~~Shina's POV~~
I just knew, when he came downstairs, that he was different. As I talked to him, and as Zoey interacted with him, it became more and more obvious until I was positive that he had been overtaken. In the moment, I questioned myself - Would it have been easier to give neither of them bracelets, and tell them they had awesome amazing powers? Or maybe holding it from them gave them some sort of barrier from the bad side? Maybe Rythian was going through a phase, as his powers were being given to him, and it would soon wear off. But, as much as I hoped, I knew it was all my imagination playing twisted tricks. Rythian was changing, and it wasn't for the better.
We reached the mine entrance, where we would be killing the nearby pigs, and I got my diamond sword out.
"No," Rythian grumbled, "I'll do it. Don't want a woman ruining the food."
I scoffed. "Excuse me?" I asked him with attitude.
"Don't get in my way as I take the firstblood." His voice was incredibly low, almost demonised, and I listened to him like a slave with a master. He swiftly took his katar out and found the nearest pig. His blade met the pig's neck, yet there was no time for introductions. Quick, agile, and scary, that's how I describe what I saw. He was not humble Rythian.
Not anymore.
~~Rythian's POV~~
What was I doing?
I kept glancing back to Chyna, as if to say, 'Look, woman, this is how it's done. You don't know.'
I didn't mean this. Of course I didn't. But something inside me was controlling me, pumping through me, as if I was a puppet to a master plan. Deep down, I didn't want to be saying or doing this, of course not, but on the top? I was relishing the power I had raised, and held in my hand. The power I could manipulate, and use to my advantage. The power I owned, my power.
I slaughtered a few pigs in the time I was thinking, having been carried away by my thoughts, and picked up the meet before taking Chyna by the forearm. "Let's go." I huffed.
She stumbled along after me, occasionally tripping, and once she even fell over. once. I spat down on her and she clambered back to my level, then we continued marching back home. We never talked, as I wasn't in the mood to talk. I was angry that she had come, because she wasn't really doing anything when she came. She was just... There, you know? Like an unfaultering sound that stops you from enjoying music. But with her instead of a sound. And death instead of music.
We made it home to my house, and Zoey smiled as I walked in. "Hi!" She chirped. I glared at her.
"Hi." I replied as she hugged me. I didn't hug her back.
"What's gotten into you recently?" She asked, pulling a comical frown.
"It's nothing." I shrugged, not bothered to smile. "Maybe just a thing that I'm going through."
Zoey stopped pretending to frown, but her smile didn't return. She looked a little further down than neutral, but nothing to make you ask, 'Are you okay?'. I put the meat in the freezer and came out of the walk-in freezer, into the kitchen. I sat down in one of the chairs. Chyna came in, looking strong yet slightly enthusiastic.
"Ryth," She sat down in the chair near mine, "I know what's happened."
"That's great, now go away." I said, denying any access into a conversation.
"No, Rythain." She replied firmly. "I want to help. Your bracelet's gone, and powers have been given to you."
My eyes felt strong. "Very funny." I said, my voice sarcastic and loud.
"I'm telling the truth." She said with gritted teeth. "Now, listen closely."
I tutted, but decided to listen.
"You were born with Ender powers. These are powers which can make you teleport, and make you a fearful mage. You could've grown with them, harnessed them, but instead, I gave your parents a bracelet which would keep the energy in." Just the though of my parents pained me inside. Deep, deep inside. "You grew with one of these bracelets," She held her own bracelet up, "Around you, which kept you from being too overgrown with pwer. Your's has broken, and I have no idea what to do. Think, Rythian; think of your old self. Don't become a monster."
I dug deep into my head. I wanted to help myself. I saw the changes, as they were very sudden. One minute I loved Zoey, the next I couldn't stand the sight of her.
That's it, I thought, I need to remember my feelings for Zoey. Love, happiness, trust. They're the ones. I thought of how Zoey followed me faithfully, to keep me safe, and reminded me how fun life could be. If I could just remember those feelings...
A sharp pain hit my, near my ears. I let out a weak cry and slammed my head into the kitchen table, before flickering through consciousness and the opposite. I could faintly hear Chyna calling me in the distance, and I saw her put her hand to her mouth. Tjhe pain didn't go, until I had felt it run all the way from my ears to the middle of my cheeks. Then, it just vanished. I checked my cheeks. Near the eyes, all I felt was tears, but as I went down, a terrible feeling caught my fingertips. There were cracks. On my cheeks.
"Rythian, get a mask." Chyna demanded. "Don't let Zoey see you."
I nodded, faithful to Zoey's precious innocence, and ran upstairs as quickly as possible. I found the first material I could; a heavy-dark purple piece of satin, which I wrapped across the bottom half of my face. I connected it to my cape and went back downstairs.
As I walking to the kitchen, I caught Zoey's eye. "Ryth," She said with worry, "Why are you wearing a mask?"
"I'm changing." I replied honestly. "I'm changing for the worse and you can't see me."
She studied my eyes. "Firstly," She put her hand on my covered up cheek, "You're crying. Secondly, your eyes don't look too good."
I took her hand off my cheek and went over to the mirror. Instead of blue, or lilac, they were a darker purple. Not as dense as the mask, but not the light colour it was. "No, they don't." I remarked to her, viewing them closely.
"What's going on?" She asked, turning me back to face her.
"Nothing. I'm just... I'm changing. May you leave me alone for a while?" I sighed, not wanting her to leave, but knowing that my feelings of love with simmer into feelings of hate and a desire to kill soon.
Her eyes went a slight bit tearful. "Okay." She whispered, before going into the kitchen and collecting Chyna. They left together, leaving me on my own with the monster within.
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A/N: I don't want anyone saying 'Oh you finally updated!' or anything because I never thought I'd become someone who wouldn't update and I feel really bad! Also, it kinda hurts when people put that, because I feel as though I failed them, and that's the last thing I want to do.
All I'm saying is, I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while but crap happens to everyone and I needed time to be happy again. CHILL, AND BACK OFF.
Hoooooope you're all doing okay, and I am quite hyper right about now...
Have an awesome week, guys,
Emelia :)x
P.S: Is it just me who really likes my little signing-off-thingy? :3
