Days passed as the relocation of the entire Inner Circle began. Elsavior and Navidia were the first to begin, followed by Lybrias and Krayos. By the time the leaders agreed to congregate together in Cyreix, half of the Inner Circle was filled with desolate silence.
The gothic mountain castle of Seron's kingdom came into view, its sweeping architecture, intricate designs, and large windows striking against the billowing soft snow that coated the buildings and mountains of the kingdom. Seron and Sahara greeted them at the archway of the entrance, beckoning them to gather in the cabinet room.
Draco was the last to arrive, accompanied by Onyx, Castrin, Orion, and Falcon. Yongui and Raiyah had chosen to stay back and gather Yongui's family and Alesandria's family to safety while Iredine attempted to heal Azura and Alesandria at her home. The somber emperor sat down at the table, looking over at his peers.
"I don't need an introduction to this meeting," Seron said, wrapping his coat tightly around his body. "The evacuation is well underway and Cyreix is due for one tomorrow. We've all received a threatening promise from Raebar. Draco has proposed a risky plan, to say the least."
The emperor of Elsavior looked down at his feet, his hands intertwined together. Onyx reached over for his hand, squeezing it tightly. Seron looked over at his friend, frowning slightly. "As risky as it is, it's also brilliant, cunning and might be crazy enough to work. Are there any objections to this?"
"I am just worried about the alternatives. What if it doesn't work?" Empress Creslin asked. "I know we are all trying to keep a positive mind about this, but we can't ignore the alternatives. There might be a slim chance that this might not work. Don't you think we need other options to consider?"
"If you have any other options, by all means, share with us Creslin" Empress Imperia pressed. Her wild eyes scanned over the tiny empress, a frown on her lips. Creslin sagged her shoulders, rolling her eyes. "I don't have a specific plan to follow through but-"
"If you don't have a specific plan then your opinions are invalid." Imperia cut her off before Creslin could continue. Empress Creslin frowned, folding her hands over her shoulders. "I might not have as much power as you, Imperia but that does not give you the right to cut me off."
Before Empress Imperia could reply, her husband caught her arm, squeezing it gently. He gave her a warning look, causing her to press her lips shut. Creslin looked over at Draco, a worried expression on her face. "Do you have any alternatives Draco? Anything?"
"No" he simply responded. "I don't. This is my only plan. I think it might work but I can't guarantee anything." His voice was soft, his expression tired as he looked over at Onyx who nodded, squeezing his hand underneath the table. "I'm not too sure of this plan but Draco took his time to plan this out. It took him months and many revisions to settle on this. It might not be the most bulletproof plan but it's the only one we have and there is a strong possibility that it might work."
"And you trust Draco fully on this?" Empress Cayah asked, her cold eyes watching her intently. Onyx nodded, swallowing hard. "With my life" she responded.
Emperor Seron nodded, looking over at Sahara who nodded at him, taking his hand in hers. "I trust him too. I think we all should" she whispered to him, stroking his fingers with her thumb. "I trust him too, Sahara but this is such a big investment. I want to make sure that we aren't wasting all our resources."
The room was silent for a while, all the leaders trading glances. "If that's the only issue, then let's vote. I rule in favor of Draco and Onyx. The Inner Circle should stay together. All eight kingdoms were founded together. If one goes down, we all go down."
"I rule in favor of Draco and Onyx as well," Empress Misa said, smiling at her friend. "We're in this together." Draco smiled at his friend, nodding his head. "Thank you, Misa." The rest of the leaders went around, ruling in favor of Draco and Onyx until the decision came down to Empress Imperia and Emperor Mavian. The couple exchanged glances, their hardening gazes and pressed lips leaving a sour feeling in the room.
"I think this whole thing is absurd and risky. It might kill all of us" Empress Imperia hissed, trading a glance with her husband. "However," Emperor Mavian added on. "Draco has proved himself to be one of the best emperors the Inner Circle has seen since the passing of his parents. His plans never failed, and his humility always made him reassuring and raw. So, with that in mind, Imperia and I will rule in favor as well."
Emperor Mavian looked over at Draco, nodding his head in acknowledgment. "We're putting our lives in your hand."
Draco looked around the table, smiling brightly despite the somber look in his eyes. "Thank you. Truly. You have no idea how much this means to me."
"Well, if we're preparing ourselves, you need to tell us how many warriors you need," Seron said. "I'm prepared to send out my very best."
