AMETHYST: The rise of Tetra

Chapter 5

    ‘Excuse me?’ questioned the Hybrid leader, stunned at the abrupt question. 

    ‘Do not take me as a fool, leader of Hybrids, because I know that you and your mate are lying’ spat Zoraya in the face of the great Luna. Razaar took this brief moment to walk forward towards his mate, though was stopped when an invisible force held him up into the air, and Eliana gasped as she noticed Zoraya holding out her hand where the man was being held hostage. 

    ‘What are you doing? Let him go? What more do you want me to tell you?’ yelled the Hybrid leader in slight panic. She knew there was no way he would die without her, though it was imperative she did her best to keep that secret, and so she began to act as desperate as she could. 

    ‘You know what I want to hear dear, the truth. Get talking’ she repeated sternly, having no interest in dealing with the charade the pair had been playing. 

    ‘I just told you the truth, you deranged woman, why would I lie?’ Questioned Eliana in fake panic, keeping her distance before the coven leader did any worse to her mate. The frozen Irina had decided to come into action at the horrific scene, and dashed forward to Eliana’s side. 

    ‘Zoraya, what are you doing? You need to trust her, she wants what’s best for all of us!’ yelled the woman, causing guilt to flutter within the Hybrid leader who felt terrible at the thought of lying to her own friend. Nevertheless she knew it had to be done, and so she stuck to her story despite the look of pain on her mate’s face. 

    ‘The more you stall the longer he will suffer’ commented the coven leader, holding an expression of boredom to signal just how long she was willing to wait to get the answers she wished to hear. 

    ‘My mate’s life is in your hands, do you really think I would be lying to you about this? We are telling the truth, I didn’t die! I’m not immortal!’ exclaimed Eliana, taking a step forward to the woman with a plan in mind. The mere step had gone unnoticed by Zoraya, and as she remained silent, holding the man in her bubble of torture, the Hybrid leader slyly got closer, pleading and panicking fakely until she was close enough to her enemy. Swiftly, she transformed into her snake, causing only a moment of tension to arise within the coven leader before she was knocked out by the strong snake that lived within the immortal woman. The woman’s fake panic ended as she shifted back, and dashed to her mate who had dropped to the ground as well. 

    ‘Are you okay?’ Questioned Eliana, picking Razaar off the ground. 

    ‘Yeah, good job’ he responded, both facing Irina, who more than ever, looked confused. 

    ‘Is it true? Are you really not immortal?’ The poor woman asked innocently, hoping that her friends would not have lied to her. Looking between each other, Eliana decided she would not lie to the woman, though she wouldn’t tell her the truth either. 

    ‘What I told your leader was a lie, the only part I didn’t lie about was the fact that the flame knocked you out for a reason. As much as I want to tell you what’s going on, Irina, I can’t, you just have to trust me. No matter what happens, you cannot tell her anything’ warned Eliana, having faith that Irina would remain a loyal friend, more than most. 

    ‘I understand’ responded Irina, nodding at the earlier statement. As much as the friend wished to understand what had been happening, all she really cared about was the safety of her mate and her brother. Eliana sighed in relief at the acceptance of the Amethyst Witch, and started walking out of the Galon, her mate and Irina following close behind. 

    ‘Irina, can you take us back to your lands? I’m sure your leader is going to awaken very soon, and when she does I want to be waiting for her on her grounds with a plan in hand. I can’t walk out of this territory without knowing the Amethyst Witches will be joining the war to come’ requested the leader, and in turn, the understanding woman led the pair back to her lands, hoping to the flame that they would succeed in their mission to save the planet. 

    ‘What’s your plan, Eliana?’ Investigated Razaar once they stumbled into the office of the coven leader. The Hybrid considered her options, knowing that she didn’t have very many to begin with. How would she conquer this leader without exposing the truth or exerting herself?

    ‘We falsely threaten her? Tell her that we’ll get all of Ivory to go to battle against her if she doesn’t join?’ suggested the woman, absolutely unsure of what she was saying. 

