The feast had turned into a frenzy, they now knew what the TE was for and also what would be happening after their return to Earth, the clans were being asked questions, some taking advantage and promoting what they would do for those that joined them if they became a person of power on Earth. Some, like Viv, were trying to get control of the situation, explaining to those that would listen that they needed to stick together and work as a united team, but many just ignored her at that point, with this new information they had found a way to carve out their own slice of Earth for themselves. Viv was getting nowhere and she was getting increasingly frustrated, so she did the only thing she had left to do to get control back in the room, she walked up to Shaun.
“Tell them Shaun! You told them before we had to work together, do it again, speak to them, please!” When she had walked up to his table, the first person to do so since the feast started, it drew enough attention to him that the room quieted down some. He knew what Viv wanted of him, what she was asking him to do, and he truly did want to help. But doing so in front of everyone here would not help with creating distance between them, it would do the opposite. If Shaun did what Viv wanted everyone would see that they were truly a team, that he would support her no matter what, and then she would be a target, an easy way to get at him when he left Earth and the factions descended. He hated himself for what he was about to do, but he had already come to the conclusion that he had to cut ties with everyone, for their own good.
“No.” As soon as the word left his mouth Viv stiffened.
“What do you mean no? We are working towards the same goal. You said you would support me with this, so help me.” She wasn’t angry yet, but she was about to be.
Shaun stood from his chair, letting just a touch of his aura out to get everyone’s attention, it took a minute but everyone was soon waiting for him to speak.
“Earlier I said that we always fought, for our people, our countries and that we now needed to fight together for our planet.” The look of relief on Viv’s face was clear to anyone that looked at her, and that broke him a little inside, as what he was about to say was going to hurt her more than he would have liked. “But what I now realise is that what we truly need to do is fight for ourselves. You want power? Take it. You want to rule? Go ahead, try your best. No matter what anyone says or does, we will always fight to be the one that is on top. Its just human nature. We will fight and kill and the winner will reap the rewards. So go, do what you want, but remember something. None of you will ever stand on top, not unless you manage to get rid of me, and I do not like your chances. But please, fight your hearts out, I will enjoy the show.”
He delivered the last of his speech with a cruel smile, releasing his aura bit by bit while he spoke to drive home his point, by the end his point had been made, do what you want but don’t fuck with me. Instead of waiting around he walked around his table and through the crowd, passing Viv who looked devasted, hurt and broken due to what he had done. But he didn’t stop or even acknowledge her, he just walked right out of the room, none moving to stop him.
The moment he made it back to his room he let the guilt fill him, he shook with the amount of disgust he felt, all directed at himself. He was only left alone for a minute before there was banging at his door, he took a moment before going over to open it, trying to calm himself as much as possible. When he opened the door he had expected Viv but it seemed that everyone had joined her. They barged straight in, not bothering to wait for him to invite them inside, this was not going to be an easy or pleasant conversation.
“How could you do that Shaun? What changed? You need to explain this, and quickly!” Viv barely looked like she was holding herself together.
“It’s complicated, but trust me when I say I am doing what’s best, for all of you.”
“I don’t believe that! If you were doing what was best for us than you would have helped us when we tried to bring everyone together, not encouraged World War 3!”
“Stop! We are not going to argue about this. You don’t have to believe me, but you do have to cut me out. No more talking, no more being friendly, you have to hate me. Do you understand, everyone has to believe that we all had a huge falling out, I don’t care what you say to people, but make it believable. You all hate me now, can’t stand me. Understood?”
“We aren’t doing that Shaun! You are our friend, our family! We stick together no matter what!” Gabe was adamant about it too, getting distance from Viv and Li were going to be easy, but Gabe and Eric? That was going to take a lot more work.
“Wait! Everyone just take a breath, calm down for a moment.” Eric tried to rein everyone in, getting us all to bring our emotion under control. “Shaun, I get you wont tell us everything, you are hiding things, we all know it. But what happened when you left the feast for you to change all of a sudden?”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
They all waited for him to reply, but he took a minute to figure out what he should share. “Dijaun didn’t tell us everything. Earth will be locked down for 1 year, that means no one from outside of Earth will be able to come in, and during that year a leader has to be picked, and whatever clan they belong to will then have ownership of the planet.”
