RAVENNA

Part 36

Author's POV

Nieve turned away, leaving Neith standing alone in the narrow, desolate alley. For a long moment, Neith stood silently, her gaze fixed on the spot where Nieve had just been. Her hands trembled, curling into fists as her body shook. A few stray tears slipped down her cheeks, glistening in the dim light.

She slowly looked up—her eyes now red, not from sorrow, but from burning anger. Her fists clenched tighter, nails digging into her palms.

No. I won't let you go.

She stomped her foot against the cobblestone and took off after Nieve.

After a few meters of walking, Nieve came into view. Neith lunged toward her—at the same time, several Duskborn appeared, blocking Nieve's path.

With a flick of her hand, Neith unleashed her magic. The air cracked as the creatures' bones snapped in unison, their bodies collapsing lifelessly onto the snow.

Sensing movement behind her, Nieve ducked just in time, and Neith stumbled forward.

"See?" Neith shouted, her voice trembling between desperation and fury. "They're after you! They won't stop until they have you!" Then her tone softened, pleading. "Please... let's go together. Away from here."

Nieve shook her head, her voice low but steady. "You have turned to darkness, Neith. Don't lose yourself."

"No!" Neith screamed. "I want you—only you! And if you can't be mine..." She reached beneath her dress, pulling out a hidden dagger. "...then you won't be anyone else's."

Nieve's breath caught. Adrenaline—already flooding her veins for hours—spiked again.

"C-calm down, Neith. Listen to me," she said, her voice trembling but firm. "Please, just listen first."

"Then come with me," Neith insisted.

"I can't. I have a family."

"Leave them."

Nieve was silent for a long moment before she shook her head.

Neith's eyes closed. Her grip on the dagger tightened. When she opened them again, fury had replaced all reason. She raised the blade high and charged.

Nieve braced herself for the impact. The dagger sliced through the air—she ducked, heart pounding, searching frantically for anything to defend herself.

Her eyes caught a few discarded posters fluttering along the street. Grabbing them, she rolled them tightly into a makeshift weapon and took her stance.

Neith attacked again. Nieve blocked the strike with the paper roll, the impact jarring her arm. Another swing—another block. Each blow grew wilder, angrier, fuelled by obsession.

"Just give in, Nieve!!" Neith screamed, slashing forward.

The blade ripped through Nieve's jacket sleeve, narrowly missing her arm. Thankfully, it had only torn fabric, not flesh.

Nieve stumbled backward, the sound of her own heartbeat thundering in her ears. Snow crunched beneath her boots as she steadied herself, clutching the rolled paper tighter.

"Stop this, Neith!" she pleaded, voice raw. "You're not yourself anymore!"

Neith's eyes gleamed with something unhinged — love, pain, and rage twisted into one. "I am more myself than ever!" she cried. "You made me this, Nieve! You showed me light... and now you want to leave me in the dark?"

She lunged again. Nieve barely twisted aside; the dagger sliced a strand of her hair, glinting red in the faint streetlight.

"Please," Nieve gasped, "don't make me fight you."