The Muse

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Espanyana’s P.O.V

    I never in a million years would’ve thought that Natalia would ever turn her back on me like this.

    Yes, I’ve made some mistakes in my life and have done things that I’m not proud of. But I only ever made those choices to help my family. I was acting in the benefit of all my brothers and sisters.

    I never would’ve thought loosing them would be the result.

       Natalia knows just how badly their deaths affected me. I was mentally decrepit for years.

    I blamed myself everyday continuously and it took me a very long time to become mentally stable again after that.

    Watching your family get killed in the most horrific way possible because of a choice you made is something that can completely deteriorate your mental health in an instant.

                                            *flashback to 3yrs ago in Barcelona, Spain*

Espanyana’s P.O.V

    I am awoken out of my sleep as a deep unsettling feeling of danger overtakes my entire being.

    My eyes quickly scan the dimly lit room before landing on Natalia’s sleeping form across from me. I immediately pull my covers off my body before rising to my feet and making my way over to Natalia.

             “Nat wake up.” I urged in a hushed tone as I proceeded to vigorously shake her sleeping body.

              “Hmm?” She hummed as her eyes slowly opened to meet with mine

              “Somethings wrong.” I explained causing her eyebrows to furrow in concern.

    She instantly rises to her feet before following me towards the grand iron, salt rinsed door protecting our sleeping corridors. I cautiously push the door open before being given access to the spacious hallway.

    Our feet walk against the golden floors as we very cautiously escape the women’s sleeping wing of the estate.

    As we reach the end of the dark hallway Natalia immediately grabs onto my arm, preventing me from walking any further.

     My body turns to face hers as concern and confusion takes over me. Natalia quickly places a finger over her mouth- indicating for me to be quiet as she points towards downstairs.

     I immediately turn back around before cautiously peeking my head passed the wall at the overpass. But what I saw absolutely terrified me.

      It was Dane, standing in the rotunda next to the statue of prudence while conversing with some dark figure.

How is he even in here right now?

No evil darker than Asmodeus is allowed to step foot on this property.

Surely he should be dead by now.

               “I don’t care how you do it. Bring it to me! She stole the crystal of the trinity realms. There shall be NO reunion until it’s back in my possession! Don’t stop until you find her! I know she’s here, I can smell her filth.” He seethed to the dark figure.

    The dark shadow of a man nodded his head in understanding at Dane’s orders before taking a step back, deeper into the corner in which they were talking in and completely vanishing in-front of our eyes.

    I then feel Natalia pull my body closer to hers- away from the overpass before quickly casting a spell.

                 ‘Bless our spirit

                  May no evil hear it

                  Shall no demon reign over we

                  & for every incentive leave us be’ she hummed as she held onto her pendant, causing a barrier of protection to form around us.

               “What is he talking about Yana? Surely you didn’t steal from the ruler of all things damned did you?” She questioned fearfully as she looked at me with worry filled in her eyes.

                “I had to, he was planning to use its power to disrupt the balance of nature and start a war between Heaven and Hell. He wants to use the crystals power, drain it, and then use it for all things evil.” I defended, remembering our conversation a few nights prior

                "what do you mean?" She questioned with concern and confusion clear in her tone.

                   “I mean he doesn’t think it’s enough to only rule over the damned. He wants to break the gates of Heaven and fight his way to the top. He plans to rule the entire world. And he doesn’t care at what cost.”

                   “ since when do you care about the well-being of mortals? You’re not of this earth so, so what if he starts a war? We’ll survive it just fine. And since when do you care about Dane’s agenda? You’re his bloodtie, so you’ll benefit more than any other deity. I’m convinced it’s something else, what are you not telling me?” She questioned as she narrowed her eyes at me in disbelief

                    “That’s it, I’m telling you the truth.” I lied

                     "show me the crystal" Natalia insisted

    I nod my head at her before turning on my feet in preparation to guide her towards the crystal of the trinity realms. We walk swiftly through the dark hallways before carefully making our way downstairs into the grand library.

    We walk through the massive oak doors before being met with millions of books. Ancient books, forbidden books, secret books, religious books, magical books; books of all kind.

                      ‘Protect me

                       Protect we

                       Bless our space

                       & for shall all evil rest it’s case’

    As Natalia casts her spell, the large protective barrier that once surrounded the two of us, slowly began to expand itself throughout the entire space we were in.

                     “Where is it” she urged

                      “The one place he’d never think to look.”

    I began guiding Natalia through the dimly lit aisles before finally finding ourselves in front of the book we were searching for.

                      “Here.” I spoke as I handed Natalia the ancient Book of Proverbs

    Natalia takes the book from my hand before slowly opening it midway, seeing the pages cut out into a box shape and the crystal sitting within it.

                      ‘Blasphemy! Is she trying to get us all killed?’ I hear Natalia think to herself

    My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I listen to her thoughts.

