Chapter 201
Chapter 201
THIRD PERSON POV
Murmurs ripped through the Vivarium sactum. It was a sacred ground where they held rituals. In the adjacent room was what they called the lab. It housed humans, omegas, witches, and wizards. They were all subject to some level of experimentation to extract their powers. Initially, they were used to find the gift of immortality, but ever since the Aethera, they had been left to rot in their cells. The cells were behind the lab. There was a door in the lab with the signage do not cross. It led to a corridor that led to several holding cells with silver bars for barricade that prevented the wolves from shifting and leaving them in their human form, preventing them from healing completely and to feel the pain, the aftermath of the experiments that took place over and over and over again.
The moment Varkas walked in, the murmurs became louder. Varkas walked with slow steps towards the centre of the sacred hall. where pale light filtered through the enchanted glass dome that hovered across the centre of the hall.
The light shimmered faintly, laced with ancient runes that pulsed with protective magic—soundproof, impenetrable, and sacred. The room was silent but for the soft rustle of robes from the chill of Varkas’ aura.
Varkas looked around at the faces of the Alphas, Lords, warriors, wizards and witches who had been with him for decades.
He could sense their fear. He fed on it as his lips curled into a satisfied smile, cold and chill that it sent shivers down the spine of all present.
“You summoned me,” Varkas’ smile widened. “Now, I am here. Why the sudden silence?” He asked, meeting their gaze squarely.
Finally, Declan spoke. “It’s been a week since the news of the Aethera’s disappearance, yet she has not been found. I think what the council would like to know, seeing as we have followed you for years, devoted to this cause of finding the power of immortality. “
“You speak for yourself, Declan. Haven't you learnt any thing lately?” Varkas’ smile vanished just as quick and his lips curled into a snarl.
Declan scoffed and chuckled lightly. “I believe I speak for everyone here. We never joined this cause to lose ourselves and gain nothing. We all joined the Vivarium for the power it promised us. We have given our lives, our families, our packs, our homes, our names in society and lived in the shadows for decades, Varkas. To the world, we are all dead. But we saw it as a worthy price to pay for the power we would wield, such that when we went back home to reclaim what we let go of, it would be swift, absolute and eternal.” He paused to sweep his gaze across the faces of men and women like him, then back to Varkas. “—So far, we have gained nothing other than a dead man’s title.”
“Your point exactly,” Varkas's jaw clenched as his eyes glowed red in undisguised rage.
Declan chuckled softly and clenched his chest, then snarled. “What we would like to know is when you intended to let us know you have the Aethera in your possession. Seeing as you reek of her scent!” Declan roared.
“Know your place, Declan!” Varkas moved with lightning speed towards Declan, and Declan flared. His aura power unleashed. Despite his age and the fact that he had been poisoned, he was still a powerful Alpha.
“And what place is that, Varkas? Let me remind you incase you forget. I am an Alpha, pure blood. Aside from the fact that you are one old motherfucker, who the fuck are you?” He roared
As soon as he said that, there was a clash. Partly shifted claws sprang out from their hands, with fangs out. A ripple of gasps erupted in the hall as the others scrambled away in fear.
Varkas flung Declan off him with a force so strong that Declan was hurled across the room, crashing with a loud thud. A low groan escaped him as he struggled to get up, blood spilling out the side of his mouth.
“You dare defy me,” Varkas approached Declan slowly.
“Lord Varkas, please have mercy,” The others who were now scared of Varkas’ power kowtowed, begging him to calm down.
“I dare defy you. You are nothing! You were nothing when you enticed us into this blasted sect, but it appears we were your underdogs, sent to wreak havoc and carry out your failed experiments until the Aethera came along. And now that she is here, what is the first thing you do?” Declan laughed. A loud, unhinged laugh. “The first thing you do is to have me poisoned with her blood vial with wolfsbane roots,” Declan laughed, and his eyes turned murderous, and he turned to look at the others whose heads were on the ground, and he sneered.
“Cowards, all of you. He used all of us. Ruined all of us. And what the fuck are you all doing? Bowing to him now that he’s using borrowed power from the Aethera. There’s no hope for us anymore. Why bow to him, you will only serve him till your backs can't bend anymore backwards and guess what, YOU ALL GET NOTHING IN THE END!!!” Declan roared and spat a mouthful of blood.
His eyes blazed in fury as his wolf surged forward. He had made peace with himself for his misguided thoughts and his greed, and unhealthy desire for power, no man should ever possess. He looked at Varkas and sneered.
“What is death anyway? Kill me if you can,” He sneered and stood up as he clenched his chest tightly.
Then the others who had their faces to the ground rose.
“Stop his madness, Declan,” Josiah spoke up. “Lord Varkas, I beg your forgiveness on this insolent Alpha’s behalf. You know Declan has always been hot-headed.”
Everyone murmured and nodded in agreement as they pleaded. They knew Declan had just spoken what everyone had in their hearts, but they were scared. They had lost everything. What was scarier was how they could show their face back in their old packs. They had been perceived as dead, and now they finally had what they had sacrificed everything for, only for Varkas to covet the power solely.
Varkas finally stopped walking towards Declan. Then he laughed. A harsh, maniacal laugh.
“You are right. The Aethera is in my possession, but I have changed my mind. She will be my Queen after I have taken siege of this kingdom. As for the immortal powers, only well-deserving subjects will have a taste of it. Chose to defy me and die.” He gave a knowing look to Declan as his lips curled into a snarl, and with that, he walked out of the halls without sparing a second glance at the horrified faces of the men behind.