Freya's Point of View

Underground Tunnel System

The creature didn’t move. It didn’t need to. Neither my mother nor I could even twitch as I felt like I would die if I even breathed. While it watched us, I lowered my gaze before I looked up at my mom. My mother hadn’t been able to turn around as she was frozen, looking down at me. She knew it was there, and her eyes bounced back and forth as she tried to think of anything.

A chirp here and there would remind us that it was there. Waiting purposefully to see what we would do. We knew it was likely that this was the last of us. No one else had come, and it was even more doubtful that some would escape whatever this creature was. Not even my mother would be able to escape.

The children were all unconscious, and I wondered if it slaughtered everything it could find. I heard the screams of children earlier, so I was fearful it planned to kill all of us. Why was it here? Because of the Lestranians? None of this made sense.

“Freya…” My mother’s voice came in barely a whisper, and my eyes shot up to her once more. “When I move, you run.” She told me in a shaky voice. “Yes.” Was her reply to the slight shake of my head. “You run, and you don’t look back.”

“Moth-“

Letting out a battle cry as her magic activated, she moved to turn around but never got the chance. Blood splattered across my face, the top of my hair, and my back. A claw was sticking out of my mother’s chest where her heart was. She didn’t even have the chance to turn around. It eventually shoved its entire arm through as it moved closer while its free hand circled around to her neck slowly.

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However, something strange happened. Her body shook violently. I would’ve understood if it was because of the creature that was now directly behind her and injured her so. Yet, it wasn’t the creature behind it. A small spell seemed to be cast as her hair turned into a pink to match Lucia’s. Her eyes also turned purplish, which confused me.

With blood spilling out of her mouth, she somehow summoned the strength to look over her shoulder at the creature. The creature seemed surprised as well as its eyes widened in shock. It seemed to shake as its form began to dissipate. Where once stood a demon like monster, now stood a man.

“Mordred?” My mother whispered but in a voice not her own.

He moved to hold her up as her legs gave out. “Mara?” The name left his mouth in disbelief as his body shook.

Thana's Point of View

Unknown Location

I’d been waiting for this moment. That look on his face. Utter disbelief. A broken expression that I’d long to see from him. Given that I was controlling my ward, I had to keep my emotions under control, but I would savor this moment. His face moved through several different expressions.

“Mara?” He let out with wide eyes. “How-Wh-What?” Arthur could barely finish any of his words from how lost he was.

Bringing my fingers to my throat, my magic activated and used a voice I knew all too well. “You abandoned me. Left me in her hands.” I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes in amusement as I let out a few coughs. “I waited for you…” For the final touches, I moved my wards hands to his face before I removed my control and let her die.

“Do you think that was wise?” Tor asked me from inside my body still.

“It’s these little moments that make it all worthwhile. Besides, why shouldn’t I get some payback on the fools who continually stand against me?” I then shrugged. “What’s he going to do?”

Seconds later, I was on my feet in horror at the sheer magical power I felt. Even in a completely separate realm, in The Crimson Wasteland, I could still feel Arthur Pendragon. My eyes were wide in disbelief. He’d been poisoned with Demon Stone. That was lethal to any god or demon. There’s no way he should be able to do this.

I tried to focus back on my war to figure out what was happening, but it felt like the body had been completely destroyed. Sitting back down as my legs gave out, my hands came to my forehead in shock. Even Tor was completely silent, and I had no doubt my other Demon Lords felt this as well. The entire world probably feels this.

“No one is to interfere with Arthur Pendragon unless I say so.” I told Tor. “We need to be careful of him. More so than anyone else.” Steepling my fingers together as I waited to see what might happen, I continued. “For I fear he is more powerful than me.”