The Awakening

Chapter Nineteen

Balor had sons.

SONS.

The realization struck Avelon like a thunderclap, freezing her body in terror. Not just one, but more than one of Balor's spawn roamed Vexar. Somehow, Balor had managed to ensnare his wife deeply enough that she was willing to bare his spawn. Avelon's resting frown deepened- The thought alone was enough to send shivers down her spine.

And yet, meeting one of Balor's sons—Ernin—had left her utterly shocked. She had been face to face to Balor's own kin, yet she had not recognized a similar darkness lurking within Ernin. Apart from his questionable intentions, he appeared as a common fae male, exuding male dominance from every edge of his body. Avelon's mind spun with thoughts—had Ernin somehow known about her encounters with his father? Their meeting suddenly felt too coincidental.

Avelon's eyes widened as she spiralled back to the original disclosure form Brianne, her mind trying to wrap around the fact that Balor had more than one son. Had she met more than one? Erning and Lugh had been together. Was Lugh Balor's other son? She felt the blood drain from her face.

Avelon had managed to utter, "Sons?" so silently that Avelon thought that Brianne did not hear her, though Brianne dipped her head slightly in answer to Avelon's silent plea.

"I haven't met his other son yet, no one has." Brianne shrugged.

If Brianne had not met Balor's other son, there was no evidence that Avelon had met both his sons in one sitting. After all, Lugh and Ernin had no similarities. They were day and night- the sun and the moon.

Then again, Ernin did not look like Balor.

Avelon swallowed hard, following Brianne's eyes to the front. Brianne had not removed her focus from the fight happening in front of them.

Avelon flinched as Ernin's fist connected with his opponent's jaw. The golden haired fae fighting Ernin, who was pointedly built smaller than Ernin, had been sprawled out on the floor within a breath- he stood no chance. Avelon forced her eyes to stay open and attentive as Ernin circled the fae- ready to pounce. The fae rolled to the side just as Ernin readied his elbow in a strike landing. Avelon flinched as Ernin's elbow met sand- the blow reverberating through her own bones. As they fought, the air thickened with the smell of sweat and blood. The fae had grown tired too quickly whereas Ernin seemed to have unending energy. The ritual would be over within minutes, judging by the slow of the fae's movements. Ernin's determination etched lines on his face, leaving no room for remorse. Ernin kicked- a solid blow to the fae's chest. He was back on the ground though this time Ernin did not spare him the second to move before straddling him. Ernin's fists hammered down relentlessly, each blow crashing into the fallen fae's face like hammers, the sound echoing through the silent crowd. Avelon's ears absorbed the brutal rhythm. She could sense it within Ernin.

He was Balor's son.

Their physical dissimilarity puzzled her. His bright, warm eyes held no trace of the darkness that haunted their father- Avelon did not witness any of the wrongness beneath them upon their encounter, which had made her question their likeness. But although Ernin and Balor bore no physical resemblances to each other- she could see their unmistakable connection in the way Ernin did not pause, slow or stop to offer the other fae a chance to catch a breath.

Unrelenting- death incarnate. His eyes held none of the warmth she had witnessed beforehand.

Droplets of sweat had beaded on Ernin's forehead from his nearing exertion- shining from the illumination that the torches provided. His lips were pressed into thin lines, some emotion had been fuelling his relentless assault- yet no emotion shone on his face. The only sounds that managed to carry over the crowd of guests were the faint grunts the fae was able to omit. The guttural sound the only indication that the struggling fae's body was spiralling near the end. Delight danced in Ernin's eyes as he felt his victory ebbing closer.