LOVER OF THE DEAD

Chapter 14: The sorceress

The moment Avriel and Iver stepped into the sorceress's dwelling, the air thickened like a heavy fog, pressing against their skin. The room was dimly lit by flickering blue flames, casting eerie shadows that twisted and stretched unnaturally. The scent of something rotten and metallic lingered in the air, making Avriel's stomach churn.

At the far end of the room, atop a throne of bone and charred wood, sat her, the sorceress.

She was draped in a gown as dark as the abyss, her long, raven-black hair cascading over her shoulders. Her fingers, tipped with claws too sharp to be human, tapped against the armrest in a slow, deliberate rhythm.

And then she smiled.

It was the kind of smile that didn't belong on a mortal's face. Cold. Knowing. Cruel.

"Well, well," she purred, her voice laced with amusement. "Look who finally made it through my little maze."

Iver didn't move. His entire body was tense, eyes locked onto her with an intensity Avriel had never seen before. Recognition. Disgust. Hate.

Avriel took a step forward. "We need answers-"

The sorceress's laughter slithered through the air like a caress, cutting her off. "Answers?" She tilted her head. "Sweetheart, you think I'd just hand them over?"

Iver scoffed, stepping beside Avriel. "If you enjoy talking so much, how about we skip the theatrics and get to the part where you make some cryptic remark and send us on another hellish journey?"

The sorceress grinned. "Oh, Iver. Still the same sharp tongue, still the same reckless attitude. You never learn, do you?"

Avriel frowned. "What do you mean, 'still'?"

The sorceress's eyes gleamed. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Something about her voice made Avriel's chest tighten.

Iver, however, had had enough. "We don't have time for this. Tell us where to find the answer to breaking my curse, or.."

Boom.

The walls shook, and a sudden force slammed into Iver, sending him flying across the room. He crashed into the wall, the impact making the entire chamber tremble.

Avriel gasped. "Iver!"

He groaned, staggering to his feet. "Damn it."He glared at the sorceress. "You just love throwing me around, huh?"

The sorceress chuckled, rising from her throne. The movement was fluid, unnatural, as if she were gliding rather than walking. "Oh, but Iver, you're so easy to break."

Avriel clenched her fists."Stop playing games!"

The sorceress turned her gaze to her, smirking. "Oh, Avriel. You're just as fiery as before."

Before?

A chill crept down Avriel's spine.

Iver stepped in front of her, shielding her from the sorceress's gaze. "Enough."His voice was sharp, controlled, but Avriel could sense something beneath it.

Fear.

The sorceress sighed dramatically. "Fine. Let's make this fun."

She raised her hand, and the air cracked.

A pulse of dark energy shot toward them. Iver barely had time to react, shoving Avriel out of the way before it collided with him, engulfing him in a black flame.

Avriel screamed. "IVER!"

The fire wrapped around him, twisting and clawing at his form like it was trying to consume him.His body trembled violently as he fought against it, but his strength was fading fast.

The sorceress watched, amused. "Still so fragile."

Avriel scrambled to her feet, her pulse thundering. She had to do something, anything.

Without thinking, she lunged at the sorceress.

But before she could even touch her-

The world spun.

Her vision blurred as an invisible force slammed into her, sending her crashing against the cold stone floor. Her skull cracked against it, and for a moment, everything went black.

Her head throbbed. Her body felt like lead.

The distant sound of Iver's strangled breathing reached her ears.

She forced her eyes open, vision hazy. The room was spinning, twisting. The sorceress stood over Iver, watching him struggle.

She wasn't even trying.

Iver gasped, his body arching in pain as the black flames burrowed deeper into him.

And then the sorceress knelt beside him, her voice a whisper dripping with venom.

"You really don't remember, do you?"

Iver's breath was shallow. "Shut up."

The sorceress traced a single finger down his cheek, her touch ghostly. "How tragic. You swore to protect her once, and yet..."

Her smile widened, eyes flickering to Avriel.

"You killed your lover before, and here you are again. Come to kill her, too?"

The room collapsed into silence.

Iver's eyes widened. His entire body went still.

Avriel's breath hitched. "What?"

The sorceress giggled, standing up. "Ah, but I shouldn't spoil the fun just yet."

With a flick of her wrist, the shadows surged forward.

Everything went black.

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