Orion dropped Onyx, Alesandria and her family at Yongui's glass lodge before departing and meeting Draco at the barrier.

Yongui's lodge was tucked away in the far mountains of Elsavior. It resided not too far away from a stream and was nestled above a cute town in the northorn region of the kingdom. She welcomed them with full knowledge of what was going on and settled them into her home.

"Thank you for taking us into your home," Parcia said as she let Eros sit in the middle of the huge living room. The whole house was lit with bright lights and an open floor plan. Yongui waved a hand, shaking her head.

"Please. It's the least I can do. We should have invited you a long time ago but things have been crazy for the past few weeks" she exclaimed, patting Eros on the head. He doubled over in laughter at her ticklish fingers.

"Perfectly understandable. Do you have anything I can drink? The journey over here made me quite parched." Yongui nodded and headed over to her kitchen, leaving her guests in silence. Eros wandered into Alesandria's arms who squeezed his cheeks.

"How have you been, Onyx? It's been so long since we last talked." Onyx looked up at Parcia and took in her face. The last time she saw the woman, she was burned, blistered, and hanging on death's bed. Looking at her now, it's hard to believe it was the same woman sitting in front of her.

Her skin was clear as day and her once short and burnt hair now cascaded down her back in ringlets. Her eyes sparkled with life and the dimples in her cheeks were present when she smiled. Even Eros, who was as happy and carefree as the day she met him, seemed to have changed in terms of weight.

It must be all the food they have been consuming since they got here.

Onyx took a deep breath, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. "It's been a rough transition, Parcia" she admitted, shaking her head. "I never thought I would leave the desert tribes for the Inner Circle and now that I am here, it's even harder to get a hold of my powers."

"You sound like Sahara when she started training," Yongui said as she came back with glasses of water balanced on a silver tray. She set it down on the white marble table and took a seat on the floor.

"Sahara scared? She certainly doesn't look like it" Alesandria said, passing the glasses of water to her mother and brother. Yongui rolled her eyes and smiled. "Trust me. When you know her as long as I have, you'll know that she gets scared easily. It's only recently that she has regained her confidence ever since mating with Seron."

"Her and Seron seemed to have known each other for a long time" Onyx inputted.

"They have known each other for a long time but it has only been a couple of years since they officially mated and from what I see, she's very happy," Yongui said, rising up from her place on the floor.

"You don't have a mate?" Parcia asked. Yongui shook her head, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Please. I'm better off without one" she commented. "I didn't really expect any guests today but I can cook something if you're hungry or we can train."

"Please, no more training. My muscles are so sore" Onyx groaned, rubbing the back of her shoulder. "However, I will help you with a dish or two." Yongui nodded and invited them into her large kitchen. The natural light from the mountain spilled into the room and lit the tiled walls.

"How come you reside in the mountains?" Alesandria asked as she helped her mom and Eros onto the stool bars of the eat-in kitchen. "I would expect you to be in the middle of a bustling city."

A laugh escaped from the NightDweller as she crouched down to fetch a couple of metallic bowls. "I don't live alone, Alesandria. My niece and nephew live with me. I have to keep them safe so I chose a place where they would be comfortable yet out of harm's way."

"Where are they?" Onyx asked.

"Upstairs. I'll go fetch them. In the meanwhile, can you mince this herb for me?" She handed the Siphon a leafy green herb and a sharp knife before she bounded up the glass stairs to call for her family.

"She never mentioned her niece and nephew" Alesandria commented as she watched her sister rinse the knife and proceed to quickly chop the sharp knife through the leaves. "Well, she did say that she wanted to keep them safe so disclosing their existence would defeat their entire purpose."

"Do you think Draco knows about them?" Alesandria pressed.

"Probably. He has known Yongui for a very long time but it's not his business to disclose their information" Onyx informed, pushing the minced pieces aside. Before her sister could question any further, the patter of footsteps captured her attention and she looked up to see two teenagers.

Yongui's metallic hair popped from the staircase as she came down and intertwined her arms around her niece and nephew. "Everyone, this is Azner," she said referring to the handsome boy with silver eyes and dark brown hair. "And this is Estel." She pointed to the pretty girl with snow white hair and green eyes.

