AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Moreau’s gaze was steady, but Riker could see the worry in her eyes. “I know. That’s why we need to work together. Every magical being in this city is at risk, and if Cipher’s plan goes through, the human population will be caught in the crossfire.”
As they strategized, Riker’s phone buzzed again. It was a message from Catalina.
‘Meet me at the Crescent Nexus Tower. I’ve got a lead.’
Riker’s heart kicked into overdrive. The Crescent Nexus Tower—the site of the fusion of dark magic and technology. Whatever Catalina had found, it was important. He glanced at Moreau, who caught the urgency in his expression.
“Go,” she said, her tone firm. “I’ll keep things coordinated here. Be careful.”
Riker nodded and turned to Griff. “Get your people ready. We might need to hit the Crescent Nexus Tower hard.”
Griff grinned, his eyes flashing with draconic fire. “Consider it done.”
The Crescent Nexus Tower loomed before them, a towering, modern structure with its glass façade glinting in the afternoon sun. Despite its sleek exterior, Riker knew the building was a ticking time bomb—housing the dark magic that Cipher was trying to unleash.
Catalina was waiting for him near the entrance, her face tense. “I’ve been monitoring the magical signatures coming from inside,” she said as soon as he approached. “It’s getting worse. Whatever they’re doing, it’s destabilizing the magic in the area.”
Riker nodded; his jaw set in a grim line. “Moreau’s mobilizing forces across the city. They’re waiting for our signal. We need to stop whatever’s happening here before it spreads.”
As they made their way into the building, the air grew heavier with the presence of dark magic. Riker could feel it pressing down on him, thick and oppressive, like a storm about to break. The further they ventured into the complex, the more apparent it became that Cipher’s influence had infiltrated every level of the operation.
They moved quickly but cautiously through the halls, their footsteps echoing in the sterile environment. Catalina led the way, her senses attuned to the magical disturbances that pulsed around them.
“Down here,” she whispered, pointing to a stairwell that led to the lower levels of the building.
Riker’s instincts flared. This was where it would all go down.
They descended into the heart of the complex, where the walls seemed to hum with a dark, malignant energy. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, a group of heavily armed guards appeared, blocking their path.
Without hesitation, Riker shifted, the swirling mist masking his transformation, which was immediate as his body expanded into the hulking form of his bear. His claws dug into the ground, and with a roar, he charged forward, taking out the first wave of guards in a blur of muscle and fury.
Catalina was right behind him, her hands crackling with magic as she unleashed bolts of lightning at the remaining guards. They moved seamlessly; their movements synchronized as they fought their way deeper into the facility.
But as they reached the core of the building, the air around them shimmered, and Cipher appeared once again. His form was more grotesque than before, his body a terrifying blend of machine and magic, his eyes glowing with a sickly green light.
“You’re too late,” Cipher hissed, his voice distorted by the mechanical components grafted into his flesh. “The barriers are already weakening. Soon, the walls between the realms will collapse, and nothing will stand in my way.”
Riker growled, his bear form towering over Cipher.
“Not if we stop you first,” said Catalina, raising her hands.
But before they could act, Cipher’s form blurred, and he vanished into thin air, leaving only a trail of dark magic in his wake.
“Damn it!” Riker snarled, shifting back into human form as he scanned the room for any sign of their quarry.
“We need to track him,” Catalina said, covering his body with clothing with a simple flick of her wrist. Her eyes narrowed as she focused on the lingering magical signature left behind.
They raced through the corridors, following the trail of dark magic as it led them back to the surface. But just as they reached the exit, Cipher’s presence completely disappeared, vanishing into the maze of alleyways that crisscrossed the French Quarter.
Frustration gnawed at Riker as they stood there, panting from the chase. Cipher had slipped through their fingers again.
Back at Riker’s flat, the weight of the day’s events settled heavily between them. Little by little, they were coming closer to stopping Cipher. The longer and more closely they worked together, the stronger the bond grew between them. Catalina tried to dismiss her feelings for Riker, but unlike thesupernaturals she dispatched on a regular basis, the feelings wouldn’t go away. She really didn’t have time for this, and yet, she couldn’t deny them.
Catalina stood by the window, her arms crossed as she stared out at the river. Riker moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest just as he had that morning.
“We’ll stop him,” he murmured against her ear, his voice low and reassuring.
She leaned into him, her body relaxing in his arms. “I know. But what happens after?”
