Makaela and the group of magicians made their way outside of the meeting hall. They stood beneath the shadows of the iron statues around them with their faces pointed at the forest ahead.

Fires crackling and people shouting in the distance hit her ears. Fear squeezed her heart, nearly dropping her to her knees. The Order of the Black Lotus had breached Hodvekt. But that shouldn't have been possible. Not only should it have been impossible, but it shouldn't have even been attempted.

Thorian wasn't stupid enough to attack House Brynjir at their capital.

Her eyes widened.

It wasn't stupidity. Not at all. It was desperation-the same desperation that inspired his attack on her first home. The same desperation he used to murder her parents.

Her hands shook at her sides. She balled them into fists. It was the only way to get them to stop.

Achilles stepped in front of the group with his sword tightly in his group. Despite it being designed for two hands, he held it comfortably in one. He stood tall, eyes narrowed toward the treeline ahead.

Seconds later, they arrived.

Rising from the shadows created by the pine trees were five masked Shades. Their robes blended in with the darkness behind them. The afternoon sun above glinted off their silver masks. Igor and Ulrich were among them. She didn't recognize the two masks on either side of them.

She did, however, know the identity of the Shade leading them.

He wore a jackal's face. A silver braid spilled down the shoulder of his robe. Bluish-white skin emerged from the sleeves of his uniform. Even from where she stood, Makaela could see the purple mark burning in his hand.

Thorian Tedorof. The Black Lotus.

A powerful breeze ripped through the forest. Leaves rustled in the wind and birds flocked to the mountains in the distance for safety. Dark clouds gathered above their heads, swirling and folding into each other as the Shades stalked forward. The light had been stolen, strangled by the inescapable darkness brought by the tempest forming above. Rain started to fall. The cold droplets felt like acid on Makaela's dark skin.

Her father always told her rain knew the best time to fall.

Thorian stepped forward, dropping his hood. He pushed his silver braid to his back before bringing a hand to his mask. It vanished, revealing his pale face. The veiny, black lines starting from his clavicle had spread to just beneath his jaw.

Makaela took a shaky step backward. Her blood curdled. Air quickly vanished from her lungs; her bottom lip trembled at the very sight of his ghoulish face. She felt the same way she did that night he arrived at her home all those years ago.

The dread and confusion and anger she felt resurfaced, an amalgamation of emotions rising in her chest.

No...no...not again. Please not again.

Beside her, Sebastian took her hand. He kept his eyes on his father. She could practically see the hate rolling off his shoulders.

Achilles took a few steps forward.

Thorian clasped his bony hands across his midsection. "Ah, Achilles. It's nice to see you again. It's been far too long."

"Not long enough."

The corners of his mouth twitched downward into a frown. Clicking his tongue, he began pacing in front of the dark magicians behind him. They stared ahead, unmoving like statues in the howling wind.

Makaela eyed him cautiously, her body rife with nervous tension. Around her, the others had almost formed a protective shield around her, Achilles, and Sebastian. She almost scowled at the realization.

Thorian's decision to invade Hodvekt was bold, yet brilliant. There were three Eldenarian Artifacts beyond its walls. Even an unsuccessful attack could see him claim one of them. Makaela's stomach churned. She didn't even want to think about him getting all of them.

More screams rang out in the distance. Smoke billowed into the air from the village.

People were getting hurt-possibly dying-because of her. Again. She was tired. Too many lives had been destroyed because of her and that stupid ring on her finger.

"I am a forgiving man," Thorian said after a few dreadful eons of silence. Another chorus of wind rippled through the woods at his back. It was like a song of death. "You've killed two of my knights. One of you has stolen something that belongs to me. And, quite frankly, you're starting to annoy me."

"Didn't you come here to steal, as well?" Achilles scoffed. "You always were a hypocrite."

Thorian ignored his words. "I am willing to forgive your crimes." He continued to pace about.

Remy glanced at Sebastian. "I didn't take your dad for the merciful type."

"Remy."

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

"Good call."

"But I am willing to forgive your crimes," Thorian continued. He continued pacing, his hands still folded across his stomach. His Shades stood around him, stiffer than statues.

Remy shot a look at Sebastian. "Didn't take your dad for the merciful type."

He scowled. "Shut up, Remy."

"We've committed no crimes," Achilles replied. "I'm not sure you can say the same."

Thorian swiped a hand through the air, his face flaring with anger. "Every day you betray our people by letting those ordinaires rule our world! We've been hiding from them for far too long. The Arkangels still hunt Solaires down in their cities like animals to this day. They used our weapons, they kill our people, and what do we do? We watch. We hide. All because of a few archaic laws written by cowards and weaklings."