"I don't want any more innocent lives dying. So many have sacrificed their lives already. I think the only army we need should be ourselves and whatever inner support can help us" Draco suggested.
Emperor Reyback of Varien shook his head, his brows furrowing. "We are not going to be outnumbered by the desert tribes. If he's going to attack, we have to come back with full force." Still, Draco shook his head, insisting his way. "No. Do you not know how many lives have been cut short because of my efforts to stop everything? I am not going to risk it."
"No. Your warriors suffered the most. The rest of us still have a decent number who are all willing to fight" Emperor Seron suggested. "I can't allow that Draco. We are not showing up empty-handed." Draco ground his teeth together, his brows furrowing. "Fine. But the capacity of lives we're sacrificing is five hundred. That's it. No more no less."
"Agreed upon. Is Onyx going to fight?" he asked. His gaze landed on the young demi-hybrid who sat proud in her seat, her eyes scouring the table. "I don't know how I feel about her being caught up in this. We are trying to protect her and her sister. Not kill them."
"Seron has a point, Draco" Misa said. "It would make no sense to risk their lives. Maybe they should be evacuated with the rest of the population until everything is over. It's a sure proof way to keep them safe." A string of hums went around the table, a couple of heads nodding.
"I've personally trained with Onyx and can reassure you all that she has improved greatly. She has immense control over her power and can handle herself in difficult situations. She's already proved herself twice through the attacks. She can certainly handle herself through this one" Falcon defended. Onyx smiled in his direction, a gleam in her eyes as she mouthed a sincere thank you.
"We're not there to fully validate that" Emperor Reyback counteracted. "How do we know for sure that she has improved?"
"Look back at the last two attacks and then come back to me" Orion added on. His calm demeanor had turned a bit sinister, his eyes shrouded in darkness. "Onyx's powers are stronger than all of our powers combined. She's a weapon just as she is a savior. She can fight."
"Draco, this all lies on you. What do you think?" Castrin asked. All eyes turned to him just as his eyes met hers. A bit of hope glimmered in his eyes. Though she didn't say it, her body language said something different. She yearned for the fight. The thrill, the uncertainty, the victory or failure. All of it
She was born for it. But he couldn't make that decision for her.
"That's all up to her. Of course, I want to protect her" he said, looking down at her. She offered him a little smile, squeezing his hand. His eyes fell to the necklace around her neck, remembering the sentiment behind it. "But I can't force her so it's her decision."
Eyes shifted to her. Onyx felt herself shrink under their stares. She chewed on her lip, her head ducking low. "I want to fight," she said after a minute. "I appreciate your concern, but I can do this. Please, let me fight."
"It's your deathbed you're signing," Empress Imperia said. Underneath her hard gaze, Onyx blushed deeply.
"Will the same be applied for Alesandria?" Onyx asked. Draco stiffened, his hand squeezing hers. He pressed his lips together, his brows knitted into worry before he nodded his head again. "She will be given the same option as you have been presented with" he reassured her.
Onyx nodded her head. "Is that all?" she asked around the table. Emperor Seron nodded his head. "This will be our last meeting until the attack. I just wanted to see your faces one last time in case I never see them again." Sahara passed a look over to her mate, concern crossing her eyes.
"Seron, don't speak of such tragedies" she whispered. He shook his head, rubbing his stubbled chin in thought. He looked over at Sahara, pulling her closer. "I can't help it, Sahara. I just want to count my blessings before I lose it all." Still, Sahara shook her head, leaning her head on his shoulders. "No. Your blessings will still be here even after the war. I trust in that."
The emperor nodded his head, kissing the curve of her cheek lightly. He looked around at the table, nodding his head. "In case anything happens, it's been an honor serving with you. You'll never truly understand how much you all mean to me."
Dreadful silence filled the room, every leader taking the time to wallow in their last piece of designated silence. It was hollow, echoing like the empty shell of the Inner Circle. The silence screamed. It shattered across the room and clawed at the doors, begging to be released into the world. It suffocated and squeezed and drowned until it was ringing in everyone's ears.
It destroyed itself within their souls.
"If the Inner Circle falls, we will rise back up stronger than ever" Draco whispered after minutes passed. "No matter how much they try to tear us down, we can never truly disappear. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Remember that."
Iredine pressed the cold cloth to Azura's forehead, cleaning her wounds. The warrior was barely awake, her eyes opening and closing to the streaks of sunlight that peaked through the heavy curtains.
