Brisa

A loud thud resounded throughout the thick walls of the underground bunker. Brisa was lying on a bed with her eyes wide open, wondering what was happening on the surface. Belo had told her to stay in that room for her own safety.

Another dry blow echoed in her ears. This time, her bed shook nervously. Brisa sat up, taking deep breaths to calm down, and rushed to fit her shoes. An intense pain drilled through her head, but at least her nausea had stopped. She feared the Doman brothers had intercepted Ronner at the mansion. Or worse yet, he could be dead.

For the first time in her life, was she worried about him?

It didn’t matter. Brisa sprang out of bed and headed to the door to lean her ear against the cold iron.

Only silence came from the other side.

Brisa knew she had to call Belo to unlock that door, so she grabbed her phone and dialed his number several times.

BOOM!

The ground shook violently under her feet, and then a massive shockwave hit her like a truck, sending her against the floor. All the lights flickered, and dust crumbled from the roof like a gray mist over her head.

And then screams, painful screams.

Loud blows rumbled throughout the corridors, mingling with indistinct shouts and cries. Among the chaos, Brisa overheard rushed footsteps drawing closer.

The door burst open with a sharp clank, and Belo stormed into her room, his face devoid of color. He locked the door behind him and rushed to Brisa’s side.

“My lady, are you okay?” he asked, concern flashing in his eyes as he scanned her body for injuries.

“I’m okay, don’t worry,” she replied, grabbing his arm to lift herself from the ground. “What’s going on outside?”

“It’s Skado,” Belo admitted, tightening his lips as sweat spread across his forehead. Those words sent shivers down Brisa’s spine. “He’s killing our people. Right now, only our last guards are holding him back, buying time for us to escape.”

Brisa’s heart jumped to her throat; she could barely breathe. “This can’t be,“ she mumbled, staggering toward her bed, aided by Belo. “Ronner . . . Where is he? Why didn’t he stop Skado?”

“I don’t know.” Belo shook his head, lowering his gaze. “It seems like Skado is the only one here. I dare to say his brother is fighting Ronner while Skado attacks the mansion. We need to take you and the Nephilim girl out of here.”

“Remnya,” Brisa murmured as a rush of adrenaline filled her body. “Yes! We need to go for her!”

“I got ahead of ourselves, my lady. Remnya is already waiting for us outside,” Belo assured, gripping his shotgun.

“Really?” Brisa widened her eyes as slight relief eased her heart.

Belo nodded and unlocked the door. “Let’s go, my lady, or else the sacrifice of those brave men will be in vain.” His voice cracked with pain. Brisa clenched her fists and nodded.

They bolted out of the room and sprinted through a long corridor. Brisa ran as fast as her legs allowed it, but spasms twisted her stomach, forcing her to slow down.

“This way!” Belo hopped into one of the three elevators that led back to the mansion.

Brisa halted to glance behind her and then at Belo. “Why are we going back there? Where’s Remnya?”

“Remnya is on the surface, hidden in Mr. Ronner’s room. I don’t know how, but Skado figured out where you were. He even blocked our main escape route. We got a traitor between us!” Belo roared, punching the wall next to him, cracking it as his fist buried into the metal. “Right now, the safer escape route for us is through the mansion.”

Brisa gulped, trying to process his words, and then grabbed Belo’s arm, climbing onto the elevator’s floor with difficulty. At that moment, the only thing on her mind was making sure Remnya was safe. The floor underneath vibrated and buzzed as the lift started toward the mansion.

Back on the surface, everything was eerily silent and still.

They sneaked between furniture and half-closed doors and headed to the garden. Cold sweat prickled on Brisa’s forehead as the pain in her abdomen intensified with every step. They took a shortcut through an abandoned room. Belo locked the door and pushed a massive bookshelf over it.

“This way!” Belo crouched next to an old hearth. “I’m sorry, my lady, your clothes might get dirty, but this is the fastest route.”

Brisa rushed next to him to stare into the hearth. There was a small hidden door big enough to fit an adult body. Belo did his best to remove as many cobwebs as possible, along with ashes and dust. Aided by him, Brisa pushed her body through it.

She fell into a dark room on the other side, coughing as she shook dust and ashes from her dress and hair. Belo fell behind her, groaning as his knee slammed to the floor.

He pulled Brisa to her feet. She staggered, feeling dizzy and weak. “Are you okay, my lady?”