"Nice to meet you," Estel said in a sweet voice, her eyes taking in the new visitors. "Yongui has told us all about you."

"It's nice to see that the Kaslibieth-Talgran bloodline still lives on" Azner added on, trading glances with his sister. "We look forward to being acquainted with you both."

"And you as well. Would you like to help us? We could use the hand" Onyx offered, digging out another knife from the cupboard. Estel shook her head with a grimace. "We're okay. The last time Yongui had us in the kitchen, we almost burned this house down."

"Well, you two can keep Eros entertained while we prepare lunch," Yongui said as she walked over and scooped the young boy into her arms. "Are we going to play?" he asked, resting his hand on her shoulders.

"Not with me but with them. Be good" she warned as she handed him over to her niece and nephew. The two carried Eros into the living room, his laughter disappearing from the kitchen. "Now that they are gone, I must tell you something," she said, taking over Onyx's place at the herbs.

"Is it anything serious?" Alesandria asked, taking a seat next to her mother. "Well, it depends on how you take it," Yongui said, walking over to her fridge and taking out some vegetables. "As you both know, this war between the Inner Circle and the Desert Tribes goes far beyond your existence. The truth is that a dormant curse has been lying just around the outskirts of the Inner Circle."

"A curse? Like a witch casted a spell over the Inner Circle?" Alesandria asked, leaning on the counter. The NightDweller shook her head, an amused smile on her face. "Nothing like that although that would make this situation entertaining. This curse has more to deal with a person rather than a dusty spell some witch casted."

"Is it about Rheynoak's father?" Onyx asked, catching a curious glare from everyone else. "How do you know about Rheynoak's father?" Yongui asked, cutting and dicing the rinsed vegetables and throwing them into a huge pot.

"Draco briefly informed me about it," the Siphon said. "I didn't want to question the situation any further since he seemed stressed when we were talking." A frown crossed the hybrid's expression but her violet eyes never faltered as she took a deep breath.

"Draco needs to know his boundaries. There are certain things that need to be hidden for safety purposes." Her words carried a harsh undertone to it but she didn't let it overpower the overall message

"What makes Rheynoak's father so sacrilege?" Parcia asked from her place on the stool. "I didn't even know he had a family."

"Not anymore" Yongui informed her, lighting the stove underneath the saucer. White flames grew from the source and heated the metal. The bottom of the pot sizzled as she added water and blended spices. "Rheynoak's father was Raebar Casvionel and he was the Inner Circle's greatest threat. He was a legend, a barbarian, a soulless beast. There wasn't any skill he didn't perfect. His sole goal was to destroy the Inner Circle and combine the kingdoms together to form his own army."

"So what happened to him?" Onyx asked, watching Yongui stirred the vegetables together in the pot. The aroma of vegetable stock and ginger filled with kitchen and Onyx could feel her stomach rumble beneath her shirt. "Well, after Rheynoak officially took you in and initiated you as a tribe member, Raebar attempted to demolish the Inner Circle once again. This time he attacked Navidia and Lybrias first before going after Elsavior. Unfortunately for him, Draco was not only the emperor of Elsavior but the most powerful ruler the kingdom has had ever since his parents passed away. The war went on for three days before Draco fatally struck him with a White Ash dagger and completely gutted him."

The hunger Onyx felt before was replaced with disgust. The Siphon shook her head and turned away from the hybrid to swallow the vile attempting to erupt from her throat. "Too graphic for you, Onyx?" Alesandria asked, turning around to check up on her sister. Even though she didn't open her mouth, the Siphon nodded and fanned her hand.

"Continue, please" she managed to say in between hurried breaths. "To preserve his body, Draco paralyzed his body with venom and buried him between the barrier that separates the Inner Circle and the mortal kingdoms. He has resided there ever since."

"So what's the big deal? He's dead" Alesandria said, earning a stern look from Yongui. "Yes and no. Technically, he is dead but Rheynoak is a Hell Siphon. If he gets his hand on his father's body and manages to transport his soul from hell back into his body, Raebar will be alive and vengeful."

