“The next time you feel inclined to showcase your power, don’t. If you move even a tendril of hair on her head again, I’ll kill you where you stand.” Ethan’s fingers twitch. “Furthermore, you’ll address her by name,” he demands before returning to my side.
Chatter stirs the air, and Holland turns red with fury. The aura around him thickens with an orange tint, but an interjecting voice demands the room.
“Are we starting, or should I return later? After you’ve finished this…quarrel.”
Up-top a fay occupies the once empty seat, and Ethan scoffs in disappointment as Holland disperses his aura. Even he knows not to challenge the reputation of Alex.
“This isn’t over,” Holland directs towards us, and Kyra looks back with raised brows. For a split second, I forget she is even in the room as I realize the danger she is in.
Briskly walking towards her side, I notice the pure shock she tries to conceal. These lights are doing her justice, though–her russet skin contrasts against the shadows lingering over the other half of her face. She is beautiful–no, she is downright prepossessing. Her hazel, doe eyes widen as thoughts swirl through them.Yep, my best friend is cute as hell.
Whispering, I share, “I’m sorry, Kyra.”
“No need to apologize. Are you okay?” she asks with sincerity.
“I’m fine. It takes more than a little push to get under my skin.”
Ethan steps around me, taking the empty seat facing us, and gives Kyra an unsettling leer. Holland remains rooted in the middle as hebegins speaking, annoyance lacing his dialog. Of course, Ethan is to thank for this.
“Now that everyone is here, we needn’t waste any more time.” His hand raises from his pocket, grasping a piece of parchment. Holland tosses it towards the empty space, between him and us, and a blue sigil takes shape. Shimmers of light fade, and a gloom appears, mimicking the one I fought back in the woods.
At first glance, this one doesn’t have any special abilities, though it’s similar in size and hideous. Kyra shrieks, releasing my hand, then moves back in preparation to fight. Ethan laughs, and I return a menacing leer, mouthing, “Stop.”
“It’s okay, Kyra, it isn’t real. It’s more of a projection.” Forcing an explanation out, I can tell by her rigid frame that she isn’t hearing me. Being surrounded by males almost twice her size and facing this hellish enemy, it’s only fair she is a little overwhelmed.“Weakness gets you killed.”The Elders constantly remind us, but Kyra is not fay, thus, shouldn’t be governed by our laws.
The room grows with laughter at her show of fright. Everyone besides Alex that is, whose attention is welded to Kyra. I clear my throat, and he follows the sound, averting his gaze after meeting mine.What do we have here?My head shakes as a silent snicker wanders out.
He has never shown interest in anyone. Not even the apprentice he was forced to endure. In fact, at first chance, Alex pawned that fay off to someone else. Who, by the way, perished not long after. Did Alex bat an eye? Sure didn’t. His response was, “How unfortunate.”
Literature is the only thing that holds his attention long enough, and thankfully, his personal library is massive. Females here have tried everything to grasp Alex’s attention. So, for Kyra to steal it without an ounce of energy…
That’s a miracle.
“Calm down, child, it can’t hurt you. No sense being frightened,” Holland voices with a cackle.
“I’m not a child,” she scolds back. “Nor afraid.”
“Of course not.” He is so condescending and pompous. An urge to shove my fist through his shit eating grin forces my hands into tight fists.Calm down, it’s okay.I flex them to avoid my intrusive thoughts. “Continuing, here’s an example of what attacked these two in the mortal realm. A gloom. Angie was able to defeat it after destroying half of Kyra’s residential area–”
Kyra tsks. “That’s dramatic.” Interrupting, she relaxes her demeanor and continues, “This isn’t what destroyed the park. You–”
“Silence child,” Holland interrupts in kind. “A mere mortal has no knowledge of things such as this. Your injuries are interfering with your recollection. As–”
“I’ve already told you, I’m not a fucking child.” Kyra steps forward, her tone raw and unapologetic.Yes, I’m here for this. Get him, bestie.“My memories are fine. Someone likeyou, has no knowledge of the mortal realm.” Folding her arms beneath the perks of her breasts, she stands confidently now. I doubt she understands the difference between realms, but now is not the time to point it out. Especially since she’s pissing off Holland. Which I’m loving.
“I will not stand here and let a mortal–”
“And, like I was saying, that isn’t what appeared in the park. Angie killed this one in the woods afterwards,” Kyra insists, pointing at the gloom. “The one I faced, alone, went on about becoming a God. Or something like that and appeared much different than this.” She rolls her eyes, and I damn near scream with excitement.
Holland’s face turns two shades redder than his normal sepia hue, fuming as he is undermined in front of the other Elders. Good for him.
Chatter starts up top, and her last words entice Ethan’s attention. Stalking past Holland, he approaches with a curious scowl as his aura engulfs the room, commanding everyone’s attention. Something in him has awakened, and now, my own curiosity is peaked.
If glooms are after becoming a God, it’s not that simple. Kyra claims to have gone against one much different than this, but how? It couldn’t have been one of theelite eight. Right?
“Becoming a God you say. What did it look like, and did it say anything more?” Ethan asks. His presence is more eerie than Holland’s.
Kyra’s gaze finds me, and my shoulders shrug in response. I’m not sure what to say or how to help. Hell, I’m interested in knowing this information as well.
