**EPISODE 19 — *"The Creature That Hunts Souls"***
Lucian didn't slow down. Not even for a second.
Branches snapped as he carried Isha through the dark forest, the world blurring around them. She clung to him, fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt, heart hammering against his chest.
"Lucian—what creature did Kael release?" Isha gasped, feeling his muscles tense beneath her.
Lucian's jaw clenched so hard she could hear the faint grind of teeth.
"A **Soul Reaper**."
Her blood ran cold.
"What is that?"
"A monster centuries old," he said, voice tight, "created to hunt marked souls. It can see your bond. It can smell your fear. And if it touches you—"
He didn't finish.
But he didn't need to.
Her fingers gripped him tighter.
Lucian's chest rose and fell rapidly—not from exhaustion, but from panic.
"I'm not letting it near you," he said, voice breaking with fury. "Kael wants to test how far I'll go to protect you."
He looked down at her.
"And he's about to learn."
Before she could speak—
A blood-chilling screech tore through the forest.
Lucian stopped dead.
The sound seemed to echo inside their bones—low, hollow, like death calling them by name.
Isha shivered violently.
"…Lucian."
He set her down gently behind him, pushing her back with one arm.
"Stay behind me. Don't move. No matter what."
Isha nodded, throat tight.
The air grew colder.
The shadows thickened.
A shape formed between the trees.
Tall.
Humanoid.
But wrong.
Bone-white skin stretched over a skeletal frame. Long arms dragging across the ground. No eyes—just hollow sockets glowing faintly blue. Its mouth stretched too wide, rows of needle-like teeth clicking with hunger.
Lucian stepped forward, sword in hand, eyes blazing blood-red.
"Come on then," he growled. "Come try to take her."
The creature screeched and lunged.
Lucian moved—
Too fast to be human, too furious to be graceful.
Steel clashed against bone.
The impact shook the ground.
Isha stumbled back, watching in horror as Lucian fought the monster head-on—slashes of silver in the dark.
The Soul Reaper struck again—
Lucian dodged—
But its claws grazed his cheek, drawing blood.
Isha gasped.
Lucian didn't even flinch.
"You really want to die tonight, don't you?" Lucian hissed.
The creature screamed again and charged.
Lucian met it mid-air.
Their bodies collided, sending a shockwave of dust and broken branches around them.
For the first time…
Lucian was pushed back.
He slid across the ground, boots carving lines into the soil.
"Lucian!" Isha cried.
He wiped blood from his lip, eyes glowing brighter.
"Stay back, Isha!"
The creature lunged again.
Lucian swung—
The blade cut through its arm—
But the limb reattached instantly, black smoke curling around the wound.
Isha's breath caught.
"It heals?"
"It doesn't die unless you destroy its soul," Lucian growled. "And even I don't know how to—"
The creature screamed and slammed into him, knocking his sword out of his hand.
The blade skidded across the ground—stopping right at Isha's feet.
Lucian hit a tree with a sickening crack.
"LUCIAN!"
He coughed, blood spilling from his mouth.
The creature advanced toward him.
Isha grabbed the sword.
It felt impossibly heavy. Too heavy. Almost alive.
But she didn't think.
She ran.
"Isha—NO!" Lucian shouted, horrified.
She didn't stop.
The monster turned—too late—
Isha swung the sword with all her strength.
The strike hit.
The blade slashed across the creature's side, releasing a burst of blue-black light.
The monster recoiled, screaming in a way that made the forest tremble.
Lucian froze, staring in shock.
The creature staggered back, body cracking, splitting—
"…It worked?" Isha whispered.
Lucian's eyes widened.
"You—your Mark let you strike its soul."
The birthmark on her wrist glowed bright silver, illuminating the trees around them.
Before she could react, the creature recovered and lunged straight toward her—
"ISHA!"
Lucian appeared in front of her, pushing her behind him.
The creature's claws plunged into Lucian's chest.
Isha screamed.
Lucian's breath hitched—
Blood gushed from his wound—
His knees buckled—but he didn't fall.
He grabbed the monster's arm with both hands—
And snapped it in half.
Black smoke exploded from the wound.
The Soul Reaper shrieked.
Lucian collapsed to one knee, blood soaking his shirt.
"No no no—Lucian—" Isha dropped beside him, hands shaking.
He coughed hard, red staining his lips.
"You weren't supposed to jump in," he whispered, voice faint but stubborn. "You were supposed to run."
"And leave you?" Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Never."
He reached a trembling hand to her cheek, brushing away a tear.
"You idiot," he whispered painfully.
"I would've survived anything except losing you."
The creature rose again.
Wounded.
Enraged.
Charging.
Lucian couldn't stand.
He shoved Isha away with the last of his strength.
"Run—!"
"NO!" she screamed.
She grabbed the sword.
Her birthmark blazed like fire.
For a moment, time slowed.
She saw Lucian bleeding, fighting to breathe, looking at her like she was his last reason to live.
And she ran straight toward the monster.
She slid under its arm—
And drove the sword through its chest with everything she had.
Light exploded.
Blue.
Silver.
White.
A scream tore through the forest, shaking the ground.
The monster dissolved into dust and wind, sucked into its own collapsing soul until nothing remained but silence.
Isha fell to the ground, trembling, the sword clattering beside her.
She crawled to Lucian.
"Lucian—Lucian—look at me—"
He did.
Barely.
His eyes were fading from red to silver.
He touched her cheek again.
This time, his hand shook violently.
"You killed it," he whispered, awe and fear mixing in his voice. "Isha… you killed a creature even ancient vampires fear."
She sobbed.
"It was hurting you."
Lucian laughed weakly—painfully.
"Of course you did it for that."
She held his face.
"You're not dying. Don't you dare."
He looked at her with something that nearly broke her.
Hope.
"Isha…"
She leaned closer, forehead against his.
"Stay with me. Please."
His breathing slowed.
Her heart squeezed painfully.
"No no no—Lucian—stay—"
He whispered her name.
Not with fear.
Not with pain.
But with devotion.
"…Isha."
And she kissed him.
Not gently.
Not carefully.
But desperately.
Her hands cupped his face, lips pressing against his with all the fear, rage, relief, and love that had been building for days.
Lucian's body went still.
Then—
His hands lifted weakly, fingers threading into her hair, pulling her closer.
The kiss deepened.
Soft at first, then fierce.
A promise.
A plea.
A surrender.
When she pulled back, breathless, she whispered:
"You're not allowed to die. Not after this."
His lips curled into the faintest smile.
"I wasn't dying," he murmured.
"I was waiting."
"For what?"
"For you to finally do that."
She choked a laugh through her tears.
"Idiot vampire."
He touched her jaw gently.
"And you," he whispered, "are the bravest human I've ever known."
She helped him sit up slowly, supporting his weight.
Lucian exhaled shakily.
"It's not over," he warned.
"Kael won't stop."
"I don't care," she said fiercely. "As long as you're with me."
His eyes softened.
"I will never leave you, Isha. Not even death could make me."
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**EPISODE 19 COMPLETE**