"So basically, if Rheynoak can't get his hands on us, he goes after his father," Onyx said, earning a quick nod from Yongui. "That's what we are thinking but we are not sure what he will do. This is all just speculation."

Even though Onyx nodded, the thought of someone worse than Rheynoak existing stirred an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach. She fetched herself a glass of water and took deep breaths to calm her beating heart.

The smell of soup wafted around the kitchen as Yongui continued cooking, accepting Parcia's help to cut the meat. Not being able to shake the claustrophobic feeling she felt, the Siphon made her way to the glass patio doors. She opened it slightly to feel the cool mountain breeze before completely stepping out.

The lush green mountains and rushing waterfalls created beautiful scenery underneath the blue sky but it was not enough to control her pulse. She leaned against the wood patio and closed her eyes, willing herself to concentrate on nothing but the wind and the sound of water rushing.

"Are you okay?" Alesandria asked from behind her, the patio door sliding open and close once more. Onyx nodded even though her pale cheeks suggested otherwise. "This is a lot to digest" she admitted, running her fingers through her hair. "I miss the days when I was just a mere Siphon" she whispered, shrugging her shoulders.

"Technically, you are a siphon" Alesandria corrected. The Siphon smiled, opening her eyes to see her sister's gaze locked on her. "It's so much more complicated than that" she replied back. "I can't even comprehend what I am."

"Well, what are you? Maybe I will have a better understanding. Parcia used to tell me stories of the immortal beasts and their powers and she made me memorize all of them. I bet I can help you." Alesandria's voice sounded so confident about her knowledge of the immortal beings but Onyx knew that if she told her what she truly was, her intuitions would change instantly.

Still, it wouldn't hurt to try. So Onyx told her sister about each of her powers and went into depth about the ritual she went through and the training she has been enduring to gain control of them. The more she talked, the lighter her shoulders seemed to feel and for the first time in a long time, Onyx felt relieved

When she was done, she turned around and expected to see the confused face of her sister but what she got was an angry, almost repulsing expression on her face. Her lips were pulled down into a thinning frown and her eyes judged the siphon with a look of disgust.

"You're a beast" she cried, diminishing any hope Onyx had. "I know" she replied back. "But with Draco's help, maybe I can be helpful."

"Speaking of, what is your relationship with Draco?" Alesandria asked, leaning forward. "You two seemed to be awfully close. Considering he's Rheynoak's enemy, I would think you would stay as far away from him as possible."

"Whatever happened between Rheynoak and Draco is their problem to deal with and frankly I don't care for his words. I forgot about him the minute I left that desert" Onyx replied back harshly, looking down at her interlocking fingers.

"And what about you and Draco?" her sister pressed.

"We're friends" she insisted although she could feel a pit form in her stomach the minute she said those words. Alesandria rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I see the way you two look at each other. It's almost as if you're involved with him."

"I won't be involved with anyone else for a long time. Ever since Rheynoak betrayed me, my trust in people has dropped. The only people I remotely trust is the Gods that created us themselves" Onyx replied back. "What do you ask? You seem like the one that's interested in Draco. If anything, I should be asking you about Castrin."

"Castrin is a sweetheart but not my type," Alesandria said.

"Too rude?" Onyx asked. Her sister shook her head and ran her fingers through her black locks. "Too kind. I don't trust anyone that's too nice."

Before Onyx could question her words, the floor underneath them began to shake. A large explosion rang through the sky and the clouds seemed to waiver as they darkened against the sun. Another explosion rang through the sky and the ground began to crack open.

At the same time, a large commotion came from inside the house and the two girls rushed inside to escape the chaos. Though the kitchen was clean and the bowls of soup were set neatly on the counter, Yongui was in complete disarray.

She was talking in a complex dialect as she ran up and down the stairs, grabbing weapons and strapping them between her hips and under the clothing she wore. "Okay. I will be there in a minute. Keep the border control on tight security and make sure they can't get through the west entrance."

