Chapter 83
Brian and Ryker walked back into the hidden hideout of the Thunders. Mason was the only member of the Thunders that was acting with the demons. There were hybrid dragons that were half-demon that had taken root in the West Dragon Kingdom. After interrogating one of the traitors Brian and Ryker were able to get a list of everyone involved.
One by one they dealt with those who were working with the demons. Levi had found two others with nembrant glass in their eyes. One of them was Reese. They made sure they checked everyone they were interrogating to determine their innocence in the matter.
Now there was just one dragon left… Mason. He was a dragon that was of royal bloodline and would need Brian’s strength to bring him down. Wendy met them at the entrance and bowed her head respectfully to Brian.
“Mason is in the main room. Are you sure no one else is involved?” Wendy asked nervously.
“We will be checking the others in case they have nembrant glass in their eyes. But as far as we could tell Mason is the only member in the Thunders that is working with the demons.” Ryker then looked up at Brian who was staring down the corridor.
“Let’s put an end to this.” Brian said in an agitated voice. Because of this man his mother ended up with nembrant glass in her eye. He had brought corruption to the dragon kingdom. He was one of the worse kinds of traitors. And there was only one way to deal with a traitor of his magnitude.
“We will back you up—” Wendy started to say but Brian chuckled her off.
“That won’t be necessary. Just stay back so I don’t accidentally hurt any of you.” Brian walked briskly down the hall with Ryker and Wendy at his heels. He walked into the room where he had seen Ryker chained up before. There sitting in the middle of the room was Mason. He turned and looked back at Ryker and Brian standing up slowly.
“I don’t think it is a good idea to have those who aren’t part of the Thunders coming here freely.” Mason said looking over at Wendy.
“I don’t think it is a good idea to have a traitor as a member in the Thunders.” Brian said with a small smirk.
“Traitor? I have been with the Thunders for years and have never thought about betraying them.” Mason retorted though his eye twitched slightly.
“You are a traitor you have been working with demons!” Ryker growled angrily. “It is because of you that I lost my memories the first time. You set me up to be attacked.”
Mason sneered at Ryker. “I see you’ve gotten your memories back. Still, I am not a traitor. I am doing what is best for the dragon kingdom!” He said vehemently. “We shouldn’t be allied with the fairies. They are not our equals. They will bring us down and be our undoing. We need a powerful ally. And the demons have offered an alliance. This is best for the dragons!”
“You are more idiotic than I thought. Demons don’t offer alliances out of the goodness of their hearts. They only do because it is a benefit for them. They will betray us.” Brian growled angrily. “They will wait until they have taken over everything and then turn on us!”
Mason scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Funny you should say something like that. After all dragons turn on each other all the time. It was dragons that exiled my mother not demons.”
“You are right. We made a mistake there. She should have been destroyed. Then we wouldn’t be dealing with her bad egg right now.” Ryker smirked as he watched the rage burn in Mason’s eyes.
“So now what? You plan to exile me? To imprison me for eternity?” Mason scoffed arrogantly.
“No. You have betrayed us all. You have put all species in danger not just dragons. You risked a war against our allies while working with our enemy. There is only one punishment here. You will be eliminated for your crimes.” Brian said in an authoritative voice.
“You don’t have the right to execute me. I am a royal!” Mason yelled.
“Right? You aren’t a royal any longer.” Brian smirked. “Your family was officially disowned.”
Mason smiled evilly and took a step forward. “So, you are going to kill me?”
“Yes.” Brian said slowly looking at the contempt in Mason’s eyes.
Mason reared up his hand and threw a bolt of dark lightning at Brian. “You are a fool! The demons will be our salvation not our downfall! This will bring everything to light!” he screamed.
Brian halted the flashing light with his fire. He looked up at Mason and it all made sense. He was part demon. That was dark demonic energy. This was where his loyalties truly belonged.
“You will never betray us or anyone else again.” Brian then focused on Mason releasing his new power from scorio. It was no longer an element he feared… he knew how to fully control it. The heat engulfed Mason catching his body on fire. He watched as Mason screamed and writhed in pain. The flames ate at his body and consumed him. His body soon turned into ash then scattered over the ground in a glittering pile.
It was over. He had ended one of the threats to the dragon kingdom. Brian knew there was more danger since they still had the demons to deal with. But right now, his world had become a little safer. He looked up at the ceiling and sighed. Now they just needed to get Alexis back…
The dust settled revealing two figures standing several feet apart in a standoff. The b***d trickled onto the ground as they both heaved heavy breaths. Alexis gripped her black sword and winced from the pain radiating from her side. A constant red stream oozed down her body.
Alexis was strong but she was not a god. One on one she had reached her limit. She clashed her sword against Erebus and inflicted several wounds upon him. But Erebus was an experienced fighter, and he was stronger. This was not a battle she could win using strength alone.
The thunder cracked in the sky above as a storm moved in. It was as if it was setting the mood for their battle. The lightning flashed and a loud rumbling sound rolled through the sky.
“You have been tough, princess. But I think we both know how this fight is going to end. Why don’t you try begging for your life? Maybe I will be merciful.” Erebus’ lips curled upwards as he glowered at Alexis.
Alexis raised her sword and summoned an ice storm around her. Sharp icy razor blades surrounded her as she prepared herself. Beg? As if she would beg. There was more fight in her than that. If she was going to die, she was going to inflict as much damage as possible on her way out.
