"Ugh!!" I groaned when an invisible force threw me against the wall which almost knock me off.

I could taste my own blood already. I could also feel the liquid trickling from my forehead down my cheeks.

It's too dark, I couldn't see anything! I couldn't sense him. I couldn't even take time to summon the beasts I've slain to give myself a time to think of a plan.

His devilish voice is echoing from every corner and kept throwing me here and there before I could even make a move.

"You giving up now?"

"UGH!" I groaned when he pulled me by the hair to lift me up.

I slowly opened my eyes and met his glowing eyes again.

"Oh, c'mon! That's it?" He sneered.

I swiftly pulled the knife on my thigh and attacked him, but he already disappeared which I took time to summon the behemoths right away.

"Outcast, doomed to wander the face of the earth, hear your master's command..." I chanted. "Come nigh thee and serve me... yusiphus!"

The mark on my wrist glowed as a monstrous creature appeared before me with a loud roar.

Yusiphus is so huge, he could kill anyone just by stepping on them.

He's a boar-like beast with feet of a bull and indescribable strength. He's the last beast I've defeated which could have killed me if I haven't found out what his weakness is.

With the little light from the mark of my wrist, I was able to see the last descendant looking up at Yusiphus. He looks neither disappointed or amused to what he's seeing in front of him.

"Kill him!" I commanded and Yusiphus immediately seized him.

I turned against my heel and started focusing to reach the others outside the seal to what kind of hell-of-a-barrier is casted in this place, but I couldn't.

As the light dwindled, Yusiphus' groans echoed in the entire place and I watched there in horror when he landed to the ground, lifeless.

It wasn't long enough when I summoned him and now--

"Seriously, is that it?"

I could barely make his face out with the little light left on the mark on my wrist. He's sitting above Yusiphus' body, obviously mocking me.

My lips trembled when he suddenly rose up and teleported in front of me.

I stepped back and aimed him the knife I've been holding. My vision passed through him and to Yusiphus.

I can summon all my beasts to stop him but I can't just let them die. I just need to get out of this place without releasing him and think of a better way to tame him.

"You see, I can offer you a way out." He whispered, grinning.

I narrowed my eyes on him.

"As if!" I hissed. "Even gods' words cannot be trusted how much more from someone like you?!"

"Even the devil was once an angel," he licked his fangs down to his lower lip. "They became the fallen because they were deceived. Soon enough, you will become like me and to think you're already one to begin with."

I cringed when he grabbed me by the neck and slammed my back against the wall. It was too painful; I almost lost my breath.

"Let's lighten things up, shall we?"

I heard him snapped and a sinister form of light emerged out from the darkness. I don't know where it came from but it just dramatically made this place a little bright as though a moonlight is shining upon us.

"What a lovely face," he simpered. I could barely make out any figures around me as my vision already went blur.

I didn't go through hell just to be defeated like this! Am I still not strong enough?!

I cringed when I felt his breath running across my neck.

"W-what the hell are you doing?!" I groaned.

"Hush!" He whispered and I gasped when he licked my neck. "As my first victim, I'm gonna tell you a secret."

"GET OFF ME YOU--" I attempted to kick him off but my legs couldn't be moved. It seems like I have been paralyzed.

"The only way you can defeat me is for you to give yourself to me."

"M-MAKE ME!"

I gathered all my remaining strength to land him a hopefully not my final kick when he suddenly slammed me against the ground.

This time, with full force causing me to bounce once before falling straight. I wasn't able to breathe right away in pain.

This isn't the first time a descendant did this to me but this is just the most painful one yet! I groaned and slowly sat down but before I could even help myself up, he was able to crawl on top of me.

"W-what the hell?!" I gasped when I met his red eyes just an inch away from mine.

"G-get off me!" I screamed and tried punching him but he caught my fist and pinned it above my head.

I don't know where my strength is coming already as I was so sure I could have been dead when slammed me cold.

"Hmm..." I cringed when he leaned closer. "Your blood... Smells so good."

"Shit!" I cursed when he licked my neck again. "I-I said get off me!"

My throat is so painful, I could hardly utter my words clearly.

I tried fighting back but it's too late! I screamed when I felt his fangs dug through the flesh of my neck.

"N-Nooo!!" I cried but he didn't stop until I felt my whole body getting numb.

