The Darkness Within (Demon Elite Death Squad #1)

RAYNE 10

Rayne watches as the men gather in the briefing room, the air thick with a tension she hadn’t felt before. The weight of what was to come seems to press down on them, each man carrying a look of determination that spoke volumes about the battle ahead. She had known they were powerful, but the true extent of that power is something she had yet to fully understand.

Blade stands at the centre, his arms crossed as he addresses the group. “This is it. We’ve tracked Rake to his last known location. He’s been hiding in plain sight, but he’s not getting away this time. We’re going to end this.”

Scar, Gage, Talon, Reed, and Soren each nod in agreement, their expressions grim. Rayne felt a surge of pride for these men, but also a gnawing worry. She had seen them fight, but she’d never seen them use the powers that lurked beneath their skin, powers that seem to be whispered about but never shown.

Soren glances over at her, catching her gaze. “Rayne, I don’t know how much Blade has told you about our powers, but we’re not just fighters. Each of us has abilities that comes from the darkness inside us. It’s not something we usually talk about.”

Rayne blinks, a mix of curiosity and concern bubbling up. “I know you’re demons, but… powers? I guess I never thought about what that really means.”

Blade steps forward, his eyes meeting hers with an intensity that takes her breath away. “It’s true. We have powers—abilities that give us an edge in battle, but they come with a price. When we use them, it’s like opening a door to a darkness that can consume us if we’re not careful.”

Talon leans against the wall, his face sombre. “That’s why we usually rely on our combat skills. The powers can be… addictive. They pull you down into places you don’t want to go.”

Rayne looks around at each of them, feeling a new wave of understanding. These weren’t just warriors; they were beings of immense power, battling not just the threats around them, but the darkness within.

Scar explains, his voice steady as he explains. “I have the ability to manipulate shadows, to cloak myself and move unseen. It’s useful for getting close to a target, but the shadows have a way of whispering things to you, pulling you toward the darkness.”

He turns his gaze to Reed, who continues. “My gift is speed. I can move faster than the eye can see, but it comes at a cost. The faster I go, the more I lose touch with myself, like I’m slipping away.”

Talon speaks up next, his tone a mix of pride and caution. “I can control fire. It’s a powerful tool, but the flames are hungry, wild. They want to consume everything, and it’s easy to lose control.”

Gage nods, adding his own ability to the list. “I can manipulate the minds of others, twist their perceptions, make them see what isn’t there. But the more I use it, the more I risk losing sight of what’s real and what isn’t.”

Finally, Soren shares his power. “I have the power of illusion. I can create entire landscapes, shift reality to suit our needs. But it’s dangerous. The illusions can become too real, even for me, and there’s a risk of being lost in them.”

Rayne glances toward Blade, whose expression has grown even more guarded. She reaches out, placing a hand on his arm. “And you, Blade? What’s your power?”

He hesitates, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face before he reveals. “I can absorb energy from others. I can drain their strength, their life force, and use it to heal myself or enhance my abilities. But it’s dangerous. When I use it, it’s like tapping into a well of darkness that’s hard to come back from.”

Rayne’s heart aches as she listens, realizing the burden each of them carries. “But… you’ve all been fighting without using these powers. Why?”

“Because they change us,” Blade replies, his voice low. “The more we use them, the harder it is to come back. They’re a last resort, a tool we use only when there’s no other choice.”

Rayne swallows, feeling the gravity of what they are about to face. She hadn’t fully understood the stakes, hadn’t realized just how much they are risking, not just physically, but also in spirit. She looks at Blade, her eyes shining with a mixture of love and fear. “But you’re not alone, Blade. None of you are. You don’t have to face that darkness by yourselves.”

Blade’s expression softens, he reaches out, pulling her close. “That’s what I’ve come to understand, Rayne. You’re my anchor, my light. Before you, I had nothing to pull me back from that darkness. Now, I have a reason to fight it, to come back from it. Because I know you’re here, waiting for me.”

The other men look on, a mix of admiration and quiet respect in their eyes. It was clear that Blade’s connection to Rayne had given him strength, had provided a reason for him to fight against the pull of the darkness in a way he hadn’t before.

