Chapter twenty four: godfire

Freya’s pov  

Time came to a standstill, but the impending danger lurked on.  

Now Kade stood before us, right infront of us, the energy in the air thick with tension. My heart racing as I tried to come in alignment with the nightmare that was unfolding. The ancient dagger rested in the grasp of Kade, reflecting the gentle starlight that cut through the clouds. I had thought the god’s flame was the worst of my fears, but now, Kade—Alpha Kade—the very man who has brazenly attempted to use me for his own purposes was ready to finish what he started.  

Kade’s voice was a low growl filled with a dark intent. “You think this is over?” He made his promises.  

Every word left his mouth felt like it landed a punch in my stomach. “The god’s power doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to me.”  

Before I could even digest what was happening, I felt the god inside me, its power stirring in my very essence. He came to claim it for himself; my worst possible nightmare.  

“They shall not have you,” Finnick mumbled under his breath, the gap of space between us getting smaller. His stiff mannerisms told me he was ready to put himself on the line for me.  

He finally spoke, revealing the chains that bound his throat. “You’re wrong Kade. You’ll never control Freya. You’ll never control the god.”  

“Smirk” was the answer I least expected, and the answer I got from Kade. “I already have. The dagger,” he said, letting the very thing decay put away the remains.

I could feel the godly whispers—My pulse quickened.

“You must destroy him.”

Even with voice of a deity echoing in my mind, I block all the options available. I couldn't listen. The apprehension looming was greater than my god's presence.

“Freya,” Finnick said gently. “You’re stronger than this. You are the strength. Remember, you don’t need the flame to be powerful. You don’t need him.”

The man who had cast me aside, Finnick, now approached me desperately asking me to help defeat the evil deep rooted in me. Definitey, even after what happened, he strongly believed I could overcome the inner conflict.

Gene's whims were the last thing I wanted, with the burning taunts of Kade.

“He can’t save you, Freya. No one can. Not him. Not anyone.”

I had no time to prepare as Kali lunged at Finnick ready to stab him. 

My instincts kicked in. The only thing that bridged the two scenerios was chaos, believed to grant me the power I needed to emerge victorious.

The release of energy was something out of this world; it felt like more than just flame. It felt like myself.

The power slammed into Kade, knocking him backwards, but not without pay back. The god’s fire burned inside of me, biting my skin, making my head spin. My vision blurred, but I kept my glare on Kade.

“You don’t control me!” I shouted, my voice harder from the effort.

Kade grinned, standing up slowly, wiping the blood from his lip. “You still don’t get it Freya? I am the god. And you... you are nothing but a pawn.” 

The dagger in his hand began to gleam brighter, pulsing with a dangerous light. He wasn’t done. Not close.

“Don’t listen to him,” Finnick shut back, his eyes sharp with determination__hope. “You are not a pawn. You are our future. Don’t let him take you again.”

But Kade wasn’t going to stop. The next moment, he rushed toward me with terrible speed, the dagger raised high. My heart speeding, and in that moment, I realized something.

Kade wasn’t just after the god’s power.

He was after me. My soul. The very essence that now carried the flame.

I reacted on my instinct, summoning everything I had left.

The god's flame roared to life, piercing out of control. I felt it surge through me, a flicker of power. It consumed me, taking me over.

“No!” I screamed as I fought for control, but the god's presence was so much stronger now, lunching on my fear and my anger.

Finnick was beside and his hand on my shoulder, shielding me, reminding me who I was.

“You are Freya Kael,” he whispered. “ you are not alone.”

But Kade wasn’t finished.

With a mocking laugh, he lunged again, this time aiming for Finnick. My heart paused. I couldn’t let him hurt Finnick—not again. I couldn’t let this man destroy everything.

"Enough!” I shouted, my voice like a thunder. 

The fire within me exploded, this time controlled, not by the god, but by me. It was my power. My feelings surged through with venom.

The god’s flame didn’t consume me; it bowed to my will and command.

I forced the energy forward, a shock wind that sent Kade crashing to the ground. The dagger flew from his hand, skidding across the dust and dried leaves. But even as he struggled to rise up, I could see the glare in his eyes—the dangerous chuckle.

“You can’t stop this, Freya,” Kade sneered. “The god has chosen me.”

I turned to Finnick, breathing heavily. His eyes were filled with awe—and something else. *Fear*. But he wasn’t afraid of me. He was afraid of losing me.

“You have to do this,” he said, his voice steady. “I now believe in you.”

But then the ground beneath us quivered.

A loud growl echoed through the trees, and I spun around, sensing something far worse than Kade’s evil.

From the shadows, a gigantic figure emerged.

It was Riven.

But something was wrong.

His eyes gleamed with an unnatural light, his shape twisting in the dark, his skin piercing like it was made of shadows.

I took a step back, fear clouding my chest. “What’s happening to you Riven?”

He growled, but there was no warmth in it__cold calculated cruelty. “You thought Kade was the only one after the god’s power?”

Finnick stepped in front of me, his body protective and shielding, but there was a flash of confusion in his expression “Riven, what are you talking about? What do you mean?”

“I’m not just your ally anymore,” Riven said, his 

voice hoarse and  dangerous. “I’m your downfall.”

And with that, he lunged.