AMETHYST: The rise of Tetra

Chapter 4

    ‘Elder Lia, Elder Hayna, thank you for coming’ began the coven leader, welcoming the two middle aged Amethyst Witches into the office room. The women held a grim expression as they proceeded to step into the room, and were repelled instantly by the presence of the Ivory. It hadn’t gone unnoticed by the Ivory, though they brushed it off quickly knowing they had lots more to face before peace would overtake. 

    The women stumbled in and stood a good distance away from their inferiors, avoiding all sort of eye contact as they waited for their leader to deliver the instructions she had called them over for. 

    ‘We have been faced with a rather unique situation here, and we need your help to figure out exactly what is going on. Our friend from the Ivory here, Miss Genova, leader of Hybrids and great Luna of Gloarian has survived the one thing that no one else on Zaleon has ever managed to survive: death. I think that brings us to your rather self explanatory task: help us understand why Miss Genova is alive in the first place.’ She revealed, leaving the Elder Witches paralysed for a brief moment as they attempted to understand their task. Never had they ever been given such a task, and neither would they know where to begin completing such a task. ‘Miss Genova, I think my Elder Witches are just in a slight bit of shock, would you mind enlightening them with your prophecy?’ She questioned, noticing the discomfort of the Witches who had yet to react to the news. Wordlessly, the Hybrid leader stood on her feet, displaying the same old prophecy to the newest additions to the discovery. The expression of the Elder Witches from that of confusion and shock to utter and pure surprise and fear. Stepping back instinctively, Elder Hayna decided to be the first one to break the silence. 

    ‘Impossible’ she whispered, checking the Hybrid leader from head to toe to identify if she truly was alive. 

    ‘Miss Levix, with all due respect, there is nothing we can do to identify why Miss Genova is alive, this miracle isn’t covered in the books of the Amethyst Elder Witches. It is simply impossible’ added Elder Lia, distancing herself from the immortal woman. 

    ‘Elder Lia, I am not asking you how to consult your textbooks, if there was a way people on Zaleon could survive death, it certainly won’t be implemented into our books. This seems a rather unique case, and therefore requires unique identification. If you could perhaps check your glass globes to tell me where I can get answers at all, I would be grateful’ responded Zoraya, refusing to get to the bottom of the issue. The Elder Witches looked between each other, knowing they had no choice but to consult their globes in their terrified state to get answers they perhaps wished not to hear. Nevertheless, under the instructions of their leader, they closed their eyes, manifesting into existence the crystal ball that fell right into the hands of Elder Lia, and together, they placed the item onto a separate table located next to the window, opening the curtains wide and allowing daylight to stream in and penetrate the fragile object. From further away, nothing could be seen as the Witches recited their incantations, and worked their magic, though for the Witches, the images had been as clear as the crystal in front of their eyes. 

    Flashes of instructions passed by the ball, ones that only the Elders could see, not even Zoraya had been granted that access. The Elders observed the ball guide them to the only way answers would be given, and as soon as the visualisations halted, the crystal ball disappeared from sight. Turning around, Elder Hayna faced the leader with somewhat of a response. 

    ‘It seems there is a larger purpose for the leader of Hybrids and great Luna of Gloarian, the ball didn’t decipher the entire thing, but it did point us in the direction of answers. Take her to the sacred Galon of Tetra, only there will she get the answers you require’ spoke sternly the Elder Witch, avoiding all eye contact with the Ivory. Zoraya nodded, content with the response before getting on her feet abruptly. 

    ‘Very well, thank you Elder Hayna, Elder Lia. You are dismissed. Miss Genova, would you and your mate like to follow me and Miss Ygorov to the sacred Galon of Tetra? It’s time we got some answers to your immortality’ she requested, giving Ivory no choice but to follow the woman out, not only from her office, but out of her territory itself. 

    ‘I take it the most sacred Galon of Tetra is not on your territory?’ Asked the Hybrid leader, attempting to initiate conversation to ease the tension between the species. The coven leader glanced with confusion at the woman who posed the question.

