The Omega Princess

Chapter 49

The town below the palace was so strange to me, cold and empty despite the eyes I could feel on us. And the fear, it was far more intense than it ever been. When I was younger I'd never understood it, that sinister fog that loomed over the people whenever we visited, they were always so stiff once I would have put it down to the cold weather but now I understood. 

 There was another presence too, one that held no fear and with it came darkness. They weren't attacking, silently moving through the shadows, stalking us, probably sending information to the king. I cast my eyes behind me at Tiras, Kione, Leon and the group of wolves. As small as our group were there was a raw power that flowed through us that the King could never possess. It was an untainted energy that he would never be able to understand.

 Tiras' face reflected the form of his wolf, half it was charred with burns. His ear disfigured, a little of his hair singed against his skin and his eyes twisted inwards barely allowing me to glimpse into their warm depths. The other half was intact but every time I looked at him I wanted to cry. He seemed completely unaffected, determined and full of strength. He had refused when I had offered to heal him, insisting I needed to save my strength. It was his perseverance that was holding me together, it was the power I felt coming from my companions, they believed in me and that was enough for me to do whatever it took.

 I stopped once we had reached the very middle of the town, there was a great fountain that marked the centre. I had always marvelled at its clear water, and pure white marble form but I was horrified to see the water was tinged red and the stone marred crusty red stains. Nothing was sacred anymore.

 Here we would have to split, the tower lay west of the town, near the forests that led to the mountains. The Palace on the hand was to the North. I knew the King was in the tower, I felt it inside me. Just looking at the gaping window of the tower made me angry. Nothing was sacred. I may have been a prisoner in the town but it had still been mine, now he was violating it. 

 I met Kione's eyes realising she too had realised our sudden dilemma. It would be slaughter to let them go into the palace alone, Goddess knew what would be in there but we needed to get Kai and the others out of there. I looked around me and then I understood what I had to do. I slowly closed my eyes letting my senses enhance so I could see the world through the use of auras. 

There were more people than I realised, I could see their dominantly white tinged auras glimmering around the main colours. It was disturbing that most of them were women and teenagers. There were no old people and no children. There was also a sheet of fear that stifled each and everyone of their auras, fear that was enforced by the darkness that lingered between the shadows, lurking, spying, watching.  

I couldn't afford to try and control them, their walls were too strong and I needed to save my strength but I could catch one. I signalled for my friends to standby and then I located one close by. He was directly in front of us, big but not the biggest one here. He hid between two houses, tucked up in one of the crevices like some old gargoyle. 

 Slowly I stalked towards the space, claws out, muscles ready to fight. The moment I stepped in between the small space he came flying at me. I deftly moved to the side, whirling around to find that he had also done the same. He watched me as I took a step forward, but he didn't attack. I narrowed my eyes, but jumped forward tackling him to the floor.  

 He didn't even try to fight me and though his actions disturbed me I knew what I had to do. Feeling a silver line extend from me to him, I focused on healing him. The darkness slowly fled from his soul and his body relaxed. His stature shrunk, the strange features of his face fading away as he returned to his natural state. I stood swaying a little, until Kione rushed to my side stabilising me. Together we lifted the healed man, dragging him over to the fountain where he would be seen. I climbing up into the water where those nearby could see me. There was a deep rumbling in my chest that ripped through, as together Alora and I roared. The silence intensified but I saw the change in auras, there was an alertness, they heard me.