Page 102 of What Beats Within the Tunnels

I can feel my strength surging back, the darkness within me clawing at the surface. I focus on Euric, ensuring that if he makes another move I’ll be ready to strike him down. The thought of unleashing my full power is exhilarating, and with every passing second it’s becoming more irresistible.

Nyx and Colton coordinate their attacks, keeping Euric on the defensive. But I can see the gates glimmering ominously in the background, and I have an urge of my own to move closer to them.

I race down the hill, and by the gods, Nyx and Colton look hot in the throes of combat. “Lyra, are you present? Are you in control?” Colton inquires, concern etching his features.

I chuckle. “It’s me, Colton. I’m here. I’m in control.”

“Your eyes have that shadowy tint, and your hair’s transformed,” Nyx points out, eyes still on the enemy, my father.

I glance down, noting the writhing shadows embracing me. There’s an undeniable temptation to surrender, let them dictate my actions. It’s as though every worry dissipates, replaced by the comforting cocoon of darkness. A distant call, barely perceptible, lures me a step closer to the gates.

Suddenly, Nyx’s cry of pain slices through the tension. I spin, stomach churning at the sight of my father’s blade grazing Nyx’s abdomen. It’s a superficial wound. Nyx will recover quickly. But my tolerance has reached its limit.

With a piercing stare, I fixate on Euric, channeling my power. In moments, he crumples to his knees, blood oozing from his ears and eyes.

“How... how are you doing that?” Colton breathes, awe and fear mingling in his voice.

I don’t answer. My entire focus narrows to the defeated form of my father. Despite any power he might’ve absorbed, in this moment I’m certain he stands no chance against me.

“You wanted my darkness? Here it is, Daddy,” I taunt, his fate teetering in my grasp as my magic bears down on his mind.

“Ah, Pixie, you’re finally embracing your true self,” he manages through gritted teeth, and despite the pressure I’m exerting, a twisted smile forms on his face. “Don’t hold back now. Finish it. Give in.”

“Lyra, don’t,” Colton pleads. “No matter how monstrous he’s been, he’s still your father.”

I barely register his words, my focus solely on Euric.

“Lyra, Colton’s right. We’ll handle him. You don’t need this,” Nyx intervenes.

Their voices are distant, but I answer without breaking my gaze from Euric. “You have no idea of the horrors he’s committed. A swift death is too merciful for him, regardless of our ties.” Out of the corner of my ear, I catch Nyx muttering a curse.

“Lyra, you don’t need this burden,” Colton says. “Savoring this power might feel invigorating now, but when the darkness recedes, you’ll be left to grapple with the aftermath.”

Their concerns begin to penetrate my resolve, but I shake off the doubt, frustrated by their insistence on intervening in this intimate reckoning.

I raise my hand, and blood begins to trickle from Euric’s nose, staining his chest. Yet, through the pain, he manages to laugh — a sound that reverberates hauntingly with the roll of distant thunder, igniting the rage within me even further. He’s responsible for the deaths of countless beings, for the obliteration of entire realms, and for every twisted turn in my life. Every semblance of goodness he’s shown has been a facade, a shield to hide the power-hungry demon that dwells beneath.

“What’s it like, Father, dying in Zomea? I wager you won’t have the luxury of a second return. But you’re about to find out, aren’t you?”

His grin remains, even as he spits out blood, eyes bleeding. “If I were to truly die, what better way than at your hands, watching you become everything you hate about me.”

“I’m nothing like you,” I retort. “You’re sick, taking lives for mere amusement and the pursuit of power. I am not that monster.”

“Alright, release him. We’ll handle this now,” Nyx urges, taking a step toward me. But when I growl, he halts, rooted in place.

“Keep telling yourself that, Pixie,” he whispers.

I surge forward, thrusting my hand into Euric’s chest. The grisly crunch of bone and the squelch of torn flesh echo hauntingly. I clasp his heart firmly.

“I’m not the monster here,” I whisper, my breath a cold promise against his face. In one swift motion, I wrench the heart from its cavity.

“Fuck,” Nyx murmurs, shock evident in his voice. I sense Colton retreat, muttering a curse under his breath. Slowly, Euric’s body tilts, collapsing face-first into the earth.

I glance at the heart — its grotesque resemblance to Eguina’s. With a mixture of revulsion and resolution, I drop it then nudge it with my foot toward Euric’s lifeless form. My gaze drifts, settling on the looming gates ahead.

“Okay, my shadow, it’s time to rein in the darkness again. You don’t need any more dark magic to protect you,” Colton urges. But his voice becomes a distant echo as my feet, seemingly of their own volition, want to close the distance between me and the gates. I can’t resist the pull emanating from them.

“Lyra, what are you doing?” Nyx’s voice fades against the allure of the gates.