To Love A Villain

Chapter 241: The Final Battle

>>Persephone

I stared at the four men, their eyes full of anger and fear as they glared at me. My body ached, every breath hurt, but the worst pain wasn’t physical. It was the confusion, the terror of not knowing what had just happened.

What was happening???

"Val..." My voice cracked. I couldn’t understand. One moment I was...where was I? The last thing I remembered was the dragon—touching its cold, dead scales—and then...nothing. Just pain, the burning light, and now this.

Val’s face was torn, his sword drawn as he stood between me and the others. I reached out toward him, desperate for him to understand.

"Val, it’s me," I rasped, "I don’t know what’s happening, but I swear, it’s me. I don’t... I don’t know how I got here. Please."

His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. His face flickered between anger and something softer—hesitation, maybe. He didn’t move closer, but he didn’t attack either.

Theo, however, wasn’t so gentle. "Liar!" He snarled, knocking another arrow in his bow, aiming straight at my head. "That thing killed Rosemary, and now it’s trying to use Pen’s face to get to us."

"No!" I cried, panic rising in my chest. "I didn’t... I wouldn’t! Rosemary was my friend!"

But the words sounded weak even to me.

A figment of memory that felt like it wasn’t mine flashed through my mind.

Did I... did I do that? My mind was foggy, full of broken pieces that I couldn’t put together. Flashes of something—rage, hunger—flickered in the edges of my vision. What was happening to me?

"You’re not fooling us," Vaerion said, his voice cold. He stepped closer to Val, his staff glowing with a faint, ready magic. "Valenor, don’t let it deceive you. We’ve seen this before. This... thing took her body, her form, but that’s not Pen."

I shook my head. No, no, no. They had to believe me. They had to see that I was still me.

"Val, please," I begged, locking eyes with him. "You know me. I wouldn’t hurt anyone, I wouldn’t—" I choked on my words as a wave of nausea hit me. My vision blurred for a second, and then... I felt it. The wounds on my body were knitting themselves together, healing faster than I’d ever experienced before. But with the healing came a creeping sensation, like something slithering inside my mind, coiling around my thoughts.

I gasped.

What is this?!!! WHAT IS THIS!!??!?!

It was subtle at first—a gentle whisper, a soft pull at the edges of my consciousness. But then, it grew louder. Stronger. Like a force was trying to pull me under, drag me back into that darkness, into that rage.

"Val!" I screamed, clutching my head, trying to push it away. "I—I don’t feel right—something’s—something’s happening to me!"

Val took a step forward, his expression torn, conflicted. He wanted to believe me. I could see it in his eyes.

"Pen..." He said softly, his voice trembling. He lowered his sword, just a fraction. "What’s happening to you?"

"I don’t know!" I cried, tears spilling down my cheeks. "I touched the dragon... and then... everything went black. I don’t know how I got here, I swear, I didn’t—"

But the voice in my head grew stronger, drowning out my thoughts. My skin tingled as my wounds healed fully, but my mind—it was slipping. I was losing control again.

No, no, no! I can’t—please!

"Val, you have to believe me!" I screamed, gripping my head tighter, as though I could hold on to myself through sheer force of will. "I’m still here! I’m still me!"

"Valenor!" Vaerion’s voice was sharp. "Look at her. Look at what’s happening. She’s not Pen."

Val hesitated, torn between them and me. My vision was starting to blur again. The whispers were louder now, insistent, coaxing. They wanted me to give in. To let go. To—

"I’m losing it," I whispered, barely able to get the words out. "I’m losing myself."

"Pen!" Val stepped forward again, his hand outstretched. "Stay with me—stay with us!" He chose to believe me.

But the pull was too strong. The dark force inside me was tightening its grip, dragging me deeper. I felt my body stiffen, my muscles locking as I fought to stay conscious, to stay in control.

"Val, help me!" I begged, my voice weak. "Please, help me."

But I could feel it—whatever was inside me—it was winning. The world around me started to fade as the whispers in my mind grew louder.

>>Valenor

I moved toward her, my heart pounding in my chest. It had to be Pen, right? The way she called my name, the way her eyes flickered with confusion, with pain—it had to be her. But at the same time, everything we had seen, everything she had done, screamed that it wasn’t.

"Pen..." I whispered, taking another step forward, my sword still drawn. "If it’s really you, just... stop. Please."

She looked up at me, her eyes wide and wild, her body shaking. For a moment, I saw the girl I had known all my life—the girl who ran through fields with me, the one I promised I would marry. But then, just as quickly, her expression twisted into something feral. Her lips curled into a snarl, and before I could react, she lunged.

"Pen, no!" I shouted, trying to pull back.

