“Don't kill me please, I believe now. You are the Heir, you are the savior. I see it.” Ny'ka begged.
They were in one of the underground rooms, away from the people of the Belarion Rebellion and those of the Cave.
This was something Alaris didn't want many to know about.
“Please, take my life instead and spare my daughter,” Leader Tyrek begged. He knew what crimes Nyka had committed, the Priest told him everything.
“You tried to kill me,” Alaris said to Ny'ka who was still on her knees, begging, tears running down her cheeks.
“It was a mistake. It won't happen again.”
Alaris smiled. “It won't.”
He held her wrist and pulled her up, but while he did that, he crushed her bones, and pressing his flames into her skin, he healed her, just like he had seen it happen with Nightshade and that stranger in the Castle during their escape.
It was an excruciating moment for Ny'ka and it didn't help that he did it again and again and again…
By the time he was done, she was back on her knees, breathless with tears, her eyes gleaming with agony.
Alaris smiled.
This was perfect.
Belladonna wasn't here, she didn't like things like this. She was like Eli in many things. Alaris was glad that she wasn't here to discourage him. Belladonna now saw no use in trying to learn Channeling any longer, neither did she think she could control the gem.
To her, Ny'ka was now useless and with her attempting to murder him, it was unsafe to have her around.
She had asked for a merging of both gems. After all, it was what he had said would happen. A merger was impossible though, that, he knew. This was because he had tried it before and it hadn't worked.
Another secret he would have to keep from her.
She was probably somewhere right now feeling terrible that she would never see her family again. She didn't even have any idea about what she had already lost forever. She couldn't remember Eli any longer.
This wasn't how things were supposed to go.
Fuck!
Nothing was going according to his plan!
That was something he wouldn't let anyone know though.
They looked up to him as their savior; a savior couldn't be troubled; it would destroy the faith of the followers.
He didn't even have enough of them right now, he had to protect the little that he did.
He sucked in a sharp breath.
Everything would work out.
It would have to; it was written!
It was the prophecy and he believed the prophecy; there was no use keeping those who do not around him.
“I will make it slow so I can watch the light die in your eyes just as you watched mine.”
His claws started to pierce into her chest, her pleading gaze never shifting from his that was filled with nothing but satisfaction.
“I can help her channel,” she gritted. “I have a way, please!”
He chuckled, sinking his claws further, his other hand making her stay still. Her father begged at the top of his lungs for his daughter to be spared, while some warriors held him down.
The Priest was here too, chanting some words beneath his breath as he watched; Alaris could hear his quick mumblings. He wasn't trying to cast a spell, though; it was obvious. Another thing that was obvious was that he didn't like the sight of torture and whatever he was saying was helping him to stay grounded and calm.
“You will never have your army because her mind will never heal! I can change that.” It was a growl, snarling, and gnashing of teeth. “You. Need. An. Army. For. The. Prophecy.”
Alaris paused, pulling his claws away that were now dripping with blood.
Since he hadn't gotten to her heart yet, her body started to heal, closing up the little holes.
“Give me another chance.” She said breathless, her eyes shining with desperation. “If it doesn't work, then you can kill me.”
“No!” Her father yelled, struggling against the warriors. Another had to join them to hold him down. He shouldn't even be that strong. He was injured and the White King's army that had captured him had starved him for many days.
“Should I go and bring her?” The Priest asked eagerly like he was glad that the torture was put to rest.
It seemed that even though Ny'ka was the way she was, he still cared about her.
Alaris nodded and they waited.
Soon enough, Belladonna arrived.
“Alaris.”
“Nightshade.” He went to her. “Are you feeling better now?”
She nodded. “Why did you call for me?”
He explained everything to her and she agreed to try again.
Why wouldn't she?
Her family was outside this realm and she couldn't help this nudging feeling that they needed her. Her heart felt empty and incomplete.
She would do anything at this point.
Ny'ka told them that they would have to leave the room.
“We need an open sky,” she said.
Two guards pulled her up to her feet and they all started leaving the room.
Tyrek followed.
“Do not let my father come with me,” she said without looking back at him.
She couldn't.
“No. Ny'ka, you don't know what you are saying,” her father yelled, fighting to stay.
That voice broke her, and she turned to finally look at him while she forced a smile to her face.
“If I fail, I don't want you to see… it. You shouldn't witness it.”
It - her death.
“Take him away,” Alaris ordered and pushed Ny'ka forward.
He didn't have time to lose and as much as he hated to hurt Leader Tyrek, Ny'ka had committed an inexcusable crime.
“No! Unhand me at once! I’m leader Tyrek, your leader! Ny'ka, I will not lose you too. I promised her I would keep you safe. I promised your mother, let me go! Ny'ka!”
She heard her father’s voice growing more and more distant as the distance between them grew further and further.