Chapter 18 — "Return to the Light"
Warm sunlight traced across the wooden ceiling as Gus slowly opened his eyes.
He wasn't in a cage.
He wasn't chained.
He was lying in a soft bed, wrapped in blankets, the scent of lavender drifting from the windowsill.
His chest rose sharply.
Where… am I?
The last thing he remembered was darkness swallowing him whole. The witches' voices. The crushing weight of hatred forced into his veins.
Now—
He smelled food.
His stomach growled loudly, startling him. Guided by the aroma — roasted meat, herbs, something sweet — he stepped into the hallway, bare feet touching polished wooden floors.
Soft laughter echoed from ahead.
He followed it.
The Dining Room
The moment Gus stepped through the doorway, every head snapped toward him.
Blue was the first to rise.
"GUS!"
Rito and Kin shot up a heartbeat after, the three of them crashing into him with so much force they nearly knocked him over. Gus stiffened in shock, arms lifted awkwardly—
Then he broke.
Tears spilled down his cheeks as he clung to all three of them.
"W-Why…?" he choked.
"Why do you still accept me? After everything I did… everything they made me do…"
Selene stood from her seat, her presence calm and regal, but warm.
"Because it wasn't all your fault, Gus.
The witches fed on your pain — your grief, your anger.
They twisted it, weaponized it."
She stepped closer, placing a cool hand on his trembling shoulder.
"But you don't have to let that darkness define you.
You're a warlock now — one with free will.
Use your power to make up for the harm that was done in your name."
Gus cried harder, falling to his knees as the words struck him like a wave.
"Y-Yes, ma'am… I will.
I promise I'll make everything right."
Blue knelt beside him, gripping his arm.
"You're our friend, Gus. A messed-up past doesn't change that."
Kin added gently,
"You're here. That's what matters."
Rito wiped her own eyes.
"Just don't ever scare us like that again."
Gus let out a shaky laugh.
"I'll… do my best."
X leaned back in his chair with a soft smile.
Selene returned to her seat.
And together, for the first time in months, they shared a peaceful meal.
Beyond the Trees — A New Shadow
Far beyond Hollowfen's protective barrier, hidden in the dense treeline, a figure cloaked in deep crimson lowered their spyglass.
A hood shadowed most of their face, but the glint of their eyes was sharp — predatory.
"So this is the hybrid child the Court wants…"
A faint smirk formed.
"Interesting."
The spy's form blurred into mist, disappearing silently between the trees.
The Crimson Court had begun their infiltration.
Weeks Later — A Thriving Hollowfen
Time moved gently after that.
Word spread across the region: Hollowfen was safe. Protected. Reborn.
• Refugees from neighboring villages migrated in
• Hybrids patrolled alongside humans
• Vampires guarded the barrier at night
• The new town center—rebuilt by X, Zak, and their pack—buzzed with life
Children played again.
Merchants set up shops.
Laughter returned.
To most, Hollowfen was healing.
But among Blue, Kin, Rito, Gus, and the others… the truth remained clear:
Peace was temporary.
The witches were still out there.
The Crimson Court was watching.
And something far older was beginning to stir.
One evening, as the four friends sat beneath the lanterns of the rebuilt plaza, Gus traced the edge of his new spellbook nervously.
"Do you guys… ever think about what comes next?"
Blue lay back in the grass, staring at the sky.
"Yeah. Every day."
Rito poked at the fire pit.
"We'll be ready. Whatever it is."
Kin nodded with quiet determination.
"We have to be."
The wind shifted — cold, unfamiliar.
Blue's eyes narrowed.
Something's coming.
But for tonight, they sat together, letting the fragile peace linger a little longer.
The storm had not yet returned—
but every one of them could feel the pressure in the air.