A Loyal Companion
SEVEN: Aranthias

We stood on a rocky plane at the edge of Pyrii village. I squinted my eyes, I couldn’t see the portal. I closed my eyes tightly, and summon my supernatural vision. As I opened my eyes my surrounding turned dark purple and green. There, right in the middle of the plane lies the portal. Its edges were burning red, purple air was coming out of it, it was only then I understood why we were standing on a rocky plane. The air had touched the green grass of the land and turned it to rock. The chill air sent shivers throughout my body. Everything around it was so dead, so silent, it was empty.

“What do you see?” Gin asked as Tristan approached us.

Tristan closed his eyes and inhaled the cold air. He paused for a moment, as if he was not sure of what was behind the portal.

“They’re approaching”

Cael had directed his men around the portal, alongside with the werewolves. I saw them changed into another form ever so easily. They bared their fangs, growled, eagerly waiting for the incoming attackers.

I took a deep breath as I realized I was holding my breath. Everyone stood still, expecting the blow. The army stretched to the end of the rocky land, as far as eyes could see, but somehow I knew that it wasn’t number that would decided who would win this battle.

“Tristan! What’s going on?” I heard Nasya yelled out from the defender line.

I saw Tristan was frowning, unsure of what was happening. His lips parted as if he was about to say something, but he was in doubt. Then he opened his lips again,

“They’re turning back” as he opened his eyes and turn to Cael.

“Why?”

“Something is happening in there, not sure what, but they’re… turning back”

I shook my head and closed my eyes, asking for guidance. I couldn’t see what Tristan saw as I never had the gift, but that time I saw something, I saw a spark of energy, it was disguised, but it was present on the rocky plane. It was alive. My Crimson Tears vibrated asking to be released. Then it occurred to me.

“Ambush!” I bellowed as I unsheathed Crimson Tears, then I charged towards the spark. Everything that looked like rocks turned into massive blob of black liquid, forming itself into an army of something else in lightning speed. Before we knew it, we were facing the front line of the dark army.

The energy I saw wasn’t what it was anymore, I recognized those shiny fangs, and that gleaming yellow eyes. My memory jumped to the time I saw such creature standing on my parents’ bodies. I charged and slashed it. The blood spurted out of its head bathing me with its black thick blood. I did not look back, I charged to enemies before me, slashing my way through them, until I saw Chloe who was then standing a few meters in front of me, conjuring her spell and knocked a few demons out of her way. She stood there, rigid, standing her ground. I admire her courage and braveness, but she did not see what was coming from her side. I saw another creature broke out of a mass of vampires leaping towards her, it was too late when she realized its presence. She froze in motion, there wasn’t time to conjure another spell, and my legs and sword were faster than my spell casting. I charged as fast as I could towards the demon, but before I slashed it in two, it bit Chloe, ripping her skin and some meat on her right arm. A painful cry followed it.

I caught her as she was falling to the ground. Her eyes were blank, body shaking, and blood was streaming out of her like a fountain, her right arm was a bloody mess. Danica, who happened to be only meters away from her, rushed to her side, her eyes sparkled green, the tip of her fangs peeked from behind her lips. She touched her and closed her eyes, I saw Chloe’s flesh moved as it tried to heal, but Danica had not fully mastered her healing hands yet, she managed to stop the bleeding, but wasn't able to heal her fully. Regret filled her eyes as she failed to help the young witch.

“I’m sorry, she needs Losec” she quickly said as soon as she realized that Chloe was beyond her abilities. I thanked her before I called for Aidan. Chloe wouldn’t heal like I would, and I knew if I left her there, she would die a painful death.

“Take her back to Losec!” I handed her into his arms, casting stealth on top of protection spell as Aidan spread his wings to take Chloe back to the safe house. I could only pray that Chloe would hold on.

My heart was pumping hard and fast, my brain was trying to register the situation and somehow kick all what was happening into sense. I turned to find Gin violently cast spells towards the incoming demon. He had no trouble casting them away, he stood his ground untouched. That was my first time battling in such a close distance with Gin, and I was amazed by his grace, he fought like he was born for it, and that alone made me understand why the heads of houses and even the free souls respected him.

On another side of the plain I saw Faye was breathing death to the creatures. Again, I saw her skin changed color to blue, she didn’t even have to break a nail to get her opponents down. Her jet black hair tangled and ripped apart a few demons as she stood and blew her poisonous breath to those who stood before her. She fought as gracefully as a ballet dancer performing on stage.

Another creature leaped my way, without looking, I lifted Crimson Tears to hit it, but it didn’t hit what I expected. I didn’t hear any blood gushing. My eyes widened as I realized that something had blocked my Crimson Tears and succeeded. I turned to face the creature, and terror shot through my veins.

It wasn’t a creature standing before me. The memory of the golden man in my dreams flowed through my brain. The man stood in front of me had a lot of resemblance to him. The face was identical, but this one was darker. His eyes was golden with purple shards, his jet black wavy hair fell passed his hips, a glowing faint blue light covered his pale white skin. He grinned and walked towards me. I stood there, unknowing of what to do, I wanted to step back, but it was like an invisible web took hold of me. I wasn’t sure whether it was his force or merely because I wanted to know more about him. I found myself oddly attracted to him the way I was attracted to the golden man.

He ran his finger along the edge of my jaw, and drawn my face so close to his I swore our lips touched. He breathed cold air and sent shivers down my spine, but my body was aching for his intimate touch.

“Come to me”

It was the exact words the other man said, down to the tone. Before I realize his intentions, I found myself dragged with such force towards the portal. I dug Crimson Tears to the ground hoped to stop the pace. It managed to slow him down, only a few meters from the portal. Around us were a big mass of demon versus demon battle. I caught a glimpse of Elliot charging towards me, and one of the demons nearby made a jump to the handsome man, tearing his arm apart. Blood gushing out of his vein and I was left with the hand grabbing me as my back met the ground. That moment I realized that Elliot had just helped me.

I quickly recovered from the fall, grabbed Crimson Tears and steady my breath. I saw the hand that was once on my shoulder had disappeared. I looked at the man, and to my surprise, his arm had reconstructed itself and left no scar.

“You cannot fight me, Ondine, you are mine!” his eyes was on mine, and everything went black.

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