Rheynoak didn't sleep at all that night.

With Onyx still unconscious and nearly dead, his attention has been focused on nothing but reviving her back to life. Sleep seemed to be a dream that only existed in a paradise he wished to be in.

For now, it was nothing but darkness and the consuming guilt eating him alive. He knew what he was doing, that Onyx's sickness was a consequence for what he was not supposed to do.

He should have told her the truth and undo what he had done. He should have opened up his heart, got down on his knees, and beg her for forgiveness.

But jealousy, ignorance, and pure pride seized his soul and pushed him back down to the position he was stuck in.

Sighing, Rheynoak poured himself another glass of Trojan wine into the small, glass decorative cup that sat beside him on a crafted table in Onyx's hut. The bottle was nearly done, the sweet yet sour wine the only thing keeping his hazel eyes from closing once again. His other hand was intertwined with his lover's her limp fingers pale against his tan skin.

Picking the cup up, the tribe leader raised the drink to his lips and took a long drink, squeezing her hand gently. Nothing happened, just the whispers fo her hair tickling her cheeks.

Hard liquor poured down his throat, quenching his thirst, his eyes never leaving Onyx's still body. The black medicine had not worked it seemed. Though it seemed hopeful only hours ago, it was nothing but a dwindling thought in the back of his mind.

Pouring himself a second glass, Rheynoak didn't give his attention to the door when a knock sounded before it creaked open. Black boots stepped into the tiny room, followed by piercing ruby ringed eyes and a smirk that could stretch for miles. "Not much of a living space I see?" the voice said, pulling the tribe leader out of his murky thoughts.

Immediately, a frown pulled on his lips, hazel eyes never breaking away from Onyx. "Get out Draco" the leader hissed, raising a skeptical brow at the unsuspected visitor. Draco only smiled, sitting at the edge of her bed. "I just got here, Rhey. Besides, I wanted to see how Onyx was doing. I see she still hasn't awoken yet."

"I don't understand. I didn't think the rubies would cause this much trouble" the tribe leader expressed, shaking his head. "Yes, a couple incidents here and there would be expected but nearing her deathbed was unexpected." The emperor rolled his eyes, cursing underneath his breath.

"For someone so old who has been reincarnated so many times, you are still an idiot, Rheynoak" the emperor hissed, clasping his fingers together. "You knew what was going to happen if you switched the jewels and you still did it. You replaced the ruby in Alesandria's dagger with the ruby from Onyx's sword. That ruby contained the last blood from Onyx's family bloodline and by switching it, you just caused Alesandria to not only stab herself with an impure ruby but inject herself with that very blood."

The emperor's eyes burned with nothing but the truth, showing no remorse as he rolled his eyes once more, cursing in foreign letters underneath his breath. "I had no choice, Draco! We both know that Onyx is a very desired creature!" the tribe leader hissed, slamming down the glass cup. "Other tribes were searching for her, to use her blood for nothing but pure evil. I did what I had to do to protect her!

"And how did that turn out?" he retorted back, casting another gaze over to the unconscious Mind Siphon. The silk from her dress clung to her skin from sweat and blood, the heritage tattoo on her shoulder glowing with faint gold in the morning sunlight that spilled through the tiny window. "Look at her, just a poor, lost Siphon who's trying to find her way through the world the best way she can. So much blood has tainted her hands, her heart has beared so many disasters and her soul is weakening and yet you have the right to sit there, in that chair like a mighty king and spill foul words to tell me that you lied to her, cheated your way into her heart, hid her away from the truth all for her protection?!"

A sarcastic, mocking scoff escaped the emperor's lips, each word he spoke sharpening itself into a tiny dagger that stabbed through the leader's heart. "I pity you Rheynoak, I truly do. Not just for the idiotic, stupid, reckless decisions you make or the rotten fruit that is your personality. But for how blind and gullible you are. You say you were protecting her from the enemies yet you have become one yourself without even realizing it."

"I don't have to take this crap from you!" Rheynoak screamed with the voice of a thousand claps of thunder. For the first time, he let go of Onyx's hand, his face red and his fingers curling with anger as he rose from his seat and stood in front of the emperor, a mighty warrior in the presence. "Your pathetic mouth can't tell the difference of when to shut up or when to speak. I went through all of this for Onyx. I endangered everyone's life, including her own, during the oath all for her. I would rather have people mistaken Alesandria to be the true queen and kill her than have a greedy king lay one finger of my mate."

This time, Draco rose up with no hesitation, towering over Rheynoak just by a few inches. "She's not your mate and we both know it. You can not claim her, confine her, depower her all just for the sake of her protection. The more you do that, the worst the situation will turn out."