She moved faster than I could have imagined, her body crashing into mine with a force I hadn’t expected. My sword slipped from my grasp, clattering to the ground as I stumbled backward. Her hands clawed at me, nails digging into my skin as she snarled like a cornered animal.

This can’t be her! It can’t be!

I tried to grab her wrists, to stop her from tearing into me, but she was so strong. Her strength wasn’t human—it was unnatural, something far beyond the Pen I knew. She growled, her face contorted with rage, and I struggled to hold her back.

"Pen, stop!" I begged, wrestling with her. "Please! This isn’t you! Where’s Pen?!" My voice cracked with desperation because I wanted to believe her.

Some part of me was telling me that it was Pen. But all others were telling me it was impossible.

My heart wanted to side with her, but my brain was seeing a monster.

She didn’t answer. Instead, she pushed me back with inhuman strength, throwing me off balance. I crashed into the ground, gasping for air, but before I could get up, she was on me again, her hands wrapped around my throat, squeezing.

I choked, my vision blurring as I struggled beneath her. My heart was screaming that this wasn’t her, that the Pen I loved would never do this, but the reality in front of me was undeniable. She was trying to kill me.

I grabbed her wrists, trying to pry her hands off my throat. "Pen..." I gasped, barely able to get the word out. "Don’t... do this..."

She snarled in response, her grip tightening. My lungs burned, my vision darkened, and in that moment, as I stared up into her twisted face, I realized that I might die here. By her hands.

But even through the pain, a part of me couldn’t let go. This wasn’t her. It couldn’t be.

With a last burst of strength, I shoved her off me, gasping for air as I scrambled to my feet. I didn’t want to hurt her, but if I didn’t defend myself... I’d have no choice.

She came at me again, her eyes wild, her hands curled into claws, and I could feel the raw, animalistic fury radiating from her. I barely managed to dodge. I rolled to the side and grabbed my sword again.

It was a special sword, it’s infused with my magic. It’s something special that the Royal Witch made for me.

She jumped at me, and I attacked. Slicing her gut.

!!?

My blade managed to pierce her and she fell. I then ran over to her, grabbing her arm and twisting it behind her in a desperate attempt to restrain her.

I put my sword away,"Where are you, Pen?!" I screamed, my voice breaking. "Where’s the girl I love?!"

But she didn’t respond—just growled, a deep, guttural sound that sent chills down my spine. Her free hand swung at me, claws raking across my chest, and I hissed in pain as I staggered back.

What am I doing? Why am I fighting her? This can’t be Pen. But then... where is she? Where is my Pen?

She charged at me again, her stomach still bleeding, her eyes glowing with something dark and twisted, and for a brief moment, I saw her hesitate. A flicker of something in her eyes—was it recognition? Pain?

"Val..." She whispered, her voice soft, almost lost in the fury.

My heart lurched, and I reached out toward her, my hand trembling. "Pen?"

But just as quickly as that moment came, it was gone. She snarled again, her body tensing like a predator about to strike. And before I could react, she lunged at me one more time.

I couldn’t fight her anymore. Not like this. I wasn’t sure who or what I was fighting—whether it was my Pen or something else entirely. But either way, I couldn’t bring myself to hurt her.

She knocked me to the ground, pinning me beneath her once again, and for a moment, everything slowed. Her face hovered inches above mine, her breath hot and ragged, and I could see the conflict in her eyes—like there was something trapped inside her, fighting to break free.

Or was I being delusional?

’Do not let the Bringer Of Death deceive you with its form.’ The words swirled in my mind.

That’s right.

No matter what happened, Pen would never become a monster. This thing is deceiving me. It has taken Pen’s form.

I stared into her eyes, my heart pounding, and whispered, "I’m not going to fight you. Not anymore."

Her grip on me tightened for a moment, her breath ragged and uneven

Pen lunged at me, snarling viciously. I blocked her with my arm, but the force behind her attack was terrifying. My mind screamed in confusion.

I threw her off, panting as I staggered back.

"Valenor!" Gimli’s voice thundered through the trees as he charged toward us, ax raised high. "Do something!" His face was pale, eyes wide with fear and desperation. "That thing isn’t her!"

I stared at Pen—no, the thing wearing her face—as she snarled, her eyes wild with rage. The ground shook as she darted toward me again, faster than I’d ever seen her move. I barely managed to sidestep her attack, but even then, I could feel her claws graze my skin.

What am I doing? My hands shook. Where is Pen? Did this thing kill her too?

Theo was the next to act. He fired an arrow, swift and true, but it shattered against her skin like glass. He cursed loudly, already grabbing another arrow from his quiver. "Val, listen to me!" His voice trembled with urgency. "That’s not Pen! Something’s taken her form! You need to kill it!"