    ‘No offense, but that’s a terrible idea, my friend’ commented Irina honestly from the corner of the room. Elina took a deep breath, burying her head in the nest of her hands.

    ‘I don’t know, I am out of ideas. I don’t understand why this woman is being so stubborn, the existence of her kind depends on it. Perhaps we should expose her to the rest of her kind?’ offered Eliana, having a tube light moment and getting off the seat she sat on not a minute ago. ‘That’s it! That’s exactly what we should do. Expose her! Irina, is there any way you can use your magic to show every member of this coven what is going on in here discreetly? I want to have a conversation with Zoraya, and when she mentions her lack of care for the war, it will demonstrate just how little she cares about her own people, and that is when she’ll have no choice but to join us, because if she doesn’t someone from this coven surely will kill her’ completed the Hybrid leader with a new sense of motivation. Irina paused for a brief moment, thinking through her options on the idea introduced by her friend, and wondered how she could make this possible. 

    ‘I would need a ball, a crystal ball, one that can reflect out to every person on this territory, without it I couldn’t possibly do such a thing’ she mentioned, thinking very carefully of what she was about to do. Going against her leader might have just been the most dangerous thing she would ever do, one that would put her and her family in danger, though the odd feeling of safety that Eliana emanated had been enough to get the Witch to do what she had to, no matter the cost. 

    ‘Great, where can you find a ball like this?’ asked Eliana, aware of the risks the woman was taking for her. 

    ‘Well, this is my leader's office, if I can’t find one here I wouldn’t know where else to find one’ she stated, beginning to rummage through her leader's things with guilt until she found what she was looking for in a particular hidden drawer in the office room. ‘This is it’ she announced, slowly elevating from where she stood. 

    ‘You sure this will work?’ Confirmed Razaar, noticing the angry leader storming back to her house from the window, when Irina nodded in response, he ushered her out the house before Zoraya would make her appearance, and hoped that their plan would be successful. 

    Within seconds the door busted open, and as the coven leader’s eyes fell on the woman that so casually sat on her chair, words had disappeared to describe just how angry the Amethyst Witch was. 

    ‘You come to my territory, ask for my help, get your answers on our Galon grounds and then knock me out to take over my office? You have some nerve-’

    ‘That is where you’re mistaken, Zoraya. I have not done a single thing. I have merely come here to ask for your assistance in a war that will affect us all. After all, the Vermillion are after us all, and if you do not participate, that will mean the loss of all your people. You wouldn’t want to do that to your people now would you, Zoraya?’ Posed Eliana, following through with her plans to crush the attitude of the Witch. Glaring, the Witch slammed her door shut, and lifted the Hybrid leader into a bubble much like the one she had placed Razaar in before she knocked out, and dragged her across the room, out of her seat. She then proceeded to walk to the now empty seat and sit down, ensuring that the couple remained a far distance from her. 

    ‘You do not get to decide what is and is not right for my people’ snapped the woman, wrath lacing her voice. 

    ‘You’re right, I do not. That’s why I’m letting you decide, would you like to join us in this war and bring down the Vermillion that are trying to kill us all, or will you sit back like a coward and let your people die at their hands?’ Repeated Eliana, knowing that every word she said was being projected into the minds of all Amethyst Witches along the territory. They had yet to see the results of their tries, though remained patient, knowing at some point they would achieve their goals. 

    ‘I told you I would not get myself involved in all of this until I don’t know what really is going on-’