Gage breaks the silence, his voice steady. “Blade’s right. Having someone who grounds you, who brings you back—that’s what keeps us from falling too far. We’re not just fighting for ourselves anymore. We’re fighting for each other, and for those who are waiting for us to come home.”

Scar nods, his gaze steady on Rayne. “And now that Blade has found you, Rayne, he has a light to guide him back. That’s more than any of us ever hoped for.”

Rayne feels a swell of emotion, her love for Blade mingling with a fierce determination to stand by him, to be the light he needs. She knows the risks, knows that they are walking into the heart of danger, but she also knows that together, they are stronger.

They turn their focus back to the mission, each man outlining how he will use his power to confront Rake. The plan is clear: Scar will cloak himself in shadows, using his stealth to gather intelligence on Rake’s movements and take out any guards before they can raise the alarm. Reed will use his speed to create confusion, moving too fast for Rake to track, drawing him out and making him vulnerable.

Talon’s fire will be their offensive edge, a weapon to weaken Rake’s defences. Gage will manipulate Rake’s perception, creating distractions and illusions that will disorient him. And Soren will create a landscape of illusions, a battlefield that will turn Rake’s stronghold into a maze, a trap from which there will be no escape.

Blade, with Rayne’s presence as his anchor, will use his ability to absorb energy to weaken Rake, to drain him of his strength and turn his power against him. He knows it’s a risk, knows that it will pull him closer to the darkness, but he also knows that with Rayne by his side, he can find his way back.

As they finalize their strategy, Rayne feels a renewed sense of hope, a belief in their ability to win this fight. She looks around at each of them, feeling the strength of their unity, the bond that ties them together, not just as fighters, but as brothers. This is more than just a battle; it is a testament to their loyalty, their love, and their unwavering commitment to one another.

As the final preparations are made, the men share a quiet moment, their expressions a mix of anticipation and resolve. Talon gives Rayne a reassuring smile, his usual bravado softened by the weight of the moment. “Don’t worry, Rayne. We’ve faced worse than Rake. We’re not going to let him win.”

Scar nods, his eyes steady. “We’ve been through a lot together, and we’re not stopping now. Rake is dangerous, but he’s underestimated us before. He won’t get another chance.”

Gage places a hand on Blade’s shoulder, his gaze unwavering. “This is it, brother. Whatever happens, we face it together.”

Blade meets Rayne’s gaze, his eyes filled with a fierce determination. “I’ll come back to you,” he promises, his voice steady. “No matter what it takes.”

Rayne nods, her heart pounding as she reaches out, taking his hand. “I know you will. I’ll be here, waiting.”

They hold each other’s gaze, a silent understanding passing between them. This is the fight of their lives, a battle that will test them in ways they had never known. But together, they are stronger than any darkness, and as they prepare, they know that they are ready to face whatever lays ahead.

The final confrontation is near, and with the Elite’s powers unleashed, they will stop at nothing to bring Rake to justice. For Rayne, for each other, and for the hope of a future free from shadows, they will fight with everything they have.

Rayne excuses herself to go into the kitchen, giving the men a moment to themselves. As soon as she is out of earshot, the atmosphere shifts, the easy camaraderie giving way to a tension that has been simmering beneath the surface. Scar glances toward the doorway, ensuring she is out of sight before he speaks.

“This isn’t just any fight,” he states, his voice low and serious. “If we use our powers, really use them, we’re risking everything. I know we’ve done it before, but this is different. We’re walking a fine line here.”

Gage grunts in agreement, his face grim. “We all know what happened to Dom. He started just like us—using his powers to protect, to fight. But every time he tapped into that darkness; it took a little more of him. By the end, there was nothing left. He was lost to it, swallowed whole.”

Blade’s jaw tightens at the mention of Dom, the name stirring memories he’d long tried to bury. Dom had been one of them, a brother in arms, but he had fallen to the very darkness they were now about to confront. “Dom didn’t have a mate to pull him back,” Blade says, his voice laced with a quiet intensity. “That’s the difference. I’ve got Rayne now, and she keeps me grounded. She’s, my anchor.”

