Listen to the song above when you are reading the chapter! It's soo good!

The celebration went through the night, midnight closing in on the night sky. Stars dazzled in the sky, little embers of flickering flames dancing their way up. The sound of the ocean crashing on the shore blended in with the sound of the beating drums echoing through the night.

Even the sounds of the desert animals drowned with the voices of laughter, roaring, and crying. The whole tribal ground was lit with hues of orange and yellow with hints of moonlight streaming from above, a heavenly sight for hellish ground.

Onyx felt herself shrink into the crowd as she watched the members dance, unable to feel and comprehend the happiness and carefreeness they were feeling. Even her own friends were somewhere lost in the crowd, probably happier than she was.

She has not been able to look Rheynoak in the eyes for fear that Draco would be right next to him and that she would get lost once again. Or maybe the other tribe leaders would persuade the truth out of her lips.

It hurt, knowing that she couldn't love Rheynoak the same way he loved her even though she tried to love him in that way. But as much as her body was in tune with his, her heart wasn't. And if there is anything she had learned about herself, it is that her heart was always right.

Most of the times.

Frowning, she wallowed in misery until the dance was over and applause exploded through the crowd. She forced herself to clap along, a fake smile mustering her lips. "That was beautiful!" Rheynoak said as the tribe members settled down, taking a seat around the fire.

"Thank you all for making this a glorious celebration. I was never a fan of Solyerian given my past encounters with the celebration" he said, his eyes scowering over the crowd until he found her. Their eyes met and the Siphon could feel every muscle in her body freeze, her breath caught in her throat. "But thanks to you all, it has been a wonderful experience that I wouldn't mind repeating."

Another round of applause went around. Rheynoak sat down just as tribe leader Irene Amashnov got up, her long hair swaying past her hips. "I couldn't have said it better myself," she said, her voice light and sweet. "It has been a pleasure being worshipped by all of you. However, the tribe leaders and I have been discussing an important topic we would like to address."

The whole tribe fell silent, Rheynoak casting a gaze over to her. "I wasn't aware," he said, casting another gaze over to Lucien who shrugged his shoulders. He even acknowledged Draco who was sitting by him but even the emperor was unaware of this as well.

"It wasn't something you should have been aware of," she said with a smile. "So if I may, can I proceed forward?" she asked even though her tone suggested it wasn't really a question but rather a warning. Rheynoak opened his mouth, seemingly to protest but nodded after a few seconds.

"We are aware that this tribe hosts some of the rarest, most spectacular beings in all of Asxairo and I speak for all of us when I say some of us are a little envious," she said, humor lacing her voice. Light laughter fluttered around the tribe as she continued to speak. "But we couldn't help but overhear rumors and notice three individuals who seem to be some sort of miracle."

She looked at the crowd and smiled. "Alesandria, Onyx, Venix. Can you three please come up here?" As soon as their names fell out of her lips, Rheynoak tensed. He got up from his chair and gave a very crossed look to the tribe leader. "What are your intentions Irene?" he questioned, grabbing a hold of her wrist.

She smiled but pulled back her hand, her bracelets clicking together. "Don't question me Rheynoak. Sit down and watch." Her tone was icy and cold, enough to make the tribe leader growl. "Don't do this, Irene" he pleaded in a gritty voice. "You are stepping into dangerous territory."

"We have known about the secrets you have been keeping for a long time Rheynoak," she said, raising her brows. "You have managed to even keep the mouth of your right-hand man shut while you sleep with one of them for your pleasure" she insulted, frowning. "We may be tribe leaders but we are also each other's own enemy."

She took one step closer to him, pointing a finger at his chest. "Everything is always revealed during Solyerian. And tonight is that time."

And with that, she pushed him into his chair and turned back around.

Onyx could feel all eyes on her as she rose up from her spot on the ground and took several steps forward. She wrapped her arms around herself, keeping her head down. Soon enough, Venix and Alesandria joined her on each side, each of them looking just as confused as the other.

"Onyx, Alesandria, Venix. Are you three aware of how special you are?" the tribe leader asked her. All three girls nodded, trading looks. Irene smiled, taking a step forward. "Onyx and Venix, how long have you been a member of this tribe?"

Both friends looked at each other. "We both came here when we were ten" Venix replied, running her fingers through her hair.

"And do you two know anything about your past? Your parents maybe?" Both women shook their heads, exchanging another frightened look. Irene smiled at them before moving her attention to Alesandria.

