Chapter Fifty-Six: Lighthouse

  The room was thick with the scent of sulfur and decay, the air itself seeming to tremble as the summoning circle blazed with an unnatural light. The doctor, his face twisted in a mix of reverence and terror, knelt before the towering form that had emerged from the ritual. The demon stretched, its form solidifying from a shadowy mass into something almost tangible, almost real.

  “Yes, rise, my master,” the doctor whispered, his voice quivering with a mixture of awe and fear.

  The demon’s eyes, burning embers in the darkness, turned to regard the doctor with something akin to amusement. “You have done well,” it rasped, its voice a guttural echo that seemed to reverberate through the very bones of the room. “Your loyalty is commendable, and I thank you for feeding me your life during the summoning process.”

  The doctor bowed low, his trembling hands pressed to the cold stone floor. “Of course, Master. It was an honor,” he murmured, his voice barely more than a breath.

  But Jace, watching from the shadows, felt a sudden unease. Something was wrong. His eyes narrowed as he noticed, for the first time, the faint trickle of energy—of life—seeping from the doctor to the demon, a subtle, almost imperceptible flow.

  The demon’s eyes gleamed with a predatory light as it inhaled deeply, the flow of life from the doctor intensifying. The trickle became a stream, then a rushing river, as the demon began to draw more, pulling harder.

  “Master,” the doctor gasped, his eyes wide with sudden panic. “What are you doing?”

  “Thank you,” the demon hissed, its voice a silken whisper of malice.

  “I’m dying,” the doctor choked, his voice breaking as he felt his strength ebbing away, his vitality slipping through his fingers like sand.

  “Shhhh,” the demon cooed, its grip tightening, drawing the life out of the doctor in a relentless torrent. The doctor’s skin grew pale, his eyes dimming, as the last vestiges of his life were ripped from him.

  With a final, shuddering gasp, the doctor crumpled to the floor, now reduced to a lifeless husk. The demon stood over him, its cruel smile deepening as it savored the stolen life force, its presence now fully entrenched in the mortal realm -like a shadow come to life.

  Jace tore his gaze from the horrific scene and looked up at Sophie. She stood like a grotesque marionette, strings of darkness pulling her every move. Desperation clawed at him as he tried to see beyond the malevolence that coursed through her veins, to find the real Sophie—the girl he knew was still in there, somewhere.

  For a moment, his heart nearly stopped as he caught the faintest glimpse—her soul. It was there, a luminous, fragile form struggling within the demon’s suffocating grasp. Dark tendrils of vile energy coiled around it like a serpent, squeezing tighter with every breath she took. Her spirit, though radiant, flickered weakly, its light dimming as the demon drained her essence.

  Jace’s breath hitched as he saw it clearly now—a pulsing conduit of malevolent energy that tethered Sophie to the demon, a living chain of torment that bound her soul to this creature of darkness.

  He knew then that time was running out. If he didn’t act soon, Sophie would be lost forever, consumed by the very force that had taken the doctor’s life.

  Jace summoned his aether, channeling every ounce of his will into Sophie. The world around him slowed to a crawl, each heartbeat echoing like a distant drum as his consciousness delved deeper into the Aether Realm of her soul. Reality blurred, and he pushed further, feeling the pull of her essence as he descended into the very heart of her being.

  The demon’s spirit was a twisted, writhing mass of shadows and flames, its core a void of insatiable hunger. It was clear now; the demon was not just using her body—it was consuming her very essence, gaining strength and solidity from her spiritual suffering. Jace’s new ability allowed him to see the grotesque interplay between the two, the demonic claws extending from her fingers not just physically, but spiritually, tearing into the ethereal strands of her soul.

  The clarity of Soul Sense brought a wave of nausea. He could see the path to save her, the weak points in the demonic tether. His mind raced with possibilities, his newfound sight a beacon of hope amid the horror.

  Suddenly, he was hit with a wave of malevolence, a storm of chaotic energy that threatened to overwhelm him. But through the maelstrom, Sophie was a faint glimmer—a small, scared girl, lost within the aura. Her eyes closed and her ethereal form grew weak and limp within the demon’s grasp.

