Vareck's rage exploded.
"You two, stay here!" he bellowed, pointing at two guards. "No one is to approach her!"
The two men nodded immediately as Vareck stormed out of the room with the rest of his soldiers to confront the intruders.
Silence fell once more.
In the distance, the sounds of battle echoed throughout the castle.
Screams.
Magical explosions.
Metal striking stone.
Still chained to the stone altar, Miria listened.
A slow, almost amused smile spread across her lips.
*They're here.*
In front of her, the two guards Vareck had left exchanged nervous glances.
One of them whispered:
"Maybe we should go help—"
"Orders are to stay here," the other replied. "If she escapes, Vareck will kill us."
Miria let out a soft breath.
"Well then…"
She slowly turned her head toward them.
"I think it's time."
The two men paled.
"What?"
Miria closed her eyes.
An invisible wave swept through the room.
"Hey! What is she—"
They never got to finish.
The chains vibrated.
Then exploded into shards of metal.
Miria rose with fluid grace and leaped off the stone slab.
"Grab her!" one guard shouted.
Too late.
A surge of energy burst from her palm and slammed both men into the wall with a sickening crack. They collapsed, unconscious.
Miria took a deep breath, finally regaining her freedom.
"Thanks for waiting."
And she dashed into the corridor.
Meanwhile, higher up in the castle—
Bryan and Eiden were pushing back another wave of enemies.
Bryan decapitated a vampire with a swift strike while Eiden ran an enemy sorcerer through with an enchanted blade.
But suddenly Bryan looked around.
"Where's Asher?"
Eiden scanned the hallway.
"I… think we got separated at the intersection."
Bryan swore.
"Perfect…"
Meanwhile, alone in another corridor—
Asher was running.
"Miria!"
His voice echoed through the empty halls.
He shoved open a massive door.
A large, empty room.
He entered cautiously.
Then a voice rang out behind him.
"Well, well… if it isn't Asher?"
He spun around.
Vareck stood there, flanked by several men.
Asher rolled his eyes.
"Seriously, Vareck? Don't you have anything better to do?"
A cruel smile stretched Vareck's lips.
"No. In fact… I just left Miria."
He approached slowly.
"You have no idea how… *pleasant* she can be."
Asher's gaze turned ice-cold.
Then, suddenly, he sighed.
"Wow… I didn't know you were *that* in love with me."
Silence.
Vareck's men exchanged glances.
Vareck blinked.
"Are you insane?"
Asher shrugged.
"Then why are you making up stories about Miria? We all know she'd kill you before letting you touch her."
He tilted his head with mock innocence.
"Unless you're so desperate that you're inventing this just so I'll stay here with you?"
A few of the soldiers stifled laughs.
Vareck turned crimson with fury.
"Are you done with this bullshit?"
"Are you done flirting with me?"
Vareck's soldiers burst out laughing.
Completely losing control, Vareck whirled around and massacred them in seconds.
Silence returned.
He slowly turned back toward Asher.
"You're going to regret those words."
Asher sighed.
"Vareck… killing your own men just so you can have me all to yourself? Don't you think that's a bit much?"
Vareck's roar shook the room.
Then he lunged.
The fight exploded.
In semi-wolf form, Vareck struck with monstrous force.
Asher blocked, but was hurled into a pillar that cracked on impact.
He countered with a magical explosion that sent Vareck flying across the room.
The ground trembled.