The Pact Breaker

Finn sat upright on the floor. Blood streaked his shirt where the claws had grazed him, his hands tightened weakly around the sword.

Eric stepped closer to him, "I told you not to push too far." his voice calm.

"Didn't think I'd be fighting that thing today." Finn smirked.

"That's why you must be prepared." Eric muttered. "In these realm, there is no rest."

"You came back so early." Finn said.

"You think?" Eric chuckled.

"The time here is different."

"So, what says the time now?" Finn asked.

"Lets put that aside for now." Eric replied.

"The werewolf was never meant to kill you." Eric continued, kneeling beside him.

"But you let too much of the fire take hold. For a moment… you weren't even fully you."

Finn looked down at his hands, noticing faint black veins crawling across his forearms before receding beneath his skin.

"I… I didn't mean to."

"You're forcing the demon inside you to awaken too soon." Eric said, his voice steady.

"If you keep doing that without control, you won't come back."

Eric pressed his staff lightly to Finn's chest. A warm light spread through his body, easing the sharp ache in his ribs.

"Better?" Eric asked.

Finn nodded slightly, still catching his breath.

"Good. Because tomorrow, we move on from this."

Finn blinked. "Already? You just got back."

"There is no much time, Finn." Eric muttered.

"Rest while you can. What's next will break you if you're not ready."

"Break me?" Finn muttered, forcing himself upright.

"Yes" Eric said softly.

"You've trained your body. But now… it's time to train your mind.

"And If you can't control the dark side of you, then nothing I teach you matters." Eric added.

Finn's eyes widened. "And if I can't?"

"Then, next time that wolf lunges for your throat, I won't be here to stop it."

Finn went mute.

"Sleep, Finn," Eric said finally.

"At dawn, we start."

---

The next morning, Finn woke to the sound of soft chanting. A faint blue glow pulsed through the cracks in the stone floor.

Eric stood at the center of the arena, his staff planted firmly to the ground. Runes twisting in the air around him, forming a circle of golden light. At the center, a second circle popped red.

"Get up." Eric said without looking back. His voice was deep.

"It's time."

Finn forced himself to his feet , his body still aching from yesterday's training.

"What… is this?" He whispered.

"A ritual." Eric replied.

"To stabilize the fire inside you. Without it, your demon side will consume you in the next fight."

"Step in." Eric ordered.

With uttering a word, Finn steeped in. As soon as his foot touched the glowing lines, the fire in his chest stirred wildly, like it wanted to burst out.

"Stay still. Whatever happens, don't move." Eric warned.

Finn nodded, gripping the sword tight at his side.

Eric raised his staff and began to chant louder. The golden and red circles flared. Heat surged through Finn's body, and his vision blurred. Shadows danced across the wall, but their movements didn't match his own.

Suddenly, hid dark side began to overshadow him. Black veins spread across his arms, and his claws began to form. His horns threatened to break through his skin.

"Eric! Something's happening!" Finn shouted.

"Stay calm!" Eric roared.

"That is the demon fighting you back. If you give in now, you're finished!"

But before Eric could continue, a sudden shadow swept pass the chamber. The flames around the ritual flickered and went out.

Eric's face shifted. "Damn it… We're not alone."

From the far end of the chamber, a figure emerged. Tall, slim,with glowing red eyes. It dressed in black garment.

The creature smiled.

"I finally found him." it voice sharp and cold.

"Quinn!" Eric muttered, tightening his staff.

"Hello, Witch Knight." Quinn–Vampire snarled.

"I was sent to deliver a message." Quinn said, stepping closer.

"But… seeing him here, I'm tempted to rip off his throat and save my master the trouble."

Finn's grip tightened on his sword.

"Stay in the circle!" Eric shouted.

Quinn moved faster than Finn's eyes could track, appearing just outside the ritual circle. Its claws scraped the glowing runes.

"Stay back!" Eric growled, slamming his staff to the ground. A wall of blue flames erupted between the vampire and Finn.

The vampire hissed. "Clever trick, Witch Knight. But tricks won't save you forever."

Finn's eyes burned red. His demon side was sipping in again.

"Let me out of this circle, Eric! I can fight him!"

"No!" Eric disagrees.

"You're not ready. If you step out now, you'll lose yourself!"

Quinn chuckled. "He won't make it." it said. "Whether you finish him off...or I do."

"Either way, he dies here." It added.

Eric replied. "Not today."

It dashed towards Eric, claws out aiming for Eric's throat. And with a flick of Eric's staff, golden chains shot from the walls and wrapped around the Quinn's arms and legs before he could it could reach him.

It snarled and struggled as the chains burned its skin.

Finn collapsed to his knees, his body shaking forcefully.

Eric didn't look at him. "Hold on, Finn. Just a little longer!"

But cracks began forming in the glowing circle beneath Finn's feet. The ritual was breaking.

The vampire's laughter echoed through the chamber. "Too late…" it hissed.

Eric's eyes hardened. "We'll see about that."

Eric turned to Finn. "You're not ready for this."

"Stay behind me." Eric added, spinning his glowing staff as runes flashed up in the air.

But Finn didn't move. His chest burned again, he could feel the demon side of him trying to get out.

Quinn grinned.

"Poor boy. You can't hold it back, can you? Let it out… let me see what you're really made of"

"Shut up!" Finn growled, taking a step forward.

Before he could swing his blade, Eric slammed the staff into the ground. A wave of blue light shot out, knocking the vampire back several feet.

"Stay focused, Finn!" Eric shouted.

"Don't lose control."

Quinn hissed and darted forward again—faster this time. Eric blocked its claws with a glowing barrier.

"I'll be back." it snarled.

Then—dashed out of the chamber with intense speed.

"This is just the beginning" Eric muttered.

"More enemies will come. We need to move."

Finn gritted his teeth, Starring at Eric.

"If this was only the beginning...how much worse could it get?"