Noah's PovAs I mentioned the title, the door burst open behind me. With Richard and the guard side by side, walking briskly towards me.“Sire?” he called.His face was reddened, and the veins in his neck were slightly strained, as he called lightly. His bow tie was bent sideways in the wrong direction and his suit coat looked rumpled and dust covered. I frowned seeing him haggard and it worried me.“What happened Richard?”He came up to me suddenly and fell to his knees, stumbling; holding onto my arms for support as he groaned, and began sobbing.“The Council is dead…”The words dropped me stone cold and I froze. As the three men sitting behind me on the high table gasped again. And the guard that had brought him in almost fell to the floor in shock.“What?” I asked.“Their bodies were found in the lake…” he stuttered.“All tied with ropes that glowed strangely...and when I tried to remove them, they only grew tighter…” he spilled out. “They were stabbed and some were drowned...All
Colin's Pov The entire space was as tense as a tiny shelter in the midst of a hailstorm. As I stood facing Flanagan with his thirty students behind him; all sitting on the edge of their wooden seats, with arms folded and bodies sweaty; holding special hilted swords in sheaths that rested on their sides. The statement he made was strangely unexpected, and it disturbed me. I had been betrayed and I wasn't taking it lightly."Well that's...I'm sure you haven't forgotten, but that's not what we previously agreed on?" I said, frowning."Well, times change Colin..." he replied. "Priorities deepen and power is key I'm sure you understand..." he smirked."I've been the one holding this pack together since its inception, I am the one who led our first insurrection, and I've been the one keeping the peace amongst the people ever since we lost...'' he explained, boldly. "The rightful leader here is obvious, and I only promised it to you; the position, that you would have increased motivation f
Noah's PovI came out of the courtroom, exploding from the inside out. I burned with rage and pain, and loss and chaos. I didn't know what to feel as I felt a million things at once. The Council was dead. And I just couldn't comprehend it. It came as a devastating blow. And one I never expected to hit this hard.I made it through the hallway, past the cooks and cleaners as they sauntered around in their duties. They all frowned at me; some freezing and some greeting, while others were busy trying to get out of my path as I didn't seem to mind walking through them. I held the scroll in my hand with my grip like a vice, as I pounded down the hallway, and out to the courtyard again; now almost in a maze of movement. I made it out into the blazing sun, but this time, my body overcame the heat as I trudged on, choosing to not be disturbed by the rays.I slid down the stairs and turned down a third path of many. And now headed to the place I had thought I wouldn't return to ever again:The
Flanagan's PovI wasn't expecting the response, and my brows furrowed immediately. As I held the man by his collar and jerked him up wildly; with rage building in my eyes."What happened to her?!" I yelled.His entire frame shook in my hands as beads of sweat jumped across his forehead. He stuttered as he tried to get his words out, and I gripped onto his shoulders, suddenly piercing his skin with my claws. He squirmed and stood on his toes in pain as he finally answered, and in a tone like pressured air released from a container."She's unconscious sire..." he squealed. "Some of my men said she transformed into a monster before she lost her balance and fell..." he explained, almost bursting. "We don't know what happened, we weren't there when it did, we only heard a loud boom..."My frown deepened as his words sounded like a bad joke. And I grimaced wondering if he was trying to be funny; as I gripped his hands tighter, sinking my claws farther in his flesh."Is this a joke?" I frow
Flanagan's Pov“Is she okay?” I asked, frowning.The two women were scared stiff as I had jumped them suddenly. And they sat flustered as they looked at each other then to me, nodding shakily.“Yes sire…” one answered.She held black short hair and dark bags under her eyes. She was old and it wasn't hiding. Age wasn't on her side, and as an enemy, it was attacking her viciously.The other was younger, and I felt, an assistant. As she held youth and the innocence of a toddler even though higher grown. She nodded as the elderly did too, following carefully.“What happened?...” I asked now.“She absorbed too much energy..." the woman answered, slow but pert. "And because it came in a sudden burst, it affected her…” she added. “The energy wasn't hers...well it was...but she had not the slightest idea about it, and it had not been previously trained or controlled, so it overwhelmed her…” she explained. “The goddess herself seemed to have possessed her and taken control of her body in a br
Noah's PovI stood atop the execution block; looking down at all the men with their eyes all raised to me. Them watching in anxious itchiness and me in worried urgency. My heart was heavy as I had a lot to say and I feared there wasn't much time left to say it. Because I didn't know if death would strike me as I stood here. If the end would come before I even began my speech. And I could feel the teeth of conflict bite at my tongue, as I could hear the voice of sorrow whisper in my ears. I looked around at all the men and knew we wouldn't all make it. The boat would contain us all, but wouldn't bring everyone back. I knew the wind wouldn't favor us as well. As if it blew in the right path, it was inevitable to war; but if it blew in any direction the opposite, it would take us to cowardice. "Men!" I boomed suddenly.I was arching in my stance but straightened now, as the soldiers jumped to salutes at the spontaneous call."I thank you all for gathering here..." I said now, and in a
Noah's Pov"But it's time to make up for my mistakes. It's time to make up for my wrongs and I think it's high time we brought this to an end." I said. "Betrayal I believe, should be expected. Yet when it happens we all still find ourselves shocked..." I simmered. "However, peace in my heart can still be made. Solace can still be found. And the definition of peace is making sure the past is nothing like the future..." "And I need your help, soldiers..." I said all this with jaws clenched and standing as upright as my aching body and mind could muster. My hands were closed into fists, and the soldiers had all their eyes to me, hanging on every word. And as I stopped they still stood strangely hypnotized. I frowned as I looked around at their lost faces, and I could see the three brothers with their eyes slightly widened.I could see something inside them. Something like respect and awe.It surprised me; but the way the men suddenly yelled to the skies surprised me even more.They une
Flanagan's PovI rode back to the training field and boiled. With my anger reaching the clouds in the sky, yet its power originating from hell. I was angry, and wielding my sword with enough force to crack the hilt in two. And I gathered speed as I climbed up and came down the hill that led to the training area.I powered down the dusty path, seeing the hoof prints of the men who came before to inform me of my daughter's health. And it hurt me to see her sick and forlorn. Because she was important and I needed her. I could sense she had a versatile power in her. And one that would be important to our victory.Yet now she has been sidelined and put aside by illness...And Colin was to pay.My anger doubled as I powered down and reached the men. Who now looked at me with their eyes wide as I doubled in size in their vision. I rode even though close, and at full speed; only stopping after ramming into a soldier and sending him flying into a tree, landing with his back first. And from th