"W-Where am I?" she pressed, wincing at the touch of Iredine's fingers. "Where is Falcon?"
"You're at my house and Falcon is with Draco. They'll return shortly. They asked me to heal you" she whispered, setting the cloth down. "You were injured badly. Do you remember anything from the attack?" she asked, watching as Azura gently propped herself up on pillows.
She sat there in the inky darkness of the room, her brows furrowed together as she tried to piece together the pieces of the story. "Castrin and I were with Alesandria. She was acting strange. Her powers were out of control so we were trying to decipher the root problem."
Iredine nodded, reaching over and squeezing her hand. "And what happened after that?"
Azura gnawed on her lips, her brown eyes pooling in the sun. "Alesandria started screaming. It seemed like she was in pain but at the same time, it didn't sound like her. I tried to channel my magru magic and push my way into her mind, but I was having a hard time. Then suddenly, she screamed. There was a blinding light and then darkness. I don't remember anything after that."
Iredine frowned, nodding her head before turning her attention back to Azura. She got up and walked over to the corner of the room, tipping the tea kettle over and pouring it into the adjacent mug. The steam rose, the amber color turning darker as she dropped a mint leaf into the tea. She walked over to Azura with the cup in hand, handing it over.
"It's a simple recipe I learned from some mortals. It's a cure for all things bad. I didn't spell it but hopefully, it will ease the headache a bit so that your body can heal itself." Azura nodded, taking the cup. She took a sip from it, a satisfying hum escaping her lips. "Where is Falcon?" she asked after a minute. "He needs to know I'm okay. Is he okay?"
"Falcon is with Draco and the other leaders. He's okay and I'll let him know you're okay too. Just rest up for now" Iredine suggested, patting her friend's shoulder. "Try not to move around a lot. I'm going to check on Alesandria."
Azura nodded, taking another sip of her tea. "This is divine. Give me the recipe after" Azura asked. Iredine smiled, leaning in to kiss her friend on the cheek and squeeze her fingers gently before she got up and exited.
She took two steps down the hall and knocked gently on the black double door before she pushed through. The room was dark and quiet, streams of sunlight shining through the sheer curtains. On the bed sat Alesandria, her black matted on her face and her face turned to the window.
She barely acknowledged Iredine as she stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. "Alesandria? Are you feeling better?" she asked. Alesandria hummed, her face still tilting to the window. "Can I help you?" she asked as Iredine made her way over to the cold bowl on the bedside table. She dipped the towel into the water, walking over to Alesandria and placing it on her neck. She flinched, her eyes flickering over Iredine.
"I just want to make sure you're okay" Iredine responded, dabbing the towel on her face and arms. "And I also wanted to know if you remembered anything from the day you passed out? Any recount of memory? It can help figure out how to heal you faster."
Alesandria frowned, pulling her hand away from Iredine's grip. "Not much. I just remember being in immense pain. Castrin was trying to comfort me and Azura was out cold. It was all a haze. " Iredine examined her body movements, the way her fingers intertwined together and how tense her shoulders were.
"Alright. Do you mind if I examine your wounds?" she asked, splaying her hands out. Alesandria hesitated but nodded, placing her hands in her grip. Iredine examined the cuts and bruises, turning her arms over to see the deep ridges engraved on her skin. "A lot of these look like repeated offenses" she concluded, looking up to meet Alesandria's worried gaze.
"Alesandria, have you been hurting yourself?" she asked. Fear crossed the demi-hybrid's eyes, her green-grey eyes flickering between Iredine's gaze and her fingers. "N-No" she stuttered after a few minutes. "I haven't been hurting myself."
"Has someone been hurting you?" Iredine pressed. This time Alesandria's lips began to quiver, her body shaking. She nodded her head, her eyes pooling with tears. "Yes and I don't know how to break it. I've done some very bad stuff and I don't know how to fix it. I'm afraid that if everyone finds out about what I have done, they will disown me. I just can't do this anymore." Tears rolled down her face, her whole body shaking with tears. She choked on her sobs, covering her lips so that no one would hear her gasps of sorrow.
Remorse filled Iredine's heart as she pulled her in for a hug, squeezing her tightly. "It's okay, Alesandria. Let me see if I can fix this." She pulled back, wiping Alesandria's eyes with her thumb. The demi-hybrid nodded, watching as Iredine stumbled upon two deep scars on her right arm.
