12: Darken: Resurrection

Chapter Fourteen: Althaeon

I stood, sword pointed at the man who gave me life. His smug smile only fueled my resolve. "So, we finally meet," he laughed, his voice filled with twisted amusement.

Every memory of his cruelty and manipulation surged through me, strengthening my grip on the sword. "This ends today," I declared, my voice unwavering. "I won't let you control us any longer."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Bold words. But do you truly believe you can stop me?"

"I don't have to stop you," I said, my voice steady. "I just want those I care for free. Take the kingdoms, I don't care, but release them."

He smiled, a sinister gleam in his eyes. "Take them, you can have them all back, even take my son if you wish." His finger then pointed to Astraea. "But she stays. She is carrying your brother within her now."

The revelation hit me like a ton of bricks. My heart sank at the thought of leaving Astraea behind, especially knowing the cruel fate that awaited her. But I had to stay focused. Thespian, Carlisle, and everyone else needed me. "im impregnated my sister..."

"I did," he smiled, "or, you can take her, all of your allies, but you leave me with someone else to implant my seed into, not one of your loved ones this time, but someone i have wanted since i met her."

"Who?" i asked, desprite to get out of here safely. "who do you want me to leave?"

Druas pointed to the ofter side of the throne room, where his son and Daria waited by the door, Draus's smile was cold and calculating. "the half-demon girl, Daria Nacht. I will allow you to take your sister, but that girl stays. She's good at playing my games; she would make a fine mother."

"I could care less about her," I said, my voice steady. "My priority is Astraea and the safety of those truly loyal to me. If leaving her behind means ensuring the freedom of the rest, so be it."

Draus's smile widened, sensing my resolve. "Very well," he said, his tone triumphant. "Take your sister and the others, but leave Daria. She has proven herself valuable in my games."

The room was silent, the tension thick. I glanced at Thespian, his face filled with anguish. The weight of the decision pressed heavily on me, but I knew that sacrifices had to be made for the greater good.

With a nod, I made my choice. "We'll take our leave then," I said, turning to gather those who mattered most. The path ahead would be fraught with danger, but our resolve and unity would see us through.

No!" Thespian yelled as Oberon led Astraea, Carlisle, Alexander, Violet, and Odessa from the room. He stood there, holding his new wife in his arms. I approached him, my voice firm. "Leave her. We will regroup and return for her."

His eyes flashed with anger and pain, but he knew I was right. There was no way to save everyone in this moment. We had to retreat and plan our next move carefully, or risk losing everything.

Thespian hesitated, his grip tightening around Daria. "We can't just leave her here," he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Daria cupped his face in her hands, trying to reassure him. "I will be okay, I promise."

"I'm not leaving you," Thespian declared, refusing to let her go. His eyes bore into his father's. "Stop this madness."

Draus's voice was icy and devoid of emotion. "Leave. Her. Here. You betrayed me, you showed me where your loyalties lie, and you will not be allowed to leave with the bride I allowed you to have."

The room was tense, the air thick with unspoken words and emotions. Thespian's grip on Daria tightened, his resolve unshaken. "Father, this isn't about loyalty. It's about love, and I won't abandon her."

Draus's eyes narrowed, his gaze cutting through the room. "Then you have made your choice," he said, a dangerous edge in his voice. "And you will face the consequences."

Daria jumped from his arms, the cloak still wrapped around her. She smiled at him, "Go, live your life, free from here. I will be okay, I promise."

With Daria out of his arms, I used all my strength to restrain Thespian, pulling him from the throne room as he kicked and fought against me. His desperation to stay with her was clear, but we had no choice. Every ounce of my strength was focused on dragging him to safety, knowing that Daria's sacrifice had bought us a chance at freedom.

As the doors to the throne room closed behind us, i could hear Draus address the crowd, "now, continue what you started, have your way with my little toy."

We could hear her screams echoing through the palace as we made our way out. Thespian pushed away from me, his face contorted with rage. "What the hell! That is my wife!"

"And the ones we need to defeat Draus are here now," I told him, my voice firm. "We need Astraea's power to stop him. So yes, I gave up one girl to save many."

Thespian clenched his fists, fury and anguish warring on his face. In one swift movement, I punched him in the gut, knocking him out. "We need you too, brother," I whispered, knowing the weight of my actions.

As I carried Thespian to safety, I resolved to return for Daria. Every sacrifice, every painful decision, was made to ensure the greater good. We would regroup, gather our strength, and come back stronger. Draus's reign would end, and we would fight to reclaim our freedom and those we loved.

In a blink, we were transported away, leaving the chaos of Draus's palace behind. The familiar surroundings of Astraea's palace in the fairy city in the kingdom of Drakaria brought a brief sense of relief. The air here was different, lighter, and filled with the magical essence of the fairy realm.

Astraea and the others looked around, taking in their surroundings. Thespian was still unconscious in my arms, the weight of our recent escape heavy on my mind.