The Awakening

Chapter Seventeen

Mocking laughter erupted from Ernin, his gaze alight with mischief as he watched Lugh fumble over his words. Avelon suppressed a chuckle and concealed her own amusement as she watched the exchange. Lugh's brow furrowed in concentration, and Avelon found herself holding her breath in expectation. Avelon wondered fleetingly at what type of person Lugh would be."What is your name?" Lugh asked, tilting his head, his voice laced with hope that a direct question would yield the information he sought. Avelon bit her lip, deliberating her response once again. "My name is whatever you want it to be." Avelon remained evasive, a small smile creeping its way onto her face. Ernin's laughter boomed, his delight evident as he leaned back in his chair, eyes twinkling at the spectacle before him. A flicker of playfulness crossed Lugh's features at Avelon's evasion, a faint blush of embarrassment tinting his cheeks. Avelon drew a deep breath, steeling herself for his next move, which could either display his fae-born assertiveness or the destructive tendencies all too common in Teine. "Fine," Lugh conceded with an incline of his head and a smirk, taking note that Avelon would not reveal her name to him. "Nameless then." He savoured the words, his eyes narrowing decisively as he leaned against the table. His smile grew as Avelon cocked her brow at him."Care to get me a drink?" His tone shifted from playful to commanding, a sinister smile playing on his lips as he fixed his gaze on her. His tone change had made it evident that he did not find Avelon's responses very amusing, but also delighted in the challenge. He waited for Avelon to object, crossing his arms over his chest. Avelon almost mistook his posture as a challenge.She smiled sweetly- condescendingly, and nodded only once before replying, "Coming right up."With that, she pivoted sharply and made her way to the drinks table, leaving behind Lugh and his incessantly snickering sibling. Her eyes widened as she registered her encounter. She was playing on a dangerous line, one that could snap any moment. Ernin and Lugh's voices had drifted toward her as they dove into a heated discussion- Avelon paid no heed to the mumbled words as she decided not to decipher them.Retreating from their presence had made the tension that had coiled within her shoulders began to ease. The sudden realization of how perilously close they had come to an unfavourable outcome overshadowed the fleeting surge of boldness she had experienced while speaking to Lugh and Ernin. She had been too bold and too challenging with completed strangers. Yet, a self-satisfied smirk played on her lips as she relived the moment—she would not change a thing. She enjoyed the bickering and banter. She refused to embody the flawless image of a docile servant, a subservient figure eager to please. She was more than just that.As she moved away from their table, she could feel eyes following her, clearly the following eyes had taken note of the time she had spent in the presence of fae who meaned something to Vexar. To those wandering, noticing eyes she was only a slave. Her gaze hardened with loathing for the fae in Vexar who took pleasure in the suffering of others. How could they remain docile at such an atrocity? Had their daughters and sons not gone through enough?She would find a way to stop ritual. She would stand and fight for those who could not. Her thoughts ignited a barren fire within her heart. She needed to remind herself who she was dealing with. Chin lifted, Avelon prepared a glass of wine for Lugh. Her fleeting smirk dissolved into a scowl as she spied the glass and decanter. The red liquid swirled in the decanter, and she resisted the urge to indulge in a sip. Gods knew she needed the distraction. Above that, her throat was parched, more so than she had expected so early in the event. She made a mental note to seek out Brianne for a break before taking the glass and returning to the table of insufferable fae.She honestly had to stop making mental notes. She almost giggled to herself as she approached the table.Ernin and Lugh's gazes quickly locked onto her approaching figure. Eyes darting between the drink in her hand, to her attire and finally her face. Their scrutiny made her want to visibly shrug off the discomfort, but she resisted."Took you long enough," Ernin noted, his smile broad. His teeth had been as pristine as his other features. He was trying to rouse a reaction out of her. Avelon studied him in silence, acknowledging the charm amidst his disarming aura. Any young fae would have been enchanted by his smile and attentive gaze. If not for the arrogance that clung to him, she might have found him appealing as well."Apologies for the delay," she said through gritted teeth, feigning a pleasant smile. She resented the need to apologize when