A low noise stirred me awake, my body feeling hotter than normal. I relentlessly attempted to open my eyes, a broad chest with markings forming as my vision cleared, Marcus snores lightly next to me. I smiled, my eyes blinking slowly as I tried to fight off the urge to go back to sleep. It was way too hot and my body felt stiff.

I rolled over to my other side, expecting to see the doorway of Marcus’ room, but faced a body covered in a blue blanket. I allowed myself to stare at the figure lying next to me, blinking slowly, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me. They trailed upward, resting on the messy blonde strands that poked out of the human cocoon. I took a deep breath. Mint…Elias.

I lifted my head as the smell of roses and lavender hit my nose, my eyes landing on the two other shifters in the room. Ryder was on my left, his sleeping figure resting in the blue velvet chair in the corner. His hands were crossed against his chest, his legs stretched out as his head laid back against the top part of his chair. I could hear his soft exhales, his mouth slightly open as his chest raised up and down in a calm rhythm.

I looked down to see my angel shifter on the floor. He was sleeping upright, his gold rimmed clear glasses placed on the brown wooden desk located an inch away from his sleeping body. He looked relaxed and peaceful, his arms stationed to his sides, the pillow beneath his head supporting him. The others were right, he could literally sleep anywhere.

I slowly sat myself up, my hands pressing against my face as my tangled, dark brown hair fell forward. I peaked at its length, realizing it had grown significantly; my original elbow length hair probably reached my lower back now.

I’d definitely had to get it trimmed after the exam, tomorrow. I opened my eyes at the feel of something soft rubbing against my leg, my white ball of fur sitting at my feet, her long, fluffy tails waved slowly as she stared at me quietly.

My eyes wandered around the room, taking in the scene before me. My heart swelled with appreciation, my eyes pooling with tears. I never would have imagined being here two months ago, when I woke up chained to a stone-cold wall, awaiting to be dragged off to start the day that would surely leave me helpless and broken. I’d cried myself to sleep as I prayed to the gods, only to be startled awake by those heart-breaking nightmares that haunted me. I was a caged bird, unable to spread my wings and fly.

Now, I was surrounded by these four men who’ve dedicated their time and effort in training for cycles. Their sole mission was to find and rescue me from my confined solitude.

These men who had their own problems, struggles and issues, focused on finding me. Even my familiar, the Goddess of Destruction who hid herself among us shifters, sat quietly at my feet to ensure my safety and wellbeing, even though she could be doing anything else far more important.

She always sat next to me during class, falling asleep with me in bed at night. She would apparently follow my sleep walking self on her subconscious missions and accompanied me during our late-night walks.

She was the best partner and cuddle buddy, I could ever ask for. I closed my eyes, unable to hold back the flow of tears as I took a moment to ponder.

They all love me, showing affection in so many ways. Ryder’s forehead kisses, Daniel’s healing hands, Marcus’ hugs, Elias’ hand holding and Nightmare’s shoulder cuddles. Oh, Starlight gods, in this very moment…I can only give thanks and praise to you. I know I was lost, unable to comprehend why my life was what it was. I sometimes still question why I had to face such agonizing trials in my sixteen cycles at the facility, but I now can admit that it was worth it for these last weeks. I’ll embrace this joyous moment, this image forever engraved in my healing soul. Thank you…in stars we trust.

“Mewry.” Nighty walked into my lap, purring as she snuggled into me.

I stroked her, from her head to her back, her tails curling up as she relaxed. I looked around one last time, an idea popping into my head as a weak smile formed on my lips.

I glanced down to Nighty who raised her little head to meet my gaze. She jumped up happily, as if picking up on my thoughts. Let’s give it a shot and not burn the house down.

I made my way out of bed, my awesome stealth skills coming in handy as I exited the room without making a sound. I had to pat my sleep walking self on the back for perfecting such skills.

I headed towards the library, upon entering, made my way towards the black bookshelf on my left, my eyes landing on the book I needed. I quickly pulled it off the shelf, and tiptoed towards the kitchen.

I placed it down on the kitchen island, opening it to the marked pages. I smiled, excitement blossoming in me as my plans came together. Nighty hopped on the island, walking up to the book to stare at the colourful entrees. This should be interesting.

