Chapter 147 The darkness returns

Chapter 147 The darkness returns
ELARA’S POV

I felt the shattering of the wards in my mind before they shattered all around us. It was as if a dome shaped invisible barrier was hit by something strong and it began to collapse.

I looked around and saw shards of ice – like magic falling from the sky, but dissolving before it could reach the ground. It was the ward shattering.
But how could they do that? I could perceive black magic, but who could do that here? Was it Nyxar? He shouldn't have been able to access the wards, it was impossible.

The moon slowly began to dim as its job was done. I looked around as the last tendrils of the moon's essence floated around a bit before dissolving into thin air. The ritual had been successful.

But we couldn't celebrate now, something had breached our walls, and if it was who I thought it was, it would have to be a full blown war.

I turned to look at Beros, who had stopped pacing too, and was watching what was happening, everyone had gone still, it was as if the wolves could sense the black magic too, Alicent had made her way over to me and the Alphas stood protectively in front of their lunas, baring their teeths, ready for an attack.

I heard a growl before I saw something dark leap into the air from the corner of my eye. It leaped onto a wolf standing too far from the remaining wolves, this caused the wolf to fall, but it quickly sprang up, leaping back with a counter attack of its own.

Suddenly, more black figures sprang from the woods, rushing after the wolves immediately, I squinted my eyes to get a better look at them, these were….
“Elara” Alicent’s voice sounded panicked as she shifted back into her human form “they're the same hounds, from the fae kingdom”

She had realized it the same time I did, there was no doubt it was definitely Nyxar’s doing now, but I couldn't help but think about how he got through my wards, nothing should have been able to – but I'd have to think about that later? For now, there was a war to be fought.

Alicent quickly changed back into her wolf form and ran off yo help another wolf being attacked by two black magic hounds.

The hounds had steadily increased, rushing into the arena as if they had been waiting for orders, which they most likely were.

The only sounds that could be heard were snarling, tearing and barking, but I could see my wolves were having the upper hand, easily taking down the hounds, it was because of the ritual.

If we hadn't performed this ritual today, they might not have been able to go against these hounds themselves.

I felt Beros shift back into his human form too, he too had seen the wolves could handle themselves, and the hounds numbers were steadily decreasing.
“Elara…”

“It's Nyxar, I know it is” I told him.

He nodded his head “yes, it's him, but –”

“But what?” I finally turned to face him.

“I can feel something” his brows furrowed “it's too easy, there's someone else here too”.

And the minute Beros said it, I peeled my eyes from Beros and observed my surroundings, noticed it too, a heavy presence in the woods, powerful – too powerful, that must have been who broke down the wards, but who could that person be.

I turned to Beros again “I feel it too” I placed a hand on my chest, it was heavy tugging, whoever this was, this person was powerful, and they reeked of black magic.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a figure standing in the woods, just watching, and from beneath the hooded cloak, I could see red eyes staring at me from the darkness, I looked around again, the hounds still kept on pouring in, but my wolves kept on defeating them just as easily.

This wasn't an attack, if it was, whoever had sent them was supposed to have retreated by now, but they stood still, watching from the shadows, so I made a decision.

“Who are you? Show yourself” I took a step towards the direction of the dark figure and waited. It didn't move, didn't say anything, and then after a while, it disappeared, but I could still feel it around.

I would not waste my time to fight these hounds, whoever this person was, if it came down to a fight, I needed to save every bit of energy. 

“Who are you?” I called out again “come out and stop hiding like a coward”.

I guess that must have worked as the figure appeared in the bushes again, before starting to take small steps towards me, Beros stood closer to me, preparing to attack. 

The figure kept on approaching as the wolves and hounds fought in the background. I seemed to be locked in a trance as it got closer and closer to me.
“Elara, Elara, shake it off” Beros shook me, altering me and bringing me back to my senses.

Who the hell was this that had so much power over me? But I couldn't be controlled, I could only be controlled by the moon’s essence.

And then, I sensed it, a familiarity mixed in with the black magic I was perceiving, the moon’s essence. It was mixed in with the black magic this creature possessed and that was why it could spell me for a while. This wasn't good, not one bit.

The figure got closer to me and stopped, standing right in front of Beros and I, but I still couldn't see who it was, not until it decided to take off the cloak, not until it decided to dial down on the black magic permeating the air, but one thing I knew for sure, this wouldn't be an easy fight, especially having access to the moon’s essence, which led me to another question. How did this creature get its hands on the moon’s essence?

Slowly, the figure lifted its hands and grabbed the cloak, slowly pulling it off, but even as it did, shadows covered its face, making it unable for me to see who was behind that darkness.

“Come on, show yourself now, why are you here?” It was Beros speaking up this time. 

I watched the darkness slowly dissipate and when it did, a cold sweat ran down my spine as I took several steps back. Nyxar.