"This might hurt a bit but I am going to try to tap into your bonds and sense the one that's causing you the most pain. Someone could have tapped into your magic and formed a bond with you. Therefore, everything they do might influence your actions or even control your movements. This might explain your lack of memory and bipolar behavior."
"How is this bond different from any other bond created?" Alesandria asked. Iredine smiled, digging her fingers into the wound. Alesandria hissed as she watched blood ooze from the old wound, staining her skin. "Forced bonds are a very powerful entity, Alesandria. Most of the bonds immortal beings share grow overtime. They're natural and consensual. They don't hurt you. However, forced bonds are different. They can be very painful to whoever is bearing it through the other end and can have control over its victim. Think of it as a parasite. It's not meant to be there as a means of communication. It's there for a purpose which is to hurt its victim. It can even kill its victim if it is not spotted immediately."
Iredine looked up, a smile on her face. "Lucky for you, I think I spotted it in time to help you."
"How?" Alesandria questioned. Iredine reached for the cold towel again, wiping down Alesandria's arm before dipping it back into the water and rinsing her hands. "I am half Helio. We can create, forge, and destroy bonds. We're very common in Durvelion and Varien but very few live in Elsavior."
Alesandria nodded, swallowing hard. "Does that mean you can kill me if you want to? Like, snap all my bonds? My mother used to tell me stories of immortal beings who could spawn a lifeline and create all the bonds you'll ever encounter in your life but they could easily kill you if they chose to."
Iredine pondered on her question, gnawing on her lip. "Hypothetically yes but that takes a lot of power and energy out of us" she answered. "Helio beings don't create lifespans. That's a completely different subcategory that we can get into later. For right now, I am just going to tap into your bonds. It's going to hurt a little but nothing you can't handle."
Alesandria nodded and Iredine dug her nails into the fresh wounds. Alesandria hissed as Iredine tapped into her powers, her eyes lighting up as she traveled through the numerous bonds that were created in between her magic. Iredine slashed through a series of familial bonds before crossing through romantic bonds, sensing the pain she had been through in her prior relationship.
Iredine frowned as she sensed a specific bond that was formed with Castrin, feeling the elements of friendship and romance intertwined. The bond was strong and solid, unbreakable. Shaking her head, Iredine made her way through the murkier parts of her magic, the little corners that were untapped.
She frowned as her body began to shake, a sense of dark magic washing over her. The bond was dark and solidified, no amount of energy from Iredine's Helio magic shattering it. It was mended into Alesandria's magic, pulling energy from its source and twisting it to do its evil bidding. "I think I found the bond that's causing you pain. Let me see if I can find the source of it" she whispered, channeling her magic towards the bond.
Most bonds would quiver at the sight of her magic, shattering before she could comprehend its existence so that she could trace it back to its origin. This one, however, would not bend nor break at the sight of her magic. It absorbed it, glowing with an iridescent light. Iredine frowned, forcing herself to travel through the bond. Her body was washed with a wave of pain, her hands shaking as images flashed before her eyes.
Dunes, wild eyes, and screams of agony. Flickers of a sinister smile and dark, lovely hair flowed through her eyes before jarring claws jutted out at her, seeming to scratch at her presence. Iredine screamed, tearing her fingers away from Alesandria's arm. Her eyes flew open, nearly falling off the bed as she got up.
Alesandria's face was twisted in agony, her neck snapping around as she grasped at her throat for air. Her body tumbled to the floor, a cough escaping from her lips as blood pooled from her lips. "Alesandria!" Iredine exclaimed, rushing over to her fallen body. She shook her body, turning her over to see her eyes turning red.
Her hand jutted out, clamping around Iredine's throat. She gasped for air, feeling the hold tightening as Alesandria rose from the ground, turning her head as she examined Iredine. Her frightful expression was replaced with a calm, simmering demeanor, her shoulders squared back. "Did you think I would let you travel into the bond and expose me, you filthy wench?" she hissed.
Iredine shook her head, clawing at her hand. "Alesandria, this is not you! Whoever is in control has your mind! Please, fight it!" she exclaimed. Alesandria shook her head, smiling widely. "Alesandria is too weak to fight back. She always was. She is the perfect entity to destroy the Inner Circle" she hissed, letting go of Iredine. She hit the ground with a thud, her fingers digging into the ground to pull herself up.
