The creature moved faster than any of them could react.
One enormous claw swept across the chamber.
Mason was lifted from the ground and pulled toward the creature.
Zack: "MASON!"
Zack lunged forward, but a wall of dark energy erupted between them.
Zack: "Let him go!"
Mason struggled against the creature's grip.
Mason: "Put me down!"
The creature brought Mason closer, studying him.
Its glowing white eyes slowly changed.
For the first time, the ancient creature looked confused.
Creature: "You..."
Mason: "What?"
Creature: "Your scent."
Mason froze.
Creature: "It is familiar."
Mason's necklace began glowing.
The creature's grip loosened.
Creature: "You carry the blood of the one who imprisoned me."
Mason: "My family?"
The creature stared at him.
Creature: "Your ancestors feared me."
Mason: "And you hate them?"
Creature: "I did."
It paused.
Creature: "But I do not hate you."
Zack's expression hardened.
Zack: "Then put him down."
The creature looked toward Zack.
Creature: "You are his bond."
Zack: "Yes."
Creature: "Then you should understand."
Zack: "Understand what?"
The creature slowly lowered Mason until his feet touched the ground, but it didn't let go.
Creature: "Something has changed."
Mason looked into its eyes.
Mason: "What changed?"
The creature's expression became almost human.
Creature: "I have spent a thousand years surrounded by hatred."
It looked at Mason.
Creature: "Then you appeared."
Mason's voice softened.
Mason: "And?"
Creature: "And I cannot bring myself to hurt you."
Zack stepped forward.
Zack: "That's because the bond is affecting you."
The creature shook its head.
Creature: "No."
Its eyes remained fixed on Mason.
Creature: "This is not the bond."
Mason swallowed.
Mason: "Then what is it?"
The creature was silent for a long moment.
Finally, it whispered:
Creature: "I don't know."
It released Mason completely.
But instead of attacking, it stepped between Mason and Darius.
Darius stared at it.
Darius: "What are you doing?"
The creature turned toward him.
Creature: "Protecting him."
Darius: "Why?"
The creature looked back at Mason.
Creature: "Because somewhere during my imprisonment..."
Its voice became quieter.
Creature: "...I forgot what it felt like to care about someone."
Mason stared at the ancient creature.
Mason: "You don't even know me."
Creature: "Then I will learn."
Zack looked at Mason.
Zack: "This is getting weird."
Mason: "Yeah. Very."
The creature's enormous tail slowly moved behind it.
Creature: "No one will take him from me."
Zack stepped forward.
Zack: "He's not yours."
The creature looked at him.
Creature: "I know."
It turned back toward Mason.
Creature: "That is why I will not force him."
Mason's expression softened slightly.
For the first time, the monster didn't look like a prisoner.
It looked lonely.
And Mason realized something that frightened him even more than its power.
The creature wasn't falling in love with him because of magic.
It was choosing him.
And whatever that meant for the future...
Mason knew the creature would never willingly let Darius hurt him again...