Maya's eyes locked onto Kael's but the person she once trusted was gone. The blackness in his eyes seemed to spread like ink, and his smile was a cold, calculated gesture.
"Kael, what's happening to you?" Maya took a step forward, but Damon's grip on her hand held her back.
"Don't," he whispered. "Something's wrong."
Kael's laughter was low and menacing, sending shivers down Maya's spine. "You really thought you could escape the Sphere's influence, Maya? You're just a pawn in a much larger game."
As he spoke, the air around them began to distort, and the Sphere's hum grew louder. A dark energy swirled around Kael, and Maya felt a malevolent presence watching her.
"You see, Maya," Kael continued, his voice dripping with malice, "the Sphere has a master. And you're about to meet him."
The darkness swirled into a figure, tall and imposing, with eyes that burned like dark stars. Maya felt the weight of his gaze, and her sigil flared in response.
"The Archon," the figure spoke, its voice like thunder in Maya's mind. "You've been chosen to unlock the Sphere's true potential. And you will obey."
Maya's defiance sparked. "I won't let you control me."
The Archon's laughter was like a crack in the earth. "You don't have a choice.
Maya's eyes widened as she stared at the Archon, the resemblance to Damon unmistakable. The same piercing eyes, the same sharp jawline... but twisted and corrupted.
"Lucy?" she whispered, her mind racing. How did she know that name? And then she remembered - Damon had mentioned a brother, a twin, in their conversations. But she hadn't known his name.
The Archon's gaze narrowed, his eyes flashing with surprise. "You know my name," he said, his voice dripping with curiosity.
Damon's grip on her hand tightened, his eyes fixed on Lucy with a mix of anger and sorrow. "Lucy," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "What have you done?"
Lucy's laughter was like a crack in the earth, sending shivers down Maya's spine. " Did you miss me brother?" Lucy asked with a mocking smile. Damon's grip on maya's hand tightened "you are not my brother" he growled,fangs protruding "you are a monster"
"I'm the future," he sneered. "And you're just relics of the past."
"Damon, what's going on?" Maya asked, her eyes locked on Lucy. "What's happening to Kael?"
Damon's eyes never left Lucy's face. "He's under the Sphere's control. We need to stop him without hurting him." With Kael fighting against his own will. Maya knew she had to act fast to save her friend.
"Kael , show our guest what it means to resist."
Kael's eyes flashed with a brief, tortured glimmer before the darkness consumed him his movements jerky and unnatural. He lunged at Maya
As Kael lunged at Maya, Damon reacted instinctively, grabbing Kael and spinning him around. For a moment, the two men locked eyes, and Maya saw a flicker of Kael's struggle against the Sphere's control.
"Kael, fight it!" Maya shouted, her heart beating wildly
But before Kael could respond, his body arched backward, and he let out a blood-curdling scream. The air seemed to rip apart behind him, revealing a dark, swirling vortex.
"No," Damon growled, trying to hold Kael in place.
Kael's scream grew louder, and he began to lift off the ground. Maya watched in horror as he was pulled into the sphere, his body stretching and contorting in ways that seemed impossible.
"Damon, do something!" Maya screamed, but it was too late.
The vortex imploded, and Kael vanished into the darkness. The clock tower was silent once more, except for the sound of Maya's ragged breathing.
Damon's eyes locked onto hers, his face set in a grim expression. "We have to find him."
But as they turned to leave, Maya felt a chill run down her spine. She knew they were being watched.
And then, she heard her name.
"Maya..."
The voice was low and sent shivers down her spine. It was a voice she knew all too well...
"Mom….?"