Chapter 39: Outburst of Energy
Zayn sat on his father’s throne with his chin resting on his fisted fingers. With his father bedridden, he had to handle every situation from the searches to the other families. His uncles were not yet aware of his father’s current state, and it was better that way. If they knew, they would want to take control of his father’s forces for their personal use. Just like his father, he didn’t like his uncles; they had sidelined Soren like he was nothing just because he was the last child of Mortimer. Because of this, Soren had become rebellious and wasn’t the type to follow rules. This also made Soren seek power to dominate, especially over his brother. He had gone as far as capturing witches, making them serve him, and using them to enhance his supernatural powers, something that the other vampire lords would frown upon.
Because of this, he was able to gain some recognition from his brothers, but that wasn’t enough for Soren. Now he wanted to be above them all, to be great and powerful even more than his father Mortimer. The hybrid was his ticket to that power, and he didn’t care what it took to attain it.
While Zayn sat idly on the throne, someone walked in and bowed before him before rising. “You look majestic on that throne, your highness,” Venzy said, eyeing Zayn seductively.
Zayn, who was familiar with Venzy, wasn’t in the mood to talk with her. “Why are you back at the castle? Were you not sent out with others to search for the hybrid?”
“Just because you sit on your father’s throne doesn’t mean you should act like him,” Venzy said after noticing Zayn’s attitude toward her.
Even if Venzy was right, Zayn knew he needed authority to command the subjects under him, especially with creatures like vampires who were difficult to control and always sought to become stronger than those above them.
“I am nothing like my father, Venzy. You of all people should know that.” Zayn sighed.
“I brought someone who might be of value to your father. But since he isn’t available…”
“I don’t want to hear about it,” Zayn shut Venzy up. “As a matter of fact,” Zayn said, sitting upright on the throne, “stop all search for the hybrid. Every vampire from this castle should be back by tomorrow night.” Zayn ordered. He had been thinking about the hybrid for a while now. He didn’t want anything to do with the search; that was his father’s duty, and he would resume when he got better. Right now, he needed everyone present. There was a chance that someone infiltrated their castle and poisoned his father, and they might come back to finish him off.
“Is there a reason for this decision? Your father would not like it.”
“Do as you are told and don’t question me,” Zayn said as he walked down from the platform the throne was set on. “And when you are done with that, get an update from Kashina and report back to me. Also, make sure no one present in the castle speaks a word about my father’s health. Am I understood?” Zayn asked and watched Venzy nod to his orders before walking out.
‘So much for trying to get him to see me in a different way,’ Venzy sighed. She had come into the throne room to speak more to Zayn and even drop a hint or two on how she felt about him, but he hadn’t given her a chance. “Well, I’ll have to keep trying,” she said before stepping out to execute all orders given to her.
****
When Edward and Red left the pack for their operation, Edward suggested they walk to the school instead of taking a vehicle. They both were currently in the woods a few miles away from their destination.
Red looked at Edward as they walked, occasionally hitting dry sticks and jumping over fallen branches. “Ed,” Red called. She had something that had been bugging her, and she didn’t have anyone to confide in. Xavier would dismiss her worries as overthinking, Valarie was not someone she could confide in, and Leo, who was always quiet, would only listen but wouldn’t have a solution to give her.
“What is it?” Edward inquired, his eyes locked on the ground, looking for the next thing to kick.
Red hesitated a bit before she asked her question. “Do you think Xavier loves me less now that he has found his mate?”
Edward paused and looked at Red upon hearing the question. He noticed the worried look on her face. He knew he wasn’t the kind of person Red would seek answers from, so her asking him this now meant she had run out of people she could share this with. “I don’t think Xavier loves you less. He has just been a little distant from us all after he lost his father. I think right now, Xavier is more goal-driven with his actions. So just give him time; he’ll come around.”
Red blinked rapidly after listening to Edward. She found it hard to believe those words actually came from him. While they were comforting, she kind of wanted him to give short, simple answers that were filled with truth.
