"Can't you see this is all a lie? Open your eyes. I can't believe it took something as simple as an AI video to deceive all of you." Draven scowled.'AI? Seriously? Is he really trying to make them believe it's AI?' Layla scrunched her face."My fellow parliamentarians and I have been slaving for a millennium, making sure to keep the order of our world intact, protecting it and you people. We've given our time, energy, and effort to make this world a place where you all are safe. We did anything and everything for your own good, and yet a few minutes videos is enough for you to doubt us. You lots are a disgrace. How easily can you forget our good deeds for a conspiracy theory from a group that has caused a lot of trouble? You're fools." He yelled and a lot of people flinched."Are you people so dumb that you can't see this’s a ploy from the rebels and the Children of Iniquities? You saw the Child of Day yourselves, didn't you? How do you not know this is all a scheme? A scheme to make
The light dimmed, and the once sunny sky turned beautiful deep blue with a sprinkle of glistening stars and a full moon.Light shone from the moon down to the field, and Selene appeared in the spot light. She wore a sweet smile, and her eyes shone with joy and awe.‘Now, you guys won’t have anything to back your deceit. The god’s and goddess’ names you use to perpetuate evil will speak against you to the whole world. I wonder what you would do after the truth is revealed.’ Layla smirked at the parliamentarians.Blaze, Demeter, and Boris gaped at Selene, their faces pale with horror as they shifted on their spot, sharing worried looks with each other.On the other hand, Draven’s face was cold and void of any emotions. He stood as still as a mountain, and his blank eyes stared at the goddess.The aura of the arena shifted from agitation and discord to peace and serenity, though there was still confusion.The crowd whispered among themselves, shocked and in awe of Selene’s presence. She
“Yes, let’s test it.” Draven nodded, jutting his head forward and turning to the people with a broad smile.“Vampires, faes, werewolves, and phoenixes prove to this being of chaos that you can’t be blinded by cunning words and deceits. Prove your loyalty. Prove that your eyes are opened and you know the truth. If you are on my side, the parliamentarians side, the side of truth and loyalty, stand up. Stand tall and proud.” He announced, raising his hand.The people shared looks between themselves and talked in hushed tones. Seconds turned to minutes, and not a single person rose up.“Come on, don’t be shy to stand for what’s right. You know the truth.” He encouraged as his brows creased and his smile twitched.‘You’re right, Draven. They know the truth.’ Layla thought as she gazed at the crowd.He said more words— anything in his vocabulary— to get them up to their feet to stand by his side. Nobody stood. Though some shuffled on their seats and others avoided looking at him, no one sho
‘Invincible. He will be invincible.’ Layla gulped as her breath turned shaky. ‘He’s already very strong on a normal day, and I feared I wasn’t going to be able to beat him, but now… I’m terrified. How am I going to defeat an already powerful vampire who stole the powers of others, including elite supernaturals and even his own comrades? Can I… Can I…’“Don’t think too much, moon child. Let me show you instead.” Draven said, lifting his hand higher, and the sky’s red colour intensified.A sharp pain stabbed through her chest, and she gasped, clutching her clothes over her chest. She coughed, blood trickled down her lips, and her eyes widened.‘Alaric, Zayne. They’re in danger. No! No! I—’“God of the sun, Sol, led me your power. Healing golden ray!” Eleanor yelled, and bright, yellow light shone in the sky, dispelling some of the red.“Eleanor!” Layla gasped, turning to her and wiping the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand. Eleanor was floating far above her and Draven, alm
‘I c-can’t… I c-can’t do it. I c-can’t.’ Layla thought as tears dropped down her face from her only working eye.Her body was sprawled on the ground, littered with burns and cuts that refused to heal. Her bodysuit was just a bunch of threads holding onto themselves with their last breath.Every inch of her ached and refused to move. Her glaive was a few inches by her side, but no matter how she wanted to, her hand remained dead tired and unmoving.She stared at the sky; red light fought with yellow one that was way dimmer than when it had come on. Her beacon of hope was wavering.‘P-please be… be strong, Elly. I-I know you aren’t su… supposed to f-fight a-and… and I’m… I’m s-sorry to… to put y-you in this… this p-position but please stay strong. I-If you go off, I’ll lose my m-mind.’Eleanor wasn’t a fighter. She wasn’t to be in the heat of the battle. She was meant to bring things to order. She was the restorer and healer. She was to correct what the parliamentarians had done wrong a
A gust of breeze blew past Layla’s face, and everything grew still. All the pain clawing at her quieted, and the ominous aura around her disappeared. Her eyes fluttered open, and they stared into Selene’s calm, warm ones. The world around them was grey and frozen in time.“You answered me.” Layla breathed as her lips turned into a small smile.“Why didn’t you call me since? Why did you wait until you’re almost dead to ask for my help?” Selene asked, placing her hand on her cheek.“I forgot.” She laughed as a warm sensation bloomed inside her and all her fear and terror disappeared. “Didn’t I tell you it was my battle? Didn’t I tell you I was going to fight through you? Why would you let yourself go through so much horror?”“I thought I could do it on my own. I don’t know why I thought that, and I can see it was stupid, really stupid.” She replied, but her bright, happy smile didn’t fall.What she did was stupid and almost cost her everyone’s life and hers, and she was going to give h
“You. Are. Weak.”The dagger went through Layla’s neck like it was butter, but nothing happened. Her head was still on her shoulders, and there was no single scar. It was like nothing had happened.Draven’s eyes were wide, darting from the dagger to her unsevered head, and her smirk grew wider.“You are weak, Draven. Despite stealing others powers to add to yours, you still couldn’t get rid of lil’ weak me. It’s such a shame.” She mocked as her glaive lifted off the ground to her hand, and she swung it at him.He dodged, but not quick enough. The blade cut across his chest from his left shoulder to his side, leaving a large gaping wound.He stumbled back, pressing his hand to it, and he glowered at her as the red radiating off his body glowed brighter.“You’re going to regret that!” He snarled at her as the wound slowly closed.“No, you’re going to regret everything you did to me and all the Children of Hope that have come before Eleanor and me.” She said, pointing her glaive at him,
‘I’ve killed Draven, so why is the sky still red? What is going on? Why is everyone still unconscious? Why aren’t they standing up?’ Layla thought as her eyes flickered around the arena.All the spectators were as they were the moment Draven had activated the eye of chaos, unconscious, foaming from their mouths, and covered with red glowing streaks.“Felix? Felix? Are you there? Can you hear me?” She pressed her finger to her earpiece.“Ugh, no reply. He’s out too.” She fretted, tugging at the bottom of her ponytail. “Is he alright? Are they alright? Are they alive?”She floated across the arena, over the fallen crowd from one end to the other. She placed her hands on her chest, searching for her bond with her protectors.‘At least they’re alive.’ She breathed as she returned to the centre of the arena. “But why is the eye of chaos still on? I thought that it would go off the moment I killed him. Will it remain like this until everyone’s power is gone? No, it can’t be. I have to find