The Rise of The Powers vol. 1

Chapter 26: The Downfall of Our Lives

Chapter 26: The Truth Released

I stared at Lilith. She looked at me, but no regret showed in her eyes. My mouth was dry, I couldn't utter a word.

I was too shocked, too disturbed, too surprised, to even make a sound. I was pretty sure I was dreaming. This couldn't be happening, could it?

It looked as if everyone in the camp had died, or were dying. I saw a few lucky people running deeper and deeper into The Forest, but not very many.

Essence stepped forward and laughed. "It's been a long, long time hasn't it Ahilian--"

Essence continued speaking, but I no longer heard her, only two words were going through my mind.

Ahilian.

Lord Synth.

Lord Synth was Ahilian.

And Ahilian was my father.

" . . . It's good to see you. All thriving and well, of course. I wouldn't want you dead before Soren gets to kill you himself."

Of course, it made sense now. Soren had never killed Ahilian--Lord Synth, whatever. Soren was just a regular Power (as regular as a Power can be). He needed to kill Ahilian to become an official Prince.

But, wait. If Soren did kill Ahilian, then my bloodline to the throne would be cut off. Would I still have any of my powers? Would I still be immortal? Would I just be a regular teenager? I had always claimed to hate my abilities, but now at the risk of them being taken away, I suddenly didn't anymore.

You only want what you can't have.

I was ashamed of myself, here I was feeling sorry for the possible risk of my powers, when my dad was going to be killed. But then again, I was probably going to be killed too, so what did it matter?

And besides, it's not like Ahilian had ever done anything for me. No, he just abandoned me in the Empire to die. It was just my luck that I survived.

Soren grimaced and looked down at his feet. He kind of reminded me of Captain Hook, with his eye patch and hook from when Essence took out his eye and cut off his hand.

I shuddered. I didn't need to be reminded of how awful Essence was.

"Yeah, you--" Okay so I don't want to repeat what Soren said here, but I'll give you a hint: it was avery long string of very naughty curse words. "It's your fault we're in this frickin' mess to begin with. If it wasn't for your sorry butt being born I never would have had to go through all this shame." Soren growled at Ahilian, his hook arm shaking.

I hid a smirk. It was kind of amusing seeing him get all worked up like this.

Ahilian stepped out from his shadowy cabin so the morning light hit him full on in the face. He glowed in the sunlight. His dark brown hair blew in the breeze. A quirk of a smile played at his lips. His muscles showed beneath his white t-shirt. He stepped up onto a stone bench and smiled sarcastically at Soren. He spread out his hands and started clapping slowly and dramatically.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Captain Hook back at it again." I tried and failed to hide my laugh. Ahilian looked at me curiously, and I quickly looked away.

"Do you really think you can kill me? For if I remember correctly, you failed," Ahilian smiled and looked directly at Soren, his eyes gleaming. "Several times."

Soren sputtered and stormed furiously over to Ahilian. "But that's not fair you little d--" Again I won't repeat what 'Captain Hook' said here. He has a very bad mouth.

"It's not my fault that a little weasel like you can't manage to fight back!"

Ahilian smiled viciously "Sometimes, my dear, dear little Soren, not fighting back is the best way of fighting."

"Oh you--"

Essence cut Soren off. "Now, now you two. We have no time for fighting, we must be getting going. There's no need to fight back, just in case you were thinking of it." Essence looked at me. I hadn't even realized it, but my sword was wavering dangerously at Lilith's throat. I shakily put my sword down, for I knew Essence could kill me with a single thought.

"I burnt your camp. Everyone is dead, but you and a few stragglers. I put your camp in flames. Hell, I practically put your life in flames. I know you Ahilian, have nothing left to live for anymore. And in reality, you haven't for a couple hundred years."

I stared at Lilith, not listening to Essence's words, for I didn't care anymore. Lilith caught my gaze and held it for a moment her robotic expression never changing.

Then, in a sudden moment something her gaze flickered. Now, I would like to say that she burst into tears, stabbed Essence in the throat, convinced Soren and Ethel not to kill me or the rest of us, and came and enwrapped me with kisses, muttering things about how it was all her plan.

But this was my life, and in my life, things never ended up going the way I tend to want them to.

Lilith smiled at me, but it was the cruelest smile I ever saw. her eyes looked like they were made of razors, her smile made of knives.

"Go ahead and heard them back to the Empire, Mother." She said still looking at me. "I'm looking forward to seeing Duke die."

 And with that Essence put invisible bonds on our wrists and we they started the long journey back to the Empire.