they were perfectly capable of fetching their own drinks.With a grace Avelon was surprised to find that she possessed, she placed the drink calmly on the table, staring directly at Lugh."Thank you, Nameless," Lugh said, his voice dripping with a sarcasm that did not reach his eyes. He took a sip, his gaze never leaving Avelon's. The challenge she had assumed before, now evident in his burning gaze.Avelon curtsied pathetically before them, signalling her departure. "I should see to other guests." She quipped as she turned to leave. Steering her gaze directly toward Ernin, she narrowed her eyes slightly."Don't taunt harmless fae." She threatened, surprising herself and Ernin- whose eyebrows shot up.Thankfully, she found no anger lingering within his gaze- only surprise and intrigue.She pressed her lips so tightly together that they throbbed. Her mouth would be the death of her.Avelon promptly ducked away from Lugh and Ernin, thankful that they did not pursue her. The room buzzed with the energy of the gathering, the air thick with the scent of magic and wine. Avelon scanned the crowd, her eyes searching for Brianne amidst the stream of bodies. Disappointment cleaved through Avelon as her friend was nowhere to be found. Whispers and sidelong glances were exchanged amongst guests, and it was clear that something was brewing amongst them. Information was being shared, and Avelon was curious as to what that entailed.The buzzing in the hall grew louder before growing eerily silent. The only sound within the hall had been the dull hum of the orchestra's music. The hairs on Avelon's arms rose, goosebumps spreading along her skin, as Balor sauntered into the hall at the furthest entrance, standing directly in front of the orchestra. His very atmosphere seemed to feed off the energy in the room, the music playing behind him had hallowed out completely. All the attention within the hall had drawn towards him, his broad smile easily downplayed as welcoming. Avelon knew to presume better. The shadows prickling at the edges of his entire being told her that she should not let her guard waiver. Avelon could feel the shift in the air, a mix of fear and respect emanating from the fae surrounding her. She almost snarled at the respect- though the fear she could understand.Avelon took note of the fact that Balor commanded the entire hall- he was not just any 'Lord'. Balor almost came off as THE Lord of Vexar. The revelation chilled Avelon to the bone. Brianne had told Avelon that Fae across the entire Vexar would be there, fae from each of the continents. Could no other fae sense the darkness within him? Maybe they had and had chosen not to acknowledge it? Avelon was unsettled by her own thoughts- the Fae in the hall were all spineless fools for choosing not to stand up to Balor.Avelon watched as Balor moved with purpose within the crowd. The orchestra resumed playing the moment he moved, a haunting melody that seemed to echo Balor's mood. The guests began to murmur among themselves, the earlier silence replaced by a cacophony of hushed tones and speculation.He subtly acknowledged other fae that greeted him, however his eyes scanned the room until they found hers. Cold heat ran through her body as their eyes met. There was a knowing look in his gaze, a silent acknowledgment of his upper hand.I still have Fallon. He seemed to convey. She held his stare, refusing to be the one to look away first. Balor's smile faded, sensing her reluctance to oblige. A warning glance was offered to her, before he vanished within the crowd. Avelon took that as her cue to disperse. She weaved through the crowd, her senses heightened, aware of the undercurrents of magic that flowed through the hall.As she moved, she overheard snippets of conversation, whispers of the awakening, and the name "Balor" spoken with a mixture of reverence and dread. An overwhelming sense of wrongness prickled at the skin in her neck. The feeling accompanied caution that something was about to happen. She had managed to piece some of the hushed whispers together, hoping to all the Gods that she was wrong about what this event was about.Avelon raced, breathing steadily amidst her inner turmoil. Finally, she spotted Brianne near the end of the hall- a balcony that led outside. Brianne's expression tense as she spoke with a group of fae. Avelon approached, relaxing only a fraction at the appearance of her friend."Brianne." She breathed, leaning into the arch of the door. The humid air flowing from outside had done nothing to cool her down as even in the barest forms of clothing she still had sweat trickling down her forehead. Even during the midst of the evening sky, the heat was suffocating. The stars had just started to glint as the sky had turned the most beautiful hue of purple and orange.Brianne, and the fae she had been addressing all turned at the