“Don’t look at her, look at me. What were the gloom’s features?” he demands.
“First off, back the hell up. I don’t know you, and you sure as hell can’t dictate what I do.” Her leer swivels with sass, and she proceeds past him. But Ethan grabs her arm, placing a sigil beneath them, and they vanish.
The entire boardroom grows quiet, and everyone watches his golden sigil fade from existence. “Fuck,” I snipe, knowing wherever he has taken her can’t be good.
“Finally, someone put that child in her place,” Holland chimes in with his over-the-top vibrato. Smugness forces him to smile, defining those wrinkles around his eyes.
After a few seconds, Ethan returns with a bruised lip and abrasions slashed across his arm. Whatever happened, Kyra didn’t go willingly.
“Where is she?” Pushing him, I demand answers.
“Heal me.”
“No, not until you tell me where she is,” I yell louder than the voices above. These Elders love conversing about any and every little thing. It’s all a show for them. I suppose after they have spent most of their life fighting to obtain Godhood, and never achieving it, they wouldn’t care much about shit. Sometimes, I feel it’s not worth the loss, but then again, who am I to defy our Gods.
“The mortal is fine, for now. When she is in a more talkative mood, I’ll retrieve her,” Ethan says, offering his arm. Despite being able to heal his own injuries, I run a hand over his abrasions with a warming white light, and they fade from existence. Ethan returns to his seat with a faint smile, mouthing the words “thank you” as hestrokes a thumb over his lip. I’m sure he’s just pissing off Holland even more, judging by the disgusted play over our elder’s expression.
“Let’s get back on topic,” someone voices, seated above. “Angie, was the mortal alone when you arrived, and what information do you have?” They all wear cloak-like robes, with hoods covering most of their features. For the life of me, I can’t understand why they wear such outdated garments. It just screams a secret society of assholes. But that’s just me.
“I discovered her alone but found it weird Kyra mistook me for one of the glooms after she awakened. Or at most, thought I was working with them. I assume it went rogue, in search of power, but it doesn’t make sense. From what we know, it should’ve killed her on sight, but Kyra’s bruises paint a different picture. Their normal pattern is to devour and replace. Anything else be damned.
“Angie, language,” Ethan whispers, and I rebut, mouthing, “language” with a mocking face.
“Anyway, after some of the mortals drew closer towards the hole, my sigil moved us into the woods–”
“You did what?” Alex interrupts, but I ignore him as though he didn’t.Shit, he’s pissed. Best I skip the rest.
“After that, I transported her here. Kyra left first, and I stayed back to ensure we weren’t followed. That sums up everything I know.”
Alex growls, “You and I will discuss this mission in private.”You have to find me first.“Regardless, this is a waste of time. Kyra needs to confirm our suspicions, without her, it’s pointless. If you feel she is not a fay, test her. Worst case, we wipe her memory and send her back.” Minor chatter rekindles, and Holland turns his wrath onto Alex.
“We will not be endangering other students with some trivial test. It’ll exploit knowledge of our society.”
He holds some truth within his statement. Aside from our timeline being synced with theirs, our kind was never meant to get involved, let alone mingle with mortals. We live above their heavensfor a reason. An ancient and otherworldly species, descendants of their Gods, myths and legends turned fable stem from our kind. Regardless, I side with Alex.
“Let’s test her with the new students and see if the Awakening ignites a slumbering fire. It’ll be a perfect cover and protect everyone in case she isn’t a fay.”
Holland faces me, pure rage darkening his features more than any shadow could. The strongest of our Elders, Holland is an un-ascended fay and once House Leader of Earth. Veins throb along his temple, and he grimaces with unjust indignation.
“Silence! Because of your position, I’ll excuse your insolence. I’ve spoken on the matter. We will not entertain such harmful ideas.” Promptly, golden spears pierce the ground around him, chipping away marble and caging Holland in. My head swivels to where Ethan is seated, only, he is no longer there.
“What did I tell you? That you’d die if she’s insulted again,” Ethan’s tone is primal, yet clear as he appears beside Holland with another spear in hand.
“You forget your place, Ethan. You don’t have enough power to carry out this act.”
Ethan smirks, and bloodlust seeps from his pores. Those goldish-red hues hide behind an engulfing gold tint as black veins spread beneath his eyes like lightning striking in slow motion. He is calling on his natural order and magic, and my chest tightens, knowing what comes next. Sigils. They trace over Holland’s body with beams of light piercing him from each direction.
He screams with fear, “What is this? What are you doing?” Every thrust and thrash causes those beams to sizzle, and onlookers gasp, standing as shock overwhelms them all.
“Now, you die,” Ethan announces. But I rush and stand before him, placing a hand over his chest and calming his aura.
“No. This isn’t the time nor place.”
He desires this kill, hell, I want it also, but not now. Rebirth’s rules dictate there needs to be an official challenge, or this will be consideredmurder. And if either one of us is going to die for Holland, it sure as hell won’t be him.
Scoffing, Ethan finally calms. “You’re too forgiving.” He waves a hand, and every trace of his magic disperses. Holland tries to reclaim his breath and takes a knee in tandem. Near death is something he hasn’t felt in ages, and I’m proud it’s happening for him. Those seated up-top exhale with a disappointed notion, and I partake in one of my own for a much different reason. “Kyra will participate in the Awakening. This is final.” Ethan’s posture dares any objections. “If she passes, she’ll be admitted to Rebirth.”
“And if she fails?” We both face Holland, who now stands with his fists clenched and droplets of blood soaking through his shirt.
