VERMILLION: The fall of Zaleon

Chapter 3

They had delivered the note to a spy for the Warmecks discreetly before uniting with the rest of the gang to go on that walk around the grounds of Crest. In actuality Crest was not as massive as everyone had thought, and it mainly consisted of a large forest ground and the massive mansion that stood and evolved for centuries. After everyone had politely gathered in the lounge, they had departed for the grand tour of the forest grounds. All members of the Vermilion, including Amana and Dregov had put on their facades, and all with separate intentions in mind, set out to experience yet another most awkward day of falsehoods and lies. 

‘There’s not really much around, I’m afraid, just forest grounds’ stated Stregov, being the most incredible tour guide they had ever seen. 

‘Do you guys ever shift around here?’ Asked Eliana for once, breaking the barriers of the hierarchy with the mere question. Was it alright to ask the Vermillion about their alternative forms? Who knew, all the Hybrid leader knew at that moment was that she was certainly not going to hold back. The tension had been obvious as the trio looked between each other for the first time remembering they had something to relate to, and quickly looked away, eradicating the friction with fake smiles and laughter.

‘We rarely shift, actually’ began Stregov, and they realised that the man never let his brother or sister speak. 

‘May I ask: why not? Is it uncomfortable? Or do you just-’

‘We just don’t have any reason to’ interrupted Stregov, clearly not content with the topic of conversation. Eliana nodded, remaining silent for a moment, deciding upon another topic to consider. In the moment of silence, the pair watched Daraz carefully, the man had his attention solely on Amana, and he watched like with such infatuation they were surprised the rest hadn’t pieced it together. They wondered if Amana herself had known, though the truth was that the woman did, and she despised it. The Vermillion Witch was nowhere close to being someone she would ever consider loving, not to mention he was, after all, Elize’s brother, and that only meant that he was a terrible person, because any person related to Elize was terrible, just like the woman herself. 

The walk terminated far sooner than they had imagined, and before they knew it, they were back in the mansion, and in their private quarters, alone, with nothing to go on with for the rest of the day. 

‘They really are avoiding us’ stated Eliana, pacing around the room. ‘There’s nothing we can get out of them. They really just invited us over here to stay with them for peace? I don’t understand! Why aren’t they doing anything? Why aren’t they attacking or asking more questions? Why aren’t they even interested in us? Razaar, how are we supposed to gather their strengths and weaknesses if we can’t even see them for enough time, let alone have a decent conversation with them?’ She asked, and he man had equally as confused as the woman. 

‘I don’t understand, maybe they’re playing games with us. Maybe they’re trying to get us to put our guard down so they can attack us, and harm us? Why else would they be doing nothing?’ He pondered to himself aloud. Each paced the room, until the Hybrid leader stopped, and an idea struck her. 

‘We only have one option’ she mentioned, and he waited for her to reveal what she meant ‘we must spy on them, with our alternate forms. You can shift into a snake now, so we could both slither around and figure out what’s going on in this house. We have the vision so we can look out for Liem, and work out way around the house to eavesdrop on what their thoughts are’ she said, and Razaar gleamed with excitement at being able to slither around like her for once. He had completely forgotten about his new found abilities, though was grateful to Leopold for having granted him more than he already had. The Vermillion had yet to find out that the pair had acquired even more abilities than before, though with the flame on the opposite side it would come as no shock to them at all. With a final smirk the pair shifted into their alternate forms and set off to figure out what the Vermillion were truly up to. 

Travelling around the mysterious grounds of the mansion, they attempted to identify what sounds were coming from which rooms. 

What they hadn’t realised was that their assumptions about the strongest 6 were 100% correct, and in fact, the Vermillion had been tricking the pair into believing that they did not actually have anything planned for them. As it happened, they were gathered once again in a distant lounge this time, ensuring that the pair would not make it and conversing in peace. The couple slid under the door frame where they heard the sounds coming from, and hid behind a large piece of furniture in their snake forms, hearing what they had been planning. 

