"The Shadows Within"

Mirani's eyes had grown accustomed to the dim light of the castle, but she could sense the darkness closing in around her. Ed's behavior had become increasingly erratic, and she knew she had to find a way to escape before it was too late. She tried to keep her thoughts hidden, but Ed seemed to sense her unease, his eyes narrowing as he watched her. One night, as they sat in the grand hall, Ed's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes burning with an intensity that made her skin crawl. Mirani felt like she was drowning in his stare, unable to look away. She tried to push back her chair, but Ed's hand shot out, his fingers closing around her wrist like a vice. "You're not going anywhere," he whispered, his voice low and menacing. "You're mine, Mirani. My possession, my obsession." Mirani felt a surge of fear, but she tried to keep her cool. She knew she had to think fast, to find a way to escape Ed's clutches. As she looked around the hall, she noticed a figure standing in the shadows, a hooded figure who seemed to be watching her. The figure stepped forward, its features still hidden in the darkness. Ed's grip on Mirani's wrist tightened, but the figure didn't seem to notice. "I've been searching for you, Ed," it said, its voice low and gravelly. "I've heard rumors of your...acquisitions." Ed's eyes narrowed, his grip on Mirani's wrist tightening. "Who are you?" he growled. The figure pushed back its hood, revealing a face that was both familiar and yet completely alien. Mirani gasped as she recognized the features, her mind racing with memories. "You're...Riven," she whispered. Riven's eyes locked onto hers, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. "Mirani," he said, his voice soft. "I've been searching for you. I know what Ed has done to you." Ed's grip on Mirani's wrist tightened, his eyes blazing with anger. "You have no right to interfere," he snarled. "Mirani is mine now." Riven smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice dripping with menace. As Riven stepped forward, Mirani felt a surge of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she had found a way to escape Ed's clutches. But as she looked into Ed's eyes, she saw a glimmer of something darker, something that made her realize that she was in grave danger. The shadows within Ed seemed to be stirring, and Mirani knew that she was about to face a terror beyond her wildest imagination.