Note: Edited by Zia Westerman 17/4/2017

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One year later ...

Planet: Earth

Location: Slave Camp 86

After throwing the shovel down in the mud I wiped sweat from my forehead and then made my way back towards the tent I have called home for the past year. Our world is now under control of the Zutorians. I was separated from the others, my cousin James was sent to another Slave Camp as were Nathan, Brett, Mick and Lucy.

Jewels vanished and there hasn't been a single day when I have not thought about her. I miss James, I miss them all but I miss Jewels the most. It's hard to imagine what the world would be like if Morgan hadn't defeated her.

I remembered it like it was yesterday.

Jewels was so positive she would win, we all were. She stood before Morgan with no fear in her eyes, she was amazing—no, she is amazing. I still don't know what happened to her but I haven't lost hope. I believe someday she'll return, but until then I'll never stop believing that one day we'll be free.

******

One year ago ...

"Morgan, High Commander of the Zutorians," with one arm stretched out in front of her she turned around to face the Zutorians and pointed at Morgan. "I, Jewels Adamore of Everotorn, call you out to battle."

"Jewels!" her name left my lips before I could stop it. "Jewels, please," I couldn't help but beg her. "Don't do this, go!"

When she turned and looked at me, I had to cover my eyes because she was too bright.

"Jeremy, I will not allow these monsters to prevail, I will not stand by and watch yet another world be destroyed by them."

"We can't let you risk your life for us," James spoke as he helped Lucy to her feet.

Jewels did not reply to James, instead, she spun around to face Morgan. "Leave the humans alone, your war is with me not them."

"Ah, but you are wrong. My war is with everyone who will not obey me, and you—" Morgan raised his right arm, his claw stretched out and pointed to Jewels. "You will give me what I seek, you will give me the energy source within you."

"Don't do it!" Nathan tried to walk forwards but he was struck by a Zutorian. He falls to the ground unconscious. The Zutorian lifted a weapon above Nathan but Jewels quickly released a burst of energy at the Zutorian and destroys him; turning it to ash.

"You will not harm them!" she yelled and sends a bolt that looked like lightning at Morgan.

Morgan dodged her attack and laughs. "You cannot win because I have something that you love."

I looked at James and whispered, "What? Something she loves?" James shrugged.

Morgan looked directly at me, and said, "Yes, human, you are correct." I looked at Jewels, confusion clearly visible on her face. This caused Morgan to laugh again. "Jewels, if you do not give up, you will never see your Mother again."

"Mother, as the humans say, is dead!" I could only watch as Jewels's hands formed into fists, her body beginning to glow even brighter. "Do not try to trick me. I know she is forever sleeping!"

"Trick? You think I am tricking you?" A figure appeared between Morgan and Jewels. A woman, I think. "Is this not your Mother?"

The woman's mouth was moving like she was trying to say something. It was not until the woman lifted her hands that I noticed the chains around them and her feet.

"It is a trick!" Jewels screamed. I could hear the uncertainty in her voice. "It cannot be her! "

"Oh, but it is, you see—" He takes a step towards Jewels, I also take a step forward but James stops me and shakes his head. "I sent you that message, I made it seem as if she is sleeping forever. Now that was a trick."

"You lie!"

"Do you not see her? Are you that foolish?" Morgan waved his hand and the woman vanishes. "I have the power to end her for good this time, but the choice is yours. You can either give me what I seek or you will not only lose your dear Mother but also the humans. I will kill every last one of them, starting with those two."

A lump formed in my throat as his claw pointed at me and then at James. "I know you have come close to those two and I know they are your weakness."

Jewels turned around and glanced at us before returning her vision back to Morgan. "If I do as you say, will you not harm them?"

"I give you my word."

"A word of a Zutorian means nothing! You are pitiful creatures, you know nothing of loyalty, only war," someone spoke from behind a tree. I could not see him due to the light coming off Jewels. "My daughter, do not listen to him."

It's her dad, obviously.

Her dad was suddenly pushed forward by a Zutorian and he falls to his knees. I still could not see him clearly.

"Father!" Jewels cried out and attempted to pass Morgan but he grabbed her wrists and throws her to the ground. "I will destroy you if you harm him!"

"Then give me the energy source!" Morgan takes a hold of her hair and pulls Jewels to her feet. "Give me what I want!"

"No! Jewels, don't do it!" James yelled from behind me.

More Zutorians surrounded us.

"Let me go!" Jewels began to glow so brightly it caused Morgan to release her. "I will not give you the energy!" she yelled pushing herself off the ground. Her hands slammed against Morgan's scaly chest. "I will destroy you all!"

I struggled to keep up with the unfolding events. Suddenly there was a blinding light and an explosion which threw us all backwards. When the light faded and I managed to get back onto my feet Jewels was gone.

Morgan laid on the ground, motionless until a Zutorian picked him up. "Where did she go?" he asked, leaning on the Zutorian and then looked at us. "Tell me, human! Where did the energy source go?"

"We don't know," Lucy replied struggling to her feet. "Where did she go?"

I looked at James and then at Brett and Mick, who all shrugged. Nathan was starting to stir on the floor. That's when I noticed her dad was gone as well.

"Until she is returned to me, this world is mine." As those words left his mouth, a tear fell from my right eye.

"She can't be gone," I mumbled, mostly to myself.

"I'm sorry, Jeremy," Brett said and placed a hand on my shoulder.

At that very moment it felt like someone had stabbed me in my heart. It felt like my heart had been shattered.

******

Current time ...

Planet: Earth

Location: Slave Camp 86

It doesn't matter how many times that scene played over and over in my head, I'll never forget the pain. When days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months and Jewels still didn't return, the pain became unbearable but I swore I'd never give up.

I am going to free my people, I am going to fight against the Zutorians and find Jewels.

This is where it begins.

The war.

***

A/N: It's finally finished! If you're reading this, then I'd like to thank you for continuing this journey with me.

Book Two (It Started with the War) is already out, but won't be started until this one is fully Edited.

In the meantime, feel free to check out some of my other work. Such as these two below.

(See comment for the links, or visit my profile.)

Thank you all so much for reading!