    ‘With me’ completed the Hybrid leader, asserting her dominance as she walked right in front of the Witch and faced her head on. ‘You told me you wouldn’t agree to anything until you found out why I survived death, but let me ask you this: why else would the flame knock you out when it responded to my answers. I’ll answer it for you, because that is the order of the flame, that only my mate and I should know what is happening with me. It is, after all, a personal matter, and it has nothing to do with you or your people. It hasn’t changed the fact that the Vermillion are out to destroy the hierarchy by wiping us all out and it doesn’t change the fact that we all need to fight alongside each other to destroy the Vermillion. You’ve seen the prophecy, you know I’m not lying, then why take so much of an interest in something the flame wishes not for you to see? Your duty is to protect your people, Zoraya, not to figure out what is happening with me, or to explore why I survived death so you can replicate the same for yourself and watch your people die’ retorted the brave leader. Razaar could do nothing but smirk in the background, knowing his mate was a tough woman to be up against, and not even he could do the job that she was currently doing to gather an army this powerful. A stunned Zoraya sat back with wide eyes, discontent with the tone that had been used against her by a member inferior to her, and as she would have it, she decided to repeat her own process of intimidation, this time on Eliana, rather than Razaar, lifting the woman up in a bubble of torture. 

    ‘How dare you talk to me like that, you disrespectful Ivory?’ whispered the coven leader, unaware that her people were currently watching every single move of hers ‘If the Vermilion are coming to me, then I will do anything in my power to ensure I live. I am this coven’s leader, my people need me more than I need them. Do you understand that, you little snake?’ she hissed, dropping the woman down from the air. As much as Razaar wished to help, he knew his effort would be futile, and so he waited patiently for his woman to be dropped, knowing that no matter what, she would not die if he didn’t. It was a security he appreciated having, and one he would take full advantage of. The pair had gotten the woman to reveal enough to have her members raging, and they expected that in no time, the woman would have no choice but to switch her response. Picking herself off the ground, the Hybrid leader smirked as she walked back to face the Witch daringly. 

    ‘What are you trying to say, Zoraya? That you matter more than your people? You would really sacrifice the life of every Amethyst Witch just to save yourself? Are you that selfish?’ The leader decided to keep pushing, knowing at some point she would score her luck. A raging Zoraya emerged once again, this time physically holding onto Eliana until she held the woman by the throat against the wall. This time the Alpha wasted no time in attacking, pushing the woman from one side of the room to another with immense strength, rage consuming him at anyone touching his mate wrongly. 

    ‘Touch her again and I’ll make sure you don’t live to tell the tale’ warned the Alpha of Gloarian, taking a protective stance in front of his mate. Eliana placed her hand on his back, cooing the man down within an instant, and keeping him right next to her as they turned to face the enemy that had yet to surrender. 

     ‘You two really think you can take on an Amethyst Witch? You think just because you survived death once you’ll survive again?’ mocked the woman, taking slow and steady steps till she returned right in front of the couple. ‘I could kill you both right now. I’m just choosing not to’ she spat between her clenched teeth. 

    ‘Why is that? Is it because you still haven’t figured out how I lived? And because you want to know so that you can protect only yourself in this war to come? Is it so that you won’t have to participate and you can watch everyone else die but yourself?’ taunted Razaar, taking over from his mate to push the woman over the line. A now shaking Zoraya had had enough dirty comments, and decided it was time for her to take things further. 

    ‘I have spent the majority of my life fulfilling duties for the Amethyst Witches, and not once have I received anything in return. I have no mate, and no friends. What have they done for me to receive my protection? Why shouldn’t I be selfish and protect myself?’ the snarling woman revealed, not just to the leaders, but to all her people. Their plan had certainly been working ,and the woman would no doubt have to change her mind very soon about what she would be doing, though for the time being, the couple gave it a few extra minutes before making the woman aware and getting the contribution they came to claim in the first place. 

    ‘Surprise surprise Zoraya, that is what being a leader is all about. You put your people first, before you and everything else in your life. You think your mate would love you if he knew how selfish you were? You think you can have friends when you have no love for anyone here? All this stuff that you want, it requires effort, it requires a selfish mind. You’re clearly not well equipped to be a leader. But there is still time to change that, join us, and change for your people, fight for you people and earn their trust. Earn their love’ Negotiated Eliana, hoping she could do some good in the process of recruitment. Just like with Selina and Darcena, she hoped her harsh words would have a greater effect on the Amethyst Witches leader for the best. 

    Unfortunately for her, the only thing occurring in her mind that very moment had been the consumption of wrath and the delivery of pain. 