“Yeah,” Brisa mumbled, gathering all her strength to continue. “Let’s hurry.”

Belo craned his neck into the corridor, glancing left and right before beckoning her to follow him. The last corridor felt endless, like a marathon to escape hell. The creamy LED lights of roofs and walls began to flicker until halfway into their run, they all went out. Quickly, the emergency lights turned on, illuminating the whole place with a scarlet glow.

An excruciating groan of pain resounded in Brisa’s ears, forcing her to halt and turn around. Belo fell to his knees.

“Run . . . “ he muttered as blood spurted from his mouth and nose.

Brisa’s first instinct was to rush to his side and help him, but her eyes caught a glimpse of the monster approaching behind him.

Skado.

He strolled in her direction with a smirk dancing on his lips. Several daggers gleamed between his fingers, three of which had buried into Belo’s back.

“Run!” Belo screamed with his last breath, one second before another dagger pierced his skull, opening his head in half.

The time stopped. Blinded by terror, Brisa whirled and ran as fast as she could. Her mind and heart merged into one, pumping with adrenaline as her legs moved on their own.

She didn’t make it far. A dagger cut through her ankle, causing her left leg to bend on its own. Her whole body whipped against the cold floor as electric pain traveled through her leg and blood stained her shoe. Skado closed the distance between them in a quick sprint and loomed over her before she could react. Brisa leaned against the wall, trembling as she curled up.

Knowing it was over, her last reaction was to cover her abdomen and plead with quivering words, “Please . . . “ she stared into his lifeless eyes, “I don’t care about my life, but please, don’t hurt my baby.”

“Your baby?” Skado tilted his head, amusement and surprise drawing across his face.

“I’m carrying Ronner’s baby. Please, don’t hurt an innocent being.”

Skado’s body contorted as laughter spurted out of his mouth, echoing throughout the corridor. “Damn! This makes things a lot more interesting!”

“Please . . . “ Tears rolled down Brisa’s cheeks as she tightened the grip around her lower body.

“I’m not planning to kill you . . . yet. I just want to take Ronner down, and you’ll help me with it. You’re the bait that will lure him to his demise.” Brisa widened her glistening eyes. “But knowing you’re carrying his spawn makes things a lot better. No way he’d just give you up.” A terrifying smirk twisted his disgusting face, half-covered by the blood of people she used to know.

Brisa closed her eyes, and the pain in her belly intensified. A red pond had formed under her feet, and she felt dizzy.

“Let’s go!” Skado grabbed Brisa by the arm and forced her to stand up, but her legs bent under her weight, and she fell back to the floor. He scowled and yanked her upward. “Move!”

“Please, I can’t walk anymore!” Brisa cried. Her body felt like falling apart.

“Stupid bitch,” he sneered and tightened the grip on her wrist, dragging her body through the floor.

“Please! Stop it!” she screamed with all her strength, pulling her arm away in a futile fight.

“For fuck’s sake!” Skado’s eyes gleamed with rage as he lifted his arm, ready to hit her.

A flash blinded Brisa’s eyes, and a fireball exploded against Skado’s face, shooting his body several meters away and leaving a trail of smoke behind him.

“Stay away from her, ugly bastard!”

Brisa lifted her gaze to find the source of that familiar voice.

Remnya stood in the middle of the corridor, carrying a massive shotgun between her hands. Her whole body glowed crimson.

“Rem . . . “ Brisa mumbled.

“On the ground!” Remnya ordered, and Brisa obeyed without thinking. Remnya unloaded the whole ammo on Skado, who was trying to stand up. The bullets whistled above Brisa’s head, a deafening flurry that forced her to cover her ears.

When everything stopped, Remnya ran up to her and kneeled by her side. “Are you okay?” she asked, caressing the blood on her leg.

“All my body hurts . . . “ Brisa murmured and tried to sit up but fell on Remnya’s chest.

Remnya hugged her. “We need to leave now.” Her voice was sharp and decided.

“You need to, this is your chance to escape.”

“Shut up!” Remnya threw the gun against her back, held by a leather strap, and then she wrapped her arms around Brisa, pulling her against her shoulder.

“Rem, what are you doing?” Brisa asked, widening her eyes. Remnya said nothing. She just gripped her body tightly and lifted her from the ground with ease. Brisa caught a glimpse of her eyes; they were burning, and a crimson glow danced in them furiously.

Remnya stood up and sprinted through the corridor, carrying Brisa in her arms, until Skado’s smoking body disappeared behind them. Brisa didn’t dare to speak anymore and finally fainted.

