~MIDNIGHT~
I opened my heavy eyelids, staring at the limp body before me. I turned my head to my left, witnessing King Moore emerge from the stairway with Father, Mother, Kade and our star knights following behind.
Daniel was the only one missing. My eyes returned to the box, but he wasn’t standing where he was moments earlier.
“Why haven’t you said anything? It’s about time!” the woman roared through tears.
Instead, the King, shook his head. “I’m not here to stop her. She can continue,” he announced.
Everyone gasped; even my jaw dropped at his comment. Did he just tell me to continue?
“ARE YOU MAD! She’s your daughter!” the woman snarled.
“She isn’t my daughter, she’s yours. If she wasn’t so ungrateful and conceited she would have known her match ages ago,” King Moore continued.
“How dare you! She’s worked hard to reach such strength and you let her be humiliated by the King and Queen by that…that experiment!”
Ryder stepped forward, his eyes bled black.
“Watch your words, woman,” Stryker snarled.
I noticed the other knights step forward, all of their spirits taking over as they glared at the woman. She stomped her foot, before glaring at me.
She made her way into the arena, walking toward me. The others looked confused, Kade’s eyes growing wide as if he’d figured out what the wench was planning.
“Fuck, stop her!” Kade screamed.
“FREEZE!” she commanded.
Everyone cursed, Mother and Father looking completely shocked as they too, struggled to move.
“I knew this would happen. Unbelievable. I didn’t waste all my cycles to lose my chance at being Queen all because of you! Filthy, worthless, MURDERER!” she shrieked.
I backed away, unable to hide my fear as I tried to think of a way out.
I knew I could face her, but my fear was crippling. I trembled, continuing to retreat till my back pressed against the rough bark of the few remaining trees left. My legs took this moment to give up on me, growing numb which caused me to slump to the ground. I panicked, trying to move them, but they felt heavy and after I tried multiple times, wouldn’t budge. I returned my gaze to the woman prowling toward me; she stopped only a few inches away.
She grinned; the look in her eyes reminded me of The Owner’s as he enjoyed seeing me backed into the corner.
I couldn’t think as I struggled to breathe. I couldn’t handle facing another Archangel. I couldn’t deal with it anymore. I needed help. I needed someone to save me. Please…someone…EliaseAnne, Elias…dammit.
Only one remaining name flowed through my mind, the name left my lips in a silent plea.
“Daniel,” I breathed, closing my eyes as tears rolled down my cheek— my body tensing up for the pain that was surely awaiting me.
“NULLIFY!”
I flinched at the roaring sound. My eyes snapped open as I slowly turned my head to see Daniel, but in his shifted form, prowling straight toward us. The woman froze in utter dismay, her body beginning to tremble at the waves of power that pulsed off of Daniel as his copper gold eyes narrowed.
I think what frightened everyone in the arena was Daniel’s wings. I knew from Eli’s explanation that Daniel had shifted into his angel form during the second exam, the awakening of power due to his dire need to save me. But she emphasized that his wings weren’t white like most angels. But as he approached, his wings were outstretched and far from the pure colored feathers. They were pitch black, leaking off dark power that made your body quiver.
I finally understood the other knights’ comments; always saying Daniel was a sinister angel. He wasn’t just an Archangel. No, he was something beyond it, an extremely rare hybrid of a good and evil: A Fallen Angel.
He reached us, the air so suffocating I struggled to breathe. The woman before me fell to her knees, backing away until she bumped into her daughter.
“How dare you! You first tear my family apart, use my father for your own underlying tactics, allow your daughter to try and belittle and kill innocent ROYAL shifters, and now you dare to try and harm OUR woman. You definitely have a death wish, you pathetic piece of shit,” Daniel hissed, his voice was thick with malice.
He stood before me, his wings outstretched as if to shield me from her in case she tried some way to harm me.
“For…forgive me. I’m…sorry. Please,” she begged, trembling in place.
I could feel Daniel’s power grow, knowing if no one stopped him, more people would get hurt or be influenced by his growing rage. I clenched my fist, wanting all of the fighting to end. I’d had enough and I didn’t want Daniel tainting his hands on my behalf.
“I should rid of your existence,” he whispered, her eyes growing wide as she began to beg over and over— asking for forgiveness.
