Tremulous light devoured Aria's body, cracking her bones. She ground her teeth as untamed power slithered in her veins like dragon fire.

Slowly, she crumbled into ash.

Aria burned, bright and strong — a star at the precipice of rupturing into a million pieces. She shed her human coat like a sun molting its surface in piercing light rays into the darkness.

Nature's essence merged with her bone, skin, and blood and shattered her.

In the ashes that remained, she was transformed, she was reborn. She became whole.

Aria stood at the center of the black stone throne room. The light rippled in harsh waves from her body, crushing into everything in its wake. Everyone struggled to stand. The chaotic energy wrecked into their bodies, forcing them down.

Elvin's every bone shook, and his heart halted. The instant Aria burst into light, his soul pulsed, resonating with hers. But not faint like before. This felt different. Permanent.

Warmth kissed his skin like it was him being bathed in light. Under the blanket of heat, pain and anguish stabbed through his heart. It was her's — Aria's. His love. His melissë. Every one of Aria's thoughts married with his own. Lily, I'm sorry. I am sorry.

It hurts.

I'm sorry.

Every one of her loud cries was a whisper in his mind. It tore him to shreds. Elvin wanted to take her in his arms and shelter her from her pain.

Lily, I'm sorry.

Elvin stretched his hand to reach Aria. He needed to reach her His legs shook under the pounding pressure. Energetic wave after wave slammed against his broad chest. "ARIA!" He called. His skin scorched, yet, he pushed through the pain. His long fingers grasped Aria's wrist.

He gasped in bewilderment. Aria was light itself. Pure wild light.

White shimmering daylight in the form of a high fae.

Magic sparked where their skins touched.

The world tumbled around Aria. Something snapped into place — a power strong and ancient, older than time itself, wrapped around her soul and bound her. To what?

Aria's soul vibrated in and out of her body. A force yanked her. Too disoriented to fight, she let it take her. The world melted, the present dripped away to reveal the past. The dark stone shifted in and out of existence, phasing into clear star-splattered night skies.

Aria stood in time, a soul with no physical body out of place — out of time.

Cold wind glided across the grass of the tallest mountain in the Fae Kingdom and straight through Aria's translucent skin. A lone tree howled in the night. Its branches cracked in pain. The night was calm, yet, a menacing pressure hovered over the air.

Aria felt like she had been here before. 'Have I?' She wasn't sure. 'No, I have been here. With Elvin....' she muttered in her mind. The tallest peak in the Fae kingdom.

The place where they became one.

Footsteps dragged against the pebbled path up the mountain. With every step, the sound of water plopping on grass rung louder and louder.

A shiver crawled up Aria's back as she turned.

It was not water, but crimson, coagulated blood sliding down the arm of a blue-skinned woman. Her golden hair, stained with mud, draped over blue eyes and pointed ears. She limped to the edge of the peak. Her head wobbled before she collapsed to her knees. A large slash cut through her spider-silk armor, revealing two scarred stumps abruptly extruding from her dirtied back. They shifted with her shoulders like phantom wings.

She looked defeated, consumed.

"Your Elvin's mother?" Aria's voice trembled. She feared that if she spoke too loudly, the woman would fall past the precipice of the cliff.

The blue Fae remained kneeling on the grass, unaware of the unwelcome visitor. She struggled to keep her eyes open. Dark eye bags dulled her eyes. Yet, a soft melancholy smile spanned her cheeks.

Elvin's mother, Valyria, closed her eyes and she rose her hands, feeling the winds glide under her arms. She held that pose and lingered like it was the last time. Her sea-blue eyes opened. She muttered, "Te fere maluea brokeren salrevie acrenion."

The wind crackled around Valyria.

Her bruised, fine finger snapped, claws clinging breaking through the ground. Her skin oozed blue liquid stained with swirls of ripe red fruit. The watery substance glistened under the moonlight as it started to boil on her skin.

