Chapter 25 - SIREN
943 Words
My gaze is fixed on the mirror showing me the secret in the forest. There he is, the noblest fool in all of Dreamscape, all partnered up with a human and a Witch. Such a pitiful affair. Although I know a certain naïve i***t who would call this the dawn on a new hope. As if there is any chance at peace with things whose magic and life rely on blood and tears. As if there is any chance in hell of existing in peace with odious selfish things who always want more, more and more. And the things they would do when there is no chance in hell of getting what they want…
Where is our food, huh?
You gave the others food!
Heal me! You healed my neighbour!
I shake myself and look at the mirror. Knight seems to be telling his new friends something… What will happen in this particular scenario is not really a mystery. The obstacles will soon be taken care of.
“That is enough,” I tell the mirror and turn back. I almost gasp as I see a flash of gold in the corner but I catch myself just in time. I have already gotten myself in a tricky situation. I don’t need to give the snake any more chances to come out on top by showing him how much his little schemes have gotten under my skin.
“You seem to have bitten off quite a lot of rotten food.” He is smug as he saunters towards me, his eyes cold as steel. As his ruthless gaze sweeps me from head to toe, his smile chillingly like that of a human, I experience the terror his charges go through every single day.
“Who let you in here?” I say as a wall of blue flames erupts between us. That doesn’t stop him though. He simply walks right up to it and chuckles.
“You are acting very much like a frightened human child.” He says.
“To be cautious enough to keep a snake a good distance away is not fear. It is simply common sense.”
“Of course,” He laughs. “But when the snake is someone who could turn your life’s work into ashes, you ought to be a little more careful about angering him.”
I know what will happen if I start bowing to his every whim. And there is no way I am going to let him rule over me and Dreamscape. I have to find a way to stop this madness.
“You are not going to find a helping hand waiting to pull you out of this dark pit, Siren.” He says. “This little game is stacked against you. The sooner you realize that and stop fighting the better.
“What do you want, Eric?” I ask. “And who gave you permission to enter my palace?”
“We already had this conversation, Siren.” He says. “You know what I want.”
I try to resist the urge to just blast him to ash. His face leers at me through the flames and for the briefest of moments, I see red eyes and fangs dripping with blood. A scream chokes in my throat.
“You are too powerful to be this scared.” He mocks. “Now take down the flames so we can discuss the first thing you can do for me.”
The flames are gone before I even think about taking them down. He steps closer and closer, his face like a ghost in the light of the moon. His eyes shine brightly like a hungry wolf as he right in front of me, his nose almost touching mine.
“It has been quite a while since you felt this powerless, hasn’t it?”
I freeze. My words are a block of ice in my throat. Seeing my surprise, he smiles brightly.
“Oh, I know, Siren!” He says. “I’ve known for a long time.”
A rush of memories takes over me. Suddenly, I am at that alley again. Surrounded by the desperate cries of humans. Eyes red from crying glare at me from every direction, ready to just tear me apart.
“How horrifying to feel all your powers gone. To stand there as they closed in. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.”
“Please stop.” I whimper as his forehead touches mine, a flame of hate burning inside me. Not for Eric, the despicable Golden Guardian, but for myself.
“What did you feel when you called out for help that day and your precious friend…”
“JUST STOP!” I cry as my whole body burns. Before I knew it I am a huge burning flame and Eric is stepping away from me, his eyes full of malice.
“Before you destroy yourself and this pathetic kingdom because you can’t even consider the possibility of being second to anyone else,” He says, the fury in his voice barely restrained, “Let me tell you what I want.”
“What do you want?” I ask, gritting my teeth. It is so tempting to let fire engulf him, to watch him burn to nothing. But I can’t. I simply can’t let everything I worked for be for nothing.
“Rosa.” He says. “To begin with. Whatever else I want, I’ll ask for it when the time is right.”
- Writer
