*Meadow*I am happy I didn't have to argue much with Caleb for this, he didn't want me in the field of battle but he also was aware that Cornelius was smart, and he would think of a way to get to me just to get to him. If I was close, his chances were almost nule to take me.We are finally established in the woods; I can see Queen Isilwen not far from us and her powers are strong. I see several wolves on the ground howling in pain. Caleb takes my hand and walks amongst our people, most of them shifted except the scouts on the top of the trees. "I am going to ask Queen Isilwen to let them go, this will encourage Cornelius to push and attack. Demark's people are a few miles ahead ready to aid the drows taking them to a safe distance. That is when we enter, our first line works as a shield, they will stop his first wave. The second one is the punch, we will strike back. The last one has the deadliest warriors, and me. I will need you to take an important role here Princess..." He says t
*Meadow*After minutes of silence, they didn't move; many of them laid exhausted for the physical and mental manipulation from the drows and wisps. I felt my throat dry, I was nervous, expecting the unexpected. Then I saw it.It was a line of darkness that approached us with an incredible speed. Shifted wolves that ran towards us bloodthirsty; their eyes red, their canines out and threatening, their growls chilling. I shivered and had to force myself to remember this was the moment that would define our future, mine with Caleb and also our people, and probably the world. Because, if we can't stop Cornelius, no one can, and who would stop here when they could take the world?Caleb's plan got into action; the first wave got caught on our first line. Everything happened so fast, it was surreal. I heard the sound of each of our warriors and felt their rage and pain all together. It made me restless, I wanted to do something, I wanted to help them. I was about to shift and head their way
*Meadow*I felt disgust watching his cocky smile while he stood a few meters from me. To be honest, I was never a violent person, but it made me want to punch him with all I had. He shifted and walked slowly closer to me."Well, well... the Princess is now trapped in her own paradise..." his voice caused me chills, the worst ones. He spilled venom with his tone of voice and I felt like I wanted to crawl into a space and hide. Why did I ran? Why didn't I stay where Caleb told me to? Oh Goddess, why was I so stupid and left the safety of his eyes? Now I regret everything I did, I wanted to be brave and instead I think I just ended up messing things up.I held the tears and instead I replaced them with nothing. I looked back at him with lack of emotions. He chuckled to himself and looked around. "Very nice place, is this the place where you met him?" He asked and I just stared back at him, I didn't want to confirm nor deny anything and let him elaborate more on whatever he was planning
*Meadow*"I knew you were following me Vampyr... I knew you were chasing my tail... I always knew you were... admit it, you didn't see this one coming, did you..." he mocked and teased Aeneas between laughs. The bodies of the two dead vampires were quickly disintegrating on the ground. "You took my Luna away from me... now I am taking yours... give her to me..." Cornelius spoke, this time, with no hint of amusement.I knew I hadn't like Camilla from the start, the vibes she sent were always different. But betraying her blood, her maker? I never expected that. Rage started to fill me and I was struggling not to give in. My wolf was snarling to come out and bite some vampire's flesh."You won't make it alive this day, demon. I give you my word on that." Aeneas words were cold and calculated, still I saw us cornered and them with advantage. I wanted so bad to have Caleb here."You have balls, vampyr... you are outnumbered and still manage to threaten me? Big balls..." Cornelius laughe
*Meadow*It was clear that Aeneas wasn't going to let him get away with his plans, he was fighting admirably with everything he had. But nothing could have prepared us for what happened when he sank his fangs into Cornelius skin.The scream mixed with growls that came out of him were unnatural, and then his fur started to break. I half closed my eyes but forced myself to keep looking. His skin torn as if something was breaking it from the inside. It grew, Aeneas watched with anger in his black eyes, a vile huge creature broke free from inside what once was Cornelius' wolf. A huge tall creature stood in front of him, leaning on two hooves that were dark red and sank into the ground, it doubled Aeneas' size in both height and width.I gasped as the personification of evil presented to us now, the real demon who was behind the horrors Aeneas claimed had been happening for centuries. Exaggerated muscles and a disfigured face, he had only one big eye slightly more to the left, and his ha
*Meadow*I tried to find Aeneas but he was too far from me, I couldn't check if he was alive or not, between us three we could probably kill it. I took several deep breath and followed my instinct, I crawled to the water and took a dip. Whatever it was on the lake quickly started to heal me, I felt my swollen limbs recover and my pain subside; I looked towards the cave and those haunting glowing blue eyes seemed to get closer. I shifted and turned around to see Caleb bite and tear a part of the creature's arm, causing it to scream and try to hit him.This was delusional, I needed to help my mate, he was the strongest warrior in the land but I didn't know if he was strong enough to defeat a demon, a creature of myths and legends. "Caleb!" I screamed and he jumped just in time to avoid a punch. He looked at me and that distraction caused him to be hit by a second punch from the beast. I gasped and covered my mouth, I was being a distraction instead of helping him. 'Pull him to the wate