“Then shouldn’t you have fought for us all to fight together, we have a year without outside interference where we could have really pushed for a united planet, but you did the opposite. That doesn’t make sense.” Eric continued, now taking the role as the interrogator.
“I know, but I needed to do something that would give all of you a reason to hate me, deciding to turn on everything we are fighting for? Deciding to put everyone in their place so that it looked like I was going to fight to become the ruler of Earth, that would be enough for the start of a story where you end up leaving me behind, going against me in the fight for power.”
“But that still doesn’t explain why you need us to hate you in the first place?”
“Because I wont join any of the major factions, or any of the clans.” He informed them, when he did they looked at him like he had grown a extra head, they were no longer angry, just thoroughly confused. “What do you think is going to happen when I turn down each and every one of the major reps?”
“They are going to be pissed.” Viv mumbled, “No, they are going to be more than pissed, they won’t let you stay unaffiliated. They will hunt you down, remove you before you can either join someone else or become strong enough to cause any issues.” She looked up at him, having come to the conclusion he needed her too. “But why wont you join any of them. That’s what I don’t understand. They will give you anything you want, you have the ability to pick pretty much any of them, and yet you refuse to take a side. Why?”
“I can’t tell you. But know there is a reason, a good one. But if I told you, it would mean that you would be hunted down just as much as I will be. Trust me when I say you don’t want to know my secrets.”
No one said anything for a while, all of them processing the conversation in their own way. They all looked like they wanted to press for more answers but they also knew that he hadn’t been joking when he spoke about the risks.
“I don’t think I can do it. I don’t care about your secrets, keep them Shaun, but I won’t leave you. Not now, not on Earth.” Shaun couldn’t help but feel both happy about what Gabe had said but also a little sad, regardless he needed to get him on board with this.
“Gabe, I love you like a brother, but you have to go along with this. You might not ever leave me, but I have to leave you.” Shaun released a huge breath, hating that he would need to leave everyone he cared about behind, but he really didn’t have a choice, not anymore. He had embraced the legacy, to the point that he had changed too much to be truly safe anywhere but with The Alliance. They were going to be the only ones that could teach him, allow him to grow and learn without the constant fear of the major powers coming down on him and the entire planet. “Before the 1 year timer is up on Earth I will be gone. I can’t tell you where or why, but I don’t know if I will ever be back to Earth. I would rather leave knowing that you are safe than worrying about whether you are the next target just because you were my friends.”
“So this is it? After this we just don’t speak again? Not even in private?”
“You need to publicly hate me, not just ignore me. Spread rumours, gossip, it doesn’t matter. You have to make sure everyone knows that we are on bad terms. We can’t risk meeting again either. You don’t know who is watching. Take all of this.” He pulled out everything he had that they might be able to use, from gems, leathers, coin. He gave them as much as he could. “If anyone asks you had it before we fought. Do everything you can to get stronger, be what our planet needs. I will always be rooting for you, remember that okay.”
Finally, he turned to Viv. “You will need to fight hard to rule. I expect that you will remember everything I have done for you and that you wont forget that when the time comes to make the hard decisions. Don’t betray me. Not where it counts.” She gave him a nod. He had worked hard on making her what he needed. He expected that if she managed to become the ruler of Earth that it would pay off eventually.
They said their goodbyes, hugging each of them before they left, and when the door closed after them a part of Shaun broke. He had lost so much in his life, but never by choice. Even now he had had to give up his friends unless he wanted to put them in harms way. This time it was a choice, if only barely. When he was alone again he couldn’t find the energy to do anything productive, he showered and then got into his bed, allowing his emotions to consume him until sleep finally took him.
When he slept he had dreams of horrific battles, watching people he cared about being killed in battle. He witnessed thousands fall and over and over again he wished he could do something to save them, but there was nothing he could do. He felt loss, seeing his brothers and sisters being wiped out, his entire race being butchered until he was the last one left. He was alone. When Shaun woke up he knew his dreams were not actually dreams, but more memories.
He knew he had to get on with the day but he just couldn’t find the energy. He decided to give himself the day to just do nothing, something he hadn’t done in a long time. But when tomorrow came he had to pull it together, he needed to prepare for the year to come, if not for himself then for all those counting on him, he refused to let the Nephilim down. He was their hope, he was one of them, and he had a score to settle with the powers, he was going to revenge his people, or die trying.