I struggled to stand, my legs feeling numb and my magic running dry. I was able to concentrate enough to infuse magic into my legs, slowly making my way to Daniel. He raised his hand, a sword materializing in his grasp.
I quickly glanced at the others, but they were all frozen, either too afraid or shocked to do anything. I couldn’t let Daniel kill her. She wasn’t worth him living with the regret or nightmares I once experienced. He raised the blade up, ready to finish the woman and I stopped him, embracing him.
He paused, his body tensed up, but I just tightened my hold around his waist as my face pressed against his soft black wings. My fear began to fade.
“Daniel. Don’t. Please,” I begged.
“She wanted you dead. She could have killed you and the other royal shifters. She knows the Starlight laws like all of us. Yet, she ignored them and was ready to kill you. Why should I spare her?” he hissed.
“Because you’re better than this. We are in no position to judge. You…don’t need her to plague your conscious with guilt. You don’t see it now because you’re blinded by anger. But anger fades, Daniel. It fades and you know what replaces it? Regret. You are not the judger. Only the Starlight gods can judge us. And you don’t deserve to have blood on your hands. Please,” I begged.
He lowered his sword; I pulled away from him as he turned to face me. His copper eyes met my teary ones. He let out a frustrated groan, but his sword began to fade into ashes as his wings retreated into his back. He still stayed shifted; his long silver hair hung loosely down his back and his eyes were still a dark copper, but his expression was less deadly.
He noticed how my body trembled as I struggled to stay standing. He took another deep breath, calming himself enough to shift back to his human form. Once his shift was complete, he walked forward, pulling me into an embrace.
“I’m sorry. Did I scare you?” he whispered into my ear.
“A little,” I confessed, trying to stop the tears that flowed down my cheeks. I wished Makoto was here to help me figure out what to do, but being in Daniel’s hold helped calm my frantic heart.
“It’s okay. You’re safe,” he whispered, hugging me tighter.
“DANIEL! MIDNIGHT!” Kai screamed.
My eyes widened as I noticed the sword that was about to stab Daniel in the back, I quickly pushed him away, ready to take the hit when Cecelia’s mom screamed; a blue arrow sticking out of her chest— piercing her heart. The sword in her hand stopped right at my chest— the royalty mark glowing brightly.
Daniel scuffled to his feet and pulled me into his arms, lifting us both into the air as his wings reappeared.
My eyes trailed in the direction of where the arrow had come from— glowing turquoise blue eyes emerged from the shadows; I noticed the glowing black and blue bow in his hand.
He lowered his weapon, taking a step forward.
The man was 6’8 in height, a black cloak draped over his shoulders with white fur, floating lightly not from the wind but the immense power in his very being. He had jet black hair with blue streaks and those eyes that locked on mine held a level of supremacy that automatically told me he wasn’t a mere shifter, but a Starlight god.
My mind flickered to the black cat with blue eyes— Scarlet’s familiar, Moonlight.
Thank you. I thought to him, hoping it would reach him as Daniel cradled me in his arms.
He nodded before he turned away, a soft glow surrounding him till all vanished into the shadows; the last thing I saw was a cat’s tail.
Our star knights raced over to ensure the woman was dead; Father and Mother ordering a clean-up and summoning of an emergency meeting with the other Royals.
I wanted to help, but I was on the verge of breaking down and needed to calm down and let loose of the multiple emotions that bubbled up within me.
“Want to go somewhere?” Daniel whispered.
I looked up at him, wondering if my wide eyes showed my desperation to escape the chaos happening below. I nodded, pressing my head against his chest.
He placed a kiss on my head. “It’s nearby and you can cry or yell. Anything you need, okay? It will take two minutes. I’ll tell the others where we’ll be,” he confirmed.
“Okay,” I whispered, my voice barely a whisper.
He began to fly to whatever safe haven he was taking me. I didn’t care, as long as I was away from that arena place— needing to escape the memories I’d almost thought I’d forgotten with this new chance at life.
Even though I feared I’d plunge into despair, being in Daniel’s arms made me feel safe. His lavender scent calmed my nerves and his compassion to remove me from those negative triggers made me finally realize what I’d been trying to ignore.
I am in love with Daniel Moore.