Beneath the Blood Moon

Chapter Fifteen: End Of An Era

King.

That was the word he used. King. Nnandi hadn't gone insane, she wasn't the only one who heard him say it. In fact, everyone in the room, save for a few...terrified faces, had the same look of confusion she wore.

King.

"You have no dominion here, Valda," Elder Clarey hissed, a cat backed into a corner. Her wide eyes betrayed the fear building within, as did the subtle shaking in her hands as she held her fingers in position, ready to attack.

"And you had no right to breach the terms of our agreement," he rebutted as he slowly ambled up the center aisle towards the pulpit.

"I did no such thing!"

"Are lies your primary means of communication?" Elrick's eyes narrowed. "I should rip out your tongue and cure you of that nasty habit."

"What lie?!"

"You sicked your puppies on my little haven, destroyed centuries of work, and stole something that belonged to me." Without missing a step, he raised a single finger and pointed straight at Nnandi. Clarey went stiff before she whirled around and stared up at Saphine.

"What did you do?!"

"What you ordered of me," Saphine replied, brows furrowed and a tight frown curving her mouth. "Who is this man?"

"Leader of the Sentinel Elite, tormentor of the common witch, wicked little thing that tried to burn down my shop, should I add hard of hearing to that resume?" Elrick hissed her name like a curse, "Or are you satisfied just being vile, Saphine?"

He was nearly down the aisle before the others in the room reacted. Elders, guards, Elite all shifted into defensive formations, casting barriers around themselves only. The rest of the coven remained exposed to the potential hazard sauntering towards the pulpit, fire in his eyes. He glanced up at the Lalin San, the eerie shine of the blood moon reflected in his eyes.

"Time is getting away from you, Clarey." His gaze descended just as she loosed a shockwave of energy from her palms. He swiped a free hand and deflected it up and away, into the ceiling where it shook loose plaster. Black particles rained down and mild panic shook its way through the gathering. Ariete scurried off to the sides, far enough away to be safe from the budding battle, but close enough to witness something they'd never thought possible. An opposition to the rule of the Elders. A living, breathing royal. A battle so evenly matched.

"You have no authority here, leave at once," Elder Clarey barked, regaining her rigid composure. On queue, the guards stepped forward into formation. Hands raised and poised in casting position, there would be no further warnings or requests. The Elite stayed at the back with the Elders, protecting them at all cost.

"A touch of power must have driven you all insane. No authority? This is my coven, by birthright and ability." He resumed his march to the pulpit, waving away each wave of attacks as his tone and expression darkened. "You were permitted to run it in my absence only. And now you have the nerve to challenge me?"

Through the onslaught of energy and fire, her persisted until he was mere feet from Clarey who resumed her backwards scramble, a sad attempt at putting distance between them. It did nothing, just as her attacks did nothing.

"You are an abomination! Monster, unnatural thing!" she screeched.

By the time he had his hand around her throat, Nnandi regained her ability to stand and clarity. Stumbling to the edge of the platform, she watched as Elrick lifted Elder Clarey from the ground with one hand, holding the guards at bay with the other. Clarey swatted at his face and arms, trying to loosen the grip on her neck. Her unnatural strength resided solely in her magik, but when confronted by brute strength, she was still an old woman.