All Chapters of Creatures Of Dusk: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

"Daughter of night can't lose this battle."Mom's words rang continuously in my ears, making a fresh wave of anxiety shot down my spine. I clenched my fist tightly, took deep breathes and tried to shake away the strangeness of the environment. Giving a small wave and a smile to the old man, behind the counter, I stepped outside the cafe and walked in the opposite direction to Xavier. Soft warmth of spring dusk embraced me as my steps fell along the sidewalk while my eyes took in the wonders of this fascinating city. Everything was same! How much I had missed, walking under these shimmering lights, capturing all the heartwarming sights.I plugged in my earphones and smiled softly at the passing couple as hypnotic melody echoed across my ears. The cloud-kissing buildings, rolling shutters of shops followed by the loud shouts of shopkeepers, the evident desperation to reach home, to their family, provided an unname

Azrael's vision blurred as soon as his feet touched the threshold of 'Artemis Mansion'. He struggled to inhale while his gaze landed on his brothers, who were standing near the fireplace with their backs facing him. A slight squirm followed by a pained whimper snagged Azrael's attention. Lowering his vision, his gaze landed on the unconscious form of Sierra, whom he was carrying in his arms. A strained expression was etched on her pale face as if she trying too hard to hold that immense amount of pain which her body was enduring. There were glaring patches of burns, littered all over her skin, accompanied by bleeding blotches and some deep cuts. Azrael felt himself drifting towards darkness at a fast pace, which as a result increased the rush of adrenaline and an unfamiliar yearning to save the girl in his arms, inside him. His steps faltered as he sauntered towards his brothers, leaving a trail of blood, which cascaded do

. . . silver. . . his eyes. . . Az. . . he is here. . . silver! With a whimper filled gasp, my eyes shot open as I frantically scanned the blurred surrounding, with a flickering hope dimly lit inside my chest . . . to find him. My palms glided over my close eyelids in an attempt to tear the hazy layer of exhaustion while at the same moment the equally hazy layer of past events fueled a strange sensation inside me. No more than a few blinks later, reality collided with my frozen form making me shudder profusely as I slowly came back to my senses. Long gone was the desperation of my soul to bask under the affectionate warmth of a silver-eyed man, instead, all I felt in that moment was the bone-cutting burning pain in my frozen limbs. Lost was the urge to lose myself in the longing embrace of that husky voice owner, instead, I was too lost in deciphering my surrounding. My body was wholly numb, partly due

Each white wall of the magnificent mansion- was in flames. The large iron door carved with Roman sculptures and the dried fountain beside the narrow backdoor was surrounded and choked with a thick layer of smoke. Angry amber coloured flames were seething and devouring the once bloomed daisies all around the mansion. Each corner was writhing and panting for escape but the glaring flames chased them and pulled the once alluring surrounding into its clutches. In the end, what remained in the place of a majestic city was ash. Smoke belched the remaining ruins while the screams of natives died down. Not a single soul attained escape. Everything turned into ashes. Only- the last flicker of blistering flame. . .was yet to mingle among the ruins. The last flame, whose perimeter suddenly flared and lept forward to wrap its only spectator under its burning abyss-"Sierra..!" I woke up, frightened and shaken. A

The twilight had just started darkening as I stepped out to the other side of the portal, after a blink. Xavier walked beside me, in complete silence, giving me a moment with myself yet physically present there- conveying I am no more bound to the loneliness. Surprisingly, I didn't feel anything while moving through the portals when a sensation of being crossed was expected. But my neutral state of mind got dominated by sharp rippling pain, the moment I found my feet tufting the dark green grass. It was a momentary pain which disappeared at a flickering rate just as soon as it appeared, leaving me panting amid a thick layer of grass and rushed footsteps."Sierra..?" Questioned Xavier, with a blend of concern and uncertainty in his voice. I slowly pushed myself off the ground, putting pressure on it with my palm while a pair of hands grasped my shoulder gently and the second one held me by my forearm."Are you alright?" My teary gaze met a