    ‘The most sacred Galon of Tetra is not on anyone’s territory, Miss Genova. It is on neutral grounds, as it should be’ responded Zoraya, bringing to light news that the woman had not been aware of. ‘Is it not the same case in Gloarian?’ Returned the coven leader after having peeked at the expression on Eliana’s face. 

    ‘No, the most sacred Galon of Gloarian is on Hybrid territory’ responded the woman, now taking a curious interest into why that was. If sacred Galon’s were meant to be placed apart, then why was she in possession of the most sacred Galon of Gloarian. Aspects that before had never been of importance had now taken a different lens, and all things became the most suspicious aspects. So many questions were being raised, and it only had the woman considering that perhaps she knew nothing of what was happening on the planet, nor what the flame’s real intentions with her were. It sure hadn’t seemed up until then that the flame wished any harm to come to the woman who had survived death, though why place her in the heart of the greatest war on Zaleon if she was, after all, a favourite of the flame’s? Why receive the rejection and the hardships along the way that she had? Logic had left the chat, and what remained was a series of nonsense occurings that, put together, made absolutely no sense at all.

    ‘You sure are a most interesting creature with a most intense life, Miss Genova’ stated Zoraya, her tone making it evident just how much she envied the woman who despite being inferior had conquered and achieved a lot more than the Amethyst leader. Eliana remained silent at the interaction, and followed silently behind Zoraya, her mind frenzying into the final thoughts before the truth would be revealed to her. As excited as she was, a part of Eliana feared herself, not understanding what the greater image held. 

    Arriving at the sacred Galon, Zoraya allowed the pair entry before proceeding inside herself, leading the way to the Galoness, who much like the ones on Ivory, remained with her eyes closed at the commotion. 

    ‘Zoraya, you come with questions and concerns. What is it you need?’ investigated the Galoness with her eyes shut. The coven leader looked back at the Ivory pair, ushering them forwards before facing the only woman that could perhaps help them clear their doubts. 

    ‘Galoness, Miss Genova has survived death. The act in itself should be impossible, yet this Ivory leader has managed to do it. Why? How? Help us understand the greater image’ petitioned the woman, her desperation evident in her voice. Why was Zoraya so concerned with the resurrection of the Ivory leader? Minute by minute the Hybrid leader became more and more suspicious of the questions raised by the Amethyst leader, and wondered if she had made the right decision receiving the truth in front of a leader that perhaps might even end up using the truth to her own benefit. Though it was too late, and the leader realised that this also was the only place she would finally receive the answers she had been waiting to hear, despite how scary it may have been. Shifting her focus on the Galoness, she noticed the woman had now opened her eyes, and was looking directly at the couple that everyone had so far only discriminated against.

    A smile danced on the Galoness’s face as she observed the pair, and despite adding hope to the Ivory couple’s chest, both wondered what the flame was really playing at. Would they get the answers they seeked? Or would the Galoness send them off like the one on their lands had? If not, why did their answers lie only in a Galon on Amethyst grounds? The irony of discrimination played along in the events that occurred, though keeping in mind their greatest concerns, Eliana let the events play out patiently. It seemed for the longest time the Galoness had only stared at the special pair, though before Zoraya could open her mouth to protest, the messenger of the flame decided to initiate the process of killing the suspense. 

    ‘I know where your thoughts lie, Miss Genova, though the truth is more complex than you think. It involves the both of you. Are you sure you are ready to come to terms with your reality?’ Asked the Galoness, as stern as ever. Razaar and Eliana only peeked at each other, knowing that whatever would be revealed would be a lot harder to understand than they initially assumed. The Alpha left the decision up to his mate, knowing he would go along with any thing she would say. The exhausted woman took a deep breath, closing her eyes to embrace the reality that would soon fall on her shoulders, and as the thoughts of worry penetrated through her mind, she shoved them away, knowing whatever it was, she would face it head on with her mate. 

    ‘We are ready’ she simply stated, and it took the Galoness exactly a second to respond to her words, by knocking out Zoraya and Irina, much to the couple’s surprise. 