*°*°*

Remnya

Remnya’s first thought had been to reach Zeo’s room, but that would take her too long, and Brisa needed help as soon as possible. She took a different route and broke into a large room where two beheaded maids lay on a red pond. Remnya ignored the sight and rushed to ease Brisa onto a bed and blocked the door with every piece of furniture she could find.

Kneeling next to Brisa, Remnya wrapped a blanket around her wound, trying to stop the bleeding, but it was futile. The blood kept flowing out like a torrent, sliding between her fingers.

“Shit!” Remnya groaned in frustration and tore the blanket apart.

A desperate idea popped into her head. She lifted Brisa’s leg, holding it tightly as her hands glowed crimson. Ensuring Brisa was still unconscious, Remnya pushed her fingers against her wound, increasing the heat gradually until it burned, cauterizing the gash. The blood stopped, and Remnya rushed to wrap a bed sheet around her ankle.

Unfortunately, there was no time to relax. Skado still moved, and his footsteps drew closer. Remnya sat next to Brisa, gripping her shotgun over her lap with trembling fingers. It was her last row of titanium bullets; she could not fail. That monster had to pay for his sins.

The footsteps stopped, and silence engulfed the eerie night.

“Rem . . . “ Brisa mumbled, squinting at her. “What are you doing?”

Remnya cocked her shotgun and glanced over her shoulder at her. “I won’t let him hurt you or your baby.”

“Rem, this is your chance.” Brisa reached out for Remnya’s hand. “Go get Zeo and escape.”

Remnya chuckled. “Do you really think I’d just leave you behind?” She caressed and squeezed Brisa’s hand. “They will do anything to take Ronner down. As much as I hate him, he’s better than Skado. At least he seems to care about you.”

Brisa closed her eyes. “I told him.”

“What?”

“He knows I’m carrying his baby.”

Remnya stared at her for a moment. “One more reason for him to come back—”

A loud crack followed by a hissing sound shattered the door in half.

Electric arcs engulfed every corner of the door frame, and the furniture blocking it exploded into a hundred pieces of wood.

Remnya jumped over Brisa, covering her body with hers, and pushed her against the floor. Burning splinters flew past her head.

“Ok, Nephilim bitch!” Skado shouted, his voice a rumbling thunder. “Hand over the fucking maid, and perhaps no harm will fall over you.” He stepped forward, glaring at every corner. His clothes had been destroyed, and multiple brown bruises covered his skin.

“Screw you!” Remnya sneaked from behind the bed, aiming her weapon at his face, and pulled the trigger.

Fast as lightning, Skado closed the distance between them and smashed Remnya’s head with a powerful fist, sending her body like a bullet against the wall, cracking the concrete with brutal force. She fell to the ground, motionless.

“Remnya!” Brisa shrieked and crawled toward her little sister, but Skado caught her by the hair and smashed her head against the floor.

“I swear you bitches are getting on my nerves!” Skado spat, looking at them full of contempt. A trail of blood rolled down Brisa’s forehead as she trembled on the floor, unconscious. Skado snatched her arm and dragged her like a lifeless bag of flesh.

Remnya staggered, leaning against the wall as she tried to stand up. Her gaze was fixed on that disgusting monster.

“Stay on the ground, Nephilim,” Skado warned, shooting a deadly glare.

“Leave her . . . “ Remnya mumbled, her body swaying from side to side as blood trailed down her forehead and cheeks. “Leave her . . . “

Skado hissed and turned to face Remnya. “Fine! I’ll put you to sleep too, fucking bitch.” He lifted his hand at her. A blinding energy ball grew into his palm, hissing and spitting sparks.

Remnya didn’t move an inch, and her glare pierced into Skado like a poisonous knife. She was tired, so damn tired.

“I’ll never forgive you . . . “ Remnya whispered as smoke blew out of his mouth and nose. “Never . . . “ Her eyes glowed crimson and immense heat filled her veins like magma, pushing against her insides like a volcano about to erupt. “You killed him . . . “

Her pupils disappeared.

“YOU DESERVE TO DIE!!!”

Remnya charged at Skado like a bullet, her whole body a furious crimson blaze, leaving a trail of flames, sparks, and smoke behind her.

Skado tried to block her attack, but his wrist bent under the brutal force of Remnya’s fist. Her punch crushed his face with monstrous power, burying his nose into his skull as tongues of fire exploded into his eyes and mouth, engulfing his whole head.

