Chapter 117 — Liability or power

The sky above the battleground suddenly lit up with a brilliant purple hue.

Everyone froze in their tracks as they gazed up.

There was a split in the heavens and then there was thunder.

Dark clouds gathered around the purple split as it throbbed and glowed.

Lucas had the thumping heart of one of the lycans in his hand as he held another down with his other hand.

He looked up as his lips curled into a smirk.

“ Sirens? Wow! Things just got more interesting… ”

And then tearing through that split, a million arrows showered over them, targeting the werewolves with absolute precision.

Lucas grabbed a dozen of them as it came in his direction but he was way faster than those average werewolves and pack leaders.

The werewolves scurried hither thither, trying to take cover when in the midst of it a roar reverberated across the horizon.

The cheers of the lycans greeted the roar with a triumphant joy.

“ How dare you attack my kingdom in my absence? Did you forget what happened the last time? ”

Without further warning, David descended to the ground with Kurt by his side.

Claws bared, eyes raging and body perched to launch the first assault.

“ Lycans, split! ”

At his command the battleground filled with the sound of popping and locking of bones. Soon there were exactly the same number of lycans on the ground, beside their human forms, instantly multiplying the number of the lycans.

The lycans gathered behind Kurt as David stood before his fallen and injured mates.

“ It's time to teach these wolves who really rule these lands! ” Cheers shook the eerie silence that had descended on the other camp.

“ Attack! ”

And then there was no holding back.

As the lycans tore through the ranks of the werewolves with a newfound rigor at the sight of their king, David's eyes searched for none but their leader, Lucas.

And for Lucas, the game was just beginning.

He had already achieved what he had aimed for with the assault.

To lure the Lycan King out of his sanctuary.

And there he was right before him.

The moment their eyes locked, Lucas dangled the Lycan he had in his grip, further provoking David.

David snarled and snapped.

“ Let him go! ” He barked.

Lucas broke into a sprint as David lunged after him.

He smirked as David chased after him across the battlefield. Almost as if he was enjoying it.

***

Previously...

“ David! ” Aria grabbed his sleeve as he prepared to leave.

“ How long will you be gone? I am scared! What if… ”

Aria couldn't tell him what she was scared of. She couldn't put herself before his kingdom.

She knew that it was absolutely necessary that he left but it pulled at her heartstrings of attachment that she didn't know existed.

David lifted her chin affectionately,

“ Look at me, baby girl! ”

She had tears streaming down her cheeks that she quickly tried to wipe away but David wiped them with his fingers.

“ Ester is here with you. I am not leaving you alone. Both of you look after each other, till I am back! Alright? It shouldn't take long! ”

Aria looked behind David. Elara was impatiently waiting for him.

David turned around, following her gaze.

“ She is going with you? ”

Aria didn't even try to hide her frustration and jealousy at that point.

David smiled, looking back at her as he pulled her into a passionate smile.

“ She is going to help me fight. Something possesses Lucas. He isn't himself anymore. It's probably a jinn but it's not that simple because as we know, he is using dark magic and a mere jinn isn't capable of that. Their magic isn't laced with darkness. There is more to this. Elara is going to help me understand that! ”

Aria nodded but she didn't look content.

David cupped her face between his palms and kissed her again and again till she started blushing.

“ You know that you are my life, don't you? ”

Aria blushed harder as David pulled her close.

“ You don't need to worry or feel second to no one. Even if my heart was pulled out of my rib cage, it would still beat with your name. No one else! ”

Aria placed her hands over his lips with worried concern.

“ Ssshh! Why do you speak such ominous words when you are going to a battle? Don't you know, words carry power? ”

David gently moved her hand, kissing her fingers before passionately diving for her neck.

“ These words are not ominous, baby girl! What I say is true. I will always belong to you even if it was in death! ”

He suckled at her jugular vein, the most sensitive spot above the marking area.

She completely melted in his embrace when suddenly they broke off as Elara cleared her voice.

“ Ahem! Ahem! ” She had her back turned towards them.

“ Alright then! I think I should hurry. Take good care of yourself, ” he bent down to kiss her baby bump. “ And take good care of the little one!”

He left without turning back, afraid that he might not be able to leave if Aria kept looking at him with those eyes.

***

Aria kept looking in the direction where David and Elara left. They had walked straight inside a huge tree and disappeared.

Aria had tried to follow after them but the tree trunk was rock solid.

There seemed to be no entrance.