 

“Elias, what are you –”

A husky voice questioned, the sound of shuffling against the floor coming to a stop as silence followed. I pulled out the muffin tray, the pink and yellow flowered mittens protecting me from the burning heat of the tray as I turned to lay it on the counter top to cool.

I looked up to see a stunned Ryder, his wide Tyrian eyes blinking in shock as his raised hand stilled in place. I tilted my head as I pondered why he looked at me that way. Do I have something on my face?

I looked down at my attire. My black pajama shorts and maroon over size shirt, the one I secretly stole from Ryder without his knowledge was underneath the yellow coloured apron Elias always used. My hair was tied up neatly in a bun, my cute, fuzzy dragon slippers comfortable on my feet, courtesy of Marcus’ shopping spree for me, down on Earthala. I didn’t notice anything peculiar, unable to understand his shock.

“Elias, what’s that amazing smell. I want seco –” Marcus appeared at the door, the hand that was outstretched, as he stretched, stilled as his half opened sapphire eyes widened. His body stopping in place as he gaped at me.

Oh c’mon, I must have something on my face! I wiped at my face hoping to get off whatever had them gaping at me.

I heard the timer beep, informing me the bacon was ready. I moved my attention back to the dual oven, opening it, revealing the intoxicating, orgasm inducing, smell of heaven crashing into my nose. I took a minute to enjoy such bliss before pulling it out to cool next to the muffins. The eggs were on their last minutes of boiling on the stove and the two kettles were whistling away, enough water for Daniel’ and Elias’ servings of green tea, two cups each.

The smell of coffee made its entrance as the last drops poured from the machine, the bowl half full of fresh brewed coffee. I headed to the fridge, opening it up to pull out the carton of milk and a bottle of grape juice, placing it on the island to level out to room temperature. Perfect.

“Ryder, what in Starlight’s name has possessed you into cooking something that surprisingly hasn’t burned to a crisp ye –” Elias entered the room, rubbing at his eyes.

He stopped next to the others, his eyes locking onto mine. They slowly grew in size, his confusion surfaced as his eyes roamed my body from top to bottom, his tongue licking his bottom lip. I felt my cheeks heat up as their intense, shocked expressions continued their examination.

“Okay, seriously, am I naked or something? Why the hell are you three gaping at me like I’ve sprouted another head?” I barked, my mitten resting on my hips as I glared at them.

“Firefly…when did you learn how to cook?” Marcus questioned, his voice filled with admiration.

“Um...I read the book from the library. It’s not rocket science.” I replied, confused as to what the big deal was.

You could learn anything from a book; the trick was applying it in real life. Cooking…not that hard.

They stood there silently, looking at one another as their expressions softened. Ryder walked up to me, giving me a hug. I didn’t do anything, why he is hugging me?

“I’m hugging you because I’m happy. I woke up to the smell of those rich carrot muffins, bacon, and hazelnut coffee. The fact that you got up to make us breakfast. It makes me love you more.” He confessed, his cheeks growing red. My jaw dropped as I looked up at him, my eyes clearly deceiving me. Was Ryder blushing? Like, ACTUALLY blushing.

“Well, would you look at that. I guess the saying is true; food is the way to a man’s heart.” Rose mused, her voice rich with amusement.

She was clearly enjoying this.  I took a deep breathe, my mind clear as I summoned my courage to do what I was thinking.

I stepped on my tippy toes, gently pressing my lips against his in a soft, gentle kiss. His body tensed up at first, relaxing as he pressed against mine. I pulled away before stepping out of his embrace.

There was no denying my feelings for the four guys had grown over the past two rotations. Now, I didn’t feel like such a fool each time they showed affection, and for once, I didn’t mind showing them a little.

I walked towards Marcus, giving him a hug. His bulky biceps pressed me against his chest as I tilted my head up, before leaning upward to kiss him too. He let go after a few seconds, allowing me to step back and step towards Elias.

I stopped in front of him, allowing my hands to slide up his chest to his shoulders as I went on my tiptoes. I closed my eyes as I laid my lips softly on his. I could feel the tension in his shoulders drop as I kissed him softly.

I was ready to push away, but his arms encircled me, pulling me against him as he pressed his lips firmly on mine, deepening the kiss. I let out a moan as we kissed passionately, forgetting about Ryder and Marcus who were still standing there, watching our display quietly.