                       “You cut out pages of a book of word... to protect this crystal?” She asked as she looked at me with a sense of uncertainty.

                         “Am I not meant to? He’s evil he must not find it! This way it’s protected.” I defended, now feeling unsure of myself because of her reaction.

                         “What’s your real intention, with this crystal. I need the truth.” She urged as she looked at me with a sense of fear in her eyes.

                      “I just need to stop Dane from starting something that he doesn’t want to start...” I lied.

    Natalia takes a deep breath before breaking eye contact with me and looking down at the now destroyed book of word protecting this crystal. Natalia reached her hand in the book, removing the white- fading to pink crystal before holding it in her hand and closing the book.

                          “You act as if I don’t know when I am being lied to.” She spoke as she turned on her feet.

                           “Fine, don’t tell me. But the truth will reveal itself.” She spoke as she began walking the opposite direction of me, away from the aisle.

                            “Where are you going?” I questioned as I began following her.

                             “We have to protect this crystal the right way. I’m not sure what you have planned with it, but if what you say about Danes plan is true... then I won’t allow it to happen.” She spoke as she continued to make her way to the front of the library, having me follow close behind.

    As we reach the front of the library, Natalia holds the crystal tightly in both of her hands before bringing her ear up to the door.

                      “I feel an energy behind this door. I can’t open it.” Natalia spoke out, indicating for me to step in.

              I bring myself closer to the oak door, before placing my body against it and resting my palms against the wood as I try to connect my cunning with the subconscious state of mind of the being behind this door.

               I allow myself to embrace the silence surrounding me as I try desperately to reach the mind of the being a few feet away from our space.

                Once I finally find myself connected to his thoughts, I listen carefully to his intentions before trying to place new ones.

               His entire state of mind is clouded with thoughts about me, as his entire agenda is to find me in order to bring me to Dane.

                       ‘Espanyana’s not over here’ I hum to his subconscious using my cunning

                       ‘I need to keep looking somewhere else’ I continue

    I feel the entity behind the oak door resisting my implantation before eventually giving into my cunning and walking away.

    As soon as I feel as though his essence is a safe distance away, I quickly creak the door open, allowing both Natalia and I to slip through the space.

    The protective barrier forms itself around us again as we maneuver away from the grand library. As we make our approach towards the main corridor I am immediately taken back by the sight.

               Dane’s men have some of our brothers lined up on their knees against the marble wall near the grand entryway. They all look as if they’re in horrible condition.

               Some of them are dead, and others look as if they’re in some sort of mental and physical anguish; unable to move.

                          “I’m going to ask again. Where is she?” Dane calmly speaks as he slowly paces back and forth behind his men with his hands crossed behind his back.

                           “We don’t know!” Our brother Kaenan cried out as he looks directly at me and Natalia, attempting to protect us from him.

        Since Natalia used her holy power in order to grant us this barrier of protection. Only those who are pure of heart are able to see us. And Kaenan... he’s the purest of them all.

        As Kaenan speaks those words, Dane’s head immediately whips in his direction. He then focuses his attention on him and I can already see the anger levels within Dane increasing.

No. Please, no

                           “I don’t appreciate being lied to.”

        Dane moves so quick that I don’t even see it. And before I even have time to register what’s going on Kaenan’s lifeless body falls to the ground, allowing blood to spray out everywhere.

    I scream out in absolute terror as Kaenan’s head rolls all the way across the rotunda, stopping right before us.

        Dane then picks up Kaenan’s corpse, before completely ripping his heart out. His eyes are pitch black and his black veins running throughout his body are now evident as he reveals his true form.

        There’s a black haze that surrounds Dane’s being as he brings the still semi beating heart up to his mouth, before piercing it with his sharp fangs.

        I watch in utter horror as he proceeds to devour Kaenan’s heart, kidnapping his soul for the rest of eternity.

                            “Listen to me very carefully” Dane speaks out to the rest of the men as Kaenan’s blood is still seen dripping down the sides of his mouth.

                            “ I will kill every single last one of you if I have to. And I will have a lot of fun doing it.” He started before pausing in order to lick the remaining blood off of his face, almost as if to emphasize his point.

                            “The real question is. Who’s life do you cherish more? Yours? Or hers?”

        As soon as he finished speaking Natalia immediately latches onto my arm before dragging us away from the scene.

                             “Let’s go, I’ve seen enough.”

                                                                    * end of flashback *

    I immediately shake away my intrusive thoughts, no longer wanting to think about all the horror that occurred that night.

It’s not your fault yana.

It’s not your fault.

    A tear slips from my eye as I try to dismiss all my negative thoughts. My body starts to involuntarily shake as the idea of Dane actually finding me feels more real than ever before.

    Since Natalia is kicking me out, I’ll no longer have the holy protection of this house and her power anymore.

I’ll be all alone, vulnerable and unprotected.