"You don't think I fucking know that?!" the tribe leader pressed, jabbing a finger at the thick material of Draco's shirt. "You don't think I know that with each passing second, with each agonizing lie that escapes my mouth, and with each kiss I lay upon her lips that I am spiraling her to her death? Of course, I do! I know that I will be the reason she will never wake up! And I want to fix it, I truly do!"

"So why don't you?!" the emperor roared, grabbing the tribe leader by the collar of his shirt. He pulled him close, tightening his grip on the black material. "Why don't you fix it?"

Rheynoak couldn't stop the words that spilled out of his mouth in the next few moments, feeling the last bit of sanity and anger flow through his blood and steam out of his ears. "Because I'll lose her if I do!"

This time the room was silent, nothing but ragged breaths and the silence of the early morning surrounding them. Thundering heartbeats pounded against ribcages, the hatred in both of their eyes melting to what seemed like understanding, a true understanding of what they both felt over the unconscious Mind Siphon.

"I know what I am doing is wrong" Rheynoak sighed, pushing his nemesis' hands off of him. Draco let go without hesitation, watching as the frustrated and flustered tribe leader tracked his fingers through his thick hair, pulling at the ends. "I know that I'm killing her and I am a piece of shit but at the end of the day, I love her."

His words broke at the last three words, his hazel eyes turning to the Siphon. "I love her so much and I am doing what I can to keep her with me a little longer. There is nothing I wouldn't do for her."

Dracon pondered on his nemesis's words, seeing the first hint of true emotion surface on those hazel eyes he had learned to hate over a hundred years ago. And he still hated them, how they deceived everyone around him, blinding them to the truth.

But even he couldn't deny the little remorse that stabbed him in the heart. "If you love her Rheynoak, then you know that doing this won't solve anything. It will only make matters worse when she finds out the truth."

"And I will cross that bridge when it comes" the tribe leader pressed on, still scowling at him. "But whatever you do, promise me that you won't tell her, Draco. Do this one thing for me and then we can go back to hating each other."

"Oh please, I still hate you. I despise you" the emperor retorted back with a disgusted expression on his face. "You make me sick to my stomach with each passing day." He shrugged, pulling the black cloak on his shoulders closer to him so that it would cover his shirt.

Rheynoak rolled his eyes, expecting Draco to simply scowl at him and walk out right there. Instead, the emperor casted his gaze over to Onyx once more, eyeing her with such curiosity and sorrow, it was practically written on his face.

"However, it is not my story to tell, only yours. Soleyerian is coming soon and the truth will be revealed one way or another."

Onyx was drowning, suffocating in the darkness that intertwined around her like a chilly blanket. A slab of a shiver rushed up to her spine, down her to her legs and froze her in her place. Nothing but whispers surrounded her, ancient and new, taunting her for what seemed like centuries.

The darkness surrounded like shadows, her spirit trapped in the deepest, darkest depths of her mind she had not bothered to even wander in. With the many secrets she kept and the broken soul she carried, this was the one spot in her subconscious that seemed to be free of everything.

Everything except herself. For she knew she had not died that one fateful night. Simply fallen into what seemed like a unwakeable coma. She could feel everything, hear everything from Venix's sobs to Rheynoak's kind words.

She heard things she was supposed to hear and things that seemed like it wasn't for her ears. Yet every time she opened her mouth to speak, her words became whispers and her breathing became nothing but empty sighs.

"Hello, please! Can anyone hear me? I don't belong here!" Onyx called out into the inflammable darkness, hearing nothing but echoing whispers and secrets in between. Her pleas seemed to go unanswered, simply disappearing into the darkness with no reply.

Still, the Siphon didn't give up, wrapping her arms around her shoulders and uttering vile words before pleading again, "Please, let me out! I don't belong here! I have a life ahead of me, truths to be discovered, destinies to be uncovered! Please, I'll do anything!

As if a magical barrier had been broken or she had uttered some magical words, a ray of brilliant light seemed to brighten up the darkness of her subconscious. The rays seemed to appear from nowhere, cascading down from what seemed like paradise or the other side but was too bright to tell.

A familiar, ghostly figure appeared, a woman of beauty and grace with long dark hair that curled around her waist that kissed the curves of her hips and waist. Her golden ember eyes were warm, ringed with the slightest hint of emerald and a smile played on her lips. She wore a beautiful silk gown that complemented her caramel-honey complexion, the crown sitting on her made of crystal, rubies, and diamonds that seemed to make her already beautiful face seem more regal, more royal.