I shook my head, my heart pounding in my chest

But deep down, doubt gnawed at me. Pen—my Pen—would never do this. She wouldn’t have attacked Rosemary, wouldn’t be fighting us like this. Yet here she was, feral and monstrous, clawing at us like a beast.

Moreover, like the witch said, she was weak against light magic, as this great evil is supposed to be,

Vaerion, standing back, his brow furrowed in concentration, hurled another spell. A brilliant burst of fire exploded in front of Pen, forcing her to pause—but only for a second. She shook it off like it was nothing and lunged forward again, this time swiping at Gimli.

Gimli barely deflected her blow with his ax, but the impact sent him stumbling back, his grip loosening. "Dammit!" He growled, "She’s too strong!"

"Val, for the love of the gods!" Vaerion shouted, his eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and disbelief. "It’s not her! You have to snap out of it! We need you to stop this thing!"

I wanted to believe them, but I couldn’t. Every time I looked into her eyes, I saw Pen—trapped, maybe, but still there. I couldn’t kill her. I wouldn’t. But I also knew I was wrong

I felt so conflicted I got confused.

Pen—the thing—launched herself at me again. I barely raised my arms in time to block her, but the sheer force knocked me to the ground. Her claws slashed at my shoulder, drawing blood. The pain was sharp, but it wasn’t the physical wound that hurt the most.

Theo loosed another arrow, but like before, it bounced off her skin. "Val, we’re running out of time!" He shouted. "Do something! Or we’re all dead!"

I gripped my shoulder, gasping for breath. My vision blurred a little. I had light magic—I could stop her. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not to her. Not to Pen.

"Valenor!" Gimli’s voice was raw, hoarse from yelling. "It’s not Pen! You heard what the witch said—it’s just taking her form! You have to kill it, lad, or it’ll kill us all!"

I stumbled to my feet, clutching my side as I faced her again. Pen’s face twisted into a snarl, her bloodstained lips curled into a grotesque grin. Her eyes were wild, dark, unrecognizable

It sent a shiver down my spine.

She came at me again, claws outstretched, her speed terrifying. This time, I wasn’t fast enough. She knocked me to the ground, pinning me with terrifying strength.

"Val!" Vaerion’s voice rang out as he unleashed another spell, a burst of wind that sent Pen tumbling off me. But she recovered quickly, her feral eyes now fixed on him.

Theo fired another arrow, this one aimed for her head, but it shattered like the others. "We’re not getting through to him!" Theo cursed, his voice laced with frustration. "He’s still seeing her!"

I forced myself to my feet, breathing hard. They didn’t understand. They couldn’t. This thing had the face of the one person I loved more than my life. This thing looked just like her. My hands shook as I raised them, light magic swirling at my fingertips. I had the power to stop her. To save everyone.

But I couldn’t do it. Not to her.

"Valenor!" Vaerion’s voice snapped me out of my daze. "Do it! End this, now!"

Pen came at me again, faster, more brutal. She slashed at me, and I barely managed to deflect her blows with my hands. My sword lay forgotten at my feet

With a snarl, Pen grabbed my wrist, her claws digging into my skin. I gasped in pain as she twisted my arm, and for the first time, I truly saw it. The darkness in her eyes—the absence of the girl I loved.

"Val!" Gimli shouted, "That’s not Pen!"

The light at my fingertips flickered. My heart raced. No... it can’t be.

But the more I looked at her, the more I realized they were right. This wasn’t Pen. Whatever this thing was, it wasn’t her.

The memories of the witch’s words crashed into me: The Bringer of Death is weak to light. Light magic—my light magic. That was the only thing that could save us now.

But could I bring myself to use it?

I hesitated for a split second. Pen—or the creature in her form—took advantage of my hesitation. She lunged at me again, this time with such force that I dropped to my knees, gasping for breath.

"Val!" Theo yelled. "We can’t hold her off much longer! It’s not Pen, Valenor! Kill it before it kills you!"

With trembling hands, I summoned the light again, feeling its warmth course through me. My heart shattered as I raised my hands, the brilliant glow building around me.

"Val, now!" Vaerion’s voice echoed, desperate and urgent.

I didn’t want to believe it, but I had no choice.

With a scream, I unleashed the light, the energy bursting from my hands and slamming into her. The creature howled in agony as the light pierced her, and for the first time, she recoiled, her body writhing in pain.

"Do it, Valenor!" Gimli shouted. "Finish it!"

Tears blurred my vision, but I poured everything I had into the spell, the light burning brighter and brighter until the thing wearing Pen’s face was engulfed in it.

She screamed—one final, heart-wrenching scream that tore through me.

And then, silence.