The Chamber Between Worlds
The In-Between did not breathe.
The air in Malakor's chamber was thick, unmoving, like the space itself had decided time was optional here. Ancient runes glowed across the stone floor, pulsing slowly in silver light that cast long shadows across the walls.
At the center of the chamber—
Marvin sat chained to a chair.
The enchanted iron around his wrists hummed faintly, draining his strength each time he tested it. The chains were etched with suppression runes, carefully designed to weaken both magic and will.
But Marvin still looked… annoyingly relaxed.
Malakor stood a few feet away, hands folded behind his back, studying him.
"You continue to surprise me," Malakor said.
Marvin raised an eyebrow.
"That's what my high school teachers used to say."
Malakor ignored the joke.
"Ninety-nine loops."
His voice echoed softly in the chamber.
"Most minds would have shattered after the tenth."
Marvin leaned his head back against the chair.
"Well."
"I've always been stubborn."
Malakor tilted his head slightly.
"Yes."
"That much is obvious."
Before Marvin could respond—
the chamber doors slammed open.
The heavy stone cracked against the wall as someone stormed inside.
Magic surged violently through the room.
Marvin blinked.
"…wow."
"That entrance felt personal."
Kaelen stepped into the chamber.
Mary's brother.
Dark power rolled off him in waves, shadow magic sparking across his hands like unstable lightning.
His eyes were locked on Malakor.
"You lied to me."
Malakor didn't even turn.
"I rarely lie."
Kaelen's voice sharpened.
"You said the prince trial would end this."
Malakor finally glanced over his shoulder.
"And it did."
Kaelen pointed toward Marvin.
"Then why is he here?"
Malakor's expression didn't change.
"Because the game evolved."
Kaelen's fists clenched.
"You're going to kill him."
Marvin raised a hand slightly.
"Hey."
"Let's not jump straight to murder."
Neither of them acknowledged him.
Malakor stepped forward.
"Mary cannot become what she needs to be if she never experiences loss."
Kaelen's magic flared.
"She's already lost enough!"
Malakor smiled faintly.
"Not the right things."
Kaelen moved.
His magic exploded across the chamber as he lunged toward Malakor.
The impact shook the room.
Shadow magic and ancient runic power collided violently.
Marvin winced.
"…family therapy looks intense around here."
Malakor blocked Kaelen's strike effortlessly and shoved him backward.
"You hesitated," Malakor said calmly.
Kaelen slammed into a stone pillar.
"She's my sister!"
Malakor's eyes hardened.
"And that is why you failed the trial."
Kaelen pushed himself upright again, breathing hard.
"You're using her."
Malakor laughed quietly.
"Of course I am."
Kaelen's voice dropped.
"You don't want her dead."
Malakor didn't respond.
Kaelen's eyes sharpened.
"You want her stronger."
For a moment—
Malakor's silence answered everything.
Marvin leaned forward slightly.
"…oh that's messed up."
⸻
Back at the Apartment
The air in the apartment still crackled with leftover magic from Mary's portal.
The room had gone quiet after they stepped through and returned, maps still spread across the table as everyone recalculated their next move.
Mary stood near the center of the room, violet energy flickering faintly around her hands.
Then—
the front door exploded open.
The force of it slammed against the wall.
A blur of motion crossed the room.
Mary barely had time to react before a powerful strike came straight for her throat.
Mary twisted instinctively.
The attacker's hand sliced through empty air as Mary pivoted aside.
Axel was already moving.
But the stranger was faster.
The woman spun low and kicked Axel back two steps before he could grab her.
Dante whistled.
"Well."
"This is new."
The attacker straightened.
Samantha.
Marvin's wife.
Her eyes burned with fury.
Golden wolf energy crackled across her arms.
"Where is he?!"
She didn't wait for an answer.
She lunged again.
Mary blocked the next strike, their arms colliding with a sharp crack of power.
The impact rattled the kitchen table.
Jada stepped forward instinctively.
"Sam—"
"Stay out of it!" Samantha snapped.
She moved again.
This time her power flared brighter.
Golden energy surged along her arms as she swung again.
Mary caught her wrist mid-strike.
The two women stood frozen for a moment, power pushing against power.
Samantha's voice trembled with anger.
"You said you'd keep him safe!"
Mary's voice was calm.
"He is."
Samantha laughed bitterly.
"He's gone!"
She twisted free and slammed a blast of golden energy into the floor between them.
The shockwave pushed everyone back a step.
Avery blinked.
"…okay."
"She's not just a wolf."
Miles nodded.
"No kidding."
Samantha's chest rose and fell rapidly.
Her eyes locked onto Mary.
"Where is he."
Mary held her gaze.
"Malakor took him."
The room fell silent.
Samantha froze.
Her anger shifted into something colder.
"…of course he did."
Mary studied her carefully.
"You knew."
Samantha nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Avery frowned.
"You knew what?"
Samantha wiped the sweat from her brow.
"I knew Mary wasn't normal."
She glanced toward Mary.
"The Queen told me."
Mary stiffened.
"…what."
Samantha sighed.
"She ordered me to stay distant."
Her voice softened slightly.
"She said if I got close, Malakor would notice."
Jada frowned.
"So you were mean to Mary… on purpose?"
Samantha nodded.
"Orders."
Mary blinked slowly.
"…that explains a lot."
Samantha stepped closer.
Her wolf energy still flickering faintly.
"I've been watching."
Her voice steadied.
"And when Marvin didn't come home tonight…"
Her eyes hardened.
"I knew something was wrong."
Mary met her gaze.
"He's alive."
Samantha inhaled sharply.
"Where."
"The In-Between."
Samantha didn't hesitate.
"Then we're going."
Axel crossed his arms.
"You're not trained for that realm."
Samantha turned toward him slowly.
Her golden energy flared again.
"You just watched me knock you back three steps."
Dante coughed into his hand.
"…technically four."
Axel glared at him.
Samantha turned back to Mary.
Her voice softened.
"I love him."
The room quieted again.
"And if you're going after him…"
She crossed her arms.
"…then so am I."
Mary studied her carefully.
"You understand how dangerous this is."
Samantha smiled faintly.
"Mary."
"I married the guy who broke time for you."
"That ship sailed a long time ago."
For a moment—
Mary just looked at her.
Then she nodded.
"Okay."
Behind her—
the violet thread pulsed again.
Stronger.
Far away—
in Malakor's chamber—
Marvin felt the faint surge of Mary's magic ripple through the chains around his wrists.
He smiled.
"…yep."
Malakor noticed.
"You seem confident."
Marvin leaned back slightly.
"Oh."
"I am."
Malakor tilted his head.
"And why is that?"
Marvin's grin widened.
"Because you didn't just kidnap me."
He looked directly at him.
"You started a war."
And somewhere beyond the Veil—
the storm was already moving.