"And Alesandria, we have heard so many things about you" she cooed, resting a hand on her shoulder. "How does it feel to not only be one of the two remaining Mind Siphons alive but to descend from such a great dynasty?"

The question was rather odd, raising many brows but Alesandria answered without a hint of speculation. "It still feels odd knowing that I am a part of such a rare dynasty. It has been difficult adjusting to my powers but overall, it's been a great progress."

A chuckle fell upon the fellow tribe leaders followed by a grin by Irene. "Then this is the perfect time to shine some light on this rather complicated situation," she said. She passed a look to Rheynoak who looked less than happy. "This man over here who has trained you to be the beings you are today has been manipulating the truth about you three for years now."

A dread set into the atmosphere, Rheynoak emerging from his seat with anger. Lucien got up after him, capturing his arm. "Let go of me, you utter fool!" the tribe leader cursed at his right-hand man. "She has no right to tell my business!"

"It was going to come up sooner or later Rheynoak! You can't keep hiding it forever!" Lucien replied back, stopping him with both arms. He held him back even as he fought, pinning him to his chest and trapping his legs between his. Irene paid no attention, simply waving a hand at him.

"This man has lied to all of you on multiple occasions. He has broken you down." She passed a look to Venix.

"Taken you from your homes for his personal advantage." She looked on to Alesandria.

"And taken advantage of you personally, body and soul." Her eyes landed on Onyx.

"And for years we have protected him under our watchful wings. But seeing how he has plans to expand his manipulation and shield you completely from the outside world with no intentions to reveal the truth, I see no point in protecting him any longer."

As soon as she finished her sentence, tribe leader Heather Falyik got up from her chair. Her face was illuminated by the golden flames of the bonfire as she stepped up to Alesandria, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Excuse me, ladies," she said, politely pushing Onyx and Venix out of the way.

The magical beings stepped back, watching with fearful eyes as the tribe leader braced her hands on her shoulders. With a harsh pull, she managed to tear off the fabric covering her shoulders. Alesandria gasped as cold wind hit her bare skin, her fingers desperately trying to grab the fallen pieces of her dress.

Before she knew it, Heather had forced her down on her knees, shredding her dress further down until her whole back was exposed. Besides the everchanging Siphon heritage mark that was on her shoulder, thin red lines ran down her back. They were sore and fresh and blistered, almost as if a witch's nails had clawed her skin.

Alesandria shook and cried from the ground. Her kind demeanor was let down, instead replaced with a sorrow-stricken, tear-streaked face. Onyx and Venix reached out to her, but Irene held them back, her fiery eyes a daring warning.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she asked. "I have done nothing wrong!"

"It is not you, my dear" Heather said, casting a sympathizing gaze her way. "But it is the lies that your tribe leader has been polluting us with!" She turned to him, pointing down at the shivering girl.

"Is this what you call the true queen of Crojesian? The heir to one of the most powerful Siphons and hybrids of all time?" Heather questioned Rheynoak, looking over at him. "She is the true heir! You were not there that day of The Catalyst Oath and you have no right to question me!"

"We do have a right to question you!" Heather hissed. "You have been misleading and manipulating us for months. Spreading and littering lies into our ears when it was you that we had to keep an eye on this entire time! You have disappointed and let us down!"

"You knew about Alesandria's existence before I did!" Rheynoak protested, still fighting from Lucien's grip.

"Yes we did but it was you who lied about her true identity as the heir to Eshara and Arie's dynasty. She is not and you know it" Heather shot back. "As a matter of fact, to prove your lies we request for the weapon used in the Catalyst Oath."

Rheynoak froze in Lucien's arms, growling at the two tribe leaders. "Why?" he simply asked. It was a question that wasn't exactly straightforward. His tone was uneven, tired as he passed glances at the tribe leaders that were sitting in front of him. Leaders he had invited into his grounds, his dwellings. Leaders he had dined with, drank wine with, laughed together with.

Leaders he thought he could trust. But they were all manipulative, cold-blooded, traitors.

Much like himself. Much like his father.

"It is not a matter of why, Rheynoak," Irene said, holding out her hand. "We trusted you, we believed you and you went behind our backs and lied. Now, you will suffer the consequences." Her once welcoming eyes were now cold and dark, lingering with no mercy. Her stare seemed to settle not well with Rheynoak as he strained and growled.

