Aphrodite
Chapter 23

Rachel stood alone before the massive ice walls of Inanis, the biting frost nipping at her exposed skin, causing her to shiver uncontrollably. The landscape before her was a haunting blend of beauty and menace. Behind the thick walls of ice, she could feel his malevolent presence, waiting for the right moment to break free.

As Rachel watched, the vast ice walls of Inanis began to show signs of vulnerability. Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface, undermining the fortress’s once-impenetrable façade. Thin streams of water trickled down, tracing the contours of the ice.

The chilling voice of the Abaddon echoed through the icy expanse, its depth resonating with an unsettling familiarity. “Aphrodite, you’ve come to witness my liberation.” His shadowy figure began to materialise in front of her, a sinister grin spread across his face.

Rachel’s breath hitched, her heart pounding against her chest. “I don’t understand,” she whispered over the cracking sounds of the ice. She took a step back, her mind racing to comprehend the unfolding situation.

“Thanks to you, my time in this frozen prison is coming to an end.”

Bewilderment clouded Rachel’s expression as she took another step back. “What do you mean? I haven’t done anything.”

A hint of sorrow appeared on the Abaddon’s features as he gently shook his head. “Ah, how sad it is that you do not remember. Our fates have been entwined for centuries, and it is your essence that will finally set me free.”

The revelation that their destinies were entangled—that she unknowingly played a role in his fate—struck her with a wave of fear. “I don’t understand. How could I be the one to release you?”

His shadowy form shifted closer as he grasped her hand, revealing blood on her fingertips. “The blood of Aphrodite will set me free. Your blood entered the waters of Inanis.”

Rachel recoiled. “No, it’s not possible,” she whispered, taking another step back.

The Abaddon advanced slowly, his piercing gaze locked on her. “I see your past lives’ memories have been concealed from you. If you desire the truth, I can help. I can restore the memories that were taken from you.”

His offer hung in the air, tempting yet terrifying. Rachel stood at a crossroads, torn between the desire to understand her true nature and the fear of what that truth might reveal. As they faced each other, an intense burning sensation ignited on her arm. The mark there seemed to come alive, pulsating with fiery energy that coursed through her veins. She clutched her arm, wincing in pain.

The Abaddon’s eyes narrowed, observing her discomfort with interest. “It seems the power within you is reacting to my presence The bond we have is growing stronger.”

“I will find away to rid myself of this bond.”

The Abaddon’s voice darkened as he countered, “There is only one bond you should be trying to break, Aphrodite. If your bond with that vampire remains when I reach the realm of the living, I will send him to the underworld.”

“Aphrodite, it is time you stopped these games,” the Abaddon warned. “If the vampire tries to stop me, his king’s soul in the underworld will be lost.”

“What are you talking about?”

“My minions in the underworld have reached the King of Hyperion, and they weaken him as we speak. If the bond with the vampire is broken, and you submit yourself to me, my attack will cease. But if you fight, he will be no more.”

The stakes were higher than she had realised, involving not just her own fate. Her decision now carried the weight of potentially dire consequences for others, far beyond what she had anticipated.

As the ice walls of Inanis began to thaw at an alarming rate, torrents of water cascaded down like waves. The once-solid ground beneath Rachel’s feet shifted, and the air was filled with the cacophony of splintering ice and rushing water.

Rachel fought to maintain her balance, her heart racing as the full gravity of the situation dawned on her. If the walls of Inanis collapsed entirely, it would unleash the Abaddon upon the world, a scenario she could not allow.

Summoning every ounce of courage within her, Rachel fixed her gaze defiantly on the Abaddon. “I don’t know what connection we have,” she declared, her voice steady despite the chaos around them, “but I won’t let you destroy everything.”

The Abaddon tilted his head, observing Rachel with an eerie calm. A grin played on his lips as he spoke, “Your determination is admirable, but futile. You cannot stop the inevitable.”

Despite the pain that seared through her arm, Rachel’s mark burned with an intensity that seemed to fuel her spirit rather than subdue it. She drew deep into her core, tapping into the raw energy within her, willing it to rise up against the dark force that threatened to consume her world. As the power surged through her body, it brought with it a clarity and strength she had never known before.

Around them, the walls of ice continued to crumble, the sound of crashing water growing louder as the structure of Inanis threatened to collapse completely. Rachel stood her ground, fortified by the newfound power coursing through her veins, determined not to let the Abaddon’s prophecy of doom come to fruition.

Engulfed by the relentless, icy torrents, Rachel was swept off her feet, her attempts to brace herself futile against the overwhelming force. The cold water engulfed her, filling her lungs. Desperation clawed at her mind, fear tightening its grip as the darkness threatened to claim her.

But just as despair seemed destined to overcome her, a brilliant white light pierced the darkness, eclipsing her vision. The light enveloped her, radiating a profound warmth that fought back against the cold, dissolving the icy grip of the water that threatened to drag her down. Within this radiant warmth, Rachel felt an immense power coursing through her, a protective force that seemed to defy the darkness.

