22. Zyrith

22

ZYRITH

D arkness. The familiar comfort of the void surrounds me, but something gnaws at my mind, pulling me back to consciousness.

My eyes snap open, and the memory of the attack rushes back with a force that threatens to drown me in rage. Pain throbs through my body, evidence of the treachery. But there is a deeper ache, one that transcends the physical—an emptiness where Lara should be. Those creatures dared to take her from me.

"Lara," I mutter through gritted teeth, the name burning on my tongue like a curse and a prayer all at once. My fingers dig into the cold stone beneath me, grounding myself as the world swims back into focus. The cavern's dim light does nothing to soothe the fury building within.

As I start to shift my body, every muscle feels heavy. I force myself to breathe, each inhalation stoking the embers of my resolve.

I force myself to stay down, assessing the damage done by the attack. I lie still, feeling every crack and crevice in my skin. Each one tells a story of time, solitude, and now... betrayal. My wound has stopped bleeding thankfully.

My senses soon sharpen as I lie there regaining my strength. Every sound is amplified in the cavern’s silence.

Why did they come? Why did they not understand? She is mine. We belong together. The air feels heavy, oppressive, as if it mirrors the turmoil within me.

Their faces flash in my mind: Aiden's steely resolve, Maya's anxious glances. They thought they were rescuing her. Fools. They know nothing of what we share.

Where is she? What have they done with her? These questions race through my mind, but I push them aside for now. Focus on what matters: finding her, holding her close once more.

"Lara," I whisper again, the sound barely audible but filled with an intensity that echoes off the chamber walls. My eyes remain closed as I picture her—her golden hair framing her delicate face, her eyes filled with both fear and defiance when she first saw me. And later, those same eyes softening with acceptance and something more. The bond we forged was unexpected yet undeniable. And now it feels as if a part of me has been ripped away.

A low growl builds in my chest as I remember her cries when they took her away from me. She begged them to let her stay. Why couldn't they see that? My anger simmers, barely contained. It thrums beneath my skin like a living thing, ready to explode at any moment.

In my mind’s eye, I see Lara’s tear-streaked face, hear her voice breaking as she pleaded for our bond to be understood. Her friends didn't care; their minds were closed to anything but their own perceptions of right and wrong.

"They will pay," I vow softly to myself, each word dripping with venomous resolve. My body remains still, but my thoughts are anything but calm.

I need to plan my next move carefully. The surface world holds dangers I've long forgotten. But for Lara... I'll face them all.

"I will find you," I promise into the darkness, my voice echoing off the stone walls. "And nothing will keep us apart."

I do not move yet; patience is a virtue I have learned over eons. But every second feels like an eternity as I lie there, preparing myself for the inevitable confrontation. They may have thought they could take her from me without consequence, but they do not understand what it means to awaken an ancient being’s heart after centuries of desolation. I gather my strength and focus on what must be done next.

Pain intertwines with my desperate determination, each throb of agony melding with the resolve that drives me forward. I push myself to my feet, muscles protesting but obedient to my will. Each calculated step I take echoes through the cavern, a reminder of my ancient strength and the unyielding purpose that now fuels me.

The very thought of Lara sends a wave of warmth through me. It cuts through the cold, hard stone of my exterior. I follow the faintest trace of her presence, guided by an otherworldly connection that transcends time and physical barriers. It's as if an invisible thread links us and pulls me towards her with an undeniable force.

The cavern walls shimmer with the faint glow of bioluminescent moss. Every shadow seems alive, every crevice a potential hiding place for those who dared to steal her from me. My senses are heightened.

Each step I take is deliberate and measured. The weight of centuries presses down on me, yet my love for Lara propels me forward. Her image fills my mind—her sparkling eyes, her delicate features, her fierce spirit that captivated me from the moment we met. She is more than just a human. She is my salvation from solitude.

She must be terrified without me. She must feel as lost as I do in this moment. But I will find her.

The echoes of our bond guide me like a beacon in this dark maze. I can almost hear her voice, a whisper in the silence urging me onward. Every beat of my heart resonates with a single purpose: to reclaim what is mine and protect her from any harm.

I pause for a moment, closing my eyes and focusing on the faint vibrations that still linger in the air. They are a map to her location. Each subtle shift in the ground beneath me is a clue. My breath steadies, and with renewed resolve, I continue forward.

Tormented by anguish and an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, I claw my way through the darkness. The cavern stretches before me, an endless labyrinth of shadows and whispers. Each heartbeat is a drum echoing in my chest, propelling me forward with an urgency I have not felt in centuries.

Lara.

Her name is a constant mantra, grounding me even as my mind races with possibilities. I run my fingers over the rough surface of the cavern walls, feeling the ancient history embedded within. This place has been my prison and sanctuary for eons, but now it is merely an obstacle between us.

The air here is thick with dampness. Every deep breath I take is a reminder of the isolation that has defined my existence until she came into my life. Her presence has awakened something within me—something primal and fierce. A need to protect, to cherish.

I push through the darkness, guided by a connection that defies logic. It is as if our souls are intertwined, leading me to her even when my senses fail. The ground beneath me shifts slightly with each step, a subtle reminder of the seismic disturbance that brought her here and threatened to tear us apart.

As I move deeper into the cavern, I become acutely aware of every sound—the distant drip of water, the whisper of wind through unseen crevices, the occasional scuttle of small creatures. But above all, it is her heartbeat I strain to hear. The rhythmic thrum that reassures me she is near.

My love for Lara courses through me like molten rock, burning away any doubts or fears. It gives me strength beyond measure, driving me to overcome any obstacle that stands between us. She has my heart in ways I never imagined possible.

Each step brings me closer to her, yet the distance feels interminable. My fingers tighten into fists as I channel my frustration into resolve. Nothing will keep us apart—not these ancient stones nor any force that dares challenge our bond.

I will find you, Lara. And when I do, we will never be separated again.

The cavern trembles beneath my mighty footsteps as I continue on, as if the ground itself recognizes the determination that courses through my being. Each step reverberates with the force of my anger, shaking loose pebbles and dust from the ancient stone walls. My wrath burns hotter with every thought of Lara's friends, those fools who dared to take her away from me.

How dare they? My hands curl into fists, skin grinding together painfully. They came into my sanctuary, disrupted the peace I had cultivated for centuries, and then had the audacity to steal her from me. My rage is a living thing, coiling within me like a serpent ready to strike.

Their ignorance astounds me. They see only a monster, not the being who has loved and cherished Lara in ways they cannot fathom. The memory of their faces—the fear in their eyes—fuels my fury. They attacked me, left me wounded and unconscious, thinking they could sever the bond we share. How wrong they are.

I push through narrow passageways and vast chambers alike, each movement bringing me closer to the surface—to her. My breath comes in steady rhythms, each exhale a testament to my undying love and fury.

At last, I see it—a faint glimmer of light filtering through a distant opening. The sight ignites a surge of hope within me.

With renewed vigor, I press on, each step echoing with purpose as I make my way toward the surface. Toward Lara.

The air shifts as I finally claw my way out of the cavern, each breath carrying the strain of centuries and recent anguish. I emerge from the cavern's depths into the light above. The sunlight is harsh against my eyes. It’s a stark contrast to the dim cavern I’ve known for so long.

The cold air bites at my skin, a welcome sensation after the suffocating underground. It's been eons since I've felt the wind. Yet, there's no solace in this freedom without her by my side.

“Lara,” I murmur to myself. Each step is driven by a singular thought: reclaim her, protect her, never let anyone take her from me again.