Compulsively, he reached inside the long trench coat he wore and took out the ruby knife that Alesandria used. The gigantic ruby in the middle twinkled brightly as it was handed over to Irene. She hummed as she turned the dagger around in her hand, letting the sharp tip tickle her skin.

Wordlessly, she passed it over to Heather who also examined it carefully. A curse fell from her lips before she approached Alesandria. She grabbed the poor, shaking girl by her hair, fisting her dark locks in a tight grip. "Please, just let me go!" she begged as she was dragged and thrown in front of the presence of the other tribe leaders.

Her fists hit the sand, a cough escaping her lips before her hair was pulled back once again. "We can't do that sweetie" Heather purred as she dragged the tip of the blade around her throat. Alesandria shivered and choked as the tears flowed down her face. "Not until we prove to everyone that Rheynoak Casvionel is the traitor we've come to believe he is."

"Please" Alesandria pleaded once more. "Have mercy on me."

"There is no mercy left in my soul." Without any warning, Heather plunged the dagger into her shoulder where the Siphon marks were traced on her skin. They burned bright red and stung, illuminating her skin. She let out a shriek, wrapping her arms around her shoulder to pry the weapon out of her wounded shoulder.

But her screams were amplified. They were louder, stronger. As if someone was burning her alive.

"Onyx!" Venix piercing screams were all it took for everyone to draw their attention away from Alesandria and towards Onyx's crumbling figure. She was collapsed on the floor, bleeding from her shoulder and mouth. Blood was soaked through her abdomen, staining the dress she wore. Blood tainted her trembling fingers, her hair covering her paling skin.

The Bloodbone rushed over to her friend, trying to calm down her screams but it was too overpowering. The Siphon's screams were straight from hell, blood pouring from any wound that was on her body. Alesandria's screams blended with hers in harmony, blood dripping down her scarred back.

Rheynoak was finally able to break free from Lucien's grasp, rushing over to their side. He comforted Onyx first, pulling her into his arms but even she fought him. She pushed him off with incredible force, stronger than her usual powers. Gold magic illuminated on her right arm, far different from the blue Siphon magic that usually illuminated her skin.

Her eyes fluttered open for a second amid the screams, revealing ever-changing eyes of amber and gold, the emerald green core shining brightly. The tribe members watched with anticipation and shock, too scared and bound by fear to speak up.

"Make it stop, Rheynoak! Make it stop!" Onyx pleaded, digging her fingers deep into her hair. She screamed loudly once again, collapsing beside Alesandria. Furious, the tribe leader turned over to Heather and Irene, scowling at the soulless tribe leaders. "Stop it! Have you no soul? You have no right to torture either one of them. They are my people, my beings that you are hurting!"

His tone was deep and warning, his angry hazel eyes flickering to both of them. "Stop it before I bleed both of you to death!"

Irene and Heather both laughed in his face. "You truly have no idea how pathetic and stupid you sound right now do you dear Rheynoak?" Irene questioned raising her brows. "You brought this upon yourself. You kept this secret. This was your decision. You can not chain or bind these creatures to the earth. They are much more than that. Much more than you and me and all the tribes combined. They contain power, immortality, destinies that you are ridding them from. Yes, they are wanted beings. Yes, they will become a target. But they deserve to know who and what they truly are and they will never get that answer if they stay bound to become slaves in this poor little-gated ground you call a desert tribe."

"It is my secret. I get to choose when to reveal them!"

"Not on Solyerian you don't!" Irene barked back. "Because all secrets are revealed under the Solyerian stars and this torture will not end until you tell them the truth. All of them! And I don't care how much you stutter on your words. We will bleed them dry until what has to be said is said!"

"You have no right!"

Done with talking, Irene simply took a breath and signaled Heather with a look. The tribe leader nodded and grasped the end of the dagger embedded into Alesandria's shoulder. She dug the weapon deeper into her skin, pulling and tugging until it cut through delicate flesh and bled out more impure blood from the being's soul.

In return, Onyx screamed louder as more blood poured from her shoulders, the pain too electrifying for her to even comprehend the words she was trying to say. "P-Please make it stop!" Alesandria begged, trying so desperately to get rid of Heather's grip. The tribe leader only dug the blade harder into her skin, intensifying both of their screams.