‘I’m sorry you don’t like the plan Amana, but this is the plan. We don’t know how to kill them and therefore we need time. So we are going to give it time, we are going to make it seem as though we really are trying to make peace by holding off any action until we know what action to take. In the meantime let them lower their guard. So I suggest you all begin interacting with them properly. None of you guys, except Stregov and I have actually ever talked to them, so why don’t you all get on your best behaviour tonight and make the effort. I’m going to invite them to a fancy dinner tonight, with cocktails and champagne, and I expect all of you to be on your best behaviour’ she said, targeting the last part at Amana, who looked at the Witch as though she was absolutely crazy. 

‘You know they’re not buying it right, Elize?’ retorted Amana, and Dregov and Stregov rolled their eyes, knowing a great fight was coming next. 

‘Oh really? How would you know, Amana? Besides, not like you’ve got any ideas so why are you even talking?’responded Elize, and thus began the pointless exchange of insults from one woman to another. 

‘I did have a better idea: leave them alone, actually make peace and go back to the way life used to be. It’s not so hard. There’s no use in us keeping a grudge against the flame for no absolute reason-’

‘No reason? No reason! The flame denied the right to mates, it denied us access to the Galon’s, it denied us everything! It threatened us with the prophecy-’

‘Oh come on Elize! It showed you a prophecy and it is only coming true because you’re acting upon it. If you just left it alone, none of this would be happening, we would be co-existing in peace like we always have! Yeah I agree, we don’t have mates or Galon’s, but we have what the Amethyst and Ivory don’t! We have wealth, technology and a massive mansion with an unlimited supply of anything! We don’t need to run a pack or work day and night, we can literally do what we want! We have human gadgets on a planet where humans are not even a thing, think about that. Instead of focusing on all that we don’t have, focus on what you do. Your abilities are more than the Ivory and Amethyst, be grateful for that. Even in a mateless world you’ve found someone to be with, why are you complaining?’ Amana interrupted, furious beyond belief. Her words had brought peace and solace to the pair who knew now for sure that Amana was someone they could trust and would try to get on their side.

‘The flame hates us Amana! How can you be so blind? Why should I sit here and respect something that created me but loathes me? You expect me to worship the flame? To respect it’s wishes and stay in this cocoon where we have nothing but ourselves? I wish I was in the human world! It would be a lot better than being here! What has the flame given us here? A house? Supply of things? That’s it?’ Snapped Elize, and Amana’s wide eyes spoke more than words could. 

‘What do you mean that’s it? It’s enough! You want to go to the human world? Then go! You’re a Witch, surely you can build yourself one of those human spaceships and travel there, why do you have to bring the rest of the planet into this? What did they ever do to you?’ Spoke the Doirekh female as all the males simply watched the interaction between the women, as if it was normal by now, and they had gotten used to it.

‘That’s the plan!’ yelled Elize, surprising everyone in the room, including Stregov, before she continued to change the topic ‘why should that mean, however, that I cannot terminate everyone on this planet as a means of taking revenge against the flame for dooming us with this life?’ She finished, and everyone had forgotten her earlier words except her very beloved Doirekh. He had given his all to her, and still she wandered away from him, and used him in ways he could not even see. He ignored her comment soon enough, believing that she would not abandon him, and allowed the interaction to continue. 

‘Elize you are deranged! What did the rest of the planet ever do to you? You do realise the only reason this entire thing is happening is because you decided to attack in the first place, right? Had you not sent Balthazar to annihilate the population of Werewolves and Hybrids, there would be no reason for the prophecy to come true, you stupid woman!’ Exclaimed Amana, only annoying the psycho woman even more, who had had just about enough of the Doirekh’s speech that she lost her calm. In no time Amana was up against the wall by an invisible force, gasping for air, as everyone lunged for the rescue. 