Aria walked back with a hunched posture, dejected and lonely.

It felt like she was living her sweetest dream. Even if it was numbered, those days with David, felt like heaven.

And now that he was gone, she could feel a despair descending. She knew he promised to return as soon as he took care of the situation but there was ‘catch’ in her heart.

She didn't feel alright.

Aria glanced at Ester once she reached the tent. She was sleeping peacefully.

She was recovering pretty well but she needed to rest to completely heal.

Aria looked around, wondering what she ought to do with her time.

Her eyes fell on the pile of books that she had brought.

She sat down on the floor, pulling out one book after another.

But nothing seemed to interest her.

She tossed one book after another, on the bed thoroughly bored when a certain book caught her attention.

Aria sat up.

It was the same book with blank pages on which she had used her blood.

Aria flipped through its pages, trying to remember if she had seen the book amongst the pile when Alpha Sebastian had sent them to her.

She couldn't remember.

Nevertheless she flipped through its pages. It was still blank and there were no blood stains or anything.

Was it the same book or another copy?

Aria wondered.

Aria pricked her finger out of sheer curiosity and dropped some on the blank pages.

There wasn't any response for a few moments.

Just when she was about to give up and turn those pages, a few letters popped up.

It wasn't anything like what had appeared last time.

It literally creeped her out as she kept staring in disbelief.

The words that appeared on the page were directly addressing her.

“ Long time no see, Aria! How have you been?”

She dropped the book, her heart racing. The letters continued to form more words, almost as if the book was aware of her actions.

“Do not fear.

I am not the enemy here. Think of me as an old friend.”

Aria hesitated, but then curiosity got the better of her. She picked the book back up and read on.

“Your blood has awakened a magic long dormant. It is now up to you to harness it.”

Just then, a vision flashed before her eyes: David locked in chains of fire, almost lifeless and panting.

She saw herself standing beside David, a power vortex surging at the tips of her fingers. The vision faded, leaving her breathless.

Aria grabbed the wall for support, her head spinning as she shook them violently, trying to shake off the image.

“ No! No! No! It's just an illusion. It's trickery. It's nowhere near the truth. David is safe and sound! ”

“Aria? ”

Aria turned around, immediately stopping mumbling and correcting her posture as Ester called her name.

“ You good? ”Ester asked, watching her closely.

Aria smiled and walked over.

“ Yeah! All good. What about you? How do you feel? ”

Ester smiled and replied, “ Whole again… ”

Aria nodded with affirmation.

“ Did David leave? ” Ester asked, looking around.

“ Yes! Don't worry. He will sort things out! ”

But Ester looked impatient.

“ I don't think things are that simple anymore. I think I should be going as well… ”

Aria grabbed her arm.

“ Where do you think you are going? You still need to rest. You haven't fully recovered yet. Besides, Elara went with David. I am sure they will manage… ”

“ Elara? ” Ester looked at Aria with what seemed like sympathetic eyes.

“ She agreed to help, David? ”

Aria nodded.

Ester turned around without saying anything else and quietly went back to rest.

Aria immediately jumped back, to check the book.

The pages were still turned to where she had left.

But the words had vanished and what was left was blank spaces.

Aria quickly pricked her fingers again.

The blood dropped and blotched the pages.

But that was it. Nothing happened. No words appeared.

Aria shook the book as if expecting it to start working again. She shook it violently but it still yielded the same result.

“ Aria! ”

Ester casually turned around and Aria immediately put the book away.

“ Hhhmmm! ” She answered, looking back at Ester and wiping the blood on her dress.

“ Do you think love is strength or is it a liability?”

Her question caught Aria off guard.

She shrugged.

“ It's a strength of course. Why would it be a liability? ”

Ester turned her back towards Aria and said, “ I don't know! I never felt this weak before. I constantly feel like I would die of anxiety. This constant worry keeps gnawing at my heart and it's getting unbearable. ”

She sighed heavily.

Aria put the book away with the rest of the books and walked over to Ester and sat beside her.

“ Would you rather have this gnawing or the emptiness in your heart? ” Aria asked with one hand over Ester's shoulder.

She could see Ester's eyes tearing up.

“ I don't know about you, Aria, but I hate feeling weak, especially over things that I have no control over. Right now, I feel like my bile is hitting my tongue and my heart would pop out of my mouth and it won't stop until I see Sebastian safe and sound. I hate feeling this way.

I hate it when someone else's action and its outcome is going to control my emotions."