"Say my name, tamer." He whispered. "Say my name and I'll let you defeat me."

"I-In your wildest dreams!" I screamed, tears bursting out my eyes in stinging pain.

I felt his grip loosening so I immediately took the chance to take the remaining dagger I sealed on my waist and immediately stabbed him but as expected, he was able to dodge my attempted attack but at the very least, I've managed to chase him away from me.

I coughed as I tried to stand up. I immediately held my neck as I could feel blood oozing out from the wound he left.

He's only standing in front of me with blood smeared all over his lips.

He's way too strong and I know for a fact, I would never stand a chance to defeat him but--I wiped the trickling blood on my lower lip and smeared it against the mark on my wrist--I know he will.

"Spirit of the underworld..." I muttered, waving the constellation sign. "Summoning souls, hear my plea."

Strong forces of light materialized from below, blowing my hair up.

"King of the Northern stars, founder of the lost. Lend me your power, firm at all cost. By the power vested upon me, I summon you..." the mark glowed into different shades of blinding lights. "HARUTORA!"

I fell down on my other knee as I watch Harutora materialized in front of us. He's a phantom which was living inside me for 20 years now--the familiar spirit from vulpine's descendant, Lelith sealed inside my body the time when she threw me away to revive my brother, Carter.

Harutora glanced at mewith his ferocious, yellow eyes and seems to be wondering why I summoned himwhen I swore to God I would never.

He's a white fox demon, wearing all white.

He didn't say a word and looked at the last descendant who was grinning at us. His white bushy tail swayed as he took a step forward.

He then waved a sign and five white wisps appeared, surrounding him.

"Spirits of the Northern skies..."

He waved another sign and those wisps turned into blue fire. He chanted things I don't understand until those five fires became one flame.

My lips parted when Harutora swiftly attacked the last descendant with it but he was able to dodge them easily. Dark miasma formed on the descendant's hand and attacked Harutora which made him leap back by instinct.

He didn't get hit tho.

I was only staring at them as they fought using skills which obviously surpasses any gods there is.

I gasped when a loud blow shook the whole place and froze when I saw Yosuke and Kevin heading towards me.

They're injured and especially Kevin who was close on losing his composure.

"How in the world--"

"Yuki told me to use the ball of ice to break the seal," Yosuke groaned and helped me up.

"BUT WHY?!" I cried and we all looked at the descendant who's already standing at the entrance.

"Freedom, AT LAST!" He laughed, looking at me. "I'll come back for you--" he then disappeared. Harutora went to chase after him to who-knows-where.

"WHY DID YOU BREAK THE SEAL?!" I faced Yosuke, limping. "Now he's gonna cause havoc! What the hell were you thinking?!"

"You think we'll just let you fight alone?! I'd rather die fighting him for you than for you to be sacrificed."

I ended up slapping my forehead.
"God!!" I groaned.

"Tabitha! Are you okay?" I saw Carter and Yuki running towards me but Yuki stopped steps away while Carter checked my wounds.

"She's not badly hurt but did the last descendant--"

All of them looked at Yuki who's looking at my neck. I immediately turned around and covered it with my coat.

"Did he claim--"

"No!" I cried, cutting Carter off.

I looked back and the rest already came. They were all looking at me in disbelief.

"He didn't c-claim me," I stuttered.

"But he will surely be back for that," Yuki added.

"We're not gonna let that," Tyler stepped in front of me and started cleaning the dirt on my face. "Zeke can hold him for the mean time."

"Zeke?" I echoed.

"His name is Zeke Harutora, prince of the Northern skies and is the right hand of the god of war, Anthony." Kevin whimpered, caressing his injured arm.

I eyed all of them when I noticed they were all injured.

"What happened to all of you?" I asked.

"We had to fight Aiden and Adonis, so we could bring you out," Carter hissed.

"Where are they now?"

"Must be helping Zeke," Lee muttered. "I saw them seizing the last descendant."

All of us gasped when two different forces, coming from two different sides, met, creating a massive explosion good thing Yuki fast enough to cast a barrier spell to at least protect us from the great impact.

Everything was fogged by dust until Harutora and the last descendant appeared from a distance. They were only staring at each other as if they were reading each other's minds.

"Yuki," I whispered right in her ear. "Remember the sleeping spell you gave me before?"