Alexis gripped her dark sword that swirled with her light and dark power. The icy razor blades around her flickered in color alternating between white and black. Behind Erebus the waves rolled in angrily answering the storming clouds above. The sky was dark and omnious. Slowly they began releasing large wet droplets as lightning flashed across the ocean.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but you will not get such satisfaction from me. Like I said if you are going to fight against me you should be prepared to lose your life.” Alexis spat out as she waved her hand forward sending her blades ahead. Lightning flashed as the icy razor blades sliced through the air. Erebus deflected the attack as Alexis charged towards him. She swung her sword, but this time shot a marbled beam of light at him that he wasn’t expecting. The swirling energy hit him head on with a thunderous explosion. Erebus was thrown backwards slamming into the ground.
Erebus placed his hand on the ground and sent a dark energy burst towards Alexis. He watched as the earth raised up from the ground swallowing up his attack. He stood up angrily and seethed in anger. “He gave you his summon!?” He clenched his jaw and glared at her with contempt. Aken had given her his mark, his summon, his heart… everything! Why her? Why wasn’t it him? He couldn’t take it. She didn’t deserve him. Her love was shallow in comparison to his. Yes, she should not get to have him. Her existence was a problem. Once Aken was freed of her he would finally understand. He had to save Aken from her poison.
Erebus charged towards her and released his energy in a wide arc. Alexis raised her sword in a defensive stance as his energy swung down upon her. The energy tore through her arm. She took a step back and dodged the rest of the blow. She then twisted her body and lunged forward with her sword. The icy sword shattered, and his energy tore through her skin. She could feel her b***d dripping down her face her clothes were torn into shreds.
Alexis winced and staggered backwards. She lifted up an icy shield as she tried to regain her composure. She was losing b***d and fighting a losing battle. Erebus’ power was still greater than her own. He was stronger, faster and an experienced fighter. She was bleeding and her body was growing weaker. She may be smart and resourceful but that was not going to cut it. She needed to win. She needed to defeat him. She couldn’t go down like this.
“Your love is no greater. It is shallow, fleeting. It means nothing.” Erebus yelled as his dark energy smashed against her icy barrier. “What do you know of love? You are practically a baby in this world. You don’t even understand it. It makes you weak. It is cruel! Love is the reason for suffering in this world.”
“No.” Alexis said in a quiet breath as she narrowed her eyes on him. “That isn’t what love is. You are the one who doesn’t understand it. You’ve been blinded by your own selfishness. You are a slave to your emotions. You think you know love, but you don’t. You are a coward. Your love is a lie.”
Erebus lifted up her necklace and waved it at her. “This is your love. It is meaningless. It is insignificant. And it is fragile. It can be destroyed.” He squeezed the gem in his hands, and it shattered. He sprinted forward slamming against the wall of ice. The ice shattered and fragments flew in all directions.
Alexis’ clutched her side and prepared for his assault.
*CRASH*
The lightning flashed. Thunder roared. Erebus body rolled across the ground as another body attacked it mercilessly. Familiar warm arms cradled around Alexis body, and she breathed in the scent of her mate.
“Aken.” She lifted her head and smiled. His eyes looked over her with worry as his hand cupped her cheek.
“Are you alright?” Aken’s voice was warm and soft. Alexis’ clothes were in tatters and covered in b***d. If they necklace hadn’t broken when it did… he couldn’t even think about it. His heart ached as he looked over her wounds. This was unforgiveable.
“I’m hurt but I’ll be fine.” Alexis leaned up and his lips crashed down against hers. It was a possessive frantic k**s that was everything she needed. She felt her body responding to him and even her healing was accelerating in that moment.
“You should have summoned me right away. I have been so worried. I could have lost you. I love you so much.” He lowered his lips on hers again this time tenderly. Aken pulled back and his eyes turned to Erebus. He held Alexis close but gently against him as he watched the bear relentlessly attacking the deity.
Erebus’ body rolled across the ground as Micah kicked him around the earth. He finally managed to get to his feet. B***d trickled from his mouth as he brushed it aside hastily with his hand.
“How dare you hurt my princess!” Micah growled. “I will kill you for touching her.”
Erebus began to laugh maniacally. “You can’t kill me. If you kill me now, I’ll live in the nembrant glass. My soul will just wait to take over another body. No, it is actually safer for you to let me live than to kill me.”
“And how does that fit in with your plans? You are the one who is a pawn now.” Alexis watched as Erebus eyes flickered over at her. His eyes traveled to Aken’s hands on her and his lips curled up in disgust.
“You linked yourself to that necklace!” Erebus’ chest heaved angrily as a menacing look filled his eyes.
“Looks like you couldn’t destroy love after all. Instead, you set it free.” Alexis smirked as she watched him tremble in anger.
Erebus glared at Aken. “You shouldn’t have happiness. Why should you get what you want? You don’t care about others! You only care about yourself. You are selfish. You deserve to live a life of loneliness.”
“Geez, all this because he dyed your hair white? Seems a bit extreme.” Micah scoffed and Alexis cleared her throat strangely making him look at her.
“Why don’t you say what this is really about…” Alexis looked up at Erebus whose eyes narrowed on her with contempt.
“Wait… what this is really about?” Aken looked down at Alexis and then back up to Erebus. “What is this really about?”
Erebus shot a blast of dark energy towards Alexis angrily. Aken pulled her body slightly behind him and effortlessly blocked the attack. At the same time Micah launched himself back into Erebus.
“I don’t care what you are linked to. You are going to die today. And then I will find every piece of nembrant glass and destroy it.” Micah growled as his deadly fight with Erebus continued.