"It's you again" Onyx hissed at her, rolling her eyes. "This is not the time to be mumbling some nonsense to me. I need to find my way out of my own mind. It's a damn prison!" The woman gently smiled again, her pointed ears twitching. Her elegant black wings seemed to flutter too, the dark tattoos tainting her skin glowing with a heavenly aura.

"Nice to see you too, Onyx dear" she whispered to him, raising her brows. "A far as I can see, you are in the right place. This is where you belong after all, in the deepest parts of your mind where no one can reach you. Surrounded by the silence you have craved for the past seventeen years of your life. Isn't that right?"

The Siphon could only gape at the woman that stood floating in front of her with nothing but a shocked expression written on her face. She had no words to say, only spying the little gleam of mischief that tinkled in her ember eyes. "How long have you been lurking in my mind?" she asked, raising her brows.

"Don't flatter yourself, Onyx" the woman replied back, floating around her in circles. I travel through the other side and your mind as often as I can but the window of opportunity is growing slim" she explained, tapping her fingers against the delicate bangles around her wrist."Yet I can't stop myself from coming back here. Something about this place, the very end of your subconscious seems to fascinate me."

"Why?" the Mind Siphon asked, watching her in dizzying spins. "You have a thousand other people to bother. Why choose me?"

Again, the queen laughed, a warm sound that seemed almost as bright as the rays that descended her down here. Her smile showed rows of pearly whites, a smile fit for a queen. "As far as I can see, this is the most interesting part of you I have ever explored. So many layers of pain and heartbreak and utter disappointment. So many layers of doubting yourself and putting yourself through mission after mission and this is the one spot in your mind that seems completely empty."

A harsh laugh escaped her lips. "It surprises me, to say the least. I would expect someone of your many scars and bloody hands would have miles and miles of stories, memories to tell."

Again, Onyx listened in utter silence, absolutely stunned and wowed by the truthful words the queen uttered. It was as if she had traveled through her life beside her, witnessed every pain she went through, every tear she shed, and every blood she spilled. It was as if the woman had nurtured her herself before letting her go into the free world.

And that thought alone sent another chill down her spine. Wetting her lips, the Siphon managed to ask, "Am I dead? Like truly dead?" An intrigued hum escaped the woman's lips, her bright smile twisting into a furious scowl. "No, simply fallen into a coma that I have the rights to release you from."

"So release me!"

"It's not that simple, Onyx. If I could, I would wave a wand and you would be restored back into the real world in a heartbeat. But death is complicated and you are bordering right in the middle of life and death. If you truly want to be restored back to a life among the living, you have to first recognize that you have a purpose, a destiny and that the truth is only a few inches away from your face."

"Can't I say I accept it and you release me from this hell, please?" the Siphon begged, rubbing her hands up and down her arms that were tainted with goosebumps. "No" the queen answered straightforward, shrugging her shoulders. "If it was that simple, half of the bad souls balancing in between the life and death line would be wandering around Asxairo. You are still somewhat alive because I chose for you to be. Now, if you want to die, tell me and I can make that happen. It's a hell lot faster. I'll come up with something, suck the magic out of you and give it to someone else while you rot in a grave."

Just thinking of her death, of her own body being carried out by a casket and laid into the ground before being buried by mountains of dirt made Onyx shiver and curse once more. She eyed the smug queen with a cold stare, wondering if she truly chose death if anyone would shed a tear for her. If anyone would say kind words.

The gods know she didn't deserve either.

"I can tell you want to live, Onyx," the queen said, floating down further until she was face to face with her. The smell of lilacs and lavender mixed with the airy scent of vanilla drifted towards her, mint breaths hitting her face. "And I can tell you are as curious about your destiny as anyone else should be. I can't convince you to fulfill it but I can convince you to accept it."

Holding on to those kind words, the queen reached out for Onyx hand's, wrapping her hands around the Siphon's cold and clammy hands. Her touch was warm, her fingers slimly fitting into the Siphon's grip. "You are destined for great things, Onyx. Things that even the gods can't imagine. You do not know yet the impact you will have on Asxairo once you uncover who you truly are."

"But I thought I was in my full-fledged form. I underwent the Catalyst Oath not too long ago and became a demi-hybrid" the Mind Siphon explained, squeezing her hand with a death-defying grip. "I do not know what powers I possess now but they are killing me."

"It is not your powers that are killing you but an impure object tainting your life" the queen explained, her embers eyes seething with the rage of a fire. "Find and destroy it. You may be a demi-hybrid but you are far, far away from fully unlocking your potential. There are others around you that you should be careful of, people you shouldn't trust. Some want to see you rise while others want nothing but your downfall. Invisible enemies are keeping watchful eyes on you. Whether you decided to fulfill your destiny or not, you should keep a watchful eye on them too. Do you understand?"

