The Awakening

Chapter Twenty Three

Frustration bubbled within him as he stood watching Avelon's unmoving body. He could feel his anger become tangible as black tethers of darkness snapped at his feet. He hissed at his feet, but the darkness did not falter.

"She should have shown some sign of an affinity by now." Balor snarled through clenched teeth. His displeasure was palpable.

Elha felt the colour drain from her face at the venom in his voice. A wave of the darkness that constantly followed him, swept over his features, making his demeanour seem unnatural. She swallowed hard, ignoring the bead of sweat that rolled down the side of her cheek.

"I suspect she has," At Elha's words, Balor's dark eyes slid toward her in expectation.

She shuddered, although she was unsure of her suspicions, she continued, "She did not drown. Any other Fae would have. Any Fae without an affinity for healing or water or even air. Her friend's affinity must have aided her in some way. She has something in her blood." Elha could feel the guilt build in her stomach at her revelation, however she shoved the feeling back into the depths of her mind.

A small, vindictive smile spread on Balor's face as he readjusted his gaze to Avelon. Elha was relieved by the absence of his gaze on her.

Balor pressed his lips into a thin line, "Yet, I am still disappointed that her body gave out yet again." Balor murmured, his voice a chilling caress as he circled Avelon's sleeping form like a vulture.

You are disappointed with everything. Elha pursed her own lips, swallowing the words that she wanted to say.

She felt rooted to the spot, her unease growing as Balor moved with feline grace. His aura unnerved her to the point of making her squirm.

"I do believe her near death experience drained her strength and endurance." Elha defended Avelon easily, the words slipping from her almost against her will. Balor stopped moving, turning his dark gaze back to her.

His eyes narrowed as he studied her.

"I don't care if she arrived on the brink of death- I expected more!" Balor's voice rose as he slammed his fist against the wall. Small streaks of darkness erupted from his fist at the impact. His shadows swelled at the rise of his voice, and temper.

"You," He pointed towards her, "Elha dear, retrieved her. So if she fails, so will you."

Elha's body trembled at his words. She closed her eyes as sadness washed over her. Balor could not witness the emotion. She had known where to find Avelon, and the memory of it would haunt her forever.

"She will not fail." Elha's voice did not waiver as she reopened her eyes. She did not challenge Balor, but she could feel the truth of her words burning in her gaze.

She knew what Avelon was capable of and that her ancestry would not allow her to die. She could only hope that Avelon would make the right choices. Even though she was determined that her ancestors would not allow her to die, Avelon still held the key to that decision.

Balor hummed thoughtfully in response, cracking his neck. Absentmindedly, he inspected the wound on his arm. His hand drifted to the dried blood, wiping it away along with the wound itself. Elha's eyebrows shot up in surprise as the evidence of the experiment disappeared completely. Balor slowly approached Avelon, repeating the motion and making her wound disappear as well.

She had wondered how the mark of the transfusion had disappeared from Avelon's arm after the first experiment. She had suspected it to be Fae healing that had manifested within her. Disappointment tugged at her as she considered the possibility that Avelon might not have any abilities within her after all. Her eyes glazed over in thought.