Valyria cracked as she screamed. The liquid turned to violent flames. Blue ambers turned the air to simmers in a kaleidoscope of blue, green, and violet.

Valyria's voice hollowed, like she was gasping for air as she chanted, "Te fere maluea brokeren salrevie acrenion." She ran a pointed nail against her palm, slicing her blue flesh. Darkened blood dripped from the cut, burning under the fiery magic. The blood defied gravity, floated into the air, and traversed the fire. It emerges as red stardust.

The dust levitated in the air. Valyria chanted, louder, desperate, "Te fere maluea brokeren salrevie acrenion!"

The stardust coalesced into a circle. Streams of the red powder twirled within the loop, forming a crest with two beings united at the center. Two images appeared on each side of the circle. One, a young sleeping toddler with redwood hair. The other, a silver elf prince walking amongst the woods.

A red light pierced the circle like an arrow connecting the two. The string of fate vibrated, combining two unknowing beings.

"TE FERE MULUEA BROKEREN SALREVIE ACRENION!"

The string went as taut as a drum. It shook, trembling under pressure, threatening to snap. It unwound. Thread by thread it grew less think and bright.

The last thread shone redder than blood. The dust circle hardened, cracking at the edges. New threads appeared from the images of Elvin and Aria. They snapped, joining at the center.

The string turned metal-gold. Hard. Rigid. Unbreakable.

The Elvin in the image halted in the forest. His hand clawed at the green tunic over his heart. The string spread from the circle, trickling into the image of the forest, and wrapped around him. Elvin tumbled to his knees, eyes wide open. He fell face flat on the ground.

At the same time, the sleeping Aria twisted in her sleep. The gold string fell into her bed and slithered around her. She screamed, tears streaming down her plump cheeks.

They became one on top of the peak of this mountain, under the midnight sky.

At different times.

One in body. One in soul.

The fire disappeared. Valyria dropped to the ground, shaking in a feverish sweat. The blood that previously covered her body had burned away by the magic. Drool dripped down her cheek as her eyes closed.

Aria? Elvin's voice beckoned in her mind.

Elvin's voice made the world melt Aria. Once again, magic devoured her and took her away.

"The girl with the redwood hair, she is..."

Waves of energy continued to ripple through the darkroom. Under the backdrop of the stone, Aria radiated like a star in the vastness of space. Every ounce of magic hidden and muffled by the seal surfaced, grasping hold of Aria's mind.

Aria's head twisted to the right. Her pupils dilated and shrunk, adjusting to the fire-lit room. Scents and noise assaulted her senses, muzzling her thoughts.

Aria's gaze trailed the length of her outstretched right arm. Her finger wrapped around the fragile throat of a gasping soldier. His brown eyes bulged open and his legs hovered and kicked over the hard floor.

"You are one of them?" Leonor said through clenched teeth from across the throne room. His lips turned down with disgust.

Leonor's voice traveled in low vibrating waves into Aria's newly pointed ears. It was a beacon — a call for all the nauseating anger that poisoned Aria's mind. Her caramel eyes burned, aflamed with bright white pupils dripping shimmering light. Her gaze narrowed on her brother.

Her tormentor.

Leonor was a plague. It spread, slow and persistently, until it consumed everything. Poisoned it with hate. He had finally won in breaking Aria down. Filled her with nothing but rotting despise for him.

Aria cracked her fingers as she willed her magic into claws of white light. She would make him reap the result of his hard work.

Lily's whimpers echoed across the room. They reverberated, pounding into Aria's ears. Each fueled the erupting pyre growing in her chest.

Her power clawed at her brain, puncturing her mind, and digging out every animalist feeling. And all she felt was Lily's pain. She saw it in her sister's eyes. Hopeplessnes. Self-hate.

That sight twisted inside Aria, turning to bitter anger. Into Hate.