She nodded and grabbed a knife from the dining table. She shoved it into the sleeves of her top before tying her long hair into a high ponytail."What's going on?" Onyx asked, trying to approach the hybrid but all she did was shrug her off.

"Rashnov, along with a few members of Rheynoak's tribe, have just attacked the barrier of the Inner Circle. They are weakening the barrier with each blow of magic and white ash daggers the attack with. If I don't get their quick, the barrier might collapse and dissolve."

"Take me with you" Onyx begged. Yongui shook her head. "Hell no. It's too dangerous. You have to stay here."

"But I can help you! I know Rheynoak's tribe members and their tactics better than anyone here. I can weaken them." Onyx could see the conflict in Yongui's eyes as her gaze darted from the Siphon to the door. "I really don't want you to get hurt."

As if on cue, another explosion rang through the hair and the ground began to shake once more. Onyx grabbed the nearest wall to keep herself stable as the rumbling slowly died down. "Okay. You can come but steer clear from the attack zone" Yongui warned.

The Siphon nodded and turned to Alesandria. "Make sure everyone is safe here," she said. "Why can't I come along?" her sister asked, shaking her head. "I'm just as powerful as you."

"This isn't about power. It's about strategy and right now, Onyx knows more about their battle tactics than you do. I need you to stay here, Alesandria" Yongui said. She went into the living room and pulled the curtains back to reveal a bundle of black arrows. She strapped them on to her shoulders and grabbed the slender bow to attach it to her back.

"Azner, Estel. Secure the house and bring everyone to the basement. Don't let them out unless I come back." Her niece and nephew nodded and stood up to bring Eros and Parcia downstairs. Alesandria walked away before Onyx could bid her goodbye, her angry footsteps banging against the hardwood floors.

Not wasting time, the Siphon followed Yongui out the door and down the dipping staircase to the rural garden where Aithne sat, grazing on a few flowers as she waited for her master. "Follow me closely. I'm risking your life, my life, and Draco's anger. I don't need anything happening to you."

Onyx nodded and pulled Aithne up to her feet before climbing on to her back. The horse stumbled a bit but shook her head as she headed towards Yongui whose wings were spread out wide. She looked up at the dark barren sky just as another rumble rippled through the air.

Without another word, the two soared into the sky and made their way towards the barrier.

The attack zone of the barrier seemed to be spreading like wildfire.

Sparks of magic intermingled and exploded through the air, causing the barrier to rumble in pain. Onyx could barely help the gasp that escaped her mouth as she watched rulers, warriors, and majestic animals fight against the enemy on the other side.

The Siphon squinted her eyes to see who was on the other side but it was too smokey for her eyes to outline a silhouette. "We need to find Draco," Yongui said, flying over those. Onyx nodded and held the reins of her horse tightly.

She watched as white as arrows broke through the barrier, hitting an already wounded Dawn Dweller in the wing. He screamed in pain and nearly faltered but counterfeited with an attack spell of his own.

"There he is!" Yongui exclaimed, swooping down to her leader. Aithne followed close behind, her wings gliding through the strong winds with ease. Yongui knocked into him, pushing him out of the way as a white ash arrow flew by him. It nearly hit Aithne had she not swerved out of the way last minute.

"Thank you," he said, out of breath. His usually neat hair was disheveled and wet and his face was covered in smoke and sweat. He was visibly bruised but not as bad as those around him. Onyx flew cautiously above him, the wind from Aithne's wind catching his attention.

He looked up with wide, angry eyes. "Onyx, what are you doing here? Go back home!"

"You need help and I am the only one that knows their battle strategies! I can help you" she hollered over the mayhem. The Siphon looked up to see a fireball heading straight for the barrier's center. With quick reflexes, she unleashed a Siphon spell of her own and watched as her magic simply absorbed the energy from the previous spell before disappearing into thin air.

"I know their strategies too! I've known these tribes for thousands of years! Onyx, you need to leave now!" His voice was not sweet nor coy but rather demanding and rough. She could tell he was visibly upset with her and it may have been the smart move to leave while he was still patient.

But watching the mayhem around her, she knew that they were doomed either way.

