It was chaos.
The barrier still held, so there was no way to send anyone out.
More than ten family mbers who couldn’t fight were trapped inside the house — plus another ten who were forbidden from fighting, including Ruby’s younger brother.
Ruby stood with her uncles and her father, all of them shielding the ancestral ho her grandfather had loved.
"Gruoooh!" The inhuman thing growled as Ruby slamd her foot into its chest, knocking it back.
She clicked her tongue. She couldn’t use her usual skills on these things — they’d lost themselves. You can only make soone kneel by striking at what haunts them, at their mories. These creatures had no self left to hurt.
"Guh!" A pained grunt made Ruby turn. Uncle Arbit was clutching his left arm while the monster chewed on his flesh.
Ruby’s eyes went cold. She dove forward and shoved the man out of the way, driving her dagger into the beast’s gut and pushing it back.
She flipped her blade into a reverse grip and took a stance.
Her father and William were locked in battle too, slicing at things that felt nothing. The surviving guards who could still fight were scattered, holding the line.
But Ruby’s worry ran deeper: these monsters weren’t the real threat. The Acolytes waited behind them — the ones who mattered.
"It’s useless to think you’ll win today, Miss Vermillion," one of the Acolytes called. "You’re trapped. You’re ant to die."
Ruby snorted. "We’ll talk about destiny after I spit on your grave."
Then she lunged forward.
Ruby’s dagger flashed in the dim light as she slashed at the beast’s arm. Dark blood splattered across the floor, but the creature didn’t even flinch. With a guttural roar, it swung its claws at her, aiming to rip her apart.
She twisted her body, the sharp edge of its nails brushing past her shoulder. The wind of the strike stung her skin, but her stance never faltered. Ruby stepped in, her blade carving a line across its ribs before she darted back out of reach.
"Gruaahhh!" it howled, eyes burning with mindless rage. The monster lunged, jaws snapping toward her throat. Ruby shoved her dagger upward, the steel lodging between its teeth, stopping the bite inches from her face.
’They are faster than the Acolyte i fought back at the venue...’ She gritted her teeth.
With a sharp twist, she drove the blade deeper into its gums and wrenched it free, breaking off one of its fangs in the process.
The creature thrashed, swiping wildly. Its nails tore grooves into the walls and floor, but Ruby flowed around every strike, her movents sharp and controlled. Each ti it overextended, she punished it — a stab to the thigh, a slice across the forearm, a cut to the belly.
’It’s getting hotter...’ Ruby realized with a tightening chest. Every strike she landed, every ti the beast failed to reach her, its body temperature climbed higher.
That was not a good sign.
"Aghuoooo!" the monster roared, slamming its hands into the ground before lunging at her like a wild animal.
Ruby clicked her tongue, snatched her dagger, and hurled it straight at its head.
*THUNK*
The blade buried deep, but the creature didn’t even slow down. It kept charging, foam spilling from its jaws.
Ruby’s patience snapped. She drew the revolver from her side and pulled the trigger.
*PTAAH!*
The courtyard echoed with the deafening shot. The creature’s head burst apart, its body collapsing lifeless at her feet.
Ruby let out a shaky sigh. She hadn’t wanted to use the revolver—her last resort—but she couldn’t stand the thought of her family getting hurt.
*PTAAH!* *PTAAH!*
Two more shots rang out. The beasts that had cornered Reid and William dropped dead instantly.
Reid’s shoulders sagged, his breathing ragged. Fighting without his armant had drained him.
But the Acolytes still stood tall, unfazed. One smirked and called out, "Nice tool you’ve got there, Miss Vermillion. Whether it saves you or not... I’m not so sure~"
Ruby’s instincts scread. Her eyes darted back—veins were bulging across the bodies of the fallen creatures.
Her heart sank.
"Move!" she shouted, fumbling to switch bullets, desperate to raise a barrier. But she was too late.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The world shook as all three bodies erupted at once. Flesh, blood, and shards of bone tore through the air like shrapnel. Screams filled the courtyard.
Ruby spun, frantic, searching for her family. Relief and terror collided—none of them were hit. A wall of earth stood before them, shielding them from the blast.
But the price...
A figure staggered, crimson soaking his chest.
Ruby’s eyes widened in horror.
"DAMIEN!!" she scread.
.....
"Where are you going?" Ariana asked, noticing Annabelle was getting ready to leave.
Annabelle replied, "Jean sent word that the Acolytes are moving strangely in Aritveil. I need to check it out."
They were in Ariana’s office. Apart from the two of them, Adrian was also there—fast asleep on the couch. He hadn’t woken up since returning from the Ti Chamber, too drained from his work and effect of the herb. Because of that, they still hadn’t asked if he had achieved his goal.
Annabelle hesitated, her voice softening. "Do you think I should stay here instead? I promised Darling I’d protect him..."
Her heart twisted with conflict.
She wanted nothing more than to remain by Adrian’s side, watching over him, giving him all her care. Yet, with the Acolytes stirring trouble and danger looming closer, her duty pulled her the other way.
For Annabelle, choosing where she belonged at this mont was painfully difficult.
"You are doing the right thing," Ariana’s voice cut through the smoke of confusion.
Annabelle turned to face her and heard the woman adding, "Adrian would have told you this as well. Just go and assess the situation. We can’t bear to miss any single details about their movent. This ti we plan on completely eradicating them."
Taking a pause, Ariana added, "And about Adrian then I don’t need to convince you that I will watch over him. He is safe here."
Annabelle nodded, "I trust you. Then, I will go and check on them."
Soon, the raven-haired walked out of the office.
Ariana leaned back in her seat and stared at Adrian.
Soone who always remains busy with his work and research, this was a very welcoming change to see him relaxed and deep asleep.
Getting up, she approached him.
Kneeling before the guy, she trailed her finger down his face and whispered, "Are you really sleeping?"
There was no response, of course. Adrian was sleeping quite soundly.
Ariana was about to get up and brew so coffee for herself when suddenly she felt illumination beneath his shirt.
She frowned before undoing his button and found that the source of illumination was the ring.
It was Ruby’s ring.
°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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