*Meadow*I stumble and almost fall back to the water as I try to climb the few rocks that led me to the entrance of the cave. I turned my head to look where my mate was just in time to watch the demon splash water all over as its body fell completely in it. A small wave of water reached my feet and I finished to step into the darkness.'Caleb! are you ok?' I send to my mate and I could only hear silence. I didn't see him around anywhere and I felt my heart at my throat while I looked also at my back and saw those haunting blue eyes moving closer to me. I felt myself getting anxious for the meeting, something told me Caleb knew whatever was there was not going to harm me and I would be safe there as well, yet the goosebumps in my body kept me on guard.I watched the demon fight against something invisible in the water, then its head turned to look at me and with rage in its eyes he tried to reach me; only then I saw Caleb fall on him with all his force. His body weight and size used
*Meadow*It was then when I saw a big shadow from behind it; it kept coming closer towards us, and the closer it get the more it blocked the light. The demon was frozen and still as it watched my new protector with fear; then I heard a strange sound I only noticed to be wings flapping when big claws appeared from behind the waterfall and sank into both of the creature's shoulders. It yelled in vain, a long tail quickly aid the pull of the claws by wrapping around its waist and together they pulled it out and away from us. I ran past her and jumped to the water, swimming fast out of the cave to see what was happening; I saw them fighting in the air, Caleb's wings huge and magnificent kept them both suspended while their bodies kept wrestling; I saw the demon reach my mate's neck and tear a part of it but Caleb was faster and in swift calculated moves he bit the demon's head holding it still while his claws sank even deeper into its shoulders, a painful scream came from its mouth as Cal
*Meadow*The sun casts a warm golden glow, as if trying to heal the scarred landscape left by the war. Fields, once lush and green, lie ravaged, but sprouts of new life fight their way through the wreckage. The earth seems to be slowly stitching itself back together, just as we are.I sit anxiously as I wait for Sol to walk down the flowered aisle. She chose this place as the setting for her wedding, and when I asked her why, she said she wanted to honor those people who fell during our battle."Look at that," Xavier says, pointing to a small group of deer grazing in the distance. "Life always finds a way.""Indeed," I reply, my voice catching in my throat. The sight is both beautiful and heartbreaking. It's hard not to think of those who never got to see this moment of renewal.Right after the battle, we spent our days rebuilding the world around us, not only the physical structures, but also the hearts and minds of those left behind. It's a slow and arduous process, but with each bri
*Solveigh*My consciousness returns slowly, as if emerging from the depths of a murky abyss. The voices around me are hushed and indistinct, like echoes in a fog. I strain to understand them, but they remain elusive.‘Sol,’ Seth's voice resonates within my mind, warm and reassuring. ‘You're going to be okay. You need more rest before your body can fully recover.’I want to respond, to tell him how tired I am, but my limbs are heavy and unresponsive. My eyelids feel weighed down, as if encased in stone. It's frustrating, this inability to move or communicate.‘Mom... Dad…’ I try to call for them in my thoughts, hoping Seth will relay my message.Footsteps approach, and I sense their familiar presence even before I hear dad's deep, calming voice. "Seth, how is she?""Her body is still too weak to talk or open her eyes or move yet," Seth explains gently. "But she can hear us."My heart swells with gratitude. They came, just as I knew they would. I wish I could see their faces or embrace t
*Caliope*I watch Amral crumple to the ground, his eyes rolling back as he loses consciousness. Panic surges through me like a tidal wave, drowning out all other emotions. The dark creatures circle him, preparing to tear him apart, and something inside me snaps."Amral!" I scream, my voice cracking under the weight of my fear and desperation. He can't die; not now, not like this. My love for him, my need to protect him, fuels my anger and pain. I have more to fight for than ever before."Get away from him!" I roar, focusing all my dark powers into a singular force. Shadows stretch out from my fingertips, wrapping around the monstrous beings that threaten his life. I tug at the darkness, sending the creatures flying away from his motionless body."Please, you can't leave me," I whisper, tears streaming down my face. Desperation echoes through my voice, and I feel it deep within my soul. "You can't die."The creatures recover quickly, turning their attention towards me. But I'm not afrai