sound of Brianne's name. Brianne's eyes reflected the same storm of emotions that Avelon felt within her. Brianne curtly nodded to the guests and whispered something to them that sent them all stumbling into the hall. Brianne only joined Avelon at the arch of the door when she was sure all the prying ears had vacated their immediate area "Brianne, something's not right," Avelon whispered urgently, her voice barely audible over the wind. Brianne nodded, her gaze drifting back to the hall where Balor had been a few moments before. "I know." She closed her eyes momentarily, grounding herself, before leaning towards Avelon to whisper."The awakening... it's happening tonight. Balor is having a ritual performed here tonight." Brianne's voice was steady, but her hands betrayed her anxiety, clenching the scrap of fabric at her waist. Avelon's felt a chill despite the humid air, her eyes widening in realization. The whispers she had heard were true. he had been so consumed by her own problems that she had neglected the harsh reality of their lives—the constant torment of the awakening. That Balor would dare attempt to have the ritual performed here, amongst the most powerful of their kind, spoke volumes of his ambition and ruthlessness. He truly took joy out of the worst circumstances. Yet, at the same time, that the most powerful fae had joined to see the outcome of something so brutal, had spoken volumes of how badly fae had failed themselves. There had to be another way to aid fae into reaching their immortality and powers. Brianne swiped her forehead with the back of her hand. her brow furrowed in concern, "I had assumptions of something like this happening, but I didn't think Balor actually had the balls to call for it during an event. Some of the friendlier guests confirmed why they were invited to witness an awakening." "How did Balor find them?" Avelon's voice was a hushed whisper, her gaze flickering toward the hall. Where were the two fae being held whilst they prepare their slaughtering grounds? Better yet, where had Balor planned to host the awakening? The rituals could turn savage if not controlled in a sense. A far off, very auspicious and very small chamber came to mind as Avelon pondered. The thought tickled the sensation of vomiting."Vexar is big, Avelon. There are always two or more fae reaching maturity around the same time." Brianne replied, the exasperation in her tone causing Avelon to furrow her brow in concentration."This may seem crazy, but doesn't that seem odd to you?" Avelon's full attention shifted back to Brianne, her sixth sense telling her once again that Brianne was withholding information."Does it," Brianne paused to wet her lips, "Seem odd to you, Avelon?" Brianne challenged, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stepped forward, almost hugging Avelon's side, "There's a great deal of things in Vexar that are odd." Brianne's voice had dropped low enough that Avelon had to strain to hear her.Brianne's words carried a weight of warning. Avelon took a step back, her head tilting in confusion, waiting for Brianne to elaborate. Avelon knew an elaboration would not follow as Brianne clasped Avelon's wrist and pulled her toward the furthest edge of the balcony."Now is not the time." Brianne confirmed Avelon's suspicions, her lips pressing together as she swept her gaze over the expanse of the courtyard. Instinctively Avelon followed Brianne's eyes, quickly identifying that the courtyard had in fact been the back of the castle where the well had been situated. The exact well they had used to clean Brianne's. "Brianne, you need to tell me what you know." Avelon pleaded, her voice a blend of weariness and determination. The constant dance around the truth was exhausting, and every fibre of her being yearned for clarity."We need to share information to understand what is happening," Avelon continued, her whisper steady yet insistent. Brianne's eyes met Avelon's, wariness swirling within their depths. "Now is not the time, Avelon," she repeated, her tone laced with a protectiveness that bordered on desperation. In her silence, there was a plea for trust, a silent vow that when the time was right, they would speak about the unspoken.Disappointment filled Avelon at the evasion, though she had expected it. She understood that Brianne could not discuss anything she knew right at that moment, as the possibility of being overheard was too big."You should get inside now, it's happening." A voice quipped from the door, snapping their attention to the door. The bearer of the voice was gone before they could register who it was. Avelon's heart skipped a beat at the warning, the words echoing ominously in the still air. She exchanged a glance with Brianne, both understanding the gravity of the situation without needing to speak.The ritual was starting, with or without them.