    ‘Like I said, I know your thoughts and concerns Miss Genova, and I think you’re right in thinking that this revelation should perhaps be kept between you and your mate’ her initial statement had been a clear indicator to the pair that whatever was about to be revealed, would be impossible to replicate for any other member of Zaleon, though was an aspect that could create many enemies, and that was not ideal during a time of war. The Galoness’s eyes closed for a brief second, though when they opened, the golden flecks of light indicated that the flame itself had taken over for the revelation. ‘One cannot die without the other, one cannot live without the other. The only way to kill the pair that exceeds all is to ensure their breaths stop at the same time. The descendants of Leopold and Cassandra will ensure the survival of Horex, their powers will lie beyond the normal frame of others, and their skills will exceed others on the great planet of Zaleon. Follow the path of light, children of the flame, find the switch and restore what needs to be returned to a planet that was birthed with loss. The prophecy of the destroyer will be the cause of war and only then will the mighty descendants be able to fulfill their destiny and save the Zaleon from its fall’ with that the Galoness’s eyes returned to their normal colour, and Eliana and Razaar were left with more questions that before, not having expected to receive a riddle as their answer. 

    Floating through their minds was a list of mutual questions that had only created more restlessness within the pair. 

-Who was Leopold and Cassandra?

-Who were their descendants? 

-What was the purpose of the pair?

-Would they win the war? 

-What was the prophecy of the destroyer?

-Who is the destroyer?

    It had only played a role in ensuring the already exasperated couple would experience fatigue at its finest in merely trying to receive the responses of their purpose on the planet. The only thing the pair had gathered from the wise words of the flame was that Eliana was alive because of Razaar, and as long as one lived, the other would survive, but why? Why would the two only die at the same time? What was so special about this pair?

    Looking between each other, Razaar noticed the panic that floated through his mate’s eyes as she rapidly faced the Galoness before she brought the Amethyst Witches back to consciousness. 

    ‘Galoness, help us understand our reason for survival, why are Razaar and I living this fate? Why can’t one die without the other? Who is Leopold and Cassandra? And their descendants? Help us understand our fate, Gloness!’ pleaded Eliana, having had enough riddles for a lifetime. The Galoness kept her eyes open as she focused on the light of the flame that shone brighter than ever. 

    ‘It is a story, one that dates back thousands of centuries, one that is ruling the events of your present. It will all come to light, child, one way or another, when the time is right. Follow the path, child, fulfill your destiny. What you seek will be unveiled, all in due time’ she responded, not helping in the slightest before her eyes closed, and with that so did her responses. The level of frustration the leader felt at the lack of answers was extreme, and in her moment of hopelessness she found herself collapsing to the ground in front of the flame, holding in the will to give up on this journey she had embarked on. 

    ‘Hey, I know it’s not the answer we were looking for, but at least now we know why you’re alive’ commented Razaar, bending down to collect his mate into his arms. 

    ‘Razaar the only thing we have managed to do since we got here is collect more questions than we came with. We received one answer and got piled up with a bunch of other questions. Tell me, who is Leopold and Cassandra? What are we supposed to do when we can’t even understand the responses we are receiving?’ she complained, looking at the flame with an expression of sorrow and loss. Why would the flame put the couple through more pain if they were the chosen favourites? It was certainly a hard choice to put blind faith in a power that had restored a life yet refused to deliver instructions to the couple, nevertheless Razaar remained strong, keeping in mind her resurrection and reminding her of the faith they had to have in the flame. 

    ‘We don’t have the answers to that, Eliana, but right now we don’t need them. You heard the Galoness, let’s focus on what we know. You and I can only die if we die together, and that is the greatest news. We cannot, under no circumstances reveal this news to anyone, not even the people closest to us, alright? If that is all we have to go on with then so be it, as the Galoness said, we will receive our answers in due time, let’s just be patient and let the order of the flame play out. Have faith in the flame, it saved you. It saved us’ the man voiced, successfully getting into the mind of his mate and bringing it the peace she lacked a mere moment ago.