I forced myself to pull away, as I struggled to calm my heart. His eyes danced with amusement, clearly pleased with his extended display of affection. I pulled out of Elias’ hold, stepping back to face all of them before giving a deep bow. I rose, my eyes meeting their confused expressions.

“Thank you all for loving me. You’ve shown me levels of compassion I’d never dreamed of getting the privilege to receive. Thank you for not judging Midnight…or treating us differently. I know I’m still struggling and have a lot to learn, but I’m ready to fight for what I want. I may not know what exactly Midnight wants, but I have a feeling deep within me that she’s happy to be accepted. So, I wanted to show my appreciation to all of you in some way.” I admitted softly.

“MewMewwww!” Nighty jumped on the island, wagging her tail furiously. I laughed at her little rebuke.

“Even you Nightmare. Thank you for being the best cuddle buddy ever.” I praised, the bundle of fur jumping in place excitedly, causing the others to chuckle.

“Thank you, Princess.” They said in unison, Elias moved around me to join the others, the three of them bowing before me.

When they rose, Marcus pointed at Elias accusingly, annoyance forming on his face. 

“You kissed her for a lot longer than ten seconds.” He demanded.

“You kissed her in the training room the last time I heard; you didn’t see me complaining.” He retorted rolling his eyes as he headed towards his yellow stool.

“OI! How did you hear about that? Don’t give me that excuse. Ryder’s been having make out sessions with her at school!” He argued back, pointing at Ryder, who was pouring himself a glass of coffee, creamer in hand as he looked over his shoulder at the mention of his name.

“I get special privileges. Leaders always get extra benefits.” He pinpointed, returning to making his coffee.

“Smart ass.” Marcus huffed, walking over to grab a glass of his juice, giving Nighty a quick pat on the head. Men.

Myself and my spirits sighed within my mind, shaking my head at the scene that unfolded. I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness.

Daniel was missing. I didn’t want him to miss out on this, but he’d been so exhausted lately, and we needed him for the exam tonight. I truly miss Daniel. I wish he was here.

I felt a warm body press against me from behind, a light weight leaning onto my left shoulder as I was submerged in the strong, rich scent of lavender.

“I missed you too.” His sleep filled voice admitted, as he placed a gentle kiss on my cheek.

I beamed, turning my head slightly to face him. His droopy gold eyes met mine with a weak smile, his glasses missing.

I pulled his face down to mine and pressed my lips against his, there was only a moment of hesitation before he responded. It was my first time kissing him, but I knew it wouldn’t be my last, as warmth bloomed inside of me.

I felt his hand tangle in my hair and gasped as he pulled it, forcing our lips to part, causing my neck to stretch. I felt his lips as they pressed against the side of my throat, the sensuality had me gasping.

“Morning Princess.” The words whispered across my skin. He released my hair and when I found those golden eyes, there was a wicked, little look dancing across those shining irises.”

“A little nagging birdie, who wouldn’t shut the fuck up, told me you made us breakfast.” He pointed out, glancing at Elias who was sipping on his tea, playing with Nighty.

There was a stunned look of satisfaction on all three of the guy’s faces. I couldn’t help but feel stunned myself by Daniel’s actions. There was something playfully devious there; something, I hadn’t noticed before.

“I don’t know what you're referring to.” Elias replied.

I grinned, understanding Elias’ true intentions.

He must have noticed the numerous side glances at the empty yellow stool during dinner time in the last couple of days; Daniel is usually asleep, resulting in him missing dinner time with us. I was glad he was here with us now. All my men were present.

“Let’s eat. We have a big night ahead.” I announced, heading to the counter to grab the plates.

They all agreed, helping me spread the plates as we joked and laughed, Nightmare bouncing around the kitchen. This was how life should be, the fun gathering before the exam. The calm before the storm.

 

***

Only an hour ago, we had arrived at the practical exam check point. Matthew had wished us good luck as we exited the car. He approached me, sprinkling some orange dust around me, the little specs of glitter made my body shiver as the mark on my chest warmed up slightly.

When I tried to inquire into what he’d just casted, he shrugged his shoulders, insisting it was some good luck dust he wanted to sprinkle on me. He’d already done the same routine for the others at previous exams, or so he explained. As much as I wanted to investigate his action of luck sharing, time was of the essence and I wanted this exam to be over with.

Leonardo, our final member of the group, had already left five minutes prior, stating that we weren’t going to come.