Aria growled and bared her teeth. Her claws tightened around the suffocating soldier. 'Not him,' a faint remnant of Aria's mind pleaded against the deafening chants demanding death. Sharp teeth dug deep into her lips. Her hands shook. She growled loudly and she flung the unconscious soldier across the room.

With the blast of Aria's power, the red powdered mist cleared, washed away by the blast.

Elora, Elvin, Estel, and Nessa rose from their knees. Their shoulders hunched over as they coughed out fresh breaths. Heavily clean air filtered into their lungs, replacing the suffocating burning that scratched at their lungs.

Metal slid against the floor as they reclaimed their swords. They all shifted in unison, swords pointed out in defense as they encapsulated Aria.

"Aria?" Elvin called in a low and cautious tone. "You are half-fae?"

His call fell on deaf, pointed ears.

A soldier screamed and charged at her. Her eyes were glazed white like she was somewhere else. Her hand snapped up, choking the soldier. She lifted him in the air and sniffed at him. She bit her lip, angered, and threw him across the room.

Aria's gaze locked on Leonor and Lathik. Her nose flared, and a growl vibrated down her chest. All she cared about was retribution, for what they did to Lily.

"Aria?" Elvin tried again.

Elvin saw it in her eyes, felt it in his bones. All the hate, all the anger. It was maddening, like the magic of his Mahart tattoos. A primal need that demanded to be sated. Then there was the look in her caramel eyes. As bright as they shone, they were dull and full of darkness, like a soldier lusting for blood in the heat of battle.

Elvin threaded near, his chest tensed.

"Don't," Elvin pleaded, desperate to reach her. He could see, her mind was gone to whatever power shattered free.

Aria's head snapped at Elvin. She snarled and swung her clawed hands at him. Her sharp nails missed his chin by a hair and sliced across his chest, tearing his spider silk armor with ease.

Elvin stumbled back in shock as Aria growled at him, like a wild beast.

Aria, he tried calling to her in his mind through the bond that solidified when the seal broke. The moment her power broke free, he felt anchored to her. Their thoughts were one now.

Aria snarled, baring her teeth in warning. Anger twisted in her eyes. How dare he even dare try to intervene. She turned again towards the source of her hate. She advanced, claws stretched out, towards a hoard of soldiers, the only obstacle standing between her and retribution.

The line of soldiers readied their swords and formed a defensive formation. The one-eye guard that chained Aria to the floor led the defense. White light burned like fire from Aria's sharp talons. She charged, tearing at every guard that crossed her path.

Fae silver met human iron in a harmonic and bloody dance. Metal cut across flesh, no matter the type.

Blood tinted Aria's nails red. The smell of iron fueled her hate. It was the wrong blood. It was Leonor and Lathik that deserved to pay with their heads.

To the far left of Aria, Elora swung her polished sword, cutting down soldier by soldier. Her knees wavered, weakened by the red fog. Her slices were frantic and desperate as she became overwhelmed by the numbers.

Elora parried a blade to her face, but another sword plunged from her left. She kicked the soldier and turned, ready to defend. It was too late. The other soldier pushed forward, piercing her shoulder blade uncovered by her armor.

Elora tumbled to the ground to prevent the soldier from turning the sword to her neck.

"Well well well... what are the chances we would meet here again?" A voice cracked in mocking laughter. The one-eyed guard approached Elora. A twisted, wicked smile on his scarred face.

Elora froze as a chuckle ripped down her back, shaking her to her core.

She knew that laugh... It hunted her many nights.

Elora heard it loud and clear when she visited her mate's bodiless grave. When she starred at Lia as saw those features. That laugh haunted her, broke her down until all she could remember was the demoralizing fear of that night. The shame that she had not been strong enough to save her mate.

To save herself.

Elora's entire being trembled as she looked up. In anger? In feer. She didn't know what would be worse. To see him or to never get the chance to avenge her mate.

Elora's world shattered. That slash that cut through his eyes was her mate's last attempt at defending her, before the band of humans cut him down. The words turned to bitter venom in her tongue. "It's you."