    ‘What are you going to teach me about being a leader, Ivory? You’re inferior to me, my powers do not compare what you can do little snake, you are not qualified to teach me what I should and shouldn’t be doing as a leader, neither of you should be’ she yelled, her voice now echoing around the lands not only through the projection that had been playing in people’s eyes, but also through the physical echo the words had left as they traveled around the lands of Amethyst. 

    ‘I may be an Ivory, but I fought till death for my people, and I survived. Tell me Zoraya, what exactly have you done for your people? You can’t even fight a war, much less love your own kind. I think you don’t want to join this fight because of your personal prejudices with those inferior to you, but you’re willing to put your people at risk for your personal hatred. Now what would your people think of that?’ Pushed Eliana, knowing the breaking point had arrived. The look on her face said it all, and as she raged manically and lifted up Razaar in a bubble of thunder, shocking him from every possible direction, Eliana began worrying about the outcome. She hadn’t been concerned about the pain that would come to him, she was concerned that he wouldn’t die, and she wasn’t ready to have that secret revealed just yet.

    ‘Put him down, what is wrong with you?’ She protested, attempting to get nearer to the woman, but failing when Zoraya blocked her from doing so with her free hand. 

    ‘You come to my territory and try to patronise me, how dare you?’ She shouted ferociously. All efforts that Eilana had been putting into trying to save her mate had been pointless, though it hadn’t stopped her from trying her best. 

    ‘We aren’t here to patronise you, we are here for the greater good of Zaleon, and whether you like it or not you have to join us in this war’ she spoke as she pushed through the invisible barrier the Witch had created in front of her. 

    ‘Oh really, you're going to force me now?’ Posed the Amethyst Witch who had now lost all sense of normality. Within seconds, Razaar was dropped from his bubble, and the image of Irina standing by the door had been the confirmation the pair needed to know their plan had worked. ‘How dare you-’

    ‘Look out the window’ interrupted Irina bravely, causing pride to flutter within her friends. She had done it, and because of her, they would survive. 

    Zoraya stepped towards the window as instructed, and as her eyes landed on her entire coven, she knew she had messed up. 

    ‘What is this?’ She asked, hoping that the worst had not been seen. A smirking Eliana picked her mate up off the ground once again, who had had just about enough torture for the day, before he stabilised himself and stood strong behind the woman he swore to protect for life. 

    ‘This is your reality. Every person out there has heard your conversation with me. Now they all know what you really think of them and what you’re really up to. I told you that you would have no choice but to join us’ responded the Hybrid leader, advancing to meet a weak coven leader who stumbled back at the words. 

    ‘Why?’ she questioned in horror, her eyes stuffed with tears that had never previously made an appearance. Eliana thought back to the words of Irina before they arrived at her home, now seeing the more sensitive side of a woman who refused to acknowledge that side of her, and it caused her to wonder why Witches were so stern with their emotions. It reminded her of Darcena, and her own stubbornness before she succumbed to being the person she wished to be: a good leader. The panic on Zoraya’s face had been enough motivation for Eliana to pull on the correct strings to switch the flip of this Witch who also needed a push in the right direction.

    ‘Because Zaleon is collapsing, and if we don’t get rid of our prejudices and selfish needs, this planet will cease to exist. I understand that I’m asking you to go up against the strongest 6 of Zaleon, and that thought might scare you more than you let on, but not fighting and pretending that you don’t care about your people is a worse choice than fighting and dying for your people. No matter how poorly people might think of you right now, you have it in you to change that ideal, and you can start by participating in this war, by protecting your people, by doing your duty as the leader of the Amethyst Witches. You are a strong woman, Zoraya, don’t let your skills go to waste searching for power’ explained Eliana, appealing to the woman in the most gentle tone she could. The coven leader had no choice but to sit back and listen without reacting, knowing everything was on the line for her. Getting closer to her, Eliana extended her hand as a sign of peace. ‘So, are you ready to make the right decision now?’