"It is," Sloane said.
"I told you not to let her activate it," Hannah lamented.
Zapharos took a deep breath and walked toward her, but Tharaax stepped in his way, "Not a step closer." He warned.
Zapharos' smile was enigmatic. "Hello, little priestess. It's been a long time."
"We've never met," Hannah said.
"Oh, but we have," Zapharos assured her. "Unfortunately, at the time, you and your brethren took my brothers' words over mine." He shrugged as if it didn't matter.
"You are evil," Hannah declared, and Tharaax stiffened, ready to defend her if necessary.
Zapharos laughed, "That's true. Good point, little priestess, but sometimes it’s the evil that you should listen to because it's the voice of the truth."
Hannah shook her head, but his words seemed to do something to her because she stilled.
"My brothers had their own agenda, you know that."
"I don't. I don't remember," Hannah cried.
Zapharos raised his hand, palm up. He jerked it forward, not directly touching Hannah, but I thought I noticed a ball of light coming for her.
"Hannah!" Tharaax yelled.
Hannah looked stunned but held Tharaax back. "I'm okay, Thrax. I'm okay." She took a deep breath and steadied herself by fisting Tharaax's shirt, who stabilized her by placing his hand on her waist.
He glared at Zapharos. "What did you do?"
"I only helped her remember," Zapharos defended himself, and then he looked at Hannah. "Now you see?"
"How do I know you just didn't make me believe that this is what happened?" Hannah demanded.
"It's called trust." Zapharos smiled.
Sloane snorted, but he ignored her.
"What did he do to you?" Tharaax asked. "I'll kill him."
Hannah shook her head. "It's alright. Really. It's okay."
"Well, don't leave us hanging. What do you remember?" Nova almost yelled.
Hannah looked perturbed, like someone who had seen life in black and white and suddenly saw colors for the first time.
"That I'm a terrible person," Hannah cried, burying her face in Tharaax’s side, who mouthed,you're dead, to Zapharos before he simply held his mate tight and whispered words of encouragement to her.
All of us exchanged startled glances; nobody knew what to do or say, but Tharaax wasn't the only one who looked ready to end Zapharos.
"You can give that to me now, love," Zapharos nodded at me.
"Oh… oh good." Carefully, I put the globe that seemed to be getting heavier into his hands.
"Alright,Zaph, storytime." Sloane glared at him.
He exhaled slowly and seemed to choose his words carefully. "You're looking for answers." It was more of a statement than a question, so he continued, "you want to know who the Arkhevari are, what they are, and why we do what we do. But answers come at a price. Some truths cannot be spoken—only understood in time."
Zaarek folded his arms. "You sound like you enjoy keeping secrets."