Not able to handle the sight of his lover and his priced treasure both being tortured in front of him, the tribe leader exploded. In a blink of an eye, he rushed over to Alesandria's side and plunged the blade out of her shoulder and from Heather's grasp before turning around and plunging the dagger into Onyx's shoulder.

While Alesandria's screams faded, the Mind Siphon screamed in pain as the ruby embedded in the dagger illuminated, sinking deeper into her skin as it bonded and came in contact with her blood. Recognizing its true heir and bloodline to the dynasty, the ruby illuminated brighter, soothing the Siphon's pain.

Slowly, her screams of pain died out and were replaced with wounded moans, her arms wrapped around her stomach tightly.

Lucien rushed over to help Alesandria up from her squatted position, holding her bleeding and sobbing figure close to his chest as he watched his friend face his greatest fear. Eyes watched and breaths were held as Venix slowly helped Onyx up, seeing the tears of pain run down her friend's face.

"Tell me Rheynoak!" the Mind Siphon pleaded through her teary eyes, not minding the fact that he was still holding on to the dagger embedded in her shoulder. "What have you been hiding from me!" The pain and betrayal in her voice were present and cracked, her words slurred in between her sobs.

Rheynoak, not knowing what to say, let a single tear fall from his eyes and down his face. A hitched breath escaped his lips, his hands reaching out to cup her face even as she shrunk back from his touch. "Onyx, I never meant to hurt you" he whispered to her as he held on to her arm with his other hand. "I never meant to keep this from you."

"You've kept a lot of things from me Rheynoak and yet I still chose to be with you to defy all odds" she shot back, shaking her head. "Whatever you have to tell me now won't shake my world."

"I can't promise you that" he whispered.

"Just tell me."

Taking a deep breath, his gently let go of her arm and looked into those eyes he fell in love with in the first place. Those same eyes that used to hate him so much. The same ones he had missed seeing in the morning. When the sun rays would peek through the curtains and illuminate the color of her eyes.

Those same eyes that promised nothing but death and victory with no mercy or soul. Those same hellish eyes she had inherited from possibly one of the greatest kingdoms and royal families of all time.

Those eyes of destruction.

"I knew what happened to your parents," he said, each word wounding his heart. "I always knew. They did not abandon you by the Gwanchu lake. They were murdered there. They loved you so much that they risked their lives just so that you could live."

"So all those night trips I made, risking my life, murdering people I thought were involved with my parent's disappearance and stressing and crying for hours for not being able to decipher whatever codes in those hellish books I stole from kingdoms were all for nothing? My time, my energy, my sleep wasted was all for nothing?!"

Rheynoak fumbled over his words, not being able to look into her eyes any longer. He blinked and looked down, clearing his throat. "I wanted to wait for the right time to tell you Onyx. I wanted to make sure you were ready and prepared before I told you everything."

"You had no right to determine that fate for me!" the Siphon scowled through locked teeth. "It's my past, my family, my future, my identity we are talking about here! That decision was not up to you!" Rheynoak opened his mouth to protest but Onyx shut him down with a hard stare.

Her tone was no longer pleasant. "Tell me the truth Rheynoak. If you really love me and care about my well being, you will tell me the truth." She paused in her words, digging her nails into her palm. "No matter where it will lead us."

No matter how much he tried to twist his words around so that he could still keep her by his side, even the tribe leader knew that this was the end of their story. He brought this upon himself. He took advantage of her from the moment he knew of her existence. He kept all her secrets and fell in love with her against all odds.

And now he would have to go against every muscle and bone in his body and reveal the truth no matter how much it would destroy everything.

"I lied," he said, his voice cracking with his words. "Your parents never abandoned you. They loved you more than anything in the world. They wanted to protect you because you were a part of their legacy and they risked their lives just to keep you safe. They were murdered in the war near the Gwanchu lake located in the Crojesian kingdom. But they weren't just any normal beings, Onyx. They were Queen Eshara Aneymi Kaslibieth and King Aries Talgran."

He stopped taking another breath before whispering, "They were the rulers of Crojesian, one of the most powerful immortal kingdoms in the Inner Circle and the home to Mind Siphons. And they had a daughter, a powerful demi-hybrid that was presumed dead because her body was never found after the war."

Onyx continued to let the tears roll down her cheek, her eyes blinking as she finally pieced together the last missing pieces of her life. Her unknown past. Her mysterious parents. The fact that she is one of the last Mind Siphons left in all of Asxairo.