To Professor Sepherant’s surprise, we arrived in comfortable workout gear, ready to face whatever plans he had for us. I already prepared myself mentally, for anything that would come our way. Whether it was poisonous snakes or falling boulders, I was ready to face them head on. I ignored the gnawing feeling deep within my gut as I stared at Professor Sepherant’s figure, those haunting, mysterious eyes always reminding me of something, but I could never quite put my finger on it.

Going through the portal was nothing special. I imagined a swirling flow of power blaring to life through a circular gate with flashy colours and my hair lashing everywhere due to the intense winds, as we struggled not to get sucked in. Nope, nothing like that at all. It was a plain door.

With the press of a button it would flicker to a mirror like reflection, showing our appearances in a wavering image, as if we were staring into a lake.

Once we were approved to start our exam, Ryder and Marcus insisted they would go in first. They were highly skilled in direct combat, so they wanted to make sure everything was safe and clear. Nightmare was perched on my shoulder, ready to come to my aid if I needed her assistance.

It took five minutes and ten times of me asking if they were okay, before Daniel gave the approval, reaching out to offer his hand. I beamed at his generosity, still concerned about our lack of time together, my hand slid into his. I vowed to make sure we’d hang out a lot more after this exam was over.

Elias automatically reached out to grasp my other hand, not even glancing for approval. His little display made me roll my eyes, smirking. Hand holding was his thing. He always wanted first dibs but Daniel beat him to it. With each of my hands in their secured grasps, we stepped forward into the portal.

Walking into the portal felt like walking through water, the pressure suffocating as your mind becomes disorientated from the sudden lack of air. Elias had explained that it would be better if I held my breath during the process; though, I would feel dizzy once we emerged on the other side.

He wasn’t joking about that one. The moment my foot stepped on the rough surface everything was spinning. It was as if I’d stepped into a shifter size washing machine, tumbling around in circles at a high speed.

Elias caught me before I took two steps; my first step testing if I could stand and the second confirming my plummet to oblivion.

He ended up carrying me to the starting place; Daniel helped ease my body in adapting to the different environment. He reassured me that my reaction was completely normal, most people usually passing out or throwing up the first few times of portal transportation. Elias continued to hold my hand just in case I had anymore coordination issues.

Once I gathered my bearings and could steadily walk, we set out to find our examination requirements; a clear light orb which was located somewhere in the designated area.

We would have to use our magic to locate its presence. Whatever monsters or hardships arose, we would have to face and survive. Even though it was a group exam, we had the option to leave separately, our scores based on our individual performances and contributions to the team. That in itself was reassuring, seeing as Leonardo was long gone. He was probably looking for the orb on his own.

The downside was he would pass automatically if we found it first. I couldn’t help but express my thoughts to the boys as we walked. They reassured me that the professors based the final scoring on skills performed, magic usage and group cooperation. Leonardo was already losing major points for venturing off on his own instead of waiting for us.

Realm One lived up to its reputation, a complete wasteland. The sky was pitch black, not a star in sight. The ground was charcoal grey, cracks littering it, small rocks brushed against our feet as we walked, crumbling to dust. The remaining trees that lingered around us appeared withered and sickly, their lifeless black leaves littering the ground beneath them. 

The air was thick, the oxygen at a bare minimum for anyone to survive for long outside. It took a few minutes for my body to adjust, changing my breathing pattern to inhales less and adapt to the lack of oxygen. The surrounding areas was covered in thick black fog, limiting visibility to only a few feet in front of us.

The most noticeable characteristic was the frigid cold. My black tights and navy-blue tank top wasn’t doing much justice in stopping me from shivering. Lily had offered a hint of her power to warm up my internal temperature, relieving such a problem. The boys were used to it, having come to this realm on multiple occasions, during their quest to find me.

We decided to walk around the exam area once, before doing a more detailed search. On our way back, we reached the edge of a cliff, hot burning lava flowing at the bottom. It was the only heat source in the entire examination area.

Marcus insisted it wasn’t there the last time they had arrived here, which was the day they rescued me from the facility. The professors must have added it by breaking the terrain with magic and getting a phoenix or dragon spirit to assist in the creation of the lava for added effect. With the way the environment was, it wouldn’t last very long before freezing over and becoming a part of the surrounding nothingness.

We were ready to head back to the portal, only a few feet ahead when I noticed a glimmer between two large boulders. I tugged on Elias as I made my way to it, ignoring the others furrowed eyebrows as I walked towards my new target.

