The tomb's final chamber was unnaturally quiet, like the world had stopped breathing. The torches along the walls flickered without wind. The air was thick — not with dust or age, but something heavier. Memory. Regret.
Cain stepped forward first, his boots echoing across the marble floor. In the center stood a stone altar, cracked with time, yet glowing faintly. Resting atop it — a figure.
Pale.
Still.
A woman, cloaked in midnight silks, her hair spread like ink around her face. She looked... peaceful.
"Mother," Cain whispered, voice caught in his throat. He hadn't called her that aloud in years.
Lucien held back. Ayden did too, unusually quiet.
Then — her eyes opened.
It wasn't sudden. It was slow, like a creature waking after centuries. Her irises glowed red for a moment, then softened to violet. She blinked once. Twice.
"Cain," she breathed. Her voice was both familiar and not. Like multiple tones echoing through a cracked mirror.
He stepped forward. "It's us. Your sons."
She smiled gently. Too gently.
"I remember... pieces," she said, sitting up. "Pain. Fire. A man with horns. Three sons."
Lucien furrowed his brows. "Do you remember us?"
"I remember the sound of your laughter, Lucien," she said softly. "Your stubborn little frown."
Lucien turned away, blinking quickly. "Shut up... don't make this a Hallmark moment."
Ayden came closer. "Do you remember my voice? Or the time I—"
Suddenly, her body convulsed. The runes around the altar pulsed. A sharp, metallic shriek filled the air — like thousands of nails dragging against stone.
"GET OUT!" she screamed, her voice now layered with something demonic. The walls trembled.
Cain rushed to her side, grabbing her shoulders. "Fight it! Don't let it control you!"
Her eyes rolled back. She was fighting herself — or rather, something inside her.
Far above ground, in the ancient city of Virelsa, the wind howled through the ruined towers.
Selene stood at the edge of a high roof, her twin blades sheathed on her back. Her red coat flared dramatically in the wind — anime moment certified.
She squinted at the distant mountain range.
"They've been gone too long."
Beside her, her familiar — a silver crow named Umbra — cawed.
"Yeah, I know they're idiots," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "But they're my idiots. And I don't trust that tomb."
She leapt from the rooftop, landing effortlessly onto her bike — jet black, enchanted, and thrumming with magic. She revved it up, her expression hardening.
"Let's go bring the boys home."
Cain held his mother as she shook, whispering through clenched teeth. "You're stronger than this. You always were."
"I... can't... hold it," she choked. "He's... inside me. Your father—"
Lucien's eyes widened. "Wait. WHAT?"
Ayden stepped back, whispering, "Please don't tell me we're in Attack on Titan right now."
But it was worse.
The air cracked. Darkness spilled from her mouth in tendrils, crawling along the floor like snakes. The shadow took shape — vaguely humanoid, with wings like torn parchment and horns like daggers.
A voice boomed: "MY SONS. YOU'VE COME HOME."
Cain stood in front of his brothers. "We're not yours. Not anymore."
The demon laughed — a horrible, scraping sound. "But she is."
The boys stared in horror as their mother's face twisted — not in pain, but in conflict. She was still inside... but so was he.
Lucien grabbed Cain's arm. "We can't fight her."
"No," Cain whispered. "But maybe she can fight him."
Ayden stepped forward. "Then we help her. Like she helped us."
They joined hands, channeling their blood magic — the bond they'd forged through battle, loss, and reckless chaos. The room filled with light.
The demon shrieked, retreating for a moment. Their mother fell to her knees, gasping.
"I'm... still here," she rasped. "But not for long."
Cain knelt beside her, tears in his eyes. "We'll save you."
She smiled — broken but real.
"Then hurry."
Selene's bike screeched to a halt at the foot of the tomb.
She narrowed her eyes at the swirling darkness bleeding from its entrance.
"Typical," she muttered. "They broke another ancient curse without me."
Umbra fluttered onto her shoulder.
Selene cracked her knuckles. "Let's crash the party."
She stepped into the darkness.