Stregov remained stationary in his position as Dregov lunged into action, trying to get his sister down. Liem had muttered a “here we go again” under his breath, and Daraz rose from his seat, glaring at his sister. The brother soon interrupted, ensuring that the woman fell to the ground, finally catching her breath whilst turning to his sister.

‘Is that always necessary? Must you two always just fight?’ He asked his sister, and she glared at him evenly. 

‘You’re either on her side or mine, next time you help her I’ll take it that you’re on her side’ she spat, walking out of the room with Stregov hot on her tail.

Amana had rushed off the scene as soon as Elize and ran off And it had become evident to the pair that Amana was clearly on the right side and Elize was not. Daraz wasted no time in running after her and following her into a Chambers where he would corner her once again in an attempt to get her to join them.

‘Go away Daraz, I don't have time for you right now. First I have to deal with your insufferable sister with no brain cells whatsoever and now I have to deal with you and your infatuation?’ Her question had hurt him as usual but as usual he ignored the hatred laced in her voice and stuck to her side hopelessly.

‘Look, I get it my sister can be difficult, but why can't you see this is for the best of all of us? If all of us are in this together it will be so much easier! Why do you keep pulling away? Why do you favour the flame despite everything it's done to us? I understand that there seriously is no point in taking revenge in this way but at the same time this is what we were fated for. This is what we must do to live a normal life, there is no going back to normal now on Amana there just isn't’ he tried to convince as she just walked away from him. Eventually his own frustration caught up to him as he grabbed hold of her and pulled her close, way out of her comfort zone. 

‘I’ve told you not to corner-’

‘Just one kiss, just let me kiss you once. If you feel nothing, I’ll walk out of here and I won’t bother trying on you again until or unless you ask me too. But just let me kiss you once, if there is something, then you’ll know’ he stated, and she looked at him the same way she had Elize not too long ago. 

‘Are you insane Daraz? Why would I let you kiss me when I know that there’s nothing there? I’ve been telling you since forever that I don’t feel anything-’

‘So let me get my closure! Just one kiss, I promise you, if there’s nothing I will never bother trying again, just give me one kiss’ he begged, and she sighed out of pure and utter frustration. 

‘You want a kiss, fine, take a kiss, but remember your words, when you see that there’s nothing, walk away and don’t come back to try your useless schemes anymore’ she responded, allowing the man to desperately connect his lips with her. As Razaar and ELiana watched, they felt terrible for Amana who looked clearly disgusted the moment his lips met hers. He had backed her up into the wall now, and held every inch of her body as he devoured her, clearly enjoying it more than the woman was. She wasted no time in pushing him away after a mere second, much to his dismay. ‘See? Nothing there, now please leave’ she spoke, and he watched her with amazement. 

‘You really didn’t feel a thing?’ He asked, flabbergasted at her reaction. In his mind he was so sure that there was something between them, just like there had been between Stregov and Elize, though perhaps that’s also why he was so whipped over the only other woman amongst the 6. His reaction brought a look of pity on Amana’s face, and she decided to explain it to him in the best way possible for once. 

‘Daraz, why can’t you see it? You only like me and want me because you want someone in your life. Your own sister is with my brother, and that’s making you want to have someone with you, and since I’m the only other woman amongst us, that makes you want me even more, because you don’t have any other options. Your feelings for me aren’t real, you’re only-’

‘Don’t try and tell me what my feelings are, Amana, I can tell for myself thanks. I get it, you don’t have feelings for me, I’ve gone to lengths of humiliation to get that part, but don’t try to humiliate me further by telling me what I do and do not feel for you. I know what I feel for you, and it has nothing to do with my sister, or the fact that you’re the only other woman here. You’re feisty, you’re smart, you’re gorgeous, and I want you, genuinely. We don’t get mates, which makes it so easy for me to be attracted to you in every way, almost as if we were humans. I get it, you don’t feel anything, so I’ll get out of your hair now, but don’t make the mistake of thinking this is in any way fake or influenced’ he defended, truly getting out of her room, leaving her to her peace. 