Nightmare jumped off my shoulder, sprinting to the glittering object before circling around it as she mewed happily.

I let go of Elias’ hand to kneel, brushing off the generous amount of dust that attempted to hide the little jewel underneath. Behold, the clear sparkling orb that we were sent here to retrieve.

I picked it up, examining its simple outlook as I glanced over my shoulder to ask if this was what we were looking for. They all nodded, their looks of disappointment triggering my sudden confusion. There’s no way this exam, proven to create almighty knights to protect all the realms, was over. It had been way too easy. Something must be off.

“This can’t be right! You guys think, we travelled ALL the way out here to Realm One for the object of interest to be right here! Nope, this is a trap. Where’s the evil vines, or avalanche or even a bloody fire breathing dragon to fight us! You cannot justify this act of negligence!” I accused, shaking the clear orb in my hand as I tried to figure out what the catch was.

I could feel a wave of anxiety hit me as a million possibilities entered my mind. I figured us coming back to Realm One had some type of underlying meaning, courtesy of Professor Sepherant but what was he possibly planning that had to do with me?”

Ryder frowned as Daniel pulled off his glasses to pinch at his nose as he sighed. Marcus walked over to me, pulling me into a hug.

“Alright Firefly, we get it. Something isn’t adding up. I agree that this is WAY to easy. Our private knight training in Heila was ten times harder than this. Also, as much as Leonardo struggles in school, I don’t think he would be that blind and not notice the orb. We’ve yet to see him either.” Marcus confessed as he glanced around us, his eyes landing on the pit of lava not too far behind.

Elias glanced around us, his emerald eyes glowing slightly in concentration.

“We have what we’re assigned to retrieve for the exam. Let’s get out of here. I don’t sense any natural essence. That raging pit of shifter created lava is the only thing close to living in this desolated place. Everything else is dead, from the trees to the soil underneath the ground.”

The others nodded, turning to walk back to the portal. I stared down at the orb, realizing I didn’t have pockets. Nightmare jumped back on my shoulder, her grey markings glowing a light purple. The orb shrank in size, small enough to fit comfortably in my bra. I smiled wickedly at her as I petted her head in glee.

“I love you. I hope you know that.” I whispered, quickly tucking the object in my bra.

I looked up to see the boys already half way to the portal. I was ready to jog my way to them when a shiver coursed down my spine, my chest beginning to burn. I clutched at the loyalty mark, gasping for air.

I groaned, gritting my teeth as I clenched at my chest, pain radiating throughout my body. Nightmare jumped down as I fell to my knees, my breathing escalating to rapid breaths as I tried to withhold the scream that wanted to escape my throat. Nighty started hissing loudly as her body started to double in size. Her grey markings blared to a bright red. What’s happening?

“Mako! Shield now!” Rose’s frantic voice yelled in my mind, causing me to open my eyes.

I turned my head in time to see the ball of red energy inches away from me. SHIT!

I raised my hand, conjuring a shield right when the ball of energy crashed into me, the impact strong enough to send me flying.

I crashed a few yards away, Nightmare racing towards me at a blurring speed. I groaned, trying to push myself up, but the pain was crippling, my head pounding to life. My eyes widened as I realized what was causing such a reaction. No, he can’t be here. Not now, how was he able to hide without anyone noticing him! The boys!

I forced myself to lift my head, ignoring the agonizing pain that roared through me as my chest still burned, my loyalty marking glowing brightly. Nightmare was by my side in seconds, mewing in the hollow air as a magic circle formed beneath me, a pink barrier taking shape. Before my eyes could pinpoint where the boys were, another ball of red light crashed into the newly formed barrier, its pink like surface cracking immediately.

I bit my lips hard as I pushed myself up. I knew Nightmare was powerful, even in her familiar form which could only withhold a limited amount of her magic, but for such a simple attack to crack her barrier only indicated the caster was extremely powerful. Powerful and dangerous.

I noticed the two, red balls of light heading my way. I cursed, lunging out and grabbing Nightmare protectively in my arms. The balls of energy hit right on the barrier, shattering as the impact crashed into us. I screamed as we skid across the ground, rolling to a stop.

I kept Nightmare securely in my arms as I took a deep breathe. Now I was angry, the flood of emotion crashing through my body for revenge. My spiritual energy emerged, summoning Rose’s magic, the dark flames hearing my calling.