Everyone knew Edward as the type of person who didn't bother to filter or process his thoughts. He’d rather just say things as they were and not mind if someone’s emotions were hurt. “Thanks for those reassuring words, Ed, but I doubt Xavier would want to keep our relationship, especially with how things have turned out. Can you believe he shared a room with that Sage girl?” Red complained, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
“Well, you didn’t expect him to be with you forever, right? He found his mate. The sooner you accept that fact, the better for you.”
There it was, what Red was waiting for—the truth from Edward. She knew this, but she didn’t want to admit it. She had kept lying to herself that Xavier would never stop loving her, but the truth was glaring.
“Race you to the school,” Edward said before zooming off, and Red ran after him.
****
Penny had tried using normal spells to unravel Sage’s energy, but she had noticed that Sage’s energy was sealed even when Ericka was no longer living. The seal was still present. Penny had gathered every item she needed. This time, she ushered Sage to a stone platform that looked like a bed, only it was hard and cold.
“When you feel different in your body, I need you to fight it, fight to be in control.” Sage did not really understand why she was here or what they were about to do with her, but she trusted Xavier, and as long as he was in the room, she would be okay.
Penny had to inform Sage of the part she would have to play in this ritual. Since her energy had been locked for so long, it would be difficult for her to control it. But just in case Sage was not able to control it, Penny had a standby option.
Penny took a liquid in a small bowl and raised Sage's head so she could consume the contents. After that, she proceeded to light four candles and place them at the four corners of the stone table. She lifted Sage's clothing and took tiny pins, inserting them in a circle on Sage’s chest where her heart was. Again, she took five more needles and inserted them carefully in Sage’s torso.
Penny whispered a few spells in Sage’s ear and stepped back. She watched as Sage's body became stiff, and after a few minutes, one pin on her torso fell backward. After some time, another fell. This went on for minutes until all five pins were lying flat on Sage’s torso.
Xavier and Mitchell waited in anticipation of what energy Sage was going to emit. “Would I still let her into my pack if she turns out to be a vampire?” Mitchell questioned herself as she turned to look at Xavier. “She’s his mate. I doubt he would let her go anywhere that’s not safe; he wouldn’t let her be anywhere but his side.” Mitchell knew how crazy someone who had found their mate could be, and she knew Xavier’s craziness was going to be worse.
It took a moment before the other five pins on her chest fell, and when they did, they fell at once. Sage’s energy began to flow out. Everyone in the room was astonished because the aura flowing out of Sage could be felt, and it was visible, having a color of purple mixed with red and yellow.
Sage’s eyes were closed as she lay on the stone bed, but immediately she opened them wide, energy shooting out from her body. The candles on the stone bed were extinguished, and she vibrated and shook violently on the stone.
“Sage, listen to the sound of my voice. Control it and fight it. I believe you can do this,” Penny said, trying to reach Sage, but to no avail.
Xavier stood as he recognized the feel of the energy; it was similar to the one at school. Just like that time, the hair on his body stood. He saw how Sage was shaking violently on the bed and would occasionally hit her head on the stone bed. He rushed from where he stood and tried to reach Sage, but Penny stopped him.
“Do not go close to her,” Penny warned.
Xavier couldn’t stand seeing Sage hit her head that way. He ignored Penny's words and moved to the side where Sage's head was, placing his palm on the side where she hit her head.
His fingers would break whenever Sage's head hit him, but this was like a minor injury for him. “Sage, you need to fight it. Take a deep breath.” Words weren’t getting to Sage. Even if they were, Sage had no idea how to control supernatural energy.
At this point, her energy had filled the area the veil around the pack residence covered. Everyone could feel it, and they had turned their heads in the direction they felt it coming from. It wasn’t odd for the people living there to feel a few strange energies coming from Penny's house, but this particular energy was one they could see, and they wondered what exactly Penny was working on.
When Penny saw Sage would not be able to control her energy, she picked up a golden bracelet from her work desk and fixed it around Sage’s wrist. She activated the properties on the bracelet, and it shrank to the size of Sage’s wrist. Soon the energy coming out from Sage ceased, and she was back to her normal self.
Xavier held her head and laid her down carefully back on the stone. He looked up at Penny, who was still holding Sage by the wrist. “the bracelet is to control her energy,” she explained. “I’ll put her to rest, and then we can talk about what just happened.” Penny said, walking away from Sage and Xavier.