Adrian glared down at the defeated summoner, his fiery chains still hovering just inches from the man's neck. The summoner, looking scared and angry, tried to look away from Adrian's intense stare. His eyes quickly moved to the goddesses behind him, each of them ready to strike.

"Start talking," Adrian demanded in a cold voice. "Where is the Shadow Court gathering?"

The summoner gulped, unsure, but the glint of Adrian's spear-tipped chains drew nearer, burning his skin with their fierce heat. He flinched, knowing he had no choice.

"The location isn't fixed. It changes each time, but there's always a signal—a portal that appears when the hour strikes to take us to the site."

Abyss narrowed her eyes. "And when is this hour? We need a date, a time."

The summoner gave a small sneer, showing a bit of defiance, but as Adrian's chains moved in closer, that defiance quickly faded away. "In sixty days, midnight," he replied, his voice barely audible. "That's when the portal will open for those invited."

Medea spoke up in a low voice, sounding doubtful. "And you think we can just walk through that portal without alerting the entire Court?"

The summoner managed a bitter chuckle. "The Shadow Court doesn't take kindly to tricks, and they're not fools. They'll know if you're coming—if you can even get close enough before they sense you."

Adrian glanced back at Medea, then Lilith, who gave a wry nod. "Leave the trickery to us. We'll be there."

Before the summoner could respond, Adrian gave the slightest flick of his wrist, and the chains sprang forward. The spears struck him instantly, and the summoner let out a final choked breath as his life faded, his body slumping to the ground.

The room fell into a tense silence, the flickering flames of Adrian's chains illuminating the mess they'd made in the battle.

As the chains retracted, Adrian turned to take in the scene. Blood and shadows stained the floor, and scorch marks were scattered across the walls.

But what caught his eye was Selene, who was slumped against the wall, her face pale and strained. Blood seeped from a gash on her arm where one of the summoned beasts had gotten to her.

"Selene…" Adrian's voice softened as he crossed to her, his heart heavy with guilt.

Of all his companions, she was the only one without powers, the only one with limited defenses against the Shadow Court's dark magic. She had held her ground, but it was clear she had paid a price.

Medea quickly stepped forward, kneeling beside Selene. A soft glow surrounded Medea's hand as she held it over Selene's wound, focusing on her energy.

Warmth radiated from her palm, and slowly, the bleeding slowed, the flesh knitting back together. Selene's face relaxed, a small sigh escaping her lips as the pain eased.

"You should have stayed back," Adrian murmured, his gaze still locked on Selene. "I should have kept a better eye on you. It's my fault you were hurt."

Selene managed a weak smile, shaking her head. "I knew the risks, Adrian. You don't have to worry about me."

Ava approached, resting a reassuring hand on Adrian's shoulder. "Selene can hold her own, even without our abilities. She's tougher than you give her credit for."

The other occupants of the inn, who had hidden during the battle, began to emerge from their rooms, cautious and wide-eyed as they surveyed the aftermath. A few of them hesitantly approached, murmuring words of thanks for the group's bravery.

But gratitude quickly turned to concern.

"I'm sorry, but… you need to leave," the innkeeper said, his voice trembling. "The Shadow Court… if they know you were here, they'll return. And we can't risk putting everyone in danger."

Adrian nodded, understanding the fear in the innkeeper's eyes. "We'll go. Thank you for the shelter you provided." He motioned for his companions to gather their things while he handed a pouch of coin to the innkeeper. "For damages."

With a last look around the battered inn, they filed out into the quiet night.

As they set off down the darkened road, Adrian took up a position beside Selene, his usual watchful gaze lingering on her. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and everyone was alert and uneasy after the surprise attack.

Adrian couldn't shake the image of Selene's injured arm, and an instinctive protectiveness rose within him.

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked her quietly as they walked.

Selene glanced up at him, offering a soft smile. "I am. I appreciate your concern, Adrian. But I'm here because I chose to be. You don't need to keep looking over your shoulder."

Adrian's lips twitched into a faint smile. "It's hard not to. You may not have the powers the others have, but that doesn't make you any less valuable."

The gentle affirmation seemed to catch her off guard, and she looked away, a blush rising to her cheeks. "Thank you, Adrian."

They walked in silence for a while until they got to the outskirt of the village where they horses were tied. The forest around them was dark and alive with the sounds of nocturnal animals moving about.

Adrian pulled out a worn map, tracing the route to the next temple they needed to reach. He marked their current position and the distance to the temple, calculating the best route that would keep them off the main paths and, hopefully, out of sight of the Shadow Court's scouts.

"From now on, we avoid inns," he said, addressing the group. "It's too easy for the Court to track us if we stay in the open. We'll make camp wherever we can find shelter that won't draw attention."

The goddesses nodded, all grasping the new importance of their mission.

After a day of traveling, they were getting close to an empty, abandoned village, with the sun setting and shadows growing longer over the ruined structures.

A chill hung thickly in the air, and an uneasy silence followed them, pressing in as if warning them to turn back.

"Does anyone else feel that?" Lilith muttered, her voice low. She eyed the buildings, her fingers resting on the hilt of her sword. "This place... it doesn't feel right."

Selene glanced around, her gaze wary. "I know the stories. People call this place cursed," she said. "But it might just keep the Shadow Court off our backs for the night."

As they continued, they spotted a figure approaching slowly from the fog that clung to the ground. The figure was cloaked, his features hidden, and he moved with an unsteady, dragging gait. He stopped a few paces from them, his face obscured by the shadows of his hood.

"Turn back," the figure rasped, his voice worn and gravelly. "You don't want to be here when night falls."

Adrian took a step forward, his gaze steady. "We're just passing through. We'll be gone by dawn."

The figure shook his head slowly. "Dawn won't come for those who linger here," he said, his voice softening as if haunted by something he couldn't shake. "I don't know what brings you to this village, but heed my warning—leave, or this place will claim you, just as it has claimed all the others."

Lilith crossed her arms, unimpressed. "We've dealt with worse," she scoffed. "I think we can handle a few ghost stories."

The stranger's face turned toward her, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The spirits here are restless. And it's not just ghosts you need to fear... there are things here that should never see the light of day."

Adrian's eyes narrowed. "What exactly do you mean?"

The man seemed to hesitate, his fingers twitching nervously. "The souls that walk here—they're trapped, bound to this place by something dark, something ancient," he murmured, his gaze distant. "Every night, they search for escape... through anyone foolish enough to stay."

For a moment, silence reigned as the group processed his words, the air growing colder with each passing second. Adrian took a steadying breath, his instincts warring between caution and their need for rest.

"We don't have much choice," he said at last, his tone resolute. "We'll stay one night. But we'll remain on guard."

The stranger only sighed, his form seeming to blend into the mist as he stepped back. "One night is all it takes," he murmured before turning and fading into the shadows.

They watched him disappear into the fog, his final words hanging heavily in the air.

"Still think it's just ghost stories?" Ava whispered to Lilith, who offered a small, reluctant shrug.

"If we weren't so exhausted," Adrian said, "we'd move on. But we'll rest, set up watches, and keep to ourselves."

They pressed further into the village and found a large, abandoned manor looming at the far end of the main street. Its windows were shattered, and the walls were overgrown with vines, the stones cracked and darkened with age.

Reluctantly, they stepped inside, the floorboards creaking underfoot, and scattered through the main hall to clear away debris.

"I hope no one is scared of ghosts," Medea said as the door closed behind them, plunging them into darkness.

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