“NIGHTMARE! WEAPON!” I commanded, opening my arms to allow Nighty to jump to the ground, her body already in the process of modification.

She was in scythe form in a flash, my right hand grasping the long staff as the chain wrapped around my left hand. I readied myself for combat, widening my stance on shaky legs. Where are you? 

“I’m right here, little fox.” A low whisper replied next to me.

I dropped down into a side lunge, kicking my leg out as I twisted my body to trip the shadow behind me. I pushed myself off the ground, flipping in the air to land a few feet away, clenching my scythe in my hands.

There he was, my Owner: Blair Aspen.

He had jumped back, avoiding my attack with ease. He wore his usual white attire, his white dress shirt and pants perfectly intact. His red tie hung neatly in place, his black dress shoes landing lightly on the ground.

The only evidence of his presence was the foot prints that remained from our “friendly” exchange. He had a wide sinister smile on his face, his eyes filled with delight as he stared at me. His hands were relaxed in his pant pockets. It was the first time I’d seen him without his usual white coat.

“Makoto, my little fox. What have those shifters done to you? Didn’t you miss your Owner? I’ve been searching all over for you!” He gleamed, his face filled with excitement.

“They haven’t done anything! Where are they? What did you do?” I shouted.

“They? You mean those pesky knights? Ah, yes. They’re currently occupied fighting some shifters I brought with me. I got a little tip from a brown-haired shifter that my blue-eyed daughter was with a group of boys and a mutant. Hah, you should have seen him beg for mercy. Finally, someone who acknowledged my power. Don’t worry, I let him go. He would be a waste of my precious time and I didn’t want to dirty my appearance for you. This is a special occasion!” He explained as he began to roll his sleeves up.

“Special occasion? I’m NOT coming back to you! I’m not your daughter. I know who you are! I know what you’ve been plotting my entire sixteen cycles, which you stole from me! YOU kidnapped me and lied to me! Why would I come back to you?” I snarled, my eyes began to burn as my power bashed within me, pleading for an exit.

“Sweet Mako, did you forget all that I’ve taught you? Do what your told and nothing bad will happen to you. Yet, I have come all the way out here and you’re defying me. Why are you listening to such made up nonsense? Won’t you listen to my side of the story? I’m disappointed little fox.” He admitted, frowning as he wiggled his finger in disapproval while shaking his head.

“I’m not going back. I don’t belong in that hellhole. I belong to my family, my REAL family and around shifters who care about me. People who don’t punish me for not following their orders or force me to kill the people I care about! I’ll die for them if I must!” I proclaimed, lifting my scythe up, pink electric currents coming to life, circling my weapon as Rose’s dark flame magic circled around my feet.

He stared at me for a moment, his red eyes locked on my enraged ones. I wouldn’t back down, wanting him to see the determination in my eyes as we stared at each other. I wasn’t a child anymore. I could make my own decisions and write the path I wanted to walk in this life. I was done with being a lost soul. I would claim my rightful position in this world or I would die trying.

“I haven’t seen such determination in your eyes before. If only you would be so serious in our trials. If you were just any other shifter, I would rid of you for such disobedience, but being so valuable and precious to me and our plans, I have to simply punish you for your actions. Hmm…now what would be a better punishment: cutting off those wrists of yours so you can't hold that despicable being or your legs so you can’t escape from me again?” He pondered, a smirk forming on his red lips.

Rose pushed into my mind, taking full control before I even registered what was happening. She pushed off the ground, lifting the large scythe as if it weighed nothing as she charged towards Aspen.

“NEITHER! I’ll rid you before you even try!” She snarled swinging at him.

He frowned, raising his hand as a cane materialized, clashing against the scythe. Waves of dark energy flared around us, the power cracking the ground underneath us as we fought to stay in place.

I could see the hint of shock that registered on his face, taken back by my defiance with my royalty mark still present. His expression morphed into eagerness. He pushed against us slowly, barely expelling any energy to push us back, our feet digging into the ground.

Lily surged to life, taking Rose’s place as the dark flames burst into amber golden flames, the heat blasting around us.

“Ugh, it’s the phoenix. You should have ascended to those bloody gods when your pathetic excuse of an owner failed to listen to me!” He yelled, using his other hand to blast us with a red orb, sending us flying backwards.

