23.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE.

XYRIEL POV.

The air crackled with tension, every nerve in my body on edge. Xykel stood before me, his smirk a twisted blend of arrogance and resentment. He’d always craved power, even when we were young gods. But now, his thirst had turned him into something darker.

He raised his hands, and I watched as a swirling shadow began to form around him, taking shape into tendrils that moved like snakes, rippling with dark energy.

“You really think you can defeat me, Xykel?” I asked, stepping forward as my own power surged within me, lightning crackling just beneath my skin. I was stronger, sharper. Yet, I couldn’t underestimate him; his illusions had misled many, luring them into his control.

He laughed, a cold sound that echoed through the chamber, “Defeat you? I don’t need to defeat you, Xyriel,” he sneered, his dark eyes narrowing. “I just need to let your weakness do it for me. You’re blinded by that little human’s innocence. It’s pathetic.”

My fists clenched, energy flaring around me, “Ophelia isn’t my weakness, Xykel. She’s my strength. Something you wouldn’t understand.”

His face twisted, the silhouette of shadow around him extending, forming claws. “Strength? She’ll be the end of you. And when she’s gone, I’ll be the one standing over you, watching your precious breath crumble.”

Without another word, he lunged forward, his shadow tendrils reaching for me. I countered, sending a shockwave of energy through the chamber, scattering the shadows. But he was relentless, weaving around the energy blasts, letting his tendrils snake around the room, creating layers of illusions. My vision blurred momentarily as his shadows cast deceptive figures of himself, each one laughing, taunting.

“Enough games, Xykel!” I roared, sending a bolt of power straight through one of the illusions, but it only split into more. His laugh echoed from all directions, mocking me.

“Games?” his voice drifted from one shadow to the next. “This is war, brother.”

But as I focused on his movements, I noticed a flicker in the corner of my vision— Ophelia. She had moved closer, trying to stay hidden, watching the chaos unfold with fear in her eyes. My heart twisted. I’d brought her into this world of gods and darkness, and now she was in harm's way.

“Stay back, Ophelia!” I shouted, barely blocking a wave of Xykel’s shadow tendrils.

But Xykel had seen her, too. His eyes gleamed with malice, and he smirked. “Oh, don’t worry, brother. I wouldn’t dream of hurting her… much.”

Before I could react, a tendril shot toward Ophelia, wrapping around her arm and dragging her forward. She cried out, struggling as his shadows tightened around her, the darkness seeping into her skin like poison.

“Let her go, Xykel!” I felt a fury I hadn’t felt in centuries. The air around me hummed with raw power, brighter and more intense than ever. My control slipped, and the room filled with an electric charge that sent cracks spiraling up the stone walls.

But Xykel only laughed, his face illuminated by the wicked glow of his shadows. “So protective,” he sneered. “I wonder what you’ll do when she’s dead. Will my powerful brother, Xyriel, break?”

Ophelia gasped as the shadows tightened around her neck, and I saw the pain flash in her eyes. Rage surged through me. I let out a shout, unleashing a torrent of energy that shattered his shadows, sending a blinding light across the chamber. Xykel was thrown back, his grip on Ophelia broken, and she stumbled forward, clutching her injured neck.

There was a red bruise there and I fumed at the sight of it. Something animalistic rumbled within me. Watching ophelia bleed made me mad. She was the last person on this planet I wouldn't want to see hurt.

I was beside her in an instant, my hands on her shoulders. “Ophelia, are you alright?”

She nodded, though her face was pale, her breathing shallow. “I’ll… I’ll be fine. But Xyriel—”

Her warning came too late. Xykel was on his feet, he was pissed. His shadows swirled into an armor around him, and his voice was a deadly whisper. “You would choose a mortal over your own blood? Over me?”

I stood, pulling Ophelia behind me protectively. “Yes, Xykel. Because she’s worth more than every twisted lie you’ve ever told me.”

His expression darkened, and I knew then that there would be no reasoning with him. He was beyond redemption, consumed by his own hunger for control. He lunged forward, his tendrils struck out, their poison barely grazing my skin as I dodged his attacks.

In a single, blinding move, he struck out, a shadow blade slicing through the air toward Ophelia.

“No!” I roared, rushing to shield her, but the blade grazed her side, drawing blood. She stumbled, pain etched on her face, her hand going to her side as she struggled to stay upright.

That was all it took to shatter the last of my restraint.

In a blur of movement, I surged forward, grabbing Xykel by the collar and slamming him against the wall. My power surged through my hands, lightning crackling as I pinned him, my voice barely a whisper as fury burned in my veins.

“If you ever touch her again, I swear I will end you,” I hissed, my voice cold and deadly.

Xykel smirked, though his eyes flickered with a hint of fear. “She’ll be your undoing, brother. You’re weak.”

I tightened my grip, letting the electricity surge through him, watching as his face contorted in pain. “I may be many things, Xykel. But being weak isn’t one of them.”

“Let me tell you something brother, you will regret this. You picked a human over your own family.”

I looked at him, “I'm sorry Xykel. You never got to know what it feels like to love someone or have someone love you. To have someone accept you for who you are.”

“But Ophelia did. She is the reason I live.”

“Oh, shut up Xyriel. The reason you live is because you're a God. We are God's, and not because of a mere human who is still going to destroy you.”

With one final surge, I threw him across the chamber. He hit the ground hard, shadows flickering around him as he struggled to his feet, his face twisted with rage.

“This isn’t over, Xyriel,” he spat, clutching his side. “I’ll come back, and when I do, you’ll regret this choice.”

I watched him disappear into the shadows, his threats lingering in the air like a bitter aftertaste.

Then, I turned to Ophelia, my heart pounding as I took in her pale face and the blood staining her shirt. Guilt gnawed at me. I’d promised to protect her, and now she was hurt because of me.

“Ophelia…” I reached out, my hand trembling as I touched her shoulder gently. “I’m sorry. This is all because of me.”

She shook her head, managing a faint smile. “I’m alive, aren’t I? That’s all that matters.”

“You don't have to be worried about anything.” She said, trying to reassure me, but I could sense the pain she was feeling.