Chapter 356 Succumbing To Darkness

Hearing my name, I turned around to see Ximena rushing towards the battlefield. And behind her was Lucia, holding a number of items. My eyes lit up with joy as newfound hope spread through me.

Axel saw them too, and I could see his eyes flash with hope too.

Now that Lucia was here, perhaps there was a chance to actually send this demon back to whatever hell he crawled out of. I returned my gaze to Luis, and almost instantly, I saw the look of scorn on his face.

It was brief, but he seemed pissed about Lucia’s sudden appearance.

Good. He should be.

I nodded and yelled, “¡No lo dejen escapar! We need to take him down, right here!”

Axel grew into his monstrous, yet glorious werewolf form once more. He growled and rushed forward, aiding his brother in a close fight against Luis. I also rushed forward, despite the pain that seemed to weigh me down.

I wasn’t about to give up. Not now, not ever.

At that moment, Luis let out a furious growl and suddenly outstretched his arms. The shadows all around us stirred as they surged forward like a tide, intending to drown us in their filthy current.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Lucia step forward. Her eyes lit up with a certain radiance as she screamed something in a language I couldn’t understand.

The shadows halted momentarily, giving Axel and Álvaro enough time to jump backwards. Luis and Lucia seemed to be locked in a fierce battle for a moment. After a while, he let out a frustrating grunt as the shadows dissipated completely.

“Maldita bruja…” He spat, fury evident in his tone.

Lucia wore a smirk. “Ay, por favor. You mentioned how my attacks were too weak for someone as powerful as you. So I thought, why do I need to attack you? All I have to do is keep interfering so you cannot use any of that filthy demonic magic.”

Luis’s face froze with contempt for a moment. His eyes fell on every one of us, seemingly searching for something. Then he suddenly growled and said, “Tú. You brought her here.”

Who is he looking at? I frowned slightly.

Xiomara yelled within me, “Ximena! Protect Ximena!”

My head spun and I saw the young girl hiding behind one of the trees, her eyes filled with terror.

Why is she still here? She didn’t leave?!

A chill ran down my spine as I had a terrible premonition of what was about to come next. Luis suddenly vanished from his position, sinking into the darkness like an ephemeral concept. In the next second, he appeared behind Ximena.

I was too slow to react. I had forgotten that he had exhibited such powers in the past.

Axel and Álvaro rushed in our direction at the same time, and I saw Lucia throw what resembled seeds towards Ximena.

Neither of us reached him fast enough. I saw the sinister grin on Luis’s face as he brought his jagged teeth down on the helpless girl’s shoulder.

“NOOO!!” A yell from the depths of my soul rang out.

But my screams were swallowed by the wind, and the faint gasp that escaped Ximena’s lips. I saw the light in her eyes rapidly fade, and watched in horror as a single tear ran down her left cheek.

Luis had bitten into her entire shoulder, tearing her apart instantly.

“Ahh~ that feels heavenly!” He tossed Ximena’s body to the side as blood dripped from his mouth. Her blood.

“The look on your face is second to none!” He barked a laugh. “¿Qué? Did you really think you could hinder me because you brought your little witch friend? How amusing. An entertaining attempt, but I am far too strong for any of you to comprehend. You have no idea the power that courses through me! You have no idea the power I possess!”

I could barely hear his rants as my eyes narrowed on Ximena’s lifeless body. My heart went cold, and my fingers trembled with anguish.

I had only known the girl for less than a day. However, in that little time, I got to understand that she was a very bright child, with a future ahead of her. She had been scared. She had been terrified of leaving the room, but I sent her on a mission that now resulted in her demise.

“No…” Xiomara’s whimper resounded in my head.

Then, everything suddenly went dark.

I couldn’t hear my wolf. I couldn’t hear Luis’s mocking laughter. I couldn’t hear Axel’s furious growl. And I couldn’t hear Lucia’s heavy breathing. It seemed like I had been shut out from the world.

When I looked around me, all I beheld was a choking darkness. Within that darkness, there was a faint shadow slithering around. I couldn’t discern what it was, but I heard a faint whisper.

The whisper was urging me to come forward— to come towards it. It promised me everything I wanted in life; defeating Luis, reviving all those who had died, protecting the pack, giving birth successfully, and spending the rest of my life with Axel.

It promised me power.

And so, I leaned towards it. With weak footsteps, I trudged towards the darkness, eventually getting swallowed in its choking embrace.

And when I opened my eyes in the real world, I felt like an entirely different person.

My gaze slowly fixated on Luis.

I outstretched my hand in a trance-like manner and said, “You will suffer for everything you have done.”

Luis threw his head backwards and laughed.

“Ay, mi querida María José. You are so adorable—”

His words remained stuck in his throat, however, as the shadows he commanded suddenly betrayed him.

“What the hell is this?!” Luis grunted as shadowy hands suddenly erupted from beneath the soil to grab his legs.

My eyes were bloodshot. It seemed as though the last ounce of compassion had been ripped from me. My heart was empty, and my head sang with only a single command: Kill Luis.

And so I channeled this sinister power that had been nestling in me for a very long time.