“The human world! What do they want with the human world?” Layla asked, scrunching her face. “The real goal of the parliamentarians is to attain godhood. To be seen as omnipotent, and what better place to be seemed as that than in a world of little magic and a fickle lifespan? Once they are done with this world, they’ll go to that, transform it, and make it their domain.” Selene said, taking her second hand and holding the both of them in hers. “I know this might seem like a difficult task, but I know you can. You and Eleanor have to put an end to the barbaric nonsense the parliamentarians are doing. It’s your destiny, and I know you guys can.” ‘She doesn’t need to tell me that it’s my destiny. Deep down, I know that too, but can I really do it?’ Layla thought, biting her bottom lip. “I want to do it, but I don’t… I don’t think I can.” She confessed, taking her hands out of Selene’s and casting her eyes down to the ground. “I can barely use my powers to do anything. Ever
“They do? Then we’re coming with you. Isn’t that right, Layla?” Eleanor asked Layla, and she nodded her head. Of course she wanted to go. Who knew what they had found? Information on how they were creating the dysies and zenzens? Selene had said the parliamentarians wanted to transform the human world and she didn’t need a soothsayer to tell her that the creatures were involved in that plan. After all, it had been a bear, a tiger, and a human child, all from the human world. But why were they kept in Tophet then? Was that their temporary prison until they transferred them to the human world? Or were they experiments gone wrong? It would explain why they wanted them dead. Questions boiled in Layla. She just needed to know, and learning about the information they had just gotten was the first step. “No, the two of you say here.” He shook his head and pointed at Layla. “You need to eat. You fought a dysy, lost a lot of blood, and was unconscious for hours. You need to eat to r
“It wouldn’t be fair if he didn’t get his own happy ever after. It wouldn’t.” Layla said, shaking her head to get the thought out of her mind. “He can’t leave a life of heartbreak just because you chose to be with Pyro instead. That would be horrible. Really, really horrible.”She couldn’t imagine that life for him or for Zayne and Alaric. If she ended up choosing one of them, that meant the other would end up like Sylvan. And she couldn’t let that happen.“Don’t worry, he will.” Eleanor smiled at her. “It might take a while, but his feelings for me will die, and he’s going to love another person more than he ever loved me. Sol promised me that. The same thing for Alaric and Zayne. Whoever you don’t choose is going to fall in love with another person. It might take a while for them to move on, but it will happen.”“That’s a relief.” Layla sighed as she let out a deep breath. “I was really worried. I mean, it won’t be fair to the other.”“I know. I had the same worry too when I reject
‘When Eleanor said she was going to introduce me to everyone, I didn’t know she meant everyone. I don’t think I can remember up to half of their faces. At least I can find my way around the building. It’s large but not really complicated.’Layla thought, trying to keep up with Eleanor’s fast pace as they walked through the hall—more like she dragged her along like a child. She was saying a lot of things, and though Layla couldn’t hear one thing as she tried not to stumble on her feet but she wore a gentle smile.‘Though she’s probably going to wear me out before the day runs out, I can’t tell her to slow down. She looks so happy. She’s literally glowing with excitement. I’d be a monster to tell her to stop.’“…and the last but the most important, our leader, Felix.” Eleanor said, pushing a door open, and they stepped into an office.A thin, frail man with black hair and pale skin was sitting in front of a desk while Pyro was standing next to him as they went through some files. The ma
“Those, cruel, cruel, bastards.” Eleanor growled, slamming her hand on her lap. “Experimenting on people and creatures from another world is bad, but from your own world! Your own people! Children! That’s despicable! The worse of the worse! These people trust them! They worship them like gods, and this is how they want to repay them? By killing them and using their young ones as lab rats! Because of power! Why am I even surprised? They plan to destroy this world anyway! Those vile, cruel, wicked beings! They don’t deserve to live!” ‘They don’t,’ Layla whispered as heat bubbled in her clenched palms and her entire body trembled. Her chest tightened, and the air sizzled around her. ‘Not only are they experimenting on animals and human children, but also their own kinds! Their own kinds! And they are going to destroy their world too! After all the trust the people put in them. They’re going to betray them! For what! Power! They’re monsters. I swear they won’t get away with this!’
“No, I-I’m seeing things. I’m… hallucinating… Yes, h-hallucinating. I’m hallucinating. Or I’m dreaming or running mad.” Layla stuttered as she stumbled back and pressed against the door.Alaric was standing in front of her with a bright, gentle smile on his face. No, it had to be a dream.“You’re not hallucinating, Layla.” Alaric said as he approached her. “It’s not a dream. You’re not running mad. I’m truly here.”“How? Y-you’re with the parliamentarians. They trust you. You’re literally there eyes and ears. H-how… How are you here?” She asked, gaping at him as he stopped just a few inches away from her. His icy, coppery scent filled her nose, dulling the pain in her heart.“It’s quite obvious, Layla. I’m a spy. I work and was always working with the rebels.” He whispered, placing his hand on her cheek and stroked it. “I’ve missed you. I’ve missed you so much.”She jumped on him, throwing her arms around his neck, and pulled him into a tight hug.“I’ve missed you too. I missed you so
“What?” Layla gasped, dropping her hand from his face. He killed the former moon child?!“I told you you would hate me.” Alaric sighed as he stood up and walked to one of the paintings on the wall. “But it’s true. I killed the previous moon child, the one before you, and betrayed my best friend.”“H-how?” She whispered, clutching her skirt.“Ashton was my childhood best friend. We both got into Nox-Luminis as elite students, graduated, and even explored the human world together. When we returned to this world for a break and to be given our duke title, he suddenly began to act… strange. Distant. Like he was hiding something.” He explained, running his hand on the edge of the painting. It was that of a boat in the middle of a calm sea on a beautiful sunny day, a stark contrast to the current mood in the room.“After months of probing and grilling him for his behaviour, he decided to confide in me. He took me to the rebel base, showed me the moon child, Nyx, and revealed that he was her
“No,” Layla objected, standing up from the couch, and Alaric’s head snapped up.“No?” He blinked, scrunching his brows. “What do you mean by no?”“No, means no. I don’t hate you.” She replied as she walked towards him.“D-didn’t you hear what I said? I killed the moon child, Layla. I killed your predecessor.” He frowned, taking a step back for every one she took forward.“Yes, I heard that. I heard everything.” She said softly as she still made her way to him. His back hit the painting behind him, and she wrapped her arms over his neck, trapping him between the wall and her body.“L-layla? What are—”“You made a decision, Alaric. A horrible terrible decision that cost you the lives of innocent people, including your best friend and my predecessor.” She stated, and he winced.“You don’t have to condemn me, Layla. I know what I did was horrible—”“Let me finish.” She hushed and placed a finger across his lips, silencing him. “You might have done those horrible things, but your intent wa