Chapter#7:The fiend's dawn.

The black-flamed arrows hit their mark, each one embedding itself in the heads of the fiends. Jafar exhaled, lowering his bow. "Phew, that's the end of... them?" His words were cut short by a bone-chilling shriek echoing from the depths of the cave. He tensed as a new group of fiends, tusked like wild boars, charged towards him.

"Come to me!" he shouted, taking aim once more. But to his surprise, the creatures rushed past him, heading north.

"Master!" Jafar called out, realizing the fiends were headed straight for Erebus. He swiftly cast a barrier of flames, blocking their path and forcing their attention back toward him. "Your opponent is me," he growled, preparing for the onslaught as the creatures turned on him.

Meanwhile, high above in the mountains, Erebus battled against both the elements and time. The biting blizzard cut through him like a thousand knives, his wings freezing in the unforgiving cold. Everything around him was blanketed in snow, and there was no sign of the flower he so desperately sought.

"Damn it!" he cursed through gritted teeth, pushing himself higher into the storm. His eyes caught a faint glimmer of light, but before he could react, something yanked him downward. His wings, weakened and battered, faded as he clung to the edge of a cliff, his body trembling with exhaustion.

With the last of his strength, Erebus spotted the glowing flower nestled in the snow. He ripped it from its roots just as a swarm of fiends descended upon him, their claws tearing into his flesh. He couldn't hold on any longer and let go of the ledge, plummeting into the void below.

"Jafar!" His cry echoed through the mountains as his aide, still fending off fiends below, caught sight of his master's fall.

"Master!" Jafar's eyes flared red as he abandoned the fight, dashing toward the source of the faint light. As he reached the base of the mountain, he found Erebus lying in a capsule-shaped barrier, the fiends retreating into their cave.

"Are you alright, Master?" Jafar asked, landing beside him.

Erebus, breathing heavily, raised a hand in a weak gesture of victory. "Th-" he tried to speak, but his breath was ragged.

Jafar narrowed his eyes. "I'd rather you died than make me worry like that."

Erebus grinned despite his condition. "Wait until we get back to the fortress, Jafar. Just you wait."

---

Back at the Stygian fortress, dawn was breaking, casting a soft glow over the land. Inside, the maids worked diligently to keep Luciana stable, her condition precarious despite the physician's best efforts.

"She will hold on for a little while with this," the physician said, placing a small bottle of pink fluid on the table. "But we need the antidote soon, or it won't be enough."

Luciana groaned in her sleep, her body slick with cold sweat. The old man, Darren, hurried into the room with the bottle in hand. Just as he was about to administer it, the door burst open.

"Old man! Hurry up and make the antidote," Erebus commanded, limping into the room with Jafar's support.

"My lord! What happened to you?" Darren gasped, rushing toward him.

"Don't mind me. Treat her first," Erebus said, collapsing onto the couch near the fire.

"Let me tend to the master," Jafar offered, taking over Erebus's care.

"My lord, you should really consider settling down. How much longer do I have to nurse you back to health after every battle?" Jafar sighed, glancing at Erebus, who had already fallen asleep from sheer exhaustion.

"It's done," Darren announced, holding up a small vial of the antidote, its clear liquid shimmering in the morning light.

"That was fast," Jafar remarked, standing up to inspect it.

He took a deep breath, walking toward Luciana. "Here goes nothing," he muttered, carefully tilting the vial to let the fluid slip into her mouth. The bitter taste made her stir, but soon, the effects became visible. Her pale skin regained its color, the dark circles under her eyes faded, and her trembling ceased.

"Thank goodness," Darren whispered, wiping away a tear, clearly moved by her recovery.

"You're too kind, old man," Jafar said, patting his shoulder. "Now for the lord."

He gave Erebus a small dose of the antidote as well, then gestured for Darren to leave. "Let's give them some peace."

---

By twilight, the fortress bells chimed, waking Luciana from her deep sleep. The room was dimly lit, and her eyes immediately fell on Erebus, who was lying on the couch, turning restlessly in his sleep.

Fear and confusion surged through her. The sight of him, the man responsible for her capture, made her heart race. She screamed, her voice echoing through the fortress.

"What the—!" Erebus jerked awake, falling from the couch in alarm. "Pipe down, it hurts!" he groaned, massaging his shoulder.

Luciana backed away, trembling, convinced that her fate was sealed.

"You look rather ungrateful," Erebus muttered, standing up and brushing off the dust. "I just saved your life."

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice shaky.

"Your savior," he replied, with clear disinterest.

She didn't trust his words, her eyes widening in fear as a massive beast stepped out from behind him, its golden eyes locked on her. It sniffed her hair, making her let out a small whimper.

"Don't show fear," Erebus warned. "It'll make him think you're prey."

Her body stiffened as she stared into the wolf's eyes, terror flooding her veins.

"How can I not be scared? "she thought, trembling before the creature that loomed over her.