She looked at me curiously. "Yeah, why?"

"Do you have that with you now?"

"Yeah. Are you planning to use that against the last descendant?"

"You got it. Now hand it over to me."

Her lips thinned and gave me a bottle potion of the sleeping spell.

"Wait!" She gasped when I swiftly opened the lid and sprinkled it all over them.

"What is th--" I heard Ryuu mumble and all of them fell down the ground including Yuki.

"S-stop." She shouted in a soft, fading voice before falling into a deep sleep.

Fortunately, this potion only works to them.

"This is my fight. Y'all should stay out of it."

I threw the empty bottle away and ran towards Harutora. I stopped behind him and saw a devilish smile curved from the descendant's lips when he happens to see me.

"Just give me the tamer," he said and my forehead creased.

Harutora glanced at me and back to him. He didn't say any word and walked in front of me. He's way too tall so he's basically blocking my view from the last descendant.

His long-white hair is even brushing against my nose so I took a step back before I could sneeze the hell out of me.

I heard the last descendant chuckle which had me to peeking from Harutora's back.

"Watching a first-class tamer hiding behind a familiar look really pathetic," he jeered. "Oh! Demi-god, rather. My mistake!"

I clenched my fists and was about to attack him when Harutora blocked me with his arm.

"Mind your business!" I yelled but he only answered me with his blank stare. I don't know but it seems like he was telling me that I could never win against the last descendant which makes sense.

"You two seems to be having a little misunderstanding," that evil of a man snickered.

I looked at him and he was only staring at me. His sharp fangs were showing and his glowing red eyes seems to be piercing through my flesh.

"But that won't last," he smirked and I gasped when my chest suddenly twinged in pain--too painful that I almost feel into the ground, good thing, Harutora was fast enough to catch me.

My vision went blurry until everything went black.

• • •

"Tabitha... Tabitha! TABITHA!"

I gasped when someone called me from afar. I looked everywhere but I see nothing but a total darkness.

"Where am I?" I muttered, caressing the dark and cold ground with my bare hands but nothing's there until a blinding light hit me from the back.

Am I already dead?

I slowly stood up and walked towards the light until I found myself strolling in a meadow.

"I'm positive, I'm dead!" I muttered again, eyeing everything in sight. "Where am I really?"

I decided to just walk farther to make things sure until I found a small cabin across the meadows. It was covered by dried moss and really looks old.

I caressed the senescent door and slowly pushed it to see what's inside.

I saw nothing but a bunch of old books, old papers, old study table, old chair, old candles, and an old rubbish bed.

"Hello?" I called and waited for someone to answer but I guess nobody's home so decided to enter.

I walked near the messy table and took the book nearby.

"The sorcerer's book!" I mumbled when I saw the hexagon sign on its cover.

I immediately opened it and my forehead creased. I couldn't understand a thing. It seems like the words written has been smeared off or it's just my vision getting distorted.

"What's this?" I tried brushing it but nothing's happening.

"What are you doing here?"

I gasped and immediately looked back when someone suddenly spoke and to my surprise, I saw a young boy with a golden hair, staring at me.

My eyes grew in circles when I happen to recognize him.

"Y-you're..."

I wasn't able to finish what I was going to say when something pulled me down into total darkness.

What's going on?!

"Tabitha, wake up! Hey!"

I immediately opened my eyes and drastically sat down, gasping. I looked around and found myself sitting on the same ground where I passed out a while ago.

"Are you okay?!"

I looked up and saw Carter with his worried face.

"What happened?" I asked and he looked back gesturing for me to look at the direction.

I sighed when I saw the last descendant lying inside a force field and beside him stands Harutora and Aiden.

"Did he die?" I whispered.

"No," Carter frowned. "He fed off you."

I felt like I've been shot directly on the head tho I already saw it coming since he already tasted my blood and I didn't die.

Tears formed in my eyes as I looked at the broken chain marks almost surrounding both of my wrists. I couldn't contain the mixed feelings in my chest right now. My whole body is shaking and I couldn't do anything but cry.

I can't live like this! I can't be his mate for the rest of my life! How am I supposed to live now?! How am I supposed to be with my mom?!

Now that I have cursed mark planted in my body, I'm already a prisoner of this place with no way out.