Chapter 3: Shadows in Pursuit

The river stretched wide and silent, its dark waters swallowing the moonlight as the small boat drifted steadily downstream. The creak of the oars punctuated the quiet, and Serenya kept her hood low, her gaze fixed on the shifting shoreline. Every ripple in the water and distant rustle in the trees set her nerves on edge.

Across from her, Drenic rowed with practiced ease, his movements smooth and unhurried. His gray eyes darted to her now and then, watching her with the quiet curiosity of someone sizing up a puzzle they couldn’t yet solve.

“You’re awfully quiet for someone who just paid me a small fortune,” he remarked, breaking the silence.

Serenya didn’t respond immediately. Her thoughts were tangled, still replaying the vision that had driven her to this desperate flight. She studied the rogue’s face—sharp features, perpetual smirk, but there was an alertness beneath his relaxed demeanor.

Finally, she spoke. “How far can you take me?”

Drenic shrugged, leaning into another stroke of the oars. “Depends on where you want to go. And how much trouble you’re planning to drag behind you.”

“No trouble,” she lied, her voice calm but hollow.

Drenic raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess. You’re not running from a debt collector. Too much gold for that. Not a jilted lover either—too serious for that nonsense.” He cocked his head, his grin widening. “That leaves the royal guard. Or something worse.”

Serenya’s hands tightened on the edge of her cloak. “I’m not obligated to tell you anything.”

“Fair enough,” Drenic replied, his tone light. “But secrets have a way of coming back to bite. Let’s hope yours doesn’t sink this boat.”

Hours passed as they navigated the river, the dense forest on either side growing darker and more oppressive. The occasional hoot of an owl or rustling of branches only amplified the sense of isolation.

Serenya leaned against the edge of the boat, exhaustion tugging at her. The events of the past day had drained her—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Yet sleep refused to come. Every time she closed her eyes, the vision returned: flames, shadows, her broken body.

Her fingers brushed the silver pendant hidden beneath her cloak. Its familiar weight steadied her, grounding her against the storm raging in her mind.

“Not much for sleeping, are you?” Drenic asked, his voice low.

She glanced at him, surprised by his tone—it lacked its usual teasing edge. “Not tonight.”

He smirked faintly, but his gaze flicked toward the treeline. “Can’t say I blame you. These parts aren’t exactly… peaceful.”

“What do you mean?” Serenya asked, her unease growing.

“Let’s just say the forest doesn’t like visitors. Old legends. Cursed beasts. The kind of stuff that makes people disappear.”

Serenya frowned, but before she could respond, a low rumble echoed through the trees. It was faint at first, almost indistinguishable from the rustle of the wind. Then it grew louder—closer.

Drenic stopped rowing, his body tensing as his hand drifted toward the dagger at his side.

“What was that?” Serenya whispered.

“Trouble,” he muttered.

The rumble became a growl, deep and guttural. Then came the sound of snapping branches and the unmistakable thud of heavy footsteps along the riverbank.

From the shadows, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged.

It lunged from the treeline with unnatural speed—a massive beast, its body covered in matted black fur and jagged spines. Its face was distorted, its maw lined with too many teeth, and its claws gleamed like polished steel.

Serenya gasped, scrambling backward as the creature let out a bone-chilling roar.

“Shadowbeast,” Drenic said, his voice tight.

The creature plunged into the river, water churning around it as it surged toward the boat. Drenic was already moving, grabbing a spear stashed beneath the bench.

“Stay down!” he barked at Serenya as he positioned himself between her and the beast.

The shadowbeast reached the boat in seconds, its claws slashing through the air. Drenic dodged the first strike, thrusting the spear into the creature’s shoulder. The beast howled, dark ichor oozing from the wound, but it didn’t slow.

Serenya pressed herself against the side of the boat, her heart hammering in her chest. Her instincts screamed at her to run, to flee, but there was nowhere to go.

The shadowbeast struck again, its claws tearing through the side of the boat. Wood splintered, and water began to seep in.

“Any bright ideas, lady?” Drenic shouted as he parried another attack.

Serenya’s mind raced. The shadowbeast wasn’t natural—she could feel the dark magic radiating from it, cold and oppressive. Her fingers brushed the pendant again, and an idea began to form.

“I can try something,” she said, her voice trembling, “but it’s risky.”

“Risky’s better than dead!” Drenic snapped.

Taking a deep breath, Serenya reached out with her gift. The familiar sensation of power stirred within her, accompanied by the now-familiar ache. Her vision blurred, the world around her fading as she pushed deeper into the beast’s aura.

Darkness enveloped her, suffocating and cold. She could feel the creature’s presence—a chaotic void, driven by hunger and pain.

“Show me your weakness,” she whispered, her voice echoing in the void.

A flash of light erupted in her mind’s eye. The creature’s heart—a mass of writhing shadows—beat erratically, its core exposed.

Serenya’s eyes snapped open, her body trembling from the strain. “Its chest!” she shouted. “Strike its chest!”

Drenic didn’t hesitate. As the shadowbeast lunged again, he sidestepped and drove the spear into the creature’s heart. The beast let out a deafening roar, thrashing violently as the shadows consuming it began to dissipate.

With a final shudder, it collapsed into the river, its body dissolving into nothingness.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Drenic leaned against the boat, his chest heaving. “Well,” he said, glancing at Serenya, “that was fun.”

The boat groaned beneath them, water still seeping through the gashes left by the shadowbeast.

“This thing’s not going to hold much longer,” he muttered, grabbing the oars. “We need to get to shore.”

Serenya nodded weakly, her body still recovering from the strain of using her gift. She could feel the toll it had taken—her limbs ached, her vision blurred, and her heartbeat felt irregular.

“Hold on,” Drenic said, steering the damaged boat toward a small clearing along the riverbank.

The two of them stumbled onto the shore, the boat listing precariously behind them. Serenya sank to her knees, her hands trembling as she tried to steady herself.

“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” Drenic said, his tone lighter than it had any right to be.

She glared at him, too exhausted to muster a response.

“Let me guess,” he continued, crouching beside her. “That little trick you pulled wasn’t free.”

“No,” Serenya admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “It wasn’t.”

Drenic studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. “Well, whatever it was, you saved our hides back there. So… thanks.”

Serenya looked up at him, surprised by the sincerity in his tone. She nodded, too drained to say more.

“We’ll camp here for the night,” Drenic said, standing and scanning the treeline. “But don’t get comfortable. That thing might’ve had friends.”

As he moved to gather firewood, Serenya leaned back against a tree, her thoughts swirling. The shadowbeast’s presence had been unnatural, its magic twisted and wrong. She couldn’t shake the feeling that it hadn’t been a coincidence.

Something—or someone—had sent it.

And they weren’t done hunting her yet.

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