VERMILLION: The fall of Zaleon

Chapter 27

Elize had woken up with a start on the ground of the forest floor, and looked frantically to find the root of the cause as to why she was there to begin with. Fragments of memories came back to her as she remembered what had just happened, and that’s when real anger hit her. Who had tortured her? Who had dared to lay a hand on her? Her last memory had been that of her discussion with Amana, before everything had gone blank. So did that mean that Amana was responsible for everything she had just been through, or perhaps it was someone else. Perhaps it was a pair with the cruelest of intentions in her view that had done her harm. Either way, she intended to find out, and began striding towards the mansion, aware of the spots where she felt slight pain, despite the fact that no visible scar was visible. 

Blasting the door open, she strode in with fury demanding for answers. Her fiery eyes looked around everywhere to find her enemies, but nothing was there. 

‘Where are they?’ She yelled, making her way inside the mansion and towards their chambers, though she found their heads poking out from Amana’s chambers instead. She remained confused as she redirected her steps, and advanced towards the 4 of them, glaring at them from a distance. Strego had heard her voice and came trekking down, and so had Daraz and Liem, only there as spectators to view the show. 

‘What happened?’ began Stregov as he saw her ‘Where have you been?’ He asked her, and she found even more reason to be angry at him instead. Where was he in her time of need? Why had he not come to rescue her?

‘Where was I? Where were you?’ She spat, now confusing him. ‘Where were you Stregov, during my time of need? What happened to always protecting me?’ She continued, and he remained confused, his eyes squinting in misunderstanding. 

‘What are you talking about? You were out for a walk because you needed to clear you head after what my sister said to you, so I let you be’ he stated simply, and the Witch found herself delving into even more confusion. 

‘Gone for a walk? What do you think I am? A 90 year old woman with no life?’ She spat back, now facing Amana. ‘Is that what you told him then? Is that your great cover up story?’ She accused, and Amana pretended not to know what was going on by giving her a look that matched that. 

‘Excuse me, what are you on about? You stormed off on me, remember?’ Spat Amana with even more disgust. 

‘You sly little-’

‘Watch your words woman. Was this your great plan? Run away for a couple of hours and return to accuse me of something? Well too bad for you Elize, at least I have alibis, witnesses to prove that I’ve been in the mansion the whole day. Dregov and I were teaching Eliana and Razaar how to play card games, not sitting with you and hurting you in any way you freak’ she responded, and Stregov looked curiously upon the lot of 4. He seemed to believe their word instantly, knowing that Elize did hate Amana, and so it was possible that she was lying. ‘I mean, wouldn’t be the first time you’re lying though’ she added casually to increase the woman’s rage, and it sure seemed to do the job. A flaring Elize came striding towards Amana, but Dregov stepped in the middle for once, putting his hand in front to stop her. 

‘Stop. Enough now, you lied to my brother about your past, and now you’re lying and accusing my sister of something she hasn’t done. She was here the whole time, like she said, we’ve been trying to teach Eliana and Razaar other human things’ he mentioned, his tone calm, yet dominant. This only gave Elize a chance to be even angrier with them all, and she turned back around to face Stregov.

‘Do you actually believe them?’ She asked him, and he looked at her blankly, not knowing what to say. He knew he didn’t believe her, but he also knew the consequences of revealing that he didn’t believe her would be harsh. 

‘Which one of you is lying?’ He asked the 4, just to be safe, and to kill time as he thought of ways to deflect the matter. He had no idea where Elize had been in the past couple of hours, and he had every intention of finding out, his only intention then, however, had been to move out of the line of fire where issues with his newly recovered partner could arise. 

‘You serious? Why would any of us be lying?’ Dregov asked his brother, giving him the look to say that he was clearly on his side. Stregov took note of this, and found himself even more at a loss of words, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Elize. 

‘I don’t know what you’re all playing at, but one of you just kidn*pped me, tied me to something and tortured me’ she revealed, and this time, Amana decided to prove to the woman that she was going insane. 

