Starlit Bonds

XX

Chapter 20: And My World Came Crashing Down
Karina's perspective: ⚕

The cavernous emptiness that settled within me morphed into an insistent ache, a relentless throb that resonated with the chaos surrounding us. My gaze swept across the crumbling hall where Haerin valiantly fought the last vampire, and Minji and Hanni fought alongside her, their efforts etched with determination.

As the crescendo of battle roared, an unwelcome voice sliced through the tumult. Giselle, the embodiment of malevolence, addressed me with a tone that sent shivers down my spine. "Ready to give up?" she hissed, her words dripping with a vampiric allure that matched her ominous presence.

I turned to face her, the ache within me transforming into a seething resentment, then erupting into an inferno of rage. Giselle stood there, an otherworldly figure, her words a venomous invitation to surrender. My blood boiled in response, defiance burning in my eyes as I met hers.

"No," I retorted, my voice laced with a determination that mirrored the intensity of the battle. The air crackled with tension as I squared my shoulders, ready to confront the malevolent force that sought to unravel everything. In that moment, the pain transformed into a fervent resolve—a fire within me that mirrored the chaos surrounding us.

Recollections from the pages of that book Winter had given me flashed in my mind—a guide to vampire weaknesses. Among them, the vulnerability of their necks and the power of the cross. My hand instinctively sought the nape of my shirt, fingers curling around the necklace hidden within. The cool metal pressed against my skin as I withdrew it, revealing the cross that hung from the delicate chain.

Giselle's predatory eyes, keen and perceptive, locked onto the gleaming emblem. A chill ran down my spine as her gaze bore into mine. Minji shot me a wary look, a silent acknowledgment of the gravity of my decision. But I could sense that she understood; this was our battle now. Haerin, though untiring, would be weakened by the formidable symbol of the cross—it was a calculated risk, but one I was willing to take.

In that charged moment, the hall seemed to still as I held the cross aloft. The silver gleamed in the fractured light, a beacon of defiance against the encroaching darkness. Giselle, a creature of the night, hissed, her voice taking on an otherworldly timbre that resonated with centuries of malevolence. "You think a mere trinket will save you, little mortal?"

The challenge in her words only fueled my determination. "It's not about saving myself," I declared, my voice firm. "It's about ending this."

Giselle's malevolent chuckle resonated through the hall as she descended, an embodiment of supernatural cruelty. With a sinister grace, she lassoed Haerin, a little mean. Haerin, stalwart until the end, shivered and sank to her knees, a testament to the overwhelming power that sought to crush us.

A sudden grunt of pain behind me drew my attention to Hanni, who, in the midst of the chaos, clutched her arm. Blood oozed forth, an unsettling hue distinguishing it from ordinary life force. As if defying the laws of nature, the blood levitated, casting an otherworldly glow in the dimness. Then, Hanni spoke, her voice carrying an unexpected strength, "Nobody hurts my best friend."

My brows furrowed in confusion, my gaze fixed on Hanni. In an inexplicable display of power, the blood she controlled stretched like an elastic force, snaking towards Giselle and wrapping around her throat. Giselle gasped, her fingers twitching, a sudden vulnerability overcoming her. Hanni, grunting with the effort, held the vampiric force at bay.

I stood frozen, caught between horror and awe, as Hanni, driven by an unyielding determination, choked Giselle. The vampire gasped for breath, her fingers clawing at the ethereal restraints. A moment of silence hung in the air, broken only by the sounds of struggle.