Almost Human

Chapter 26: Freedom Is Just The Mind Playing Tricks On You

Mission: find a way to get out of this place. One way or another. Now a go. I am breaking this damned chain.

I forced all my power into the steel chains trapping me to the ground. I sent electricity through them, I started hailing golf ball sized hail onto the cuffs on my wrist, I even used my telekinesis to yank the chains out of the floor. I put everything I had into shaking free. Nothing. The chains barely even budged.

I sighed and put my head in my hands. I'm never getting out of here. I need to be free. I couldn't stay here. The door to the house opened and I tensed. What can I attack Adian with? I searched the room and cursed. He had this well planned out. Instead, a girl entered the room. She had red fiery hair that reminded me of Trish. She had a dog collar around her neck and her arms were scratched all the way up. She looked around twenty and her eyes were worn from no sleep. She was obviously boney, no one had been feeding her. "Your presence has been requested." Excuse me? I attempted to stand up, but then remembered chains confined me to the ground. The girl placed a dog collar around my neck and I shot her the filthiest look I could.

"I'm not a dog," I spat as much venom in my voice as I could.

"Neither am I. I am Aidan's ex wife. If anyone should not be treated like this, it is me."

Excuse me? I sat up on my knees, "Ex wife? How could you marry someone like him?"

She sighed, "He was a good actor. He was sweet and bought me everything my heart desired. I even helped him win the position of president. Then everything turned. For the time being, he kept me even when he started freezing other Elementals. But when he finally found you, The Great Bree Doris, you were his obsession. All he wanted was you. To rule with you. I was quickly pushed out of the picture. Then he trapped me down here, saying I was a mistake. You were his real purpose."

"He's delusional," I mumbled.

"He's a genius," the woman shot back. "He created a new breed of Elementals. And had found a way to sit on the throne on the top of the world. Even found his way down here, to the Underworld, dealing with evil things to become even more powerful. It's awful, but he is a genius." Her green eyes were worn with melancholy.

"Maybe I can get you out of here. When this is all over and done with. For now, do as he wishes, take me to him." She unlocked my from my chains and I stood up. Finally. I instantly took off. I yanked my dress up so I could run faster. I didn't even bother to look back at the girl. The collar around my neck burned my body and I collapsed to the ground. What the heck? I flinched in pain and tried to pry the collar from my burning flesh. It burns. Get it off. The girl casually walked over to me and the burning eased away.

"Yeah, you can't run. The collars just stop you. That's why I have one too," she chuckled. "Now follow me." I groaned and begrudgingly followed.

***************************

She led me to what seemed like a church. I thought it was kind of ironic. A church in the underworld. Who would've thought? As soon as I entered, I was greeted with millions of mutations. Some were flying in the air, others on the ground, all of them still ugly and distorted. Adian was standing right smack dab in front of all the beasts. His huge black angel wings were spread behind him, his fangs slid out, and his eyes were pitch black. I gulped as the mutations looked at me as I walked by. There were so many of them. The church was huge, three stories, and there wasn't even enough space for all of them. Adian had created an army.

The red headed girl lightly pushed me up beside Aidan and I cursed. Can't I be left alone for two seconds? Adian wrapped his arm around me and smiled genuinely happy. He raised his head to the masses, "This is Queen Bree Doris." Some creatures cheered, while others snarled at me. "You will respect her until she has either fully joined the dark side or the light side."

"I think it's pretty damn clear I'm not joining your side," I hissed at him. Aidan grabbed my wrist tightly and crushed my bones beneath his grasp. I winced but didn't dare let the mutations see I was in pain.

"We are a few mere months away from us taking earth. As soon as I get my hands on the Ethra, we will claim what is ours." The mutations howled out happily.

"Ethra?" I whispered under my breath.

"Yes, it has been lost for centuries but I will find it, with your help. Your power draws it to you. It is only drawn to half angel royalty. I will find it soon enough. It gives some secret unknown power to its bearer," Aidan whispered back.

"You're absolutely insane," I snapped.

"Insane is in the eye of the beholder," he smirked.

My anger built up and I announced to the whole building, "You're never going take the entire earth. No one has in it's whole existence so shut up. As long as me and my Elementals are around, we're stopping you. The fact that this many Elementals were forced to mutate is horrifying and honestly unimpressive." The room got suddenly quiet. The mutations looked worriedly at their Master. "I will stop you," I said turning to Adian. "You're not the only royal Elemental here. Remember you're still part human too." He was livid. The anger could be seen practically rolling off of him. I balled up the saliva and my mouth and spit on his face.

His wings grew even more and his nails turned to claws. His whole body size began to grow. Flecks of red sparkled in his eyes and his fangs sharpened with a new hunger. I gasped as a beast began to take form.

A dark and commanding voice erupted from Adian. "You wanted to see what the dark had to offer!? Well now you've got it..."