The entity lunged—not as a shape but as a force—a crashing tidal wave of black that closed over Leon like a living maw. Elena barely had time to scream before Leon's body was yanked backward, his fingers tearing away from hers.
"LEON!"
The shadows swallowed half his torso, dragging him across the floor. He clawed at the stone surface, nails scraping sparks, but his body moved against his will—like something inside him was being reeled in.
His head snapped back, pain ripping through his throat in a strangled cry.
"Elena—!"
His voice broke.
It didn't sound like him anymore.
It sounded like he was speaking through water. Through static. Through chains.
The shadows consuming him twisted violently, tightening around him like coils. They weren't trying to kill him.
They were trying to claim him.
"No, no, no—" Elena scrambled forward, skin scraping stone. "You're not taking him!"
The entity hissed in answer—a low, vibrating growl that trembled the walls.
"Mine."
Elena flinched. The word wasn't heard with ears. It was carved directly into her skull.
She lunged, grabbing Leon's arm with both hands. The shadows were icy—so cold they burned—but she didn't let go. She braced her feet against the cracked floor, using her entire body weight to pull him back.
"Leon—fight it!"
His hand twitched weakly in hers.
"I—can't—" Leon gasped, his voice shredding into a whisper. "It's… inside the bond… pushing… I'm not strong enough…"
"You don't have to be strong!" Elena cried, pulling harder. "Just stay with me!"
But the shadows tightened—like a hunting serpent sinking fangless jaws into him. Leon's chest convulsed; the black veins spreading under his skin deepened.
The entity poured more of itself into him. Through the bond. Through the tear. Through the weakness.
Every part of him that was vampire—every ancient vein, every dormant instinct—reacted violently.
His fangs dropped fully.
His pupils narrowed into silver slits.
His breath grew ragged.
"Elena—let go—" Leon choked, agony distorting his features. "If it gets you too—"
"Shut up and fight!" she snapped, refusing to release him.
His eyes widened faintly at her tone—like a small, startled reminder that she wasn't afraid of him. Not even now.
The shadows snarled and yanked harder.
Elena was dragged several feet, her arms stretching painfully. Tears pricked her eyes, not from fear but from sheer frustration.
"Leon—look at me!"
He tried.
His eyes flickered to hers.
Silver drowning in black.
Good.
"Fight it," she whispered fiercely. "Fight for me."
That did something.
His hand tightened—barely, but enough.
A guttural, primal sound tore from his chest as he tried to pull against the shadows. They convulsed, shrieking in fury, as though offended that he dared resist.
The chamber trembled. The torches flickered violently. Stones fell from the ceiling as the entity pushed harder, angrier.
"He was mine before you were born."
The voice struck like a blade.
Elena's stomach dropped.
Before she was born.
Before her previous life.
Before everything.
What did that mean?
What history did Leon have with this thing?
What past was he still hiding—even from himself?
Leon jerked again—violently this time—his spine arching as the shadow buried deeper into him.
"Elena…" His voice cracked painfully. "It's going to break me—"
"No!" she shouted, pulling until her muscles screamed. "I won't let it!"
Her nails dug into his cold skin. She pulled again—every breath ragged, every part of her burning. The air around her thickened, pressing into her ribs, crushing her lungs.
It wanted her to let go.
She refused.
"I won't lose you," she whispered, trembling. "I didn't let you die before, and I'm not letting you go now."
Leon's eyes widened—sharply.
Something flickered in them.
Recognition.
Memory.
Fear.
"Elena…" he whispered. "You—you remember…?"
She froze.
Not fully.
Not clearly.
But she had said it.
And she felt it.
The shadows stiffened—like they sensed the shift between them, like they hated it.
Then they struck.
A massive force slammed into Elena's chest, catapulting her backward. She hit the ground hard, air torn from her lungs.
"No—!" Leon screamed as he was dragged farther, the darkness swallowing him up to the waist now.
Elena coughed, clawing at the floor. Dust filled her lungs. Pain radiated down her spine.
But she pushed up.
She wasn't losing him.
Not to this.
Not to anything.
"Elena—stay back—!" Leon gasped, head thrashing, silver fighting violently against the black in his eyes.
She ignored him.
She stood on shaking legs.
And she ran straight at the shadows.
The entity shrieked—furious.
A pressure like gravity itself slammed down on her, trying to force her to her knees. The weight grew heavier with every step she took, crushing her ribs, squeezing her lungs, making her vision tremble.
But she kept going—one step at a time.
For him.
For them.
For whatever the hell they used to be.
"Elena—!" Leon's voice cracked, breaking entirely, collapsing into a sound that was almost a sob. "Don't—"
"Shut up," she whispered, reaching for him.
Her hand brushed his.
A spark exploded under her skin—violent and ancient—like touching a memory.
The shadows recoiled for a split second—
Just enough.
Elena seized his hand.
And she pulled.
With everything.
Every breath.
Every ounce of strength.
Every piece of herself she didn't know she still had.
The shadows screamed.
Leon screamed.
But his body shifted—an inch.
Then another.
Then another.
She was pulling him back.
And the entity—
Was furious.