The right corner of his mouth rose as he said, "I thought I got revenge for that elf costing me my sight. It looks like there will be a repeat of all those years ago." His hair cascaded, obscuring his face. He chuckled and held a jagged sword to Elora's chest.

"IT'S YOU," Elora chewed out.

He murdered her mate.

He defiled her.

He broke her.

Elora snapped her hands at each side of the jagged sword, curving the steel. The guard startled as blood poured down the edge of the blade. She yanked, uncaring as the edge sliced through her callused fingers. She jammed her boot's into his ribs. The soldier stumbled back, holding his bruised waist. Elora threw his sword across the flood, pushed against the floor, and flipped to her feet.

"I will make you pay. For my mate. For myself!" She swung her sword with a vengeance in her heart.

Aria's breaths were sharp. Blood dripped down her arms. She had been sliced, punched, and almost killed many times. Yet, her eyes never wavered from her goal. Her wounds mattered little. She barely even felt them.

Lathik chuckled madly, rejoicing in the midst of all the blood splattering across the room. He had bashed his way through many battlefields. Bathed in the crimson sprays of his enemies as held his hammer up in triumph. But in all his victories, he never obtained a price like this before. This time he would get a warrior wife to bend to his will. The blood they will spill and the kingdoms they will trump under their feet.

He rushed to his throne and seized his war harmer. A massive flat head on one side with spikes, like a meat tenderizer. The other end was pointed, perfect for plunging into skulls. He stalked near the wild Aria. Victory's call drummed in his ears.

He snuck behind her and swung the hammer into her rib cage.

Bone cracked.

Aria fell in agony to the floor. She screamed as bone pierced her insides, shifting under her magic. She cursed, it was a botched fix. Her power was running dry and the throbbing pain was getting harder to ignore. She fought the piercing jabs of broken bones and stood, claws stretched out.

A deep growl rumbled as sparks of lightning kissed the moist air.

Elvin dragged his spear against the floor. "You will regret ever laying a hand on her."

The ink on Elvin's skin turned dark magenta, gliding across his sun-kissed skin. His neck cracked as the Mahart tattoos amplified his senses and his weakened magic. His nose flared and pipuls dilated. Sparks tricked through the metal spear as it transmuted back into a sword.

Elvin wanted the bastard close, so he could make him pay.

Lathik swung his hammer. Elvin swayed right. The hammer slammed on the floor, breaking the stone and sending jagged rocks flying into the air. Elvin swung his sword and hit one of the flying rocks. It zapped across the air and plumaged into Lathik's right eyes.

Lathik screamed, clinging his ruptured left eyes. He gripped the hilt of his war hammer swung it again, this time at the floor. The stone shattered under Elvin. He lost his valance.

Lathik swung his hammer, intent on smashing Elvin's jaw.

Elvin snapped his hand up. He screamed. His hand shook as he held his hand between the hammer and his head.

"I care little for if elves live or die" — Lathik chuckled — "but I will enjoy smashing your head with my hammer. The glory. The Man Who Killed The Elf Prince. Everyone will bow before me!"

Lathik swung his hammer.

Elvin focused the last of his magic on his fist. Lighting traveled up his back and met the hammer mid-air. A blast sent Lathik and his hammer flying back. He laid on the ground. Electricity paralyzed him.

"Give yourself all the titles you want. In the end, hateful people fade away, forgotten. Even the pain they caused one-day withers away too." Elvin pointed his sword at Lathik's chest. "Today, I claim your life for harming my chosen female."

Elvin swung his sword.

A blast of light hits Elvin's left waist sending him rolling against the ground. His chest burned from explosive light.

"He is mine," Aria growled as she walked forward. She pulled one of the many daggers hidden under her clothes. Light poured out of her eyes, dripping like tears down her face and sucking like roots.