‘You thick headed woman, why lie when you know damn well we won’t believe you? You’re a Vermillion Witch, even if someone kidn*pped you, you have powers, why didn’t you use them? Or shout for help? And if someone did torture you then why don’t you look injured?’ The Doirekh female casually brought up, looking upon the figure of the Witch that was now trembling with anger upon realising that it was a lost fight. Amana and the pair had succeeded in their mission, and because of it Elize had now officially started questioning everything that had happened. She did not have the answers to the questions Amana had raised, and everyone, including Stregov, the 4 and her own brother and Liem stared at her, waiting for something to come out of her mouth. 

‘You evil little-’

‘Elize, watch yourself’ Dregov warned again, and due to all the confusion in the room, Stregov had forgotten to even stop his brother. He too, was confused, and was hoping that his woman could answer the questions, but so far she had nothing. 

‘I have no idea how my powers were taken away from me, or why I don’t have any physical scars on my body, all I know is that I was tied up and then tortured’ she repeated, and it gave Amana the chance to humiliate her further. 

‘How did you escape anyways, if you were tied up and tortured?’ She asked as if she didn’t believe it at all. 

‘I don’t know, all I know is that I woke up on the forest ground, free-’

‘And you sure you didn’t just fall asleep and hallucinate?’ Amana then raised, now leading Elize to the breaking point as everyone around her had now officially thought that she had been dreaming or lying. 

‘I know what happened to me. I know I was tortured-’

‘Then why didn’t your powers work? What could possibly take away your powers? Because the last time I checked, neither I, a Doirekh, nor an Ivory couple, had the ability to do that’ Amana mentioned. Her story had become plausible to all except Elize, and she was shaking with anger, but also fear and doubt. Was it all real? Or had she been imagining it? Nevertheless, she stuck her ground, hoping that she could somehow prove that Amana or the pair were behind it. 

‘Like I said, I don’t know how I lost my powers at all, I just know that I did, somehow-’

‘Didn’t really think through this plan properly, did you Elize?’ Amana interrupted, clearly accusing the woman of lying, and her words were certainly not working in her favour. Elize had had enough mocking and taunting by this point, and headed straight for Amana again, and once again, Dregov stopped her. ‘Listen, if you want everyone to believe you, then prove it. You claim that I or someone here kidn*pped you and tortured you, so far there’s no scars and no idea on how someone would take away your powers. So it’s highly logical for all of us to be asking you to prove it to us, don’t you think. It’s the minimum requirement for such a massive accusation. You see Elize, as much as I hate you, I’m not stupid enough to do something that’s going to end up in me getting the blame, but clearly you seem to think otherwise. So tell us, why would I kidnap you, how would I take away your powers, and why would I torture you for some time then leave you and return casually to my chambers?’ She asked once again, and the Witch was livid, her brain storming to find the answer to all her questions. She felt helpless against the trap that Amana had set for her, and the Doirekh female had been taking great pleasure in watching the woman squirm in annoyance. 

‘You set me up, that’s why. You knew that no one would believe me if this was how you planned it, you knew it. You set me up for this’ she repeated, her voice getting lower and more dangerous by the minute. 

‘How? And why? In fact, if I did take away your powers, then prove it to us. You just tried to attack me, you clearly still have them, so how would I have taken them away from you. It just doesn’t make sense Elize. I know you hate me, but to drop to this level to try and accuse me of something is just low, even for you’ responded Amana, playing with every string that was left in the Witch’s body to get her to the breaking point. By this time no one in the room was left to believe her, including Stregov, who looked at her for once like he pitied her. Clearly her plans hadn’t gone the way she wanted them to and clearly she was doing this for attention and to get back at Amana. Though that obviously wasn’t the case. For once Elize was lost, and she had no idea how to keep it together and prove her innocence at all. Elize began smiling, and eventually turned it into a laugh as she glanced upon Amana.