Her eyes caught sight of some familiar figures and she shook her head. "No" she simply said before guiding Aithne to fly away from him. She could hear his wounded cries but did not turn back, instead focusing on what she could do right now.

Another fireball attack hit the barrier and caused a wave of distortion. Warriors flew back and leader stumbled against the powerful force but Onyx dipped low to the bottom of the barrier where Castrin, Sahara, and Rayah fought against Rheynoak's tribe members.

A bull bodied Elementalist was unleashing a flurry of attacks while a simple warrior was charging with her weapons. Sahara was fighting off the warrior while Castrin and Rayah were trying their best to absorb the magic of the Elementalist attack but she could tell it was too much for them.

"Mind if I join?" Onyx asked, reaching into her boot and grabbing a flexible white ash dagger. She threw it directly at the warrior's chest and watched as the knife pierced through her skin and drain the life out of her. The warrior screamed and dropped all her weapons which Sahara caught but Onyx was far from being finished.

She swooped underneath the warrior and grabbed her by the throat, using all her brute strength to lift her up. The warrior struggled to breathe, her face turning shades of purple as the Siphon sunk her nails into her head. Immediately, the world turned black and all she could see were flickers of the warrior's memories.

They weren't much but they were enough to tell Onyx that the warrior would be better dead than living in misery. So with gentle ease, she allowed her nails to break through the warrior's skull and demolish her life source.

The warrior writhed and screamed in pain but Onyx persisted. Her veins glowed blue as another soul joined with hers and before she knew it, the warrior was limp and silent. Onyx pulled herself out of her mind and into reality to see the dead body in her bloody hands.

With a gasp, she dropped it and watched as she joined the other dead souls gathering in a pile on the ground. "How did you do that?" Sahara asked in shock. She was still holding the weapons in her hands although they were visibly shaking in her grip.

"Siphon magic" was her simple response.

"Well, we need some of that Siphon magic over here!" Castrin screamed, flying out of the way as Rayah caught the Elementalist by his throat and rammed her sword through his gut. A river of blood gushed from his mouth before she beat his body against the weak barrier and toss him to the ground.

"Rayah seems to be doing a fine job!" Sahara exclaimed, handing Onyx a handful of daggers. "The Siphon is staying with me."

Together, Onyx and Sahara fought like night and day. From the bottom of the barrier to the curve of the top, they beat, strangled, and knifed anyone that was a threat to the Inner Circle. While Sahara used nothing but her brute strength to fight off the intruders, Onyx relied on her powers to keep her going.

She used her Siphon powers to keep souls, her compulsion powers to demand, and her ShadowReaping powers for pure confusion. With those powers combined with her strength and the help of Aithne, they were unstoppable.

The battle raged for what seemed like hours. There were fewer people now but more destruction since only the most powerful leaders was left standing. By this time, Onyx was caked in blood, the slick gold chain of Aithne's reigns hanging from her hand. She was tired but still persisted, pulling herself to balance on the horse's back.

Her eyes scanned the remaining people left on the other side and quickly made note of the most deadly fighters to those she could take out easily. A tall, dark man stood in the center of destruction, missing every dagger that was thrown to him only reflect it back their way.

"Fly me over to the edge" she whispered to Aithne who simply nodded her head. The horse flew cautiously, dodging the daggers and arrows but a few managed to pierce her wing, frightening the poor thing. Onyx reached over and carefully pried the arrows from her wings, tucking them in her pocket for later use.

"And who do we have here?" the dark man asked, signaling his people to stop attacking. Weapons seized and spells were stopped and absorbed in midair. "Onyx, is it? You're even more riveting in real life."

"Who the hell are you?" the Siphon asked, her hands closing around the reins in her hand. "A close friend of Rheynoak's. I just wanted to introduce myself to the Inner Circle. I am Rashnov, head tribe leader. This whole thing is nothing but a big misunderstanding."

"Declaring war on the Inner Circle and proceeding to tear down our barrier is a misunderstanding?" Onyx screamed, causing him to chuckle. "You don't have to believe me, my dear but I am here to make a simple compromise. Agree to it and we will cease fire."

