The Masked Stranger

Chapter 19

Jade’s P.O.V

After James and I let go of each other I felt a cold air run through me before I collapsed on the ground.

“Jade!!” James yelled my name worriedly.

“Somebody get the pack doctor!” He yelled, then suddenly I felt my eyes close. Everything went dark.

“James!!” I yelled his name, I looked around me, but saw nothing.

“You can’t hide forever.” I heard someone whisper in my ear. I quickly turned around only to be faced with a forest. I saw a woman who looked a lot like me. She had the same black hair and grayish green eyes. She was running from something, she was holding a small baby in her arms. Before setting it under a bush. Letting a large wolf carry it off. Deeper into the forest before it entered a portal. I turned back towards the woman. She had a stone cold expression.

“There you are, you witch, what did you do with your filthy child?” A man with a beard and a battle axe asked her. Then his axe started glowing black then purple and then blue to green and to red, before it turned this gray-ish silver color much like my eyes.

“Die witch!” He said ferociously before decapitating the woman, then it hit me that the woman was my mother. Then the scene quickly changed. It was the same forest still at night, but the sky was different, it was more vibrant and colorful, it looked beautiful. I looked in front of me only to see myself holding a sword that had glown like the battle axe in one of my hands, but in the other was purple fire giving off the most amazing power I had ever felt. I had on a black shirt and pants. I turned my head slightly only to see James’s enormous black wolf howling at the moon. I could sense something was off. But before I knew what was going on I was back in complete darkness.

Soon I opened my eyes wide, I felt like I was choking on my own blood. I opened my mouth but all that came out were sobs. I felt tears pouring down my face. I felt something dreadful was to come, and I had no clue what it was, but I had every intention of finding out.

Unknown’s P.O.V

I woke up from my dream only to see Balzech sitting next to my bed.

“It’s time, you know what must be done.” He tells me, handing me the same battle ax that my evil mother was slain with, the same one I would have to use on my twin sister.

“Violetta better be prepared, cause when I get my hands on her she’ll be begging to be spared, it’s time for me to gain back what was once stolen from me.” I say before getting up and changing into some clothes then walking over to my closet and typing in a code, I saw all my racks of clothes being pulled out of the way revealing my weaponry and armor I would need to use for this war so I could begin training.

Jade’s P.O.V

I woke up with James sitting next to me on a bed and Apollo standing not too far away.

“Are you okay?”James asked me as soon as I woke up.

“I’m fine, I fainted didn’t I?” I asked to which James nodded.

“Jade, did anything happen when you fainted?” Apollo asked me.

“Yeah actually you remember when we were at the witches house and I fainted?” I asked him and he nodded.”Well I saw something then too, someone is targeting me, just like we thought and they are the same people that killed my mother that’s all I know.” I said before lowering my head in frustration. Why did that strange woman’s voice say she was going to kill me, and why does she want me dead? I thought long and hard about it until I groaned.

***

It had been a few days since I had that dream or nightmare, I still wasn’t sure what exactly it was, but I knew something was wrong and I needed to know what it was. I am currently laying in bed with a snoozing James beside me with his arms wrapped around me. I quickly got out of bed putting a pillow in my place, so James wouldn’t know I had left. Then I went into our closet and changed into a pair of faded jeans and a light blue off the shoulder sweater. I put on a pair of black converse then made my way to the room Apollo was staying in.

“Apollo!” I said his name as I came into the room without knocking. Biggest mistake of my life. When I walked in there was a sight in front of me so disturbing I could’ve just died then and there. Apollo was half naked with a girl directly underneath him who was also half unclothed. I immediately shut the door and started walking back towards my bedroom, hoping not to get caught by anyone.

“Jade!” I heard Apollo call my name, but under the circumstances I chose to ignore it. At least that was until he grabbed my hand.

“Sorry about that...What did you need?” He asked me.

“Oh umm yeah right… I need you to open the portal, cause we need to talk to my father about something.” I told him. Not even two seconds later the portal opens.

“Wow, how did you open the portal so fast?” I ask him.

“Oh no, I didn’t open the portal you did.” He says.

“But I didn’t even cast a spell. I only wished for you to open the portal.” I say.

“Well that must be one of your powers then.” He says before walking through the portal, me following closely behind. Once we got out the other end of the portal I saw my father standing there.

“I figured you’d come back soon.” He says before walking into a dimly lit room, us following.

He goes behind a large wooden desk and sits down in the chair, as Apollo walks towards the piano and strokes the wood along it. I just stay standing after closing the door behind me.

“I need you to tell me everything. I don't know what it is, but I do know you left something out of the story, and I need to know what it is now before it’s too late.” I say then fold my arms waiting for his explanation.

“You're right I am keeping something. The sisters may have told you about the prophecy, but they didn’t tell you the whole thing. You see the actual prophecy is that there would be twins born one was to follow the path to the darkness. While the other would follow the light. Then once they've come of age their powers will be released and they will engage in battle. And whichever one survived would be the one to produce another chosen one, who would be the one to give birth to the most powerful creature of all. That’s the real prophecy.” He says, then I realize that’s what’s missing. I have a twin sister.

“So you mean to tell me I have a twin sister I don’t know about?” I ask them both, causing Apollo to fall off the piano bench and onto the floor.

“Yes you have a twin sister, her name is Viridianna. At least that’s what your mother and I named her.” He tells me.

“So what did you guys just name us colors for your own enjoyment?” I ask him.

“What color is named Viridianna?” Apollo asks.

“Viridian is a dark green color. Then they named me Violetta. So they basically just named us colors that aren’t overused.” I say before plopping down in a chair.

“Who names their kid after a color?” Apollo asks.

“I don’t know who names their kid after a Greek god?” My father asks. Then they started arguing further.

“Oh my…I’m surrounded by idiots.” I really hope the portal opens, so I can leave these two here.

Not even two seconds later the portal opens. Man Apollo was actually right. I opened it. Huh I guess he isn’t entirely useless after all. I walk through the portal before I come out. On the other end I come face to face with an angry looking James.

“Where were you?” He says his arms folded. He looked so cute, like a pouting two year old who just got their favorite toy taken away.

“I was at my father’s castle talking to him about something.” I tell him before walking down the stairs and into the kitchen as James follows behind me. I grab a granola bar and walk out of the house and into the woods. This is probably the best place for me to practice using my powers.

“Hey James, you might want to stand back behind me.” I told him. He then makes his way behind me. I let the power take control over my body. Then I saw purple fire shoot out my hands and into a tree. Before James put the fire out. I knew that all that practice with my powers with Artemis would pay off. I kept practicing with the purple flames repeatedly.

***

After a few hours of magic practice I sat down on the ground leaning against a tree. James had stayed with me the entire time. I think the time he spent with me gone, was very stressful for him. James sat down on the ground next to me.

“Jade?” He asked.

“Yeah?” I looked at him.

“Please no matter what, don’t leave me again. I don’t think I can handle losing you.” He told me, leaning his head on my shoulder.

“Trust me I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.” I replied even though I knew that soon a battle would be coming. I can’t slack on my training, tomorrow I begin training at dawn. I can’t leave James. I have to win this war no matter what.