As night falls over Avaldsnes and the party seem to have slowed way down everyone is either drunk sleeping or off with each other, This casts shadows upon the rejuvenated village. The happy atmosphere seems to sour with me at least. The air itself smells foul iron, sulfur fills the air along with rot. My eyes quickly dart around everyone and it seems it's just me who is smelling this. Dread overcomes me quickly and goosebumps come across my skin the very hair on my arms is standing up.  I harshly swallow tasting iron and grinding my teeth. Thinking to myself I know it's coming again but why. What have I done, am I already not cursed enough? Will it take very soul as well? Reality is quickly setting in that there is a chance of losing myself. I quickly gather my wits and brace myself for what is about to come. 

I slowly move my eyes down and I notice my crimson-red hair is starting to turn black. Not again, NO I shout trying to breathe but I can't I feel like Im drowning. Shaking with fear , I'm paralyzed fragility looking, and trying to fight the change. It didn't go well the last time I tried this. I either fight it and take the pain or I let it overtake me. Blood is pulsing in me quickly going down to my fingertips it's like all the weight in my body is gone. Instead, it's replaced with such coldness as if the very life essence in me is gone. I'm shaking, I'm desperate, slowly the familiar wetness trickles down my face, and my blood tears I see a glimmer over in the distance. moving my heavy cold body I look into the puddle and realize.

I find myself grappling with the newfound crimson hue in my eyes—the unmistakable sign of a transformation that has long been lying dormant within me since the last change. I touch my face to feel the same cold wetness from Earlier and my hair is a completely dark black now. I feel like a predatory instead of my normal self. 

The Forest of Crystals' and Jormungdandr's magic must have helped unleash this darkness in me but why? Chills run down my spine as I confront the truth of my nature trying to dig into my brain. Was the curse my fault?  Am I not Human? What am I doing, Cain had to know something he was always protective keeping me away from the other children. Cain always told me "You're too sick from the malichor we can't let the others see you like this".  I want to scream and do anything but I can't. He did mention before that I was the death curse that ruined the castle after I killed my mother during labor. My mother did have the illness but that isn't really what happened. My death curse is what killed her as I was told. But did that even happen? The truth will come out one way or the other I thought. Thus the Jormungdandrs appeared and made the Villagres riot and so many years later. I started realizing a small part of them accused him of sleeping with Hades Kin the Devil. 

While I'm in thought, I hear bones breaking something is changing and my teeth are aching. My head burns like I'm being burned alive worse than it was thirty minutes prior versus feeling cold and empty just like a husk.  I grasp my chest as I feel the burning in my chest. I cough and see the Black Clood Splatter on the dirt and I can feel the cold sweat rolling down my burning skin. I try to maintain composure by scratching the dirt. Just maybe if I put my hands in the soil it will go away but I know deep down the more I fight it the worse it gets. If I can just drain the plant life as I did in the fights with Leo, Kira, and Freya. I did it once with everyone but they were alot farther away from me but it should be fine and I will not lose control.

Kari, ever perceptive, senses the change in me. As she walks over to me from her tent, she pulls my hands from the soul and connects our hands our fingers entwined. Using her other hand to slowly trace down my bac it feels warm and then I realize I'm cold just like a sheet of ice. Looking into my eyes with a mixture of concern and determination. "Brenna," she whispers, "I sense the growing darkness within you this has to be more than the malichor. The Forest Realm has revealed more than we anticipated in our time here. We must face this together."This is not you and I will not let your soul be Damned." Kira bends down to walk me back to her tent, she struggles alot I'm bigger than she is and she isn't exactly used to using her muscles for labor. Kari is a druid after all not meant to do brute work she is a good companion to have for a fight with her hell cat and magical abilities. Ragnar and her skills are amazing and seeing them is a sight to behold.

I nod to what Kira told me I wish I could just disappear in this moment. The weight of my revelation was heavy on my shoulders. While in her tent, and the soft glow of mystical crystals illuminates the space. Ragnar, the wyvern, stirs but remains at ease, seemingly attuned to the mystical energies surrounding us.