Not a moment later, Dregov came striding into the room, and sat down next to his sister, giving her an odd expression. 

‘What did he want? Why does he always follow you around like a lost puppy?’ He asked, and for once the pair had seen Dregov actually speak. The entire duration of their stay, no matter how short it had been, all other members truly had remained silent, and had barely spoken a word to them, and watching them talk so casually amongst themselves surprised them more than it should have. 

‘He wanted to court me yet again. Asked me if he could kiss me so he could get closure’ she explained, glad that it was all over now. 

‘Oh please tell me you didn’t let him kiss you’ he feared, and she remained silent, answering his question. ‘Why? Why would you do that? You let Daraz -of all people- kiss you?’ He asked in pure disgust. 

‘Don’t say it to me like that! I feel worse about it than you do, I had to endure it. Then again I didn’t have much of a choice, firstly he was desperate beyond belief, and secondly he said that if there was nothing he would leave me alone, and he has, so I suppose it was for a good cause’ she explained and his face remained in a scrunch of disgust. 

‘That’s manipulation, that bastard. I’m going to rip him-’

‘Calm down Dregov, not yet. Besides the ripping to shreds part I can do that for myself thanks’ she interrupted, silencing her brother. Unfortunately the pair had chosen that very moment to take their leave, remembering that Elize was headed in the direction of their bedroom to ask them to dinner, and if the pair of them were missing, that would certainly be suspicious. Giving each other one last glance, they slithered away back to their bedroom, transforming back and only avoiding gazes by how grosse the previous scene had been.

‘Well we got that right, he’s definitely love struck’ mentioned the Alpha, right before Elize knocked on the door. Eliana trekked to the door and pulled it open, pretending to have just woken up from a nap. 

‘Hi, sorry to bother you, I was wondering if the two of you would be interested in joining us all in the lounge today for some fancy cocktails and dinner? That way we can perhaps get to know each other a little more, I realise it’s been a bit tough for all of us to have this transition’ she fakely mentioned, and Eliana nodded with an encouragement she did not have, more eager than ever. 

‘Of course, we would love to’ she responded with a grin on her face. 

‘Great, I will see you in 3 hours then’ stated the woman, walking away. It was hard to believe that the same woman had almost choked Amana not too long ago, and yet here she was, politely offering the pair to come to dinner as if none of that had happened.

On the other side Amana and Dregov had commenced discussing their plans to close in on the pair and join them. 

‘We can’t do it straight away, Dregov, let’s wait it out a bit. I bet they’re analysing all of us first, let’s let them do that, when they get to me, then I will make the first move’ informed the Doirekh female, and her brother nodded, going with whatever plan she had, he trusted her  that much. 

‘Alright, well you better get ready for tonight's fancy dinner then, we’ve got to make a good impression on our destroyers, if we want to join them’ Dregov answered, taking his leave from his sister's room. 

They all got dressed for the night, putting on their best clothes as if they really were desperate to make an impression, but in the end this mansion only contained people with malicious intentions of a kind. It was a house of murderers, each and everyone was in for heads and there was no toning it down. It was purely the hunger games in one house, and the match had yet to properly begin. 

Gathered in the lounge, Elize opened up a fancy bottle of liquor and poured everyone a glass, pretending to love everyone around her as she made a fascinating speech about bringing people together and appreciating everyone in the room. Everyone, of course, knew that it was all just a bunch of bullshit, but this charade was going to go on for a while until the killings would begin and everyone’s real faces would come out soon enough. 

The flame considered when would be the perfect time to reveal the rest of the story to the pair who had thought they had known it all, but Leopold put it aside, knowing they had much more to do before they could absorb everything all at once. He decided to postpone his plans, and simply watched his reincarnations play nice with the enemy. It was only a matter of time before all hell broke loose, but in the meantime they all enjoyed their liquor and the fancy dresses, before blood would spill and people would fall.