‘I see what you have done, well played. I will make you pay, I swear. One way or another you will pay’ she said, laughing with no humour left in her eyes. It was at this point that Daraz decided to step in, having had enough of his sister’s embarrassment for one night. He believed Amana, seeing as there was no proof to go with his sister’s made up story, and he walked forward, getting in between Amana and Elize. 

‘Elize, maybe you should go get some rest, you look tired’ he mentioned, attempting for it to seem casual, but evidently everyone saw right through it, translating his words directly to “you’re a lunatic, go away and get help.” Elize had understood this too, and found no way of getting rid of the anger within her. She therefore pushed her brother and glared right into his eyes. 

‘You don’t believe me either? Do you?’ She asked, already knowing the answer. Daraz paused for a moment, unable to say anything before he looked around for something to say. 

‘What do you want me to say, Elize? The entire story just sounds...hard to believe? There’s not proof, and it’s true, there’s no way of taking our power temporarily, is there?’ He brought up, and she flashed her angry eyes up at him.

‘Maybe there is. Maybe they used magical chains or something’ stated the struggling Elize, though it seemed unlikely to her brother. 

‘Where would she even get them, Elize? And if she had gotten them, don’t you think she would have used it on you ages ago? Why only now and why for just a couple of hours?’ He posed, and the desperate woman who had lost her patience by now began wailing out in agony. 

‘Because this is exactly what she wants! She wants to separate us, to make us hate each other, she wants to turn us against each other’ she spat, and Amana laughed behind her. 

‘Turn against each other? Open your eyes Elize, my brother is more loyal to you than he is to himself, Liem just slept with you so he’s not going to turn against you, my other brother is only loyal to the brother that’s loyal to you so that’s not changing any time soon, and I hate you. That much is known. What exactly is your point? Nothing has changed, except you just created all this drama for no absolute reason and you’re only realising now that your plan was absolute crap. Well done Elize, now pack up and get out of here. Can’t be bothered with more of your drama’ responded Amana, breaking up the group and watching everyone go their way, including the four that returned to the privacy of Amana’s chambers. 

As they did this, something odd lurked in the room, and before anyone could start talking, Eliana interrupted Amana. 

‘Television’s, aren’t they nice. Let’s go watch some television, shall we?’ Questioned the woman oddly. Everyone around her gave her a weird look before remembering that the mention of television meant that Liem was lurking around the room, and they all nodded, taking their leave from the room, into the lounge, where they indeed, turned on the television and waited for his presence to disappear. Once it did, the immortal pair scanned the place in their snake forms rapidly to ensure he was gone before returning to Amana’s chambers. 

‘Well, that plan worked like a charm’ Amana stated proudly, a smirk shining on her face. WIthin seconds everyone around her began laughing, and they realised that indeed, despite the risks and tremor they had made it through to the other side. Amana's plan had turned out to be the most hilarious and well thought plan they had. They could only wonder what Elize was going through, and it certainly wasn’t a moment of happiness given the fact that Stregov himself refused to believe Elize, despite not acting like it. 

Eliana and Razaar slithered off to view what had been going on in the other room between the Witch and the Doirekh, and the scene had been one that gave them great joy.

‘You don’t believe me?’ Elize asked him, her voice breaking as she looked upon him. 

‘Elize, I do, but the story, it just makes no sense. That’s why I’m asking you. I just want you to tell me the truth, if it’s made up, it won’t make a difference to me I promise’ replied the oldest Doirekh, and by the look on her face it was evident that his words were breaking her heart.  

‘You don’t believe me?’ She repeated, tears flooding her eyes once again, and this time Stregov realised the big mistake he had made by admitting that he didn’t believe her, and so he quickly changed his response and embraced her into a hug. 

‘Of course I believe you, Elize. I just wondered ok, I’m sorry. I believe you’ he retorted, and it was bringing much joy to the immortal pair’s ears. Their joy, however, was short lived as the woman decided to take advantage of his submission almost immediately to shove Amana under the bus once again. The women felt vindictive and ready to strike upon the woman she hated so much, and she was going to take her revenge right there and then. 