Alesandria's heavy feet pressed into her back, using all her strength to keep her down. "I know what you're going to say next. You are going to threaten to expose me unless I release Alesandria's body. If I were you, I wouldn't even dare. If you or Castrin dare try to tell the others of what has overtaken Alesandria before I do, I will kill Alesandria and dump her body near the shallow graves her parents were buried. She'll have a nice time burning in hell."
Alesandria reached down to pick up Iredine, throwing her across the room. She hit the wall and slid across the floor with a weak groan, blood pooling from her nose and mouth. "Whoever you are, you won't get away with this" Iredine croaked, pulling herself up. "I'll make sure of that."
"You and the rest of the world" Alesandria replied with a sarcastic eye roll. Iredine got up, channeling a golden spear in her hands with her magic. "If I can't extract you, I can simply knock you back down to your dormant stage." Alesandria gave her a confused look, taking a step back. "Like you would have the power to do so."
"I may be an abomination but I am still stronger than you and Alesandria combined" Iredine hissed. With a scream, she hurled the golden spear directly at Alesandria, the pointed end piercing through her chest. Alesandria screamed and gasped, watching the speak dissolve as it made contact with her body. Her eyes grew wide, flickering back up to meet Iredine's gaze.
"You bitch!" she screamed, lunging for her. Her movements were slowed down and lethargic, little sparks of power spitting from her fingertips.
"Right back at you, demon" Iredine hissed back, conjuring a sphere of golden light. She blasted it towards Alesandria, drawing enough energy from the entity possessing her to cause her body to fall into a deep slumber.
She hit the floor with a rough thud, unconscious. Iredine took a deep breath, walking over to the body and kicking it over. Alesandria didn't move, her chest moving up and down in small movements. Stooping down, she carried the body back to the bed, tucking her under the covers. She walked over to draw the blinds close, using her magic to dim the amount of light in the room.
Iredine stood by the window, deep in thought. She watched Alesandria's sleeping figure, crossing her arms over her chest. She gnawed at her lips, taking a deep breath as she contemplated on what to do. Minutes passed before she nodded her head, walking to the far corner of the room where the bathroom resided.
She made sure to be quiet and careful, turning on the light and stooping down to open the cabinet underneath the sink. Cylinders of potion and magic dust sat undisturbed, glass holders swirling with poison glinting with an amber hue. Iredine reached for the needles in the back, grabbing it along with a flexible tube. Coming back up, she set it down on the sink and made sure to wash and dry her hands before grabbing the needle and twisting it around until the pointed part came off. Grabbing the flexible tube, she adjusted the pointed end to one part of the tube and the empty needle holder to the other end.
Spotting a prominent vein in her arm, she gently inserted the needle into her arm and squeezed hard, watching as a stream of red and gold magic poured through the tube to the other end where it began to fill up in the empty needle chamber.
Seconds passed before she pulled the needle out her arm and stooped down to grab another needle. She worked carefully, connecting the new needlepoint to the chamber that was filled with her magic. Satisfied with her work, she walked out of the bathroom and approached Alesandria's body, grabbing her arm gently and squeezing her thumb at the base of her hand.
A blue vein outlined her arm and Iredine inserted the needle into her arm, draining the contents into her body. Alesandria twitched but did not awaken as Iredine finished, pulling the needle out and wiping it on her dress. She used her magic to seal the wound, covering Alesandria with the blanket.
"If I can't convince you to tell the truth, I'll force it out of you" Iredine whispered, tucking the needle away. She sighed, resting a reassuring hand on Alesandria's shoulder. "I'm sorry Alesandria but this is the only way."
A/N: And that is the end of Chapter Forty Three!
Only a few chapters away until we reach the end! Happiness and sadness!
So as you all know, the coronavirus has been spreading like wildfire so my university has been forced to hold online classes until easter break when we can return on campus (hopefully). Even though I have online classes they don't begin until the 30th so I have a lot of time on my hands to hopefully finish publishing the chapters of this book so I can move on to The Shadow Heirs and the novellas.
As for now, all you be careful out there. Be safe, healthy, stay indoors, and wash your hands thoroughly. If you are sick, stay home and take care of yourself. Don't take this lightly. It can be very detrimental. Even though most healthy people with a good immune system usually bounce back, those with health ailments are struggling to recover! It's important to keep them in your prayers and practice safe hygiene and self-quarantine. For more information, make sure to go to the CDC website to receive daily updates on the coronavirus. Another way to keep yourself informed is to visit the website corona.help for daily updates worldwide!
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With love, May