I’ve been in training since I was old enough to walk. I thought I was prepared for anything and everything. But this…there was no preparing for this.With a thunderous snarl, I slash my claws through an oncoming eyti, watching its shadowed figure disperse like smoke with a high-pitched shriek.'We were never meant to stay unified like this indefinitely, Amelia. We can’t keep fighting them back forever. Each one we fight back still reconstitutes a few minutes later leaving us stuck in this vicious cycle,' Zara worries in my mind.I feel coldness latch onto my arms as I see two eyti take hold of me, their glowing, purple, soulless sockets sending chills through my body. I tense my arms and yank the eytes forward into the earth, slashing at them ferociously as saliva drips from my canines. They vanish with an ear-piercing shriek, and I take a second to catch my breath as I get my second wind. I place a furry, clawed hand over my lower abdomen, sending out a silent thank you to the life g
I look up as the eyti surround me. I begin fighting them off once again when suddenly dark, stormy clouds fill the sky roaring with thunder as bolts of lightning strike like the sky itself has become enraged. At the same time, I feel the earth shake far more intensely than it did before. I look out towards the battling Gods, and as I do I realise something has gone terribly wrong. Two Gods are missing, and the one they call Jartre is staring down Azadou, his eyes completely blacked out with silver and shining with an intense brightness as his entire body radiates a pulsating white energy. He looks completely out of it as he forms a tight fist and to my absolute horror, he punches the side of his fist against the air…shattering it!'Did he just shatter thin air?!' Zara exclaims in shock.I can’t even begin to describe what I’m seeing. It’s as though the air…or reality itself has been shattered like a mirror, creating prism-like shards throughout the air where his fist hit.“JARTRE STOP
I leap into action the second I see Jartre’s darkness take him over as he rises to confront Azadou.“Ezillus, I need you to break the barrier guarding the Orraikam,” I say urgently.Ezillus looks at me incredulously as they return to their human form, “What the hell for?”“Because Sebastian specifically wished for a barrier that only you could penetrate. I need you to break it so I may gain access,” I explain in a rush.“I really don’t think now is the time for that, Z,” they argue.“Now is the only time! Do it!”Looking taken aback by my tone, they raise their hand, snapping their fingers as their eyes glow vividly. “There, happy now?”I grab Oshmin’s arm and quickly teleport to Gabriella’s body, placing a hand on her and transporting the three of us to the undersea throne room in Atlesper. I look around to see the old throne room has been completely cleared of water like an air pocket, as King Sebastian and Queen Lemuel stand mere feet away, using the wall of water separating us fro
I look around in confusion, seeing nothing but white all around me, like being in a vast white hall. As I turn around, I see the white space far ahead of me, part and open to a beautiful meadow bathed in warm light. As I slowly walk towards it, a tall 7’7” figure appears and begins walking towards me. Rich, deep green curls frame her face and flow down her back while piercing liquid silver eyes shine brightly against her deep, ebony skin. As she gets closer, I can better see her features. The roundness of her face, the fullness of her lips, her slim nose, high cheekbones and skin so smooth she looks like a walking filter. Her slim build and hourglass shape are accentuated in a floor – if you can call it that – length white halter dress, skimming the floor like mist dancing on the surface of a lake.She stands in front of me, gracing me with a warm, inviting smile. “Hello, Gabriella. I’ve waited a very long time to meet you,” she greets, her voice warm and soft with an airy quality. I
“Who says I want to be worthy? Maybe I just want to be a normal human woman." I take in a shuddering breath, resisting the urge to cry. Why are you telling me all of this?” I whisper in defeat, feeling the traitorous tears fuelled by overwhelming emotion, welling in my eyes.“Because a long time ago, Fretez chose to put her hope in you. A hope that you would be able to help me restore a balance that was once lost.” There’s nothing but compassion in her eyes, but I don’t feel comforted by her words. “Thirty-thousand years ago Fretez confronted Azadou in battle, trying to find a way to temper the darkness within him. Fretez believed, as I do, that Azadou deserved a chance to learn to harness his power and join us. Fretez was determined to find a peaceful resolution. During their battle, she was badly wounded and confronted with two options. Destroy him or imprison him.”“And she locked him in a cage and threw away the key,” I huff, crossing my arms. “I know this story.”“You may know th
**********The moment Jartre leaves, I will myself with all my strength to sit up, but each time I try my elbows give out. I dig my nails into the bed, force myself to sit up and immediately slump against the headboard, panting, trying to catch my breath. I feel this incomparable level of power coursing through my body, making me feel like I can do anything…but at the same time, I’ve never felt more drained in my entire life. I feel like my body could break from its own weight. I feel like I’m burning up from the inside while my heart is racing faster than a hummingbird. Tears prick my eyes as I think over what I’ve just done. The moment Jartre told me Azadou was free, I knew everything Zarseti said was true, not that I ever doubted her. I knew I had to let him go, but I can’t fight the overwhelming guilt I feel. Am I being selfish or selfless? I don’t know.I weakly pull the sheets over my chest, covering myself as something catches my attention from the corner of my eye. I gingerly
~PRESENT~“Is Jartre alright?” I frantically ask, my final memory of that dagger aiming for Jartre filling my mind.Fretez gives me a compassionate look, “Depends on your definition of ‘alright’. The moment you died, your bond was broken and for any animai…that’s a pain worse than death, but for a God…I shudder to think.”I look around at the expansive white around us, surprised by how warm and welcoming this vast nothing is. “Where are we?”“This is the veil - a realm between the world of the living and the world of the dead. As Goddess of the Veil, this was always my domain; since my death, it is where I now reside. Welcoming and guiding souls as they cross over, waiting until the day you came along,” she says affectionately.I scrub my hands down my face, “Why is all of this happening? What I saw…I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. The hatred in Azadou, the anger and shame in Jartre…and then to see all those innocent people fighting something they can’t truly fight…what was
My surroundings look foreign, but not just foreign…heightened. It looks like my eyes have been upgraded to HD. Everything looks crisp and vivid with colours having a vibrancy they never did before. I take in a deep breath through my nose and smell…everything. I smell the sea…and a million other scents, some familiar, others I couldn’t even put a name to if I tried.“Gabriella?” I look to the side, to see Zarseti kneeling beside me. I stare wide-eyed as I take in this otherworldly fuchsia light that surrounds her, basking me in warmth, love and serenity.“Zarseti?” I say in bewilderment as I take in how ethereal she looks.“Welcome back,” she says brightly, taking my hand and helping me to my feet.As I stand I realise how strong I feel…it’s not just strong…it’s powerful. I can feel this abundance of power and strength coursing through every fibre of my being. I look down at my arms, also realising I’m in a completely different outfit than I was before. The memory of the battlefield fl