I allowed Lily to take over, sitting in the back of my mind to watch. I felt her pain, the reminder of how Lily was stolen from us. How dare he speak about Lily like that.

“The gods have a purpose for everything that happens! I won’t stand still and allow you to talk about them or my previous host.” She raged, a bright red magic circle forming behind our back, followed by the burst of flames, changing to a form of wings. She let me take over, retreating to allow me to use more of her magic.

My flame wings spread out, stopping us from crashing into the ground. I huffed as the pounding became intolerable. I didn’t care, I wouldn’t cower from this fight. I’d give it everything I had, even if it pushed me over the edge. I had to have faith in Midnight that she would do the same.

I pointed my scythe towards him as I called upon Lily’s flames, concentrating on bringing out Lexi’s power as she squeezed herself into my crowded mind. Blue ice like flames materialized out of thin air, mixing with Lily’s amber one. They began to circle around me, dancing together as they waited for my command.

“Oh, sacred flames of ice and fire, hear thy request. I call upon your services to rid the darkness that plagues my soul. Invoke chaos and destruction as you burn those who defy me. Bring justice to our fellow shifters, our family as we avenge their senseless sacrifice.” I chanted, allowing my built-up power to be free to reign havoc.

They swirled to life, circling around my scythe before crashing into it. Nighty’s power mixed with Lexi’s and Lily’s powers was enough to charge the scythe up, multiple sparks of various colours emitting from the weapon as pink static flicked off it. I spread my wings before darting forward, aiming straight for Aspen.

I heard him curse as he slammed his cane to the ground, a red barrier materializing around him in an attempt to stop my attack. I smiled at his act of defense, knowing such a barrier wouldn’t hold my spirits dual attack, I raised my scythe over my head, before dropping down in one quick swoop. The scythe cut right through, shattering the dome. I landed in front of him, swinging my scythe to chop his head off.

He gritted his teeth, red magic circles forming beneath his feet as he jumped back to try and avoid my attack. I smiled wickedly as I laughed at his attempt to flee. Before he could land, his body was caught in place.

“WHAT!” He roared, attempting to move his body.

Hope’s power soothe through me, the invisible strings I’d secretly summoned during out confrontation gleaming with light. White glowing strings wrapped around him, his pulls and tugs only serving as worthless effort.

Once caught in an angel’s web, no one could save you till judgment was served.

“Thy holy strings of immaculate strength, hold my prisoner captive for judgement. Your righteous essence shall judge his sins as I inflict his portion of wrath. Nightmare, Oh Goddess of Destruction, give me strength to inflict his portion of pain and agony!”

I swung my scythe forward, creating a whirlwind of magic. Black, red and blue flames erupted from the ground, colliding with one another in a spiral whirlwind towards Aspen who struggled to escape Hope’s strings of judgement.

The blast hit him in the center, causing a huge explosion. The impact was strong enough to nullify Hope’s strings, sending Aspen flying. I watched his figure become smaller and smaller before crashing into the ground.

My knees buckled, my body dropping to the ground as I recalled all my magic. Nightmare returned to her regular form, shivering from the enormous energy loss.

“Nighty, go back to the gate. I’ll be okay.” I ordered my familiar, her weak, mismatched eyes glancing up at me. She slowly walked over to cuddle against my frame, before taking off towards the gate.

I began coughing up blood. My conscious was wavering as black spots began to cover my blurry vision. No, not yet. I won’t switch until I know for sure the boys are okay.

“MAKO!”

I forced my legs to stand, my body trembling in place. I turned my head to see Ryder, Daniel and Marcus running towards me. They were still far away, their figures small in size. I called for Hope’s power, doing a quick scan with my eyes. I sighed in relief as I only detected small cuts and scratches.

I smiled weakly, ready to wave at them when the air shifted, my sensitive ears picking up the ending of an incantation.

My eyes widened as the final words registered in my brain. Lightning Spear.

I attempted to move, trying to call upon my magic to jump out of the way, but I wasn’t fast enough.

The spear of light emerged from the dust, ready to strike me in the chest.

I closed my eyes, ready for the impact. I knew it would surely kill me in my weakened state. As long as the boys were safe, it didn’t matter.

Something embraced me, spinning me around in my spot. I heard a grunt, the hold around me tightening. I attempted to push away, my mind trying attempting to figure out what was holding me. Why can’t I move?