As Rachel’s senses returned, she felt the firm ground beneath her and warmth of the sunshine. The chaotic world of Inanis had vanished, leaving her back in the serene embrace of the familiar riverbank.

“Rachel! Are you alright?” Vlad’s worried voice cut through her disorientation. She turned to see him kneeling by her side, his expression etched with concern.

Rachel managed a weak nod, still gasping for air as she clutched at the grass, grounding herself in its reality. “I... I think so,” she stammered, her voice shaky. She attempted to sit up, supported by Vlad’s steady hands. “Inanis is falling,” she whispered, still haunted by the vivid images from her dream.

“That’s impossible. Could it have been just a nightmare?” he suggested, trying to soothe her fears.

Rachel glanced down at her hand, her breath hitching when she noticed the blood on her fingertips. Puzzled, she followed the trail of blood that stained the blanket beside her, trickling down toward the river’s edge. Touching her neck where she last remembered feeling the vampire’s bite, she found no mark—only smooth skin.

Vlad’s arms tightened around her, offering comfort and warmth. “Your essence healed it,” he explained, a note of awe in his voice. “My Aphrodite,” he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

Rachel took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. “I’m surprised we both fell asleep. I wouldn’t have thought the ground would be so comfortable.”

“I could sleep on a bed of jagged rocks, as long as you’re beside me.”

“You’re high on essence,” Rachel teased, a playful smirk crossing her face despite the lingering tension.

“You don’t understand the purpose you bring to my life,” he sighed, holding her even tighter. “We should cherish these simple moments when life seems to pause, and it feels like we’re the only ones who exist,” he whispered, trying to offer a sliver of peace in the chaos that loomed.

“Vlad, the vision I had, it was real,” Rachel insisted, her voice trembling with urgency. “I saw Inanis melting so quickly that the water overcame me. I don’t know how much time we have,” she added, a tear escaping her eye and tracing a path down her cheek. “We need to break our bond and find the Phoenix before it’s too late.”

Vlad released her slowly, lifting his head from her shoulder to meet her gaze. “We will not break the bond. We will fight him together,” he declared. His response was not just a promise but a vow—a commitment to face whatever dangers awaited them, united.

Vlad’s eyes remained fixed on the landscape, his attention drawn by the unusual clarity that had overtaken the fog-shrouded environment. “The fog is lifting,” Rachel observed, her voice tinged with apprehension as she noticed the jagged edges of the cliff face across the river becoming visible.

Vlad shook his head, his posture rigid with tension. “The waters flow from Inanis. This is a very bad sign. Perhaps what you saw was real.”

Panic surged through Rachel like a lightning bolt, her hand clutching at her chest. “The water comes from the portal?” she asked, her voice strained with fear and disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Anger flared within her, her frustration directed squarely at Vlad. Had she known the river’s connection to the Abaddon and the dangers it represented, she never would have come.

“The Abaddon has changed this area. Before I met you, this river was frozen, and the fog was a constant. Being here was safe,” he explained, his voice growing graver with each word. “These changes... they indicate that the barrier between worlds has been weakened, perhaps even shattered temporarily. This isn’t the first time he’s breached the worlds. Last time, another creature safeguarded Inanis, but now...”

His voice trailed off, his brow furrowed in confusion. “I don’t understand what could have changed the river so drastically. Our bond has only strengthened since your arrival, which should have weakened him, not empowered him.”

Rachel reached out, her fingers brushing against his hand, offering a reassuring touch. “My blood, Vlad. After we were together... I fell asleep near the water, and before the wound healed, some of my blood might have washed into the river. The leech mentioned that the blood of an Aphrodite could set the Abaddon free. I didn’t fully understand then, but perhaps my blood has unwittingly started something.”

Vlad squeezed her hand. “I will do everything in my power to stop him from crossing over to this world. I love you, Rachel, and I promise I will do everything I can to protect us.”

Hearing him confess his love was overwhelming, stirring a tumult of emotions within her. Rachel wished the circumstances were different. She looked into Vlad’s eyes, seeing the determination and love that mirrored her own feelings. “I love you too, Vlad,” she responded softly, her voice thick with emotion. “But I think we have to break this bond. It’s the only way to keep you safe.”

“I know what I am risking, Rachel. I will fight with you,” he declared, his tone unwavering.

“Vlad, he threatened your king,” she said, her voice urgent.

Vlad paused, his face clouded with confusion and concern at Rachel’s words. “I don’t understand, my king is already in the underworld.”

“He has creatures that can vanquish souls in the underworld. He said if I break the bond and submit to him, you and your king will be saved.”

Vlad’s expression was torn as he gazed into Rachel’s eyes, his face a mask of conflict and concern. “But I can’t let you go. We have to find a way,” he said, his voice thick with emotion, revealing his deep affection and the heavy burden of the decision before him. “Let’s go see Estella. I don’t know how much time we have left.”

Rachel wrapped her arms around Vlad, her tears finally spilling over as she buried her face in his chest. They clung to each other, their embrace a steadfast anchor amidst the brewing storm. Together, their love and the bond they shared fortified them, readying them for the battles that lay ahead.

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