Aria stepped forward, keeping her gaze on her brother. She kneeled down, one knee on his chest forcing his form down.

"Aria don't," Elvin begged, struggling to rise from the ground.

His plead fell on deaf ear as Aria starred into Leonor's eyes. She held a knife against Lathik's heart. She watched, looking at her brother, and slowly plunged it into his heart.

Lathik struggled under her knee before going limp.

Aria rose, not lingering on Lathiks body. Her hunger for vengeance demanded more. Needed more.

Leonor took a step to run to Lily, but Aria ran in between them.

"Get away from her you beast," Leonor growled. "To think that one of those vile creatures was living under our own roof. Our father would twist in his grave. But I suppose, was he even your father? Mathias, finish them!"

Mathias reached into his cloak and pulled out another struggling pixie. His bony fingers tighten around the fairy. Its squeaks of pain bounced against the stone walls.

A dagger sliced through his chest. A prominent red-haired and bear-like figure straightened behind him. "See, I told you it would do well to make snoop around and look for weaknesses," Aaron winked.

Methia's dead body tilted forward and he fell over the balcony. The pixie twitched in his arm, trying to escape his grip.

---------.-------

The last soldiers fell around the battlefield. Only Elora remained clashing sword against a one-eyed soldier.

Elora approached, head held high in contempt, admiring the hundreds of cut the bleed from his pale skin. Each for every harrowing cry her mate had screamed in his last minutes. She lunged forward, ready to strike her sword through his head and end it all. Cast away all this hate that had consumed her. Reawaken by his face.

"Wait!" He pleaded.

Elora placed her sword in his mouth. Just one slip, and she would be free. "I have dreamed of this day forever, nothing will stop me from seeking vengeance."

"Yo--ooo husba... is alivee." His words muffled by the blade threatening to plunge into his throat.

Dread spread over Elora's skin. Her hands trembled and the swords shook in his mouth as she pulled it out. "What?

He spat blood into the ground, "Your husband, he is alive. I can take you to him, but only if I live."

Elora grasped his hair and held her blade to his throat. "Speak you damn fool!" She lost her mind. Her love was alive. "WHERE IS HE?"

Leonor looked at the losing battle and scrambled on the floor. He grasped the pixie in his hand. A female soldier pulled on his shoulder. "My lord, don't. You will be tainted."

"Whatever it takes to see my father's dream come true." Blood splattered across Leonor's face as he tightened his grip on the pixie. He chanted old words.

A dark fog slipped into his veins, traveling up his body. Death filled him. Red fog poured from his hand and spread before him.

"My king, let's go while we can. We are outnumbered and need to live to fight another day." The woman tugged at Lenors hand, dragging his shaking form through the doorless hallway next to the throne.

Estel and Nessa instantly covered their nose as they retreated. "Prince Elvin, we must go. Let's grab the girl and make or escape," Estel chanted.

"Nessa, grab Aria's sister. Estel and Aaron clear the hallways for the retreat." Elvin stood in Aria's way. "We must retreat. We can't fight through whatever that fog is."

Aria growled as Leanor's body disappeared into the mist. She ran after him.

Elvin held his arm out to stop Aria from entering the suffocating mist.

Aria larned from Estel and dropped. Her back twisted back as she slid against the floor and past his arm. She rolled to her feet and continued to run. Aria would have her vengeance.

"ARIA NO!" Elvin screamed in fear as he ran after her.

Elora turned at Elvin's cry, and he saw her rushing after Aria as she ran into the fog.

"My MATE, WHERE IS HE?" She questioned desperately.

Elvin's coughs vibrated loud as soon as he neared the fog. Aria's own desperate cries spread through the throne.

Elora looked desperately back. Nessa, Aaron, and Estel were gone already, and Aria and Elvin needed her.

But her mate? 

I know it was a long wait, but I hope it was worth it! Also that the shifting POVs were not too confusing. Let me know if you have any questions!

We are nearing the end, what are you looking forward to?