Kari's eyes, now a cautious yellow, lock onto mine.  "Whatever darkness has awakened within you, we'll confront it together. The bond between us is strong, and I won't let you succumb to this alone." I need you, Brenna, Fight this just as you did before I know you can please I do not know how to be in this world without you" her tone sounding full of determination and desperation.

As I struggle with the internal battle, a realization dawns upon me—I thirst for is now something beyond mortal sustenance and I can not use my shadow to feed on fire or animals anymore. The crimson glow in my eyes intensifies, and a dark hunger grips me. Kari, ever resilient, steps closer, a glint of concern in her gaze.

"Brenna, let me be the beacon in your night I can not throw you to the wolves," she whispers, you are just lost that it all but I am offering myself to you willingly Brenna. " I notice you tend to have black smoke coming from your shadow and if you do not feed it overtakes your right. Feed on me Please who knows how long we have before that power of yours did what it did in the battle of the elements you turned many things to ash on that battlefield. It was as if nothing ever existed there other than death itself. Including the Lementeally you touched, all you did was touch it and it withers away this time Kari's voice turns to quivering tone filled with fear.

Listening to her a still conflicted hunger rages even more within me. I want to Scream and tell her to leave me, the vampire nature awakening with its insatiable thirst. With a mixture of fear and trust, I lean in and use my fangs to graze Kari's neck. I know when I use my shadow that causes great harm I always feel the loss of life each time as it gets tormented by the black smoke and burns up from within with the black gooey liquid. The Burning I felt in my head is no more, the itching of My Fangs no more. For now, the black smoke of death hasn't come from me like it usually does. As I feed, Kair is using the Forest of Crystals' magic to help weave through the act, guiding the process with otherworldly power. The Darkness is sated for now but what will I tell the other? My death touch has gone but I know deep down it will return. Even as a child, I could never touch any for long without them becoming ash.

The crimson glow in my eyes begins to fade, replaced by the golden blue hue of my original self. I pull away, and Kari, though weakened, smiles with a gentle understanding. "Our bond is unbroken, Brenna. Together, we'll navigate the shadows within. I know this is not the real you, there has to be a cure". Little does she know I have had this power my whole life just not to this extent. Kira shows me a hand and pulls me to help Me stand. Time to face the music I guess.

As we exit the tent, the night air is charged with fear and desperation. The cosmic tapestry of destiny, once again, takes an unexpected turn. A few members from the Wyvern tribe, having witnessed the struggle, stand by us, their eyes reflecting a mix of fear and desperation.

Meanwhile, Leo and Freya share an intimate moment amidst the mystical glow of the fire. Freya giggled and teased Leo yet again getting him to follow her. " Alright, Siren remember your safe word I won't be gently remembered in an aroused tone. Leo smiles again and his canines glisten from the firelight. His hair is eliminated now almost as if it's as bright as the sun his gray skin is a beautiful light grey in the firelight. Freya is giggling pulling him by the hand and leading him into the tent. Times like this I go to my tent I rather not go under the siren's temptation but Leo did tell her to put him under it earlier in the day.  Should I tell them what occurred or what almost occurred tonight? The Airrealm's swift winds seem to carry whispers of newfound connection, intertwining the destinies of our companions in ways unforeseen. Hearing whispers in the dark about the King of Death and how I must meet with him. But why, what would he know about me?

The journey into the unknown continues, now layered with the complexities of my vampiric nature and the evolving dynamics between our group. As dawn approaches, we stand united, facing the veiled realms with a resilience forged in the crucible of love and darkness. Will I lose myself to my vampiric nature and absorb Kira's life and my companions or will I be able to return home not among the shadows? But to do so I must meet with the King of Death to gain entry. Will he betray us all for his deep hunger or is he the next darkness to be set on us? In the search for the cure, I have not heard back from my brother Cain I have a deep sense of dread. Will my companions accept my true nature or will I finally receive the peace of death that my darkness craves? That can't be good, can it? Does that mean if I lose my humanity I become the world's worst nightmare or will I become the Bride of Death?

THE END... or is it merely the beginning of a saga where the ties that bind are tested by the eternal dance between light and shadow?