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Buried beneath a towering, volcanic, mountain range, Karnath moved through a network of dark, winding tunnels that twisted and turned, finally opening into a massive chamber where the four pillars of the Abyssal pack waited.
The cavern was lit by eerie, supernatural flas that danced in shades of blue, violet and green, casting shifting, spectral shadows over everything. The thick scent of sulfur perated the air, mingling with the almost musical hum of distant volcanic tremors that seed to pulse through the stone.
The cavern’s walls were blackened and rough, inscribed with ancient carvings and sinister curse marks that depicted the Abyssal pack emblem – a skeletal wolf’s skull – a haunting reminder of the pack’s dark allegiance. The carvings pulsed faintly, reflecting the dark energy that radiated through the stone.
Karnath’s lips curved into a faint, approving him as his gaze settled on the four pillars of the Abyssal pack, each cloistered within a secluded alcove at the chambers core – a place forbidden to all but the pack’s highest mbers.
In each alcove, runes inscribed with demonic energy glowed fiercely, a visible sign of their connection to dark forces. It was a spot where the five pillars were able to perform rituals and commune with their master.
"Oh, what a surprise! Everyone’s here," Karnath drawled, a mocking smile twisting his lips as he strode into the open space. His blackened eyes glead with pure amusent as he surveyed the others.
"Strange," he murmured, "Usually I find only Eugene sulking in the shadows." He gestured casually toward Eugene, who was oblivious to Karnath’s presence, staring into space with the absent look of one lost in thoughts.
Beside Eugene stood the rest of the formidable five pillars: Vaelin, Draygar, and Zarok, each a vital force within the Abyssal pack.
Vaelin, the fourth pillar, was a figure of raw strength – a hulking fra marked by scars etched into his skin by the harshness of his past. His runes were bold and chaotic, thick lines that looked more tattooed than branded, each one glowing more faintly with dark blue embers that flared most vividly along his shoulders and neck. They pulsed as if holding back a fierce, restrained power.
His eyes, as dark as the abyss, were set deep within a rugged face locked in a perpetual sneer, and his hair was cut brutally short. His very presence radiated a feral intensity, and air of barely-contained fury, like a storm gathering strength, only to unleash it at any given mont.
The second pillar was Draygar, who was actually lean and wiry, with sharp, angular muscles that have him a sleek, deadly look. His skin was crisscrossed by jagged runes that spiderwebbed across his body, like cracks in dark glass.
His blackened eyes gave off a slight, almost imperceptible shimr, as if tiny galaxies swirled within, waiting to pull the unwary into their depths. His hair was shaved at the side, with a single short braid trailing down the center, adding to his lethal allure.
Then there was Zarok, the Apex demon shifter, towering as the highest-ranked pillar of the Abyssal pack. He was formidable, with a powerful sinewy fra and skin as smooth and polished as marble. Intricate dark runes spiraled across his chest and arms, thicker and more complex than any of the others, their winding paths forming bands of living symbols that proclaid his rank, dominance and power.
Zarok’s eyes were pure black, hollow and void of any light, and when they fixed upon Karnath, they carried a chilling intensity that made even him uneasy. His jet-black hair cascaded in untad waves over his shoulders, framing features that were sharp and predatory.
Eugene made up the fifth pillar, and he lingered in his own corner, distanced from the others, though a flicker of irritation crossed his face as Karnath’s voice echoed through the space.
"It’s like a family reunion, all gathered for so special occasion," Karnath taunted, his gaze sweeping over the quiet space, as they all deliberately ignored him. "Why so quiet? As usual, none of you have any sense of fun."
He settled into his own private corner with a lazy grin, only for Vaelin’s sneer to deepen. "You’ve got so nerve stepping up there without the master’s orders," Vaelin growled, his eyes glinting with pure disdain without even sparing Karnath a glance, as if saying he wasn’t worth it.
anwhile, Karnath turned, staring at Vaelin with a smug smile. "Had to take care of sothing important," he replied casually, "it’s been far too long since we’ve had a good fight, or what do you think, little brother?"
His gaze shifted to Eugene, and with a playful glint in his eyes, he slinked over, intruding upon Eugene’s personal space. Leaning in close, he let his voice drop to a taunting whisper. "By the way, I ran into Donovan – the one who you claid nearly killed you. Funny, after all your stories about him, I find him undoubtedly sexy. You should be honored, little brother, to die at his hands."
Eugene’s face hardened, the faint irritation deepening into sothing darker.
"What are you on about?" Draygar cut in, well aware of Karnath’s notorious weakness for handso n. Were it not for Karnath’s formidable shapeshifting abilities, unmatched combat skills and flexibility, plus his bloody record of single handedly killing ten Alphas, his peculiar fondness for flirtation would likely not have been tolerated.
Not even themselves were spared
"Older brother—"
"I’m not your brother," Draygar’s voice was cold, his words striking Karnath like ice. "Control yourself. The master will be here soon, so stop pestering everyone and let them focus."
Karnath’s usual cheer dimd under Draygar’s command. A slight frown crossed his face before he suddenly shifted, taking the form of a child and retreating to a more shadowed corner where he sulked in silence.
Vaelin, who watched the exchange, couldn’t have been more satisfied to see soone finally silence Karnath. It had been a long ti since their last audience with their master. Back then, he had given them strict orders to remain unseen, never to set foot above ground. All had obeyed without question, except for Karnath, who had brazenly slipped away to Illyria on the very night their master orchestrated an assault against the Northerners.
"For your information, the king’s still breathing," Karnath murmured, his words earning collective groans of annoyance from the others, but he pressed on without a care. "I thought the entire point of this was to eliminate the king. But, surprise– he’s alive. Do you think he’ll be furious when he shows up tonight?"
Vaelin’s expression darkened as he muttered, "Let’s hope he’s furious enough to kill you first." The fact that soone as insufferable as Karnath was higher than him while he remained low in the rank gnawed at his pride.
Karnath’s smug, insipid grin only worsened the sting, fueling Vaelin’s disdain. Even as a child, Karnath managed to be repulsive, exuding a twisted charm that Vaelin could barely stand. But then, with practiced shift, Karnath dropped his youthful facade, sauntering forward as he transford into a striking woman whose features Vaelin recognized instantly. His eyes narrowed, flaring with barely contained fury as he realized exactly who Karnath dared to impersonate, and in front of the others too.
"Vael, you shouldn’t talk to in that manner," said the beautiful woman, her voice soft but edged with amusent. Her presence made Vaelin clench his fist, and he threw a piece of rock at Karnath, who dared to impersonate her.
"Shift back!" he ordered, his tone hard. But the woman only smiled, a knowing smirk on her lips as she stepped closer, her expression daring him to act.
She seed to have anticipated his every reaction, as if she knew what he would already do next. It was none other than Karnath’s skills at work, his talent for not only taking soone’s form, but their very essence.
"What will you do, Vael?" she taunted. "You don’t even know this woman, yet you let her haunt your thoughts. Could she be soone from your miserable past? I t soone who had the exact color of hair, you know."
"Enough," Zarok’s voice broke the tension, his quiet authority silencing everyone. He dropped to both knees, lowering his gaze. "The master has arrived."
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