Behind the Trigger

~Chapter Nine: Act 1~

~Helios POV~

Celestial, Andromeda, Vix, and I marched up the hill to meet Enchantress and Tenebris for the final battle, one that would definitely make the History Books. Our nerves were all strung on high, the strings pulled tight. The army was waiting behind the city walls, protecting the citizens of Alfhiem. We were all in our armor, our weapons freshly sharpened. When we reached the crest of the hill, Queen Enchantress and King Tenebris were waiting for us, staff and sword out. Although I could feel something different about them, they seemed more regal in some way. Their hoods were up, like always.

"Guys, do they seem different to you?" Vix whisper yelled over to us.

"Yeah, they feel more powerful than they did a few days ago," Celestial answered.

I went along and added my own piece, "They seem more regal."

"Helios and Celestial, do any of you have something similar to your mother's power?" Andromeda asked from beside me.

"Yeah, I used it in the dungeons the other day," I say, a little confused.

"Do you think you could use it for their auras?" she questions again.

"That's a good idea!" Celestial said, then nodded to tell me to use it.

I focused and closed my eyes, stretching the minuscule amount of power I got from my mother. The rulers of the Darklands must have expected this, because as soon as I got comfortable with my power, one of them let loose a huge flare of their aura. I was taken aback for a moment, opening my eyes in shock. Someone who could release that much aura power at a time should at least look a little dazed, but neither of the rulers had moved a muscle.

"Helios!" my sister said while crouching down to my level, I must have fallen.

"I'm okay," I said after a few gulps of air.

When I stood, I was heaving from the outburst of the aura flare, but otherwise, I would live.

"Did you guys feel that?" I asked.

"I know we normally don't feel anything like what you experience when you use your mother's power, but this time we did. It came from Enchantress," Vix confirmed.

"How can she do that so soon after," I trail off on my question.

"I don't know, magickal healing maybe?" Andromeda suggests.

"If you four are done chatting, then I would like to get on to killing all of you," the Queen speaks, venom drenching her words, but I sense no trace of sarcasm.

"We are not going to be dying today, Queen Enchantress," Celestial announces, her voice almost convincing me she's not scared, but I know better than that.

"So brave, but you shouldn't make promises you can't keep," Tenebris chides with a smirk set on his lips.

"Let's see who will be the first to die," Enchantress says while letting her power show.

The battle has started, but we can't move. Not because of a spell or of fear, but of awe. Enchantress floats from the ground, hovering just half of a foot above it. I can see the red glow of her eyes from under her hood, but it's almost blinding compared to the last time I saw her use her magick. Shadows gather around us, enclosing us in a dome. This time, the shadows are different. This time, they are slightly tinted to match Enchantress's magick. If you stare, you can see an underlining color: blood-red. Now we were stuck in fear. We drew our weapons, but couldn't see. The only thing that we could see was the glow of red, Enchantress's eyes, and the tip of her staff.

"Enchantress, what are you doing?" Tenebris shouted over the silent howling winds.

"Nothing to be concerned about!" she shouted with as much veracity as he did, but her voice was strained.