  The bond between the demon and her soul was unlike anything he had encountered before. Instead of a single connection, there were thousands of slender tendrils, each burrowed deep into her being after days of “treatment.” He focused on one of these links, invoking Soul Severance. For a fleeting moment, hope sparked within him as the link snapped—but it was short-lived. Almost immediately, a new tendril slithered into place, re-establishing the connection.

  Her soul wasn’t resisting the demon, and he couldn’t sever these bonds alone. He needed to reach her, to talk with her. He needed her to fight.

  Sophie. He focused his willpower, casting his thoughts directly into her soul.

  Sophie, can you hear me?

  The world around him slowed to a crawl and faded from his vision, moving just out of focus.

  His body manifested as a ghostly form of darkness, an ethereal silhouette that seemed to be his own shadow come to life. He floated amidst an ocean of despair, adrift in a powerful maelstrom that churned with the anguish and fears of countless souls. The world around him was a vast expanse of darkness, save for the faint, guiding glow of a distant lighthouse, its light a solitary beacon of hope piercing the gloom.

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  For a moment, Jace hesitated, the overwhelming sorrow pressing down on him like a suffocating weight. But the thought of Sophie, trapped and suffering, spurred him on. He willed himself towards the lighthouse, each thought propelling him forward, his form gliding effortlessly over the tumultuous waves. The lighthouse grew larger, its light growing brighter and more inviting, a lifeline in the darkness.

  The closer he got, the more the turmoil within him seemed to settle, his resolve hardening. He soon found himself at the door of the ancient, weathered structure. It loomed before him, its age-worn wood creaking under the strain of an unseen wind, yet it stood firm against the despairing tide.

  With a gentle push, the door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit interior. The air was filled with the scent of salt and old wood, the walls echoing with distant, sorrowful cries. Jace stepped inside, his feet making no sound on the worn floorboards. The interior was a spiral of winding stairs, each step leading him closer to the source of the cries he had heard.

  As he climbed, the sense of urgency grew stronger. The cries became clearer, more distinct—no longer a distant echo, but the voice of a girl, soft and filled with sorrow. He quickened his pace, his heart pounding in sync with the rhythm of the lighthouse beacon.

  At the top of the stairs, he found her: a young girl huddled in a corner, her frame trembling with fear. She was shrouded in the dim light, her tears glistening as they fell. Her sobs were the only sound in the stillness, a heart-wrenching melody of despair.

  Jace approached slowly, his presence a blend of shadow and light. He knelt beside her, his form casting a protective aura around her. “It’s okay,” he whispered, his voice a gentle reprieve from the surrounding chaos. “I’m here to help.”

  She looked up, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and hope. She reached out tentatively, her hand passing through his ghostly form, yet feeling the warmth of his intent. “Who are you?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  “A friend,” Jace replied, a gentle smile forming on his lips. “Let’s get you out of here.”

  She flinched as he extended his hand, recoiling as if she feared even the possibility of touch. “Please, Sophie,” he continued, his voice steady and soothing, “I need your help. I can’t beat this without you.”

  The girl’s tears fell like raindrops, her body trembling with fear. She shook her head, her voice weak and laden with despair. “I can’t,” she sobbed. “It’s too strong.”

  Jace’s expression softened, and he leaned in closer, his gaze unwavering. “Damon needs your help. You can do this.”

  Sophie hesitated, her wide eyes flickering between Jace’s hand and his unwavering gaze. A deep breath shuddered through her as she grappled with her fear, the weight of it almost too much to bear. But something in Jace’s eyes—a quiet determination, a promise of protection—gave her the strength to try. Slowly, hesitantly, she reached out and took his hand. “Okay,” she whispered, “Together.”

  Jace’s eyes snapped back to the cabin, time resuming its relentless march just as the demon’s claws slashed through his chest. Agonizing pain exploded in his body, his life force plummeting by ninety percent. Blood pooled around him, his attempts to stand thwarted by his collapsing limbs. “Fight it, Sophie!” he yelled, his voice a hoarse, desperate plea.

