearance. "He's put a circle of fire around us."

"Nimue?" Kael turned to her, his expression urgent. "I think it's your cue. What's your plan?"

Nimue stuttered, "I-uh..." her uncertainty palpable.

Lax's frustration boiled over, his face twisted in annoyance.

"You didn't have any plan, did you?"

Nimue defended herself, her voice laced with desperation.

"I wanted to make one when we were away from there. I didn't know we'd come into contact with him immediately."

Aria's voice trembled, her fear evident.

"It's like he's been waiting for us."

Nimue's resolve strengthened, her determination clear.

"If we don't help him now... Asher's gone."

Lax exploded, his anger and frustration erupting.

"Help him? Help him! What are we to do, Nimue?"

Kael intervened,his voice containing annoyance.

"Don't pressure, Lax. Everyone's in a tight spot now...now you're the one being whiney"

Suddenly, Xavier vanished from the group.

"Xavier?" Aria spun around, her eyes scanning the darkness. "Anyone seen Xavier?"

Kael rolled his eyes, his skepticism evident.

"He probably ditched us for his life... I would do the same."

Lax pointed, his arm outstretched. "There."

Xavier emerged from the shadows, walking slowly and deliberately behind Asher, his movements calculated.

"Xavier, look out!" Aria yelled, her warning piercing the air.

Asher whirled, his hand palming Xavier's chest with inhuman strength, sending him flying into the darkness...

Xavier was able to handle Asher's pressure as his grip to the earth helped his balance...his eyes turned pitch black as he clenched his jaw.

Kael muttered under his breath, "Good riddance."

Nimue cautioned, her voice firm.

"Whatever we do...we don't hurt him."

Lax snarled, his body beginning to shift, transforming into a werewolf.

Nimue's wings spread wide, their majestic span a stark contrast to Lax's beastly form.

Lax mocked, his voice dripping with sarcasm,

"So we what?... Talk with him? Oh, Asher, I love you... Let's talk, I wanna get married."

Nimue remained silent, watching Lax launch himself at Asher with a mix of horror and concern.

The werewolf pinned Asher to the ground, roaring in his face, their eyes locked in a fierce stare.

Asher's gaze seemed to consume Lax's self, slowly draining his strength.

Asher tossed Lax aside, his movements effortless...

Lax collapsed, his beastly form reverting to human, and coughed violently, his chest heaving.

"What did he do to me?" he groaned, confusion etched on his face.

Kael, standing beside Aria, his eyes fixed on Asher's unsettling form. Asher rose to his feet, his gaze locking onto Aria's. Her eyes widened in terror, her pupils dilating.

"Tf?! What are you doing?!"

Kael yelled, his face contorted in frustration, as Aria frantically hid behind him, her hands grasping his arm.

"H-he should get you first...I don't want to be his meal!"

Aria cried out, her voice trembling, her eyes brimming with tears.

Kael struggled to pry Aria's hands off him.

"And do I look like I want to be one too? Girl, get your hands off me!"

he exclaimed, exasperation written across his face.

Asher raised his hands in elegant poise, and chain-like arrows swayed gently, protruding from his back. With a snap of his finger, he sent the chains whizzing through the air toward Kael and Aria.

"Guys, watch out!" Nimue called out, her voice laced with urgency.

Kael swiftly pulled Aria out of the chains' reach, his movements lightning-fast.

Kael pried Aria's hands off. "Now, if I wanna run, I run for myself."

He faced Asher, determination etched on his face.

"Time to show this newcomer how it's done around here."

Kael launched himself at Asher, his claw swiping through the air with deadly precision. Asher dodged effortlessly and slammed his fist into Kael's back, sending Kael crashing to his knees, coughing violently.

Asher raised the chains and slammed them toward Kael, but Kael dodged, his agility impressive, and the chains hit the ground with a loud clang.

Kael rose to his feet and twirled in the air, his feet connecting with Asher's face with a resounding smack, sending Asher crashing to the floor.

"You all will pay,"

Asher said, his voice cold, distant, and distorted, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity as he rose to his feet wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"He can talk!?" Kael yelled, shock written across his face.

"Asher, stop!" Nimue yelled, her voice pleading.

Asher continued attacking Kael, his movements relentless.

"Saying stop won't help, Nimue!" Kael said, dodging Asher's hits, his breathing labored.

"It's becoming really hard to keep up with his speed. He's extremely fast," Kael said breathlessly...

To be continued...