The Empress of HellFire. The Emperor of Ice Storms. Together as one, they will tear the world apart. Stranded in a kingdom with their paths intertwined, the fight to reclaim what was once lost will draw nothing but blood and fury.
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Venix Draywin...
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"Are you insane? This is the last thing I wanted!!"
Esmeralda's voice rang through the living room, her face contorted into an angry mask as she stood in front of Darren and Lucien, her arms crossed in front of her chest. On either side of her, two women stood by, their faces wearing a mask of confusion.
"It's been four hundred years since you've last seen me, Esmeralda! Four hundred years!" Lucien hissed at her, his tone taking a sharp edge that made Venix flinch at the sound of it. Esmeralda scowled deeply, narrowing her eyes at her brother.
"Do you not think I am aware of that Lucien?" she asked, raising a questioning brow. "Have you ever stopped to think that there was a reason why I left you with Rheynoak? Did you think it was for my entertainment? She pressed on, digging her fingers into the crook of her elbow.
"Rheynoak was the one that gave me this letter to come to you! He encouraged me to seek you out and join you once again! Did you think this was all of my own free wills?" Lucien retorted, his jaw locking in place, his fingers clenching into tight fists. His sister snorted, shaking her head as she broke eye contact with him.
"Do you not have a brain, Lucien? I would think you would know how to think for yourself than be Rheynoak's bitch and listen to his uncalled advice whenever he provides it!" she shot back, jabbing a finger at him. Lucien flinched at her sharp tone, frowning at the words she fired at him. He huffed, a dry laugh escaping his lips.
"His bitch? Is that really what you think of me, Esmeralda?" he questioned, pushing her hand away from his face. This time, Esmeralda's face fell slightly, biting back on her lip as she sighed deeply, running her fingers through her bone-white hair.
"Esmeralda" Darren whispered, taking a small step towards her. Her icy eyes snapped up to meet his, the stern look on her face returning when he addressed her.
"You were supposed to keep him at bay in case anything like this happened! We had an agreement!" she reminded him. "Just because a witch defeats you at a game of Serpent's eyes does not mean that you back down on your words!" Darren nodded, casting a knowing glance at Lucien before turning back to the face of the seething siphon before him.
"I know Esmeralda," he said to her, grasping both of her wrists. "But when I saw Lucien and Venix that night and had time to think about it that night, I realized that it would be wrong for me to keep Lucien away from his destiny."
Esmeralda opened her mouth to argue but he cut her off, turning around to face Lucien and Venix. "Your mother and father left this world with the hope of you and Lucien overtaking the tribe someday. They died for the sake of the tribe they called family and planted their hope in their children. Now, I know that ever since Jodah proclaimed himself as the leader and overtook the throne, it's been an uphill battle with the little you have but with Lucien, think of how powerful you would be together. Powerful enough to finally destroy Jodah."
