Alexis Abner is all set to celebrate her 18th birthday. Like every other high-schooler, she too throws a party at the local club. But, the night takes an unexpected turn when she meets a mysterious stranger. Ethan Campbell introduces her to a world...
The cold cuffs clasp my wrist, loose enough to let the blood circulate in my body, secure enough to enforce the intended message. The harsh bark is raw against my back, but my stun being feels nothing except the unbearable ache of his betrayal.
I am on the freezing floor of the forest. My body feels restrained; all I can do is watch at the stone-cold gaze; the captivating turquoise eyes that's holding me in cuffs.
The bone-chilling sensation I have never seen before. The blue eyes I always adored, now holds no warmth. No trace of the friend I once knew.
Gritting my teeth, I glare at the person before me. He is sitting on a horizontal tree trunk; the red Beryl in his hands. It still gleams in the sunlight.
"It was you." I inhale deeply as I try to shift in my position.
Nick merely smiles while looking down at the stone.
"I should've known, whoever has "Certified knowledge of the Aether creatures" is more likely to know them better. Also, deceiving the enemy is one of the qualities of a water essence altruist." I try to summon the roots but nothing happens. My powers are not working.
I look at Nick, who still maintained his cruel grin.
With a louder voice I continue. "You are the one who broke the warding at the base camp. You speak with Asmodeus. You hired those goons to hunt Ethan down, you gave them your cell and drew the distress call. You wanted to kill him because he was getting too close to me. What you didn't expect was that he wouldn't come alone." I pause for a while. "How else would you know how to stab the creature with a brass knife? Only Halitus, Ethan and I, knew about the leviathan. But, you were smart there too. You handed the knife to Marty so that if any suspicion arises, it would be against Marty. But, no one was as impressed as you, to see me torture a leviathan. Furthermore, you tried to kick off a fight between Ethan and me. So that, I don't trust him anymore." I dart glaring looks at Nick, all the while.
"Yeah, when seducing you didn't work, I had to pitch out lover boy." Nick mockingly replies. Seducing me? So, the intimate attraction I had towards Nick was a spell? I was literally under a spell. "I had to gain your trust, I had to do what I had to do."
My blood boils like lava. The spleen anger pulses through my veins like poison.
"You are a heathen! You will rot for what you did to those men and Elvira! You will pay!" I scream my lungs out.
He stands up and saunters towards me. I watch him pull out a sharp knife from his pocket. Crouching down next to me, he holds the silver knife precariously against my neck.
He runs the cold edge of the blade over my bare skin. My pulse quickens, but I don't take my eyes off his menacing face. His grin widens as the blade grazes my skin.
"You know the hassle I had to go through to get the stone and you at one place?" He whispers in his sinister voice; his gaze never leaving the knife. I feel a tiny prick as a small stream of blood trickles from a feeble cut.
I force my fear down my throat and tip my chin up rebelliously, tempting him to end it right there.
"Go ahead and knife me, like you did to that Qareen." I clench my jaw in anger.
He doesn't flinch but looks into my eyes, biting his lip he speaks again.
"You have no idea how badly I want to do that. But, I can't defy my master. He said he needs you alive, for the time being." With that, he stands up. Why would Asmodeus need me? He already has the crystal.
A gust of wind interrupts my thoughts. I look around to find myself surrounded by the blue-skinned trident siblings.
The woman who looked exactly like Ramiel, has her three-pronged spear; sharp and charged up. Besides her, is Azazel who with his shiny sword looks horrifying as ever. His eyes linger over me as he smirks; revealing his outrageous fangs.
My blood runs cold and I try not to look scared. But, the minute I try to regain my composure, someone ruthlessly thugs my hair, making me wince in pain.
"Arhhh!"
"You bitch, you made us suffer for way too long, I'll be the one to char you to death once we are done with you." Ramiel laughs hysterically, while nearly ripping the hair off my head.
"Stop!" I hear Nick order him. "No one messes with her. The master needs her alive."
Without a warning, Ramiel bashes my head into the trunk I am cuffed to. A shooting pain spreads through my skull and my head helplessly dangles off my neck. I feel the surroundings beginning to fade. A small stream of blood drips down my temple.
"How do we release our Lord?" Azazel grunts in frustration. I peer at them through the pain. What exactly is their plan?
"There is nothing we can do," Nick stands over me and gestures to the stone. "She is the only one who can unlock the cage with her powers."
My mind glitches when I hear the words.
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