‘It was your sister, she set me up, I promise Stregov. You have to believe me’ she wailed once again, and he held her in his arms, patting her head and agreeing. 

‘I believe you Elize’ was the only thing he had said, which brought a smirk to her face, one that Eliana and Razaar had certainly seen, but one that Stregov had not. 

‘Punish her then’ she said, looking up at him with tear stained and serious, upset eyes. ‘If you believe me then punish her. She’s trying to turn everyone against me and break the order of this house. She’s jealous of us and wants attention. She took advantage of our fight and now this. Punish her Stregov, I know she is your sister but she has done me wrong. Punish her’ Elize brought up with the utmost seriousness. Stregov looked lost for the longest time, wondering what he should do. Should he go against his sister, or should he not? 

‘Fine’ was his final response, and the shocked Eliana and Razaar returned to Amana’s chambers to deliver the news to them. 

Switching back they stopped the funny conversations that the other siblings were having. 

‘It’s not good. Elize, she got your brother to believe her, or at least stay on her side despite not believing her. She told him to punish you for what you did, and he agreed’ they revealed, and the siblings looked at them confused. 

‘Punish me? How? When?’ Amana asked, and Dregov tensed up once again. 

‘We don’t know, they didn’t say. All they said was that they would punish you somehow’ the Hybrid leader revealed, and for a moment they all stood in silence, unable to comprehend what to do. Perhaps the only one amongst them who didn’t care about the punishment was Amana herself, who had busied herself in thinking of how easily her own brother had agreed to punish her, and how little he still cared for her. 

‘Let him come and punish me, I couldn’t care less’ she said, the sadness evident in her voice before Dregov spoke up. 

‘Well I damn right do care. I won’t let him lay a hand on you. I don’t care, this ends now. We’ve taken it too far. Tonight after this so-called punishment we return to Tetra, and when we come back to Crest it’s to kill Daraz. Pack your things Amana, we’re leaving tonight’ he said, though before he could move an inch, the door of her chambers burst open and Stregov strode in, thinking of himself as the Alpha as he glared at his sister. 

‘Why? Why can’t you just leave us alone? Why does it bother you so much that your brother is happy?’ He asked her, taking slow steps to approach her. He had yet to do anything, but Dregov remained stiff, ready to intervene as soon as the time would come. 

‘All this bullshit, no proof, and you still believe her? You’re equally as insane, Streogov. I don’t care for you or for her. So you’re mistaken, now get out of my chambers’ she spat at him disrespectfully, to which he obviously didn’t react too well. 

‘No, Amana, it’s time you start paying for your crimes’ he mentioned, now coming forward with the clear intention to attack. Before he could, however, Dregov dived in, landing a punch square on his brother’s face, like he always wanted to. He didn’t stop there, however, he wanted to leave with the full intention of letting his brother know how much he too hated him. Stregov was a coward and a traitor, and his brother would make him pay until he died in the worst way possible. 

Several punches were delivered before Dregov lifted his brother into the air, and throwing him out the window, whilst switching into his Dragon form and diving out to spit fire on the figure of his brother, which barely hit him, before he landed on the ground, switching back, right next to a highly injured and wincing in pain Stregov. 

‘That might not be your sister anymore, but she is mine. Disrespect her again and this time I’ll kill you. I’m done taking your s**t. Find your own way out now’ he spat, leaving just as Elize came rushing down to find Stregov laying on the floor, injured. She screamed out, cursing out Dregov for what he had done, but the truth was that she knew this was all her fault. She didn’t have it in her to return up to make him pay, for she wanted to make sure that Stregov would be alright, after all. She decided to deal with them later, having no clue that they were about to disappear, and took Stregov inside, with Daraz and Liem’s help, where the rest of the 4 remained as the immortal pair, Amana and Dregov got ready to flee Crest.  

Packing their bags and gathering their stuff, the most overjoyed immortal pair and Doirekh siblings headed into the forest, undetected by the busy 4 whose luck was not looking so good. It was time for things to be put into action, and soon, the story would change, and the end would near.