Soren interjects, his tone filled with a mixture of caution and dread. “We don’t all have that. Most of us haven’t found our mates yet, and without that tether, we’re at risk. We all know what can happen if we let the darkness take hold. Rake is proof of that. He used to be one of us, remember? But now, he’s consumed by the very power he thought he could control.”

Talon shifts uneasily, his usual bravado is replaced by a rare vulnerability. “The truth is, using our powers takes us to the edge. It’s like staring into an abyss, and every time you look, it pulls you in a little deeper. I’m not sure I could come back from that on my own.”

Blade looks around at his brothers, the weight of their words settling heavily on him. They all know the risks, have seen firsthand what happened to demons who lost themselves to their powers. Without a mate, without that stabilizing force, they are vulnerable to the seductive pull of the darkness, a pull that could strip them of their souls.

Scar clears his throat, his gaze distant as he recalls the few stories, they’d heard of mates bringing demons back from the brink. “When a demon finds his mate, it’s like discovering a beacon in a storm. The mate’s light pulls him back, keeps him from falling too far. The connection isn’t just emotional—it’s something deeper, something that binds their souls together. It’s a lifeline, and without it… well, we’ve seen what happens.”

Reed sighs, his expression sombre. “It’s not just about love. It’s about survival. A mate brings balance, something to cling to when everything else fades. Rake didn’t have that, and he lost himself. He gave in to the darkness, let it consume him until there was nothing left but a twisted shell of what he used to be.”

The men fall silent, each of them grappling with the reality of their situation. They all know that the darkness can strike at any time, that one wrong move can tip them over the edge. And while Blade had Rayne, the others had no such safeguard. They are warriors, bound to protect, but they also know the cost of wielding their powers unchecked.

Blade says, his voice steady but filled with a quiet resolve. “Rayne gives me something to fight for beyond duty. She’s the reason I can step back from the edge, the reason I haven’t lost myself. But I can’t ignore the risks you all are taking. I know you’ve got protocols in place, but this fight… it’s going to test every one of us.”

Gage glances around, his expression calculated as he outlines the measures they had put in place. “We’ve set up a containment spell—one that binds us together so that if one of us falls too far, the others can pull him back. It’s a safeguard, but it’s not foolproof. It takes immense strength to resist the pull when you’re already lost in it.”

Scar adds, “We’ve also got signals. If one of us starts slipping, we’re trained to recognize it and back off, give ourselves time to recover. But in a fight like this, where we’re all going to be pushed to our limits, that might not be enough.”

Talon crosses his arms, his face set with a grim determination. “We’re going to need to rely on each other more than ever. If one of us goes down, the others have to be ready to step in. No one fights alone. That’s the only way we make it out of this.”

Reed’s voice is quiet, but the conviction in his words is clear. “It’s risky, but it’s all we’ve got. We go in together, we come out together. And if anyone starts to fall… well, we fight to bring him back. No one gets left behind.”

Blade looks at each of them, a fierce pride welling up in his chest. He knows the risks they are taking, knows that they are all willing to face the darkness if it means protecting Rayne and putting an end to Rake. But he also knows that, unlike them, he had a safety net, a tether that held him firm even in the darkest moments.

They are all willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, to put their very souls on the line. And that is a testament to the strength of their bond, a bond that goes beyond mere brotherhood, forged in the fires of countless battles and tempered by loyalty and love.

Blade meets their gazes, his voice steady as he talks. “We all know what’s at stake. But remember this: no matter how deep you go, there’s always a way back. We’ve trained for this, we’ve prepared for it, and we’ve got each other’s backs. But if any of you find yourselves slipping… know that I’ll be there to pull you back, just like you’d do for me.”

Scar gives him a nod, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “We’re not losing anyone else to this fight, Blade. Not like Dom, or Rake. This time, we’re bringing every one of us home.”

The others murmur their agreement, the tension in the room shifts to a determined resolve. They know the dangers, but they also know that together, they are stronger than any darkness. With their safety nets in place and their bonds unbreakable, they will face whatever comes with everything they have.

As Rayne returns, the men fall silent, their expressions softening as they welcome her back. She looks around, sensing the change in the room but unaware of the depths of the conversation she had missed. Blade reaches out, taking her hand, drawing strength from her presence as he prepares to fight next to his brothers in battle.