    ‘How are we supposed to keep this from Zoraya? She’ll do anything to find out the truth’ pondered the Hybrid leader, now facing the other issue in her life. As connected as it all was, the only thing the pair had seen so far were lines between their issues, though soon the truth would be revealed, and the lines would blur out to bring forward the connectivity of it all. 

    ‘Then we lie to her. We lie to Irina, we lie to everyone. We tell them that the flame said that you didn’t die. That Balthazar only had an illusion going on in the dome, and as soon as the dome was lifted, the illusion was over. So in reality, you never really died.’ Completed Razaar, thinking of the best possible option quickly before the Amethyst Witches reawakened. 

    ‘What makes you think she’ll join us then? If there’s no question of immortality she won’t even hesitate to say no’ posed Eliana, knowing somewhere that things would certainly not go as they had planned for it to go. 

    ‘Whether she likes it or not, the Amethyst are as involved in this war as the rest of us, and when the time comes she will have no choice but to agree and join us. Much like the Centaurs, Batrids, Aquona, and Ivory Witches. All of them put up a fight and all of them joined us in the end. If we have to fight her to get her to reconsider then so be it, we will do whatever it takes for her to join us, at the end of the day it is for her own good’ suggested Razaar, knowing now that his mate would not die anytime soon if he didn’t. The knowledge had given him much comfort and he planned on doing whatever it took to protect their lives and the truth about them.

    ‘If we fight them and one of us dies it will only be proof that what we are saying is a complete lie. We cannot risk that exposure, Razaar. We need to find another way, a way that doesn’t involve fighting.’ The information his woman had brought to life had certainly been true, though it limited them to options as  they thought of how to escape this trouble.

    ‘It’s the only option we have, Eliana. We’re just going to have to fight to the best of our abilities, and live to tell the tale’ expressed the man, knowing there was not much else they could put on the table. Their thoughts were forced to come to an end when the figures of their technically superiors awakened from their slumber, and the leader shook off her groggy eyes to face the couple that with a final glance at each other, readied themselves to face whatever was to come. 

    ‘What happened? Why were we knocked out?’ Questioned Irina from behind, breaking the silence that Zoraya hadn’t dared to break yet. 

    ‘Tell me, members of Ivory, what did the flame expose to you?’ Asked the coven leader with a smirk, knowing that whatever they would say would be a lie. 

    ‘If the flame wanted you to know it wouldn’t have knocked you out now would it?’ countered Razaar, trying his luck with the easy option. 

    ‘Oh no, that was not part of the deal I’m afraid. If you want me to join you in this war I expect the truth and nothing less from you...people’ she spat, limiting her discrimation in a lousy attempt of getting to the bottom of the miracle. The truth was that as scared as Zoraya had been of the Hybrid leader, it was a feeling she wished to replicate for herself, and felt no shame in exploring so long as she would end up with the same powers the flame had unjustly delivered only to the Ivory Hybrid leader and great Luna of Gloarian. 

    Irina stood silent in the background, ready to believe any and everything her friends would say, though little did the poor girl know that she too, would have to bear the lie the couple would reveal. 

    ‘Alright, you want to hear the truth, this is it’ began the Hybrid leader, putting up a facade to conceal the truth from sight. ‘I was never killed to begin with. The dome that Beneta had put up on me was enchanted, and so it played a film, one that made them all believe that I died, when in fact, I had not died. When Beneta was killed the dome was broken and so was the illusion. It all happened so fast that no one had realised. So to answer your question, I am not, in fact, immortal, I just never died’ revealed Eliana, hoping that it would be enough to proceed to the next stage of convincing for the coven leader. 

    Irina had barely considered the words as she fully accepted and believed them, but something about the leader’s expression had not sat well with Zoraya, who within the second knew she was being faced with a alie. She remained silent for the longest time, observing the body language of the couple ahead, and despite their neutral expressions and lack of movement, Zoraya knew she was being scammed. Looking away, she released a chuckle as she walked around the couple like a predator before coming face to face with the Hybrid leader, and speaking right in front of the woman’s face. 

    ‘Exactly how stupid do you think I am, Miss Genova?’