"Watch how you speak about our ancestors, Tedorof," Achilles warned.

"The dead do not scare me."

"We'll see about that."

Thorian shook his head. "I am trying to do what is best for us. We were gods and goddesses. Protectors of this world. I can bring us back to that." He held his hands out before him. "Please, do not stand in our way."

Despair and desperation radiated from his words. He truly believed what he was saying.

But as Makaela listened to him speak, she couldn't help but wonder if he had a point.

"Give me the artifacts," Thorian ordered. "I can make us rulers again. I can prevent the war the prophecy predicts."

"Even after all these years, you've still learned nothing."

His eye twitched. Retracting his hands, his pointed chin lifted slightly.

Makaela instinctively hid the Illumio behind her back.

Sebastian surged forward. She grabbed his arm, but he easily shook her off.

"What are you doing?" she cried.

"Maybe he'll listen to me," he told her. "It'll be alright. I promise."

"Sebastian, wait-"

He passed Achilles. The boy was only separated from the Shades by a few yards of grass.

"Traitor!" one of the Shades shouted. Makaela didn't know the mask, but she knew the voice.

Amora.

Thorian motioned for her to settle down. He peered at his son curiously. "It seems as if you're finally coming to your senses." He held his palm out. "Give me the Obscurio, boy."

Sebastian stiffened. He stared down at his hand.

Makaela's eyes widened. She shook her head at him.

"You have to stop this," Sebastian pleaded. "There has to be another way."

"This is the only way." The dark magician inched closer to him. "Sebastian, give me the ring."

He held his hand away. "I can't do that."

His father stopped in his tracks. "I see."

From the top of the hill, Achilles pointed his blade at the man. "Leave now. Forget about this stupid quest. If you do, you might see tomorrow."

"If you don't hand them over, I'd think you to be the greatest fools who ever lived."

"I cannot!" Thorian roared. The words echoed around them. Color rushing to his pale skin. He took a breath to calm himself. "I-I cannot forget the prophecy. It has been burned into my memory!"

The air around Makaela crackled like lightning. The wind had stopped. She could practically feel the tension gathering around them.

As she stared at Thorian, a scary thought surfaced in her head. He truly believed he was doing the right thing. Somehow his mind had justified all the evil things he had done. He thought he was leading them to a better future. He believed he was their messiah. Their leader. Their god.

For once, she pitied him.

"Father..." Sebastian's eyes watered, his voice trembling. "You don't have to do this."

"You're wrong. I do have to do this. This is my destiny."

His son's shoulders slumped.

Thorian raised his casting hand at him. "You've chosen your side, boy. Now you must pay the price for your disloyalty."

A spell shot from his palm.

Without thinking, Makaela rushed forward. It felt like she was moving in slow motion as she desperately tried to reach him before the killing hex did. Someone shouted behind her. She could barely hear them. There was too much blood rushing in her head and her heart was thumping far too loud.

She was too far to stop it.

Sebastian's eyes widened as he froze under the glare of the hex hurtling toward him.

It would never hit, though. Achilles had moved in front of him with the speed of a cheetah. With his arm outstretched, he absorbed the crimson magic with the blade of his sword. After lowering his weapon, he furrowed his brow at Thorian.

The man flinched backward, eyes wide.

"What kind of man would murder his own son."

"He is no son of mine. Not anymore."

That seemed to shake Sebastian out of his daze. Grimacing, he threw his hands forward, unleashing a wave of shadow magic at his father. The man raised a shield charm just in time to block the brunt of the attack. Sebastian didn't let up. Sprinting forward, he launched a blasting spell at the dark magician's shield charm. It shattered into tiny pieces. With a surprised yell, Thorian's body flew backward into the trees. As he soared through the air, Sebastian took off after him.

The Shades didn't stop him. Instead, they converged on the group of magicians ahead of them, their marks pulsing with a lavender glow.

Makaela raised her hands. The Illumio on her hand glowed brightly like the sun on her finger. She felt power surge through her veins, amplifying the vitalae in her blood. She scowled at the Shades.

She was going to make them pay for this. She would make them pay for it all.

The two groups rushed toward each other, spells flying through the air like fireworks. Igor and Ulrich took on Ajax and Catherine, the pair fighting in tandem as they pelted the dark magicians with a flurry of spells.

As the remaining Washington brothers attacked the other Shades, a black wolf burst from the trees. It strutted forward, its eyes gleaming like rubies in the sunlight. Knife-like fangs protruded from its bloody maw. A crimson paw mark decorated the dark fur of its forehead.