“Makoto…no.”

I froze in place as my spirits spoke in unison, a wave of regret crashing into my mind, slowly being replaced by the feelings of impending doom.

In all my cycles of knowing my spirits, listening to their multiple personalities and emotions, I’d never felt such level of despair. What could have possibly caused them to express such emotions? I was still breathing; my ragged huffs still audible to my ears. Why? Why are you all afraid? What happened?

 Mint.

The clean, fresh scent gently caressed my nose, my eyes opening wide as my mind put the pieces together. I forced my head to tilt up, unable to breathe as my eyes locked onto those emerald eyes.

“Dammit Mako. Always. Getting…in trouble, huh. Let go of your hand…for one moment and poof…you vanished. I’m glad I got here in time.” He huffed, struggling to finish his ridicule as his face began to pale.

He gently pushed away from me, my eyes trailing to the spear sticking out of his back, the tip poking through his chest. It cracked, before shattering into nothingness, leaving an open wound as blood splattered at our feet.

His knees buckled, my body leaning forward to catch him. His body weight was too much for my weak arms to hold, both of us dropping to the ground. I quickly positioned him on his back before pressing my trembling hands against his bleeding wound, his blood soaking his white shirt.

“Elias! No, why! Why did you do that?!” I cried, tears forming in my eyes, dropping down my face.

I tried to call upon Hope’s power, but nothing happened. I tried again and again, the result ending up the same. I’d reach my magic limit. I could feel my spirits struggle within me, frustrated at the turn of events.

“Silly. Didn’t we say we’d keep you safe? Can’t bring you home…dead, now can we?” He replied before coughing, turning his head to the side to spit out the blood that was pooling in his mouth. He’s dying.

“DANIEL!” I screamed, my desperation clear in my high-pitched voice.

I watched as Marcus began to glow, a pair of ash grey dragon wings spreading out before he pushed off the ground, grabbing Daniel as he flew as fast as he could. They wouldn’t make it.

I looked back to his eyes blinking slowly, closing for two seconds before opening. His usual vibrant, green eyes were dulling, the light draining out of them as his blood continued to pool around us, soaking my knees.

“No, Elias! Listen to me, you can’t die. You just can’t! You said you wouldn’t leave me. You swore it! You’re MY star knight! I didn’t give you permission to die on me!” I urged, helplessly.

“Firefly, I’m not…going anywhere. See, I’m right here. Why are you getting so upset…? And crying…you know, your eyes are mismatched now. Turquoise and midnight blue…two sides of a coin. Don’t cry. You look ugly when you cry.” He teased, his eyes closing slowly as he reached out to brush the tears that continued to spill down my cheeks.

“Elias. I’m sorry. Don’t leave me. Please, Starlight gods don’t take him away from me too. Is this my punishment for freedom? Why am I so foolish? Please, I’ll give anything…just don’t take him away from me.” I begged, pressing my head against his chest.

“Stop being…overdramatic. I’m fine…moment Daniel gets his slow ass here I’ll be good…as new…and will walk out of this stupid exam…Eli…Eli says stop crying. See, I told you she’s an ugly crier, but nope. I’m not the bad guy.” He mumbled, his breathing becoming shallow as his hand roamed through my hair.

“Eli? Elias dammit.” I cried, my heart pounding as I bit my lip hard, the taste of blood entering my mouth.

Why hadn’t I figured that out till now? It was the worse time to discover the two shifters were the same bloody person but I didn’t have time to ponder or feel pained by the distrust. I would save them both and deal with it after.

Why? What have I done to deserve this pain? This agonizing ache in my heart. Why does everything bad follow me? Am I not allowed happiness? Am I too ungrateful to receive love and affection? How dare he steal my Elias…Eli…I’ll be damned if I lose them both. No more sacrifice! I have a god as a familiar, yet I can’t even unlock her potential! I’m claiming to be the princess of some realm with powerful parents, yet I can’t save the people I love. I WON’T ACCEPT THIS!

I took one final breath, as I allowed my consciousness to fade, looking down at Elias, before looking towards my remaining knights, rushing towards us.

I hope they knew what a difference they created in the last two months, bringing levels of happiness and evoking laughter I’d never been privileged to experience till now. Smiling softly, I closed my eyes.

 

Farewell my loyal star knights. May the gods, guide you home.