Page 5 of The Darkness Within
Blade shakes his head. “They’re real enough. Old meeting points where the veil between worlds is weakest. If Rake’s there, he could use that power to amplify his own. We have to get to him before he completes the ritual.”
They moved on, navigating through the quiet streets as Blade’s mind churns with the lore he’d been taught as a young demon. The Crossroads—legendary sites connected to Drebos, the demon realm, where ancient beings once struck deals and forged pacts that shaped their world. It was said that these places still held traces of that dark magic, power that only the most reckless would try to harness.
Blade’s thoughts drift as they walk, recalling the lessons he’d learned about the Veil. The Veil was a mystical barrier separating the human world from Drebos, their realm. It was meant to protect both worlds, to keep demons from running unchecked among humans and to prevent humanity from discovering the darker truths lurking in the shadows. For centuries, the Demon Council had tasked the Elite with maintaining the Veil’s integrity, hunting down rogues like Rake who sought to tear it apart for their own gain.
In Drebos, demons lived under a strict hierarchy, with the Council at the top, ruling with an iron fist. They kept the old laws, governing everything from magic use to the punishment for demons who betrayed their kind. It was a harsh world, but it maintained balance, something that was constantly under threat from rogues. Rake was one of the worst—an underbosswho had once held a position of power within the Council’s ranks, but had chosen to turn his back on their rules.
The rogues were demons who had forsaken the Council’s laws, seeking power or freedom at any cost. They fed on humans, harvesting emotions, life force, even souls, leaving behind only death and destruction. And when someone as powerful as Rake went rogue, it created ripples that could threaten the stability of both worlds.
Scar glances over, breaking into Blade’s thoughts. “So, what’s the story with Rake? You know him from before, don’t you?”
Blade nods, a grim look on his face. “We crossed paths once. He was different then—ambitious, sure, but he had a code. He believed in the old ways; said they gave our kind purpose. I didn’t agree, but he kept it under control. Until he didn’t.”
Scar’s brow furrows. “What made him change?”
“Power,” Blade replies. “He was never satisfied with his place in the Council. He wanted more, wanted to break the chains he thought were holding him back. Eventually, he found others who believed as he did, and that’s when he disappeared, going underground. By the time we realized he’d gone rogue, he’d already started gathering followers.”
They fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Blade knew that hunting Rake was about more than just stopping a roguedemon—it was about protecting the fragile balance between their world and the human one. If Rake succeeded, if he managed to harness the ancient power he sought, it could mean the end of the Veil, the end of everything Blade had spent centuries protecting.
They stop in front of a dilapidated building, another of their informants’ supposed hideouts. Blade knew they couldn’t afford to waste any time. Rake was getting bolder, and with each passing day, he was coming closer to completing his plan.
“We need to find his followers, track them down so that they can lead us to him,” Blade states, his gaze steely. “If we can disrupt whatever ritual he’s planning, we might have a chance to stop him before it’s too late.”
Scar nods, determination hardening his features. “We’ll need to call in favours, tap into the old networks. He has eyes everywhere, but so do we.”
Blade knew they had allies in the shadows, demons who hadn’t forsaken their loyalty to the Council. With their help, they might be able to find Rake before he could unleash the chaos he so desperately craved. But they had to act fast, had to move before Rake’s army grew too powerful to contain.
As they slip back into the night, Blade can’t shake the image of Rayne from his mind, the feel of her kiss, the taste of her that still lingered on his lips. He knew he was playing with fire, risking everything by allowing himself to be close to her. Butas he faces the darkness ahead, he finds himself clinging to that small spark of light she’d brought into his life, a reminder of what he was fighting for.
The hunt was on, and Blade knew that he wouldn’t rest until Rake was stopped, until Rayne was safe. And he would do whatever it took to make sure that the rogue demon paid for every drop of blood he had spilled.
RAYNE 3
Rayne wakes the next morning with a strange, lingering warmth in her chest, as if she’d carried the night’s memories into her dreams. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. Her thoughts drift back to the bar, to the intensity of Blade’s gaze, the way he’d looked at her like she was the only person in the room. And then, there was that kiss—a kiss that felt like the world itself had stopped, that she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about since.
It was strange, feeling so connected to someone she’d just met. But with Blade, it had felt… inevitable. Like somehow, she’d known him before, even though she knew that was impossible. A part of her felt foolish for letting her guard down so quickly. She’d always been cautious, ever since she was a little girl, moving from one foster home to the next. She’d learned early on to rely on herself, to keep her heart protected.
She sighed, rolling over and glancing at the old, framed photo on her nightstand. It was a picture of her as a child, standing in a park with a woman who had taken her in for a few short months. Those few months had been a rare stretch of happiness, a time when she’d felt safe, even loved. But it hadn’tlasted. It never did. Life had taught her that nothing stayed, that people always left. But with Blade, she felt something different—a strange sense of permanence, like he wouldn’t be someone who walked away.
The thought of him made her stomach flutter, a warmth spreading through her that she tried to ignore. There was something about him that felt dangerous, like he was wrapped in shadows. And yet, she’d felt safe with him, in a way she hadn’t felt with anyone else. Maybe that was why she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was still close, watching over her, even now.
She was about to get up and make herself some coffee when she heard a knock on her door. The sound startled her, she glances at the clock—it is barely eight in the morning. Frowning, she makes her way to the door, peering through the peephole. Her heart skips a beat when she sees him standing there, his tall figure unmistakable.
She opens the door, her surprise evident. “Blade? How did you—”
He smirks, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “I told you I’d see you again,” he replies, his gaze intense as he looks down at her.
Rayne shuts the door, crossing her arms as she tries to regain her composure. “But how did you find me?”
Blade’s smirk fades, replaced by a seriousness that sends a shiver down her spine. “There are things about me you don’t know yet, Rayne. Things I need to explain.”
She takes a step back, feeling a mix of curiosity and caution. “What things?”
He closes the distance between them, his eyes never leaving hers. “I’m not like other men, Rayne. I’m a demon, part of a group known as the Elite. We’re tasked with hunting down rogue demons who pose a threat to both humans and our world.”
Rayne blinks, “you are joking, right?” she asks as she processes his words, but before he responds, Blade reaches out, his hand cupping her face as his thumb brushes her cheek. The touch is gentle, but there is an intensity in his gaze that makes her pulse quicken.
“I know this is a lot to take in,” he continues, his voice a low murmur. “But I need you to understand that being with me means stepping into a world you never knew existed. It’s dangerous, and it’s dark. But I won’t let anything happen to you.”