Iᴍᴘᴇʀɪᴜᴍ (Bᴏᴏᴋ 1) (editing)

Chapter 14- Running For The... (Part 1)

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Jace nodded grimly at his expression. "Please, let us go home before this makes matters any worse." The thunder rumbled again in the sky, causing both men to look up. "And before we get soaked by the downpour that will no doubt soon begin."

Theo sighed in defeat, not saying a word as they moved uphill back towards the castle. But not without one last glance towards where he was headed, the slightest of hope still in his thoughts.

One day.

Part 1

Sitting on top of a hill a few miles from the Hidden Castle sat Rayna breathing in the air trying to concentrate and be one with the nature surrounding her. It was Sunday morning, her day off from training. She usually took this day to be around nature, to try and let her mind slow down and focus on her. Ever since the storm, she has felt so much more in touch with this side of her powers, relying less on spells and feeling more in touch with it all. As she continued to concentrate, she necklace floated from her chest, making her smile. Something she learned that when she mediates, her necklace was sort of absorbing the nature around her, almost bringing in the sunlight, strengthening her. It didn't happen when she was younger because she never was fully concentrating, but as she got older she noticed her aunt when she would mediate, and saw how the necklace floated so. Rayna asked question after question about it, writing down everything her aunt had to say on it. It fascinated her how this necklace didn't just identify a witches' powers but also helped to center them.

It was getting warmer, nearing the end of March now. Her seventeenth birthday came and passed bringing her each step closer to her destiny, to her fate. Her eighteenth birthday.

As the months drew closer, they all were preparing more for her future birthday. They talked of it so much in fact that her last one didn't seem to even matter at all. Jewel made it special for her though, baking her, her favorite cookies while everyone else discussed preparing for the following year. Revon, Kalevi, Cyrus, Andre, and Catherina. Along with Jewel and Rayna of course, but they were more amongst the background noise then a part f the actual conversation.

The fight.

That was what all the conversation was on about. She was going to have to fight Malum for the throne. Her uncle still tried to convince her that it was all right if she did not fight, but she just ignored his suggestions. It always led to him and Revon in a heated argument over it anyway. Revon felt it would be a disgrace if she did that. Though he did not mean that in a way to pressure her to fight, her aunt reassured her on that. Rayna agreed with him though, she was not about to let another fight her battles for her.

Especially when that fight was life or death.

Cyrus and Kalevi were back this Sunday. Now that the Bellator's were patrolling the north side of the jungle, they were able to get away a little more with the help of Jace and King Silas, coming to visit every few months during one of their patrols rather than only seeing them for twice a year or less.

Rayna had finally had had enough and needed to get out of the house. They stressed her to no end with their constant bickering and strategies, having disagreements over every little thing. Right now Kalevi and Catherina were the ones fighting.

Catherina had suggested creating another Occidere weapon.One of the darkest things ever to be created with blood magic.

To no one's surprise, Kalevi did not agree with this idea at all. He was furious she would even suggest creating such a dangerous, dark object. There was even a law made that no weapon like it shall ever be created again. King Gabriel himself created that rule to protect the remaining magical beings from any further damage after what happened in the Wars.