His body slammed against the wall while crimson flames roasted his skin, eyes, and hair. Skado screamed and contorted in pain. “Fucking Nephilim!” he howled, desperately charging two lightning bolts into his hands. Branches of electricity shot from his fingers, spreading throughout the room.

Remnya rushed toward Brisa, covering her body with hers as two electric arcs landed on her back. Even though they could not burn her body, they stung like thousands of needles. She could feel her nerves twisting and breaking in her spinal cord. She bit her lips not to cry in pain.

The fire around Viper’s face ceased, leaving deep smoking scars across his molten skin that still boiled. The smell was disgusting; it reeked of rotten, burnt flesh.

Seeing how Skado charged another bolt, Remnya ignored the pain and sprang from the ground, facing him. She charged two crimson fireballs into her palms, the same way she had practiced with Zeo, and hurled them at Skado.

He destroyed them with two quick bolts that ionized the air, causing Remnya’s hair to bristle. The fireballs exploded, turning into a deadly crimson rain. Skado tried to dodge it, but several droplets landed on his skin, sizzling as they dug holes into his muscles.

Remnya took advantage of the situation and picked Brisa up, trying to carry her away from the danger.

A lightning bolt struck her back.

Remnya’s legs became paralyzed, forcing her to drop Brisa as her whole body slammed against the floor. She rushed to get up, but her legs didn’t respond anymore. Had he shattered her spine?

Skado staggered toward them, his arms and body smoking, and then charged another arc. Remnya noticed he was aiming at Brisa. Using her trembling arms, Remnya pushed herself up and glared at Skado, ignoring the excruciating pain. She had to destroy that damned beast no matter what, even if her whole body got destroyed.

Skado smirked. His left cheek had melted, and she could see his teeth. The air hissed, and her hair bristled as Skado’s whole body was engulfed by a magnetic field. Lightning bolts danced around him, ionizing the air and crying like thousands of angry crows.

Had he given up trying to abduct Brisa? Was he trying to kill them now?

The time stopped. Remnya’s energy was draining rapidly from her body. In the end, she was still just a kid. No matter how powerful her fire was, her body was untrained. She was just a dumb girl trying to fight against the world, a world she didn’t belong to, a world she didn’t choose.

Remnya stared at Brisa for a moment. “I’m sorry, Brisa,” she mumbled while a crimson tear trailed down her cheek. “I’m sorry, Zeo . . . “

Skado guffawed maniacally as thousands of electric arcs swirled around his body.

. . .

But even this dumb girl can do great things.

Remnya dragged herself forward, placing her body between Skado and Brisa, and opened her arms. A smile drew across her face. “Shoot, coward,” Remnya said sharply, her glare locked on that monster. “You’re only going to kill one girl.”

Hesitation flashed in Skado’s eyes.

Why?

A giant crimson blaze engulfed Remnya’s and Brisa’s bodies, roaring and crying with immense fury as it grew bigger and wilder. The heat was so intense the paint on the walls began to melt, and all the furniture caught fire.

Skado let out a monstrous scream as he shot at them. Thousands of lightning bolts hissed through the air, all aiming at Remnya’s heart.

The electricity and the fire clashed and merged into one, fighting like two ardent dragons, releasing a massive shockwave that wrecked the whole room. Roofs and walls crumbled into crimson flames as a hurricane of fire engulfed everything in sight.

Deaf and blind, Remnya wrapped her arms around Brisa, waiting for her fate. Her crimson friend did the rest. Tongues of fire shot from every corner like a furious beast, turning the room into an inferno, a crimson inferno.

Only one lightning bolt penetrated through the blaze and sunk into Remnya’s skin. The rest vanished into oblivion and sparks, devoured by crimson.

Remnya cried.

But the monster cried louder.

Skado contorted his body like a desperate viper and fought the flames biting at his skin like wild tigers, taking chunks of his melting body. He covered himself with an electric field, and his last electric arcs spat in every direction, aimlessly, each one weaker than the latter.

The crimson flames kept taking bigger bites off Skado’s skin and muscles, slowly cooking him. He kept fighting until it was too much. Skado wailed and groaned in terror and pain and used his last bit of strength to summon a massive electric plasma ball around him.

A flash covered the whole room, turning the chaos into oblivion.

The heat turned into ice, and the pain into numbness.

And then.

There was silence.

*°*°*