The air crackled with anticipation, a palpable tension hanging heavy in the dimly lit room. Raigan, her silver hair a stark contrast against the shadowed corners, continued to rub the golden lamp, her crimson eyes burning with an unsettling intensity. The lamp, warm to the touch, pulsed with a faint inner light, mirroring the erratic beat of Alberon's heart. He watched, his usually stoic features etched with a mixture of apprehension and morbid curiosity.
"Mother," Alberon repeated, his voice a low murmur, barely audible above the rhythmic rubbing of the lamp, "Are you certain about this? The consequences of unleashing Loki... they could be catastrophic. Her power is immense, her malice boundless."
Raigan chuckled, a dry, rasping sound that sent a shiver down Alberon's spine. Her fanged smile widened, revealing a glint of something predatory in her eyes. "Catastrophic for our enemies, my son. This is not about mere power; this is about securing our dynasty's future. Caius's return is the key, and Loki... she is merely the instrument."
The Djinn, Loki, materialized with a shimmering burst of crimson light, her form coalescing from the swirling energies emanating from the lamp. She was breathtakingly beautiful, yet her beauty was tainted by an inherent wickedness. Her skin, the color of blood, seemed to absorb the dim light, and her purple hair cascaded around her like a venomous serpent.
"Oh, Mother," Loki purred, her voice a silken whisper that carried a venomous sting. "Such a pragmatic approach. And to think, I was hoping for a more... affectionate reunion. After all this time, this is how you greet your beloved daughter? By using me as a pawn in your game?"
Raigan stepped closer, her expression softening slightly, though the predatory glint in her eyes remained. "My dear Loki," she said, her voice surprisingly gentle, "affection is a luxury we can ill afford. We have a kingdom to conquer, a legacy to secure. Your cooperation is invaluable, and in return, you shall have... everything you desire."
Alberon watched, his gaze shifting between his mother and the Djinn. The weight of their ambition pressed down on him, a suffocating burden. He knew, with a chilling certainty, that the consequences of this night would reverberate through generations to come, leaving an indelible mark on the fate of the kingdom, and perhaps, the world itself.
The air in the chamber vibrated with a renewed energy, a mixture of Loki's unleashed power and the palpable anticipation of Raigan's next move.
"Glad to be free again, Mother," Loki purred, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. The words dripped with both relief and a hint of underlying menace. Her gaze then shifted, landing on Alberon, who still stood in the shadows, his expression a mix of bewilderment and a growing sense of unease. "Hello, Little Brother." The Djinn's voice was laced with a playful condescension, designed to unsettle. The smirk widened as she observed the confusion blooming on Alberon's face. It was clear that he had not been privy to the full family history.
"Loki is my eldest child, older even than you, Alberon," Raigan explained, her voice calm but firm, as if used to navigating complex family dynamics. "But she fell deathly ill. To save her, and her unique wish-granting abilities, I was forced to seal her within the Lamp of Syran." She paused, allowing the weight of her words to sink in.
"Mother first gave my lamp to the alchemist, Threngar Silverlance," Loki continued, stepping forward, her form shimmering with a newfound vibrancy. "He used his three wishes to build a powerful weapon, one that could harness all six original Elemental powers. Then, the Lamp's safety measures hid me away. For a thousand years, I've waited for Mother to find me again." The Djinn's voice held a hint of melancholy, a testament to the long years spent trapped in the confines of the lamp.
Raigan's gaze softened, a rare display of maternal affection. "I have a wish for you, dearest Loki," she said, her voice filled with a tenderness that belied the darkness of her ambition. She gestured towards the altar. "My only wish is that you resurrect your youngest brother, Caius. Bring him back, here and now."
YOU ARE READING
Dawn of the Elements - Book 4: Future Rewritten
FantasyA Kingdom, Shrouded in Darkness. Overrun by Dark Creatures, a New Elemental Mistress of Fire must go back to a better time, and stop the events that lead to the dystopian future she knows. Join her, as she rewrites the future, by saving the past.