*Solveigh’s*I step through the black hole portal, and my breath catches in my throat. The darkness enveloping me is thick, almost tangible, and I feel like I'm choking on it. Panic rises within me as I sense the presence of the creatures, born from the shadows and chaos that surround us."Sol," Seth's voice rings out, startling me. He's right beside me, his strong hand gripping mine. He steadies myself emotionally. My panic begins to subside a little, replaced by a sense of calm that only Seth can provide. "We'll get through this," he whispers, his eyes filled with determination."Where are they? Amrafel, Caliope," I call out, searching for our companions. Within seconds, they materialize before us, their powerful auras cutting through the darkness. Amrafel's eyes are like twin flames, lighting up his face, while Caliope's gaze is as sharp as obsidian."Ready to fight these dark creatures?" Amrafel asks, his voice low and steady. Caliope nods, her face set in grim resolve. I feel conf
*Solveigh*I feel like I am in a new state of existence, and every inch of my body is running with electricity; something else has replaced my blood, and the adrenaline is addictive. Seth’s hand presses on my back and I know the reason why I haven't fainted is that of him.A large creature falls close to me and I jump, but quickly regain my focus, not wanting to be distracted, but the smell that comes from its corpse is making me nauseous. I shiver slightly but lock my eyes on my brother Ian, and then I feel ready to try more.It is not the first time; I have done this before, transferring my abilities, affecting them in a way that helped them, enhancing them. I know I can do this, and so, I feel myself reach to Xavier and he shudders slightly, then his voice booms, and it starts to affect the lesser creatures that screech in what now has become a battlefield.I can’t erase the smile on my face; we are making things happen, they are stepping away, so many of them are on the floor alrea
*Xavier*‘They are here,’ are Ian’s words. Words that reach me just as I finish kissing my mates.I rush outside and I see Ian in the middle of the large field, he is looking up to the sky and my eyes follow his. A black pool of nothingness is starting to grow, and I see the elementals panicking as they whisper things in different languages and I know my brother feels them more than me.This angers me; it is not like we weren’t expecting them. Sure, we didn’t know specifically when they were going to attack again, but we had been preparing for them.I focus on the fire elementals and I let my command voice do its job. “Gather up! Get ready! Distraction is needed very fast! Chop chop!”Uncle Aen is quickly joining them, keeping his calm as he looks at me and nods, he knows the time has come. I turn to look at my mates and I feel caught up in the same panic; my mates need to be safe.“Don’t you stand there, you need to get over there and help take them down,” Dana pulls me out from the s
*Meadow*I rush into the cabin, and I find a small gathering in the living room. I don’t understand why everyone is here and not inside helping my Sol. Caleb quickly reaches me and we both walk straight towards her bedroom door.Until Xavier stops us.“Son?” I ask, confused and angry at the same time. “What is happening?”“Mother, wait… Sol is actually ok, she was taken to Caliope’s father to help.”His words feel almost like a foreign language to me. “I can’t feel her mind, what do you mean with all this?”I look at Caly and she actually looks back at me with a face filled with confusion and fear. It is Lucifer who speaks for her. “I have been many eons in my own prison, so I know what he is doing. He has felt a connection to Sol, so he has used her to send a message to us. He can’t hold it for long, so she should be back very soon.”Her words make some sense, and I understand why Caly is a bit shaken by this. I look at her and nod, trying to contain myself as well, showing her that
*Solveigh*I walk through a path of tall and untamed grass. Wild dandelions fly as I walk by them, and the sun shines at its peak, yet its heat is soothing, not overwhelming. The wind blows on my face, and there is pure peace embracing me.Am I dreaming?No, this is not a dream, it is so real. I feel the grass at the tip of my fingers and I sense the texture of them. I see a cabin, a very old one, and a scarecrow that is standing in the middle of the empty land. I frown as I notice that there are no crows nor any animals around us.Everything seems so eery and quiet. Too quiet.As the seconds pass and I keep walking, I get worried, something is about to happen or is happening. I am not sure what it is, even though I keep looking all around me, but something doesn’t fit. Is like I am inside a painting, a living painting.It is when I open my mouth to talk, that I realize that I have no voice as well, and now, I know this must be a nightmare.‘Seth, can you feel me?’ I try to reach for
*Caleb*I watch as Aen handles the elementals calmly. It is not an easy task, yet his experience in battle allows to use his command voice with every one of them. It is something out of an epic story, and yet we find ourselves helpless while we wait.Ebony and Ivory are having a small talk with Sol, the angels like her a lot, which ensures her protection. Is not like she would need so much of it, she is her own worst enemy. But to know they are fond of my daughter just makes me happy.“Where are your thoughts?” Amra asks me as I keep staring at my daughter and the angels.“My thoughts are a bit drifting, I don’t like the idea of coming to a war unprepared,” I admit to him. I know he is also worried, although he shows himself much more calm and collected.“I understand that, and it does bring me worries. I like to be in control of the situation, but nothing that is happening is under our control… in fact, I think the only thing under our control is the lack of actions.”I sigh and shak