No, she didn't. Staring right into the queen's eyes, Onyx's mind was far away from understanding any word that was uttered to her. Questions flooded her mind, nothing but questions that seemed grow louder and louder, ringing and echoing off the walls of her mind with each passing second. Questions she wanted answers to.

But knowing there was no time, the Mind Siphon simply nodded her head and agreed. "I understand."

The queen smiled once again, squeezing her hand with all her might. "I know you have many questions you want to ask me. I can practically see them written on your face" she said, laughing in between the words she uttered. "But all of them will be answered in due time. Trust me on that."

"I'm not big on trust" Onyx informed her, letting her eyes fall to the ground. Again, she could hear the harmonious laughter of the woman that held her hands, her gold eyes shining with humor. "You don't have much of a choice here, darling."

Despite her crappy mood, the Mind Siphon mustered a smile back, squeezing her hand back. The queen smiled, taking a deep breath. Her cheeks were flushed pink and her ruges glowed with a strange milky heavenly tone. She looked back in time to see the rays that had descended her into this empty abyss piercing through the penetrable darkness, calling out to her.

They burned bright, practically summoning her name to come back. "I have to go. My time is limited and I can't stay for long" she informed, turning her focus back the Siphon. "And will I be reincarnated back to life?" Onyx asked, raising her brows.

The queen nodded, a lock of dark curls falling across her emerald-ringed eyes. "Yes, you will. I will make sure of that. I will work on my time management but in the meantime, remember to find and embrace who you truly are. You might just surprise yourself" she replied back.

Their fingers untangled and broke apart from each other as the queen floated away to let the rays embrace and engulf her. A smile lit her pretty face, her slim fingers curling through her dark tresses of hair.

Even her wings fluttered in happiness as the bright rays engulfed their midnight hue, her fingers disappearing among the light. A dizziness came over Onyx as she stared at the beautiful queen slowly being engulfed by the rays. Everything was beginning to slowly spin and blur into colors, her eyelids suddenly becoming too heavy for her to keep them awake.

Her body was slowly becoming weaker and tired, collapsing to the ground as her knees cracked under pressure. Everything within the Siphon's body seemed to be in a rush process, her blood boiling underneath her skin as a pain bit into her bones and exploded through her body.

A scream escaped her lips, her arms encircling around her waist as she felt the shortness of breath escape her lungs. Every bit of life within her seemed to be draining, her strength dwindling to nothing. Yet as the queen disappeared she managed to push out one more question through the pain and confusion she was thrown into. The one question that has been nibbling in the back of her mind since their first encounter.

"Who are you?" Onyx managed to push through her lips. "And why do you keep coming back to me?"

"You will know all when the time is right" the queen simply replied, her figure already gone and the sound of her voice echoing through the empty space. "But you know, you and I would have had many happy days together. Nothing but happy days."

"Happy days?" Onyx simply questioned, raising her brows. But she had no time to say more as a thunderous sound fo what sounded like lightning crackled in her ear and sent her body, mind, and soul spiraling into oblivion.

An unbearable pain spread through her body, another scream tearing from her lips as her nails sunk into her scalp, trickles of blood oozing out. She kept screaming even as her body slowly but surely gave out, her blood chilling within her body and veins stiffening. She kept screaming even when the thunderous sound of her heartbeat pounded in her ear and her eyes blurred with tears.

The Siphon did nothing but scream until a blinding light cut her off and pulled her out the darkness that was her never-ending mind. 

A/N: And that is the end of Chapter Eight!

This was a hella long chapter and I had to do so much rewriting and editing. My fingers feel like they are about ready to fall off and never touch another keyboard. But knowing myself, they won't get the break they deserve.

Nope! Too much work to accomplish!

So, tell me what you thought of this chapter. Anything to say about Rheynoak or Draco. About Onyx? And who do you think that mysterious lady was? Any conspiracies. I'll be happy to read any of your comments!

I LOVE ME SOME CONSPIRACIES!

So tell me what you guys thought of this chapter between Lucien and Venix. Any specific scenes you liked! Any conspiracies? I would love to hear them!

Tell me what you think about this chapter guys!

Thank you guys for all your constant support. It means so much to me that you enjoy this book. I enjoy writing it and to hear your feedback always makes my day!

So tell me what your thoughts are on this chapter and don't forget to comment down below and vote if you liked it.

Until next time Lovelies!

With love, May