  The demon slithered closer to Jace, its claws poised to deliver a final, fatal blow. Its eyes gleamed with malice, relishing the prospect of ending his life. Just as it raised its hand to strike, Damon, summoning the last vestiges of his strength, lunged forward and grabbed the demon’s leg, his grip weak but determined.

  “No,” Damon slurred, his voice a defiant whisper. The poison coursing through his veins was beginning to lose its potency, allowing him to muster enough strength to act.

  The demon turned its predatory gaze toward Damon, eyes narrowing in irritation and contempt. “Let’s just finish this morsel off, shall we?” it muttered, a cruel glint dancing in its eyes.

  With a vicious snarl, the demon tried to shake Damon off, but he held on with tenacity, his fingers digging into the creature’s leg. Damon’s face contorted with effort, his body trembling from the strain. Though his grip was not strong enough to truly harm the demon, his sheer will and determination bought precious moments.

  The demon snarled, annoyed by the resistance, and kicked at Damon, trying to dislodge him. Damon’s grip faltered, but he held on, his eyes blazing with defiance.

  “Stubborn fool,” the demon hissed, preparing to deliver a killing blow to Damon. But as it raised its clawed hand, a sudden burst of light filled the room. Sophie, her form now fully solidified and glowing with an intense, radiant light, stepped between the demon and Damon.

  “You will not harm him,” she declared, her voice echoing with an otherworldly power. The demon recoiled, its confidence wavering in the face of her unexpected strength.

  Sophie advanced toward the demon, her ethereal form glowing with a fierce determination that cut through the surrounding darkness. The demon recoiled, its eyes narrowing in surprise, but the shock quickly gave way to a sinister, mocking laughter that echoed like the crack of thunder. As Sophie summoned every ounce of her willpower to push against it, the demon remained rooted, grinning wickedly, its jagged teeth gleaming with cruel delight.

  It laughed again, a cruel, mocking sound. “I was worried for a moment. Thought perhaps someone powerful had come to save you. But it’s just you. Little you. How quaint. You think you can fight back against me? Little girl, you are weak. You are nothing. I know your fears, your sorrow. I know how scared you were to be married, nervous you weren’t good enough. Oh, how I fed on your fears and self-doubt. And I fed on Damon’s too. Oh, how sweet you both are. You know, he felt the same about you. So much fear. Delicious.” It licked its lips, savoring the torment it had caused.

  Sophie’s form flickered and dimmed, her face a mask of confusion and pain. She struggled to resist, but the demon’s willpower bore down on her, smothering her light. Her resolve wavered as the weight of her fears and insecurities pressed down on her, fed by the demon’s taunting words.

  Jace, watching the scene unfold, knew he had to act. Desperation surged through him, and he reached into his spatial pocket, pulling out the Crude Minor Healing potion. He cast Soul Tether on Sophie’s glowing form, binding her spirit to his own. “Please work. You have to work,” he whispered.

  He drank the potion, feeling its bitter liquid slide down his throat. For a moment, nothing happened. His heart thundered in his chest, fear gripping him. Then, slowly, he felt the potion’s magic begin to take effect.

  As its healing power coursed through his veins, it split off and flowed into Sophie as well, her form growing brighter and more solid with each passing second.

  Jace concentrated, willing all of the potion’s power to go to her. He cast Soul Mend on himself repeatedly, his mana depleting rapidly. The excruciating nausea of being fully mana-drained threatened to overwhelm him, but he kept casting. Every time his mana regenerated even slightly, he channeled it into another Soul Mend, pushing his mana bar to the brink and beyond, pulling on his stamina when his mana was exhausted.

  He considered drinking another, but a flashing warning told him that would be a bad idea, signaling that he’d reached his potion limit. He remembered from Alice’s alchemy lesson that consuming potions too quickly would result in potion poisoning, causing reverse or negative effects. He would need to increase his tolerance before he could attempt it without guaranteed harm.

  At triple the speed of his mana depletion, his stamina drained, yet he channeled it all, holding a focused Soul Mend. Jace felt a surge of energy as he poured every ounce of his remaining strength into Sophie, empowering her will to combat the demon.

  Sophie’s presence grew stronger, her form solidifying and glowing with an intense, radiant light. She looked down at the demon, her eyes blazing with newfound strength.