As Makaela watched it join the Shades, her brain began stitching memories from her past together. She sucked in a breath.

Behind her, she Remy stagger backward as if he'd been stabbed. Tears brimmed in his bright eyes as he stared in horror at the Redfang.

It was the same wolf who killed his murder.

The trio of Washington brothers converged on the wolf with their vayrirs raised high.

The battle was in full flex now.

There was only one Shade left in the clearing. Amora.

The two girls approached each other slowly. They circled in the grass, their hands raised in their respective dueling stances. Makaela's blood boiled beneath her skin, her golden eyes shining with rage.

"Well, if it isn't the Light herself," Amora mused. She removed her mask. "I've been waiting for this moment."

Makaela wasn't in the mood to talk.

Shards of blinding light left her hands and hurtled toward the girl. Amora sidestepped them with ease. A snarl twisted her mouth. Blowing a strand of her hair out her face, she nodded slowly.

Curls of neon green light swirled around her fingers like snakes. She swiped out a hand, unleashing one of the coils. It whipped toward Makaela and cut through the skin of her forearm.

Makaela did her best to ignore the pain crawling up her arm. Gritting her teeth, she fashioned a glowing ball of light and sent it toward Amora. It slammed into her chest, sending her backward a few feet.

They continued exchanging attacks, taking turns defending and attacking. Colorful blasts went off around them; Makaela felt the power in the air vibrating against her skin, hotter than the sun during a hot summer's day. Out the corner of her eye, she saw Remy running from the wolf while the other magicians tried their best to take it down.

Her eyes widened.

Remy-

Amora caught her in the chin with her foot. She hit the ground, face throbbing and full of dirt. She quickly rolled to the side to avoid another strike from the girl's foot. Breathing heavily, she jumped back to her feet. Her opponent lashed out with a wild swing. Years of combat training with her uncle seized her instincts. She grabbed Amora's arm, twisted it behind her back, and threw her to the ground.

As she watched the girl hit the floor, a dark look filled her eye.

She remembered the pain Thorian inflicted on her. The memory throbbed in the back of her head, desperate to break out. Her fingers began moving the same way Thorian's did just a few days prior when he tortured her. The red magic poured from her fingertips, crawling along Amora's pale skin like the spindly legs of tarantulas in the night.

Amora squealed in agony as they wrapped around her. With her back arching painfully, she squirmed and screamed and cried.

Makaela continued to twist her fingers, manipulating the torturing hex. She stepped closer to the girl, her expression still.

She deserves this.

They all deserved it.

Another scream tore through the air. Whipping her head around, Makaela dropped her hand, ceasing the hex. Behind her, Amora gasped for oxygen, her face redder than a blooming rose.

One of the Washington brothers, Wallace, had been thrown across the sky. He hit the ground with a sickening crunch. Catherine rushed over to him immediately while Ajax continued to battle Ulrich and Igor.

Then the entire battlefield froze.

Thorian re-emerged into the fray. As he left shadows of the trees, Makaela could see him dragging something behind him. A yell ripped through her throat once she saw who it was. Angry tears welled in her eyes. Her hands shook as she stared helplessly at Sebastian's body.

Bruises and cuts marred his skin. His lip had been split open. Blood gushed from his mouth and dripped down his chin. His eyes were half-open as his head lolled to the side.

The Obscurio was gone from his hand. It now sat on Thorian's.

Makaela felt sick.

Panting, Thorian dropped Sebastian onto the grass. His brow creased, his lips pulling together in irritation. "This isn't what I wanted!" he bellowed, his voice echoing across the clearing. He faced Achilles. "All you had to do was give me the artifacts."

The old man said nothing.

"We shouldn't be fighting each other," Thorian continued. "The real enemy is out there!"

Achilles shook his head. "The only enemy here is you." He pointed his blade to the sky.

Thunder cracked overhead. A thunderbolt tore clouds in half and crashed into the metal. Charged with crackling energy, the leader of House Brynjir pointed his sword at Thorian. Lightning arced out of the blade, dousing everyone in white light.

Thorian raised his ring-clad hand. A massive shield charm surrounded him, sending the lightning back up into the stratosphere.

The two men stood across from each other, chests rising and falling as they glared at one another. No one spoke as they watched them. Makaela was in shock as if she'd been the one hit with the lightning.

Thorian's face darkened.

"You're making a grave mistake, old friend."

More thunder rumbled ahead. Lightning rippled through the dark clouds.

"No." Achilles gripped his blade with bothhands. "You are."