It all made sense.

Without thinking, she slapped Rheynoak, a choked sob escaping her lips. "You hid my true identity from me so that you can manipulate me for your own use?!" she screamed, slapping him once more. "You used me for your own purposes? How dare you?!"

Without thinking, she pushed him away, sobbing as she finally came to realize that her whole life has been nothing but a lie she has been believing. Her whole existence was nothing but a joke. A cruel joke that everyone but her had known all along.

"Let me explain-"

"DON'T EXPLAIN!" Onyx screamed, rushing her fingers through her hair. "I TRUSTED YOU! I TOLD YOU STUFF THAT NO ONE HAS EVER KNOWN! I GAVE MYSELF TO YOU!"

Her hands were shaking, reaching up and pulling the dagger off her shoulder. She threw it on the floor, not caring if she bled to death.

"Oh my stars, I gave myself to you. My body, my mind I gave it all to you!" she screamed finally realizing the foolish mistakes she has made. "I opened my legs for you! I murdered for you! I did everything for you only to find out that you have never been truthful to me once in your time of knowing me!?"

"I was telling the truth when I said that I loved you Onyx!" the tribe leader protested, reaching out to her. "I truly do!"

"DON'T COME NEAR ME!"

The Mind Siphon was enraged with fear, nothing but red clouding her visions. Choked sobs escaped her lips, her fingers digging into her hair as she felt her knees buckle and herself fall. Venix's arms caught around her waist, pulling her close so that she wouldn't fall.

Eyes watched with sorrow, with misery as the siphon struggled to hold in everything she wanted to launch at him. There was not one soul that did not feel for her and there was not one soul that did not pin any hatred on Rheynoak. The remaining tribe leaders remained wordless, taking in the scene, marking their target and scowling at the disgraced tribe leader.

The dark skies rumbled as the stars shined violently, the crash of waves among the shores signaling a rainstorm would be coming soon.

Gold magic illuminated the Siphon's right arm, drastically different from the blue siphon magic that illuminated her left arm. Her whole body convulsed as she shook, blood dripping from her lips. Despite her wishes for him to burn in hell or whatever torment he would be sentenced to, Rheynoak took one more step towards her, trying to reconcile what has already been damaged.

But it was too late. He was beating a dead horse.

"Onyx, please" he begged her, putting a firm hand on her shoulder. His touch triggered her, her eyes burning violently amber. She glanced at the arm on her shoulder, seething and cursing him between locked teeth.

"Get your hands off of me," she said in a calm, warning tone. Her tone was shaky, her fingers curling into her palm.

Yet still, he persisted.

"There is an explanation for all of this, I promise you that."

At the sound of hearing his false words, Onyx snapped, growling as she took a hold of both of his wrists. "GET AWAY FROM ME!"

A blinding array of magic escaped from her fingers in gold and blue streams. They were powerful, holding too much magnetic force as they exploded across the tribal grounds. It was a brilliant light show that dazzled across the midnight skies, streaks of magic fluttering across the air, destroying everything and everyone in its path.

Rheynoak and everyone else around her flew back with so much force, blinded by the sheer intensity of the raw magic that sizzled in the atmosphere.

Onyx could not shield herself from the intensity of her powers, her body ripping from Venix's arms and colliding with the rough desert ground. Her head cracked against the floor, her body convulsing once more.

Her eyes fought to stay open, her whole body trying so hard to stay alive but it was no use. She slowly began to slip away. seeing nothing but clouds of smoke, strays of light, and red.

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

SOOOOOOOO....

Surprise!?? Well not really because I'm pretty sure all of you knew what Onyx's true identity was but you don't know what Venix or Lucien's or Alesandria's true identity is do you? I knew it!

It will all be revealed in the next chapter so be patient with me dearies! 

I am participating in the April NaNoWriMo and so far I am 5,000words in with a goal of 35,000 words so I am off to a really good start. 

Other good news. A publishing company has just contacted me with an interest in helping me publish The Catalyst Oath!

Pure excitement!

Nothing is finalized and I am still waiting back to hear from a few other companies but this is very exciting. You might see the books on the shelves soon! 

Alright!

At this point, I want to hear what YOU guys think of this very important and critical chapter! PLEASE!

So tell me what you guys thought of this chapter.

Any specific scenes you liked! Any conspiracies? I would love to hear them!

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