"Onyx, back away." She heard the hiss of Draco's voice begging her to come back but she simply shook her head and ignored him. "Speak," the Siphon said, holding her breath as she saw his lips curve into a devious smile.

"Come back to the desert tribe and serve under Rheynoak and we will leave the Inner Circle alone. If you choose not to, we will dismantle every ounce of this pathetic barrier and destroy the Inner Circle."

"I would rather be beheaded than serve underneath that prick you call a leader" Onyx stated. "I will never step foot in that desert as long as I live. I will restore my parent's kingdom and burn all of you to the ground."

"Well, it was nice knowing you" he simply said. He launched a fireball her way and signaled for the other tribe members to attack. Onyx steered Aithne from the path they were attacking her on but they still managed to wound her wings once again.

The daggers she threw were useless as they simply dissolved in the chaotic madness of magic that was engulfing the barrier. The Siphon was trying her best to absorb the magic that threatened to shatter the barrier but her strength was leaving her in slow pieces.

Rashnov unleashed another attack of fire magic and hit Aithne above the crest of her wing. The horse stumbled and gave out, the siphon losing her footing as well as she felt the cold air whisper past her feet. Her quick thinking allowed her to rely on her Shadow Reaper powers, a cloud of black smoke keeping her afloat as it absorbed the rest of his attack spells.

"Why don't you give up, Onyx? You don't belong here!" he taunted as the Siphon counterattacked with a spell of her own. He easily deviated from the attack and was able to use her magic against her, two balls of flaming magic striking her in the chest.

A cry escaped Onyx's lips as a searing pain shot through her veins. "These people are over a thousand years old and you are nothing but a mere Siphon. You haven't even hit a millennium. Face it. You are nothing but prey and once they're done with you, you'll wish you never left the desert."

A couple of tears watered in her eyes at his harsh words but she shook her head, keeping her defenses up even as she felt her body decaying before her eyes. "Onyx, run! We'll cover for you!" Draco's voice pleaded with her in the distance but she simply tuned him out and focused on her target.

Closing her eyes, the Siphon let the blur of chaos melt away until she could hear nothing but silence. Her body shook with an unbelievable rush of power coursing through her veins as she tapped into a part of her conscious she dared never to venture into. She became one with everything around her and fear became nothing but a word, a feeling.

Opening her eyes, Onyx met Rashnov's rush of power with her last bit of strength. Their powers clashed with one another, his magic desperately eating away at her Shadow magic but she persisted forward and allowed her Siphon magic to come through as well and challenge him.

Rashnov broke under the overwhelming amount of magic hitting him back. His hands shook and his veins glowed with magic as he tried another fire attack spell but the inferno that was Onyx's magic pushed him back until he was wavering on nothing but the air underneath his feet.

He winced and stumbled a few feet back until he was not in the line of fire but he knew that her magic was far past the point of minor damage and was bordering on the edge of collateral disaster.

Seeing the fine line of his magic disappearing and the barrier wavering thinly, Onyx took a final breath and pushed the last bit of strength she had onto the barrier. The protective layer of the thin barrier shattered at the contact of her magic and created an illuminating light that seemed to blind her.

A heavy force pushed everyone around the barrier at least a hundred feet back before completely dissolving into nothing but an invisible thought. Onyx could hear the voices around her blur into one as she fell into an abyss of rubble and bodies lying below her. The world became a black sky and she could feel her soul give out within her body.

Even as a hand reached out to save her from impending doom, reality hit her with blunt force as her head cracked against the concrete streets and the world melted into a permanent state of tenebrosity.

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

It's been a while since I have updated and I apologize for that. Senior year has really been beating me up and I have been busy choosing a college and just getting ready to finish the senior year off strong and graduate!

But while I was gone, I noticed an amazing spike in the readings of both TCO and TSC and I love you all for that! Thank you!

Love you guys! I'll try not to kill everyone in this book!

Are you guys enjoying the books and series so far? I want to hear your honest opinion!

I am sorry if this chapter is crappy. I will edit it later but I wanted to put something out for you guys so apologies if it's not my best work.

So tell me what you guys thought of this chapter.

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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