Remnya

Remnya squinted at a blurred figure standing next to her. Two long ears and eyes as green as the beautiful gardens of the mansion. An unknown yet familiar presence, calming the turmoil in her body and soul.

Warm hands caressed her face, gently cleaning the blood from her skin. She recognized his touch, and her tired eyes widened at the sight of him.

"Zeo," Remnya whispered, dizziness causing the gloomy room to spin around her.

Zeo leaned his hand on her cheek and returned a tender smile. "Hi, Rem," he said, "I'm glad you're back."

That's all she wanted to hear. Not taking her pupils away from him, Remnya allowed her thoughts to fit the pieces of her mind together. Why was Zeo with her?

Silence.

Slowly, isolated memories from the past returned to haunt her like the waves in a dense ocean. Her chest felt heavy, as if a massive rock had dropped on her weakened body, and the air became thinner with every breath. Cold sweat prickled on her skin as her heart kicked against her ribs.

A sudden burst of anguish exploded inside her. She remembered.

"Skado!" Remnya screamed, yanking the blanket over her, "Please, no!"

Remnya tried to jump off the bed, but Zeo wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest.

"Nothing happened, you're safe now," Zeo whispered in her ear. Tears flowed mercilessly as a tempest unfolded in Remnya's brain, yet she heard his soothing voice in the void of her mind. "Skado is dead. Gone forever."

Remnya gasped for air as she fought the ghosts from her past. She gripped Zeo's body with all her strength. No one else in the world could make her feel safe but him.

The battle lasted for what seemed an eternity.

Zeo never left her side. He held her against his chest, his heartbeats calming her mind. Remnya squeezed his back, feeling his warm skin covered by scars, blood, and dust. She took a deep breath, smelling his aroma. So strange yet so familiar.

Her last memory flashed before her eyes. She remembered: When Skado loomed over her, Zeo broke into that room, and then everything turned into darkness.

"You saved me," Remnya murmured.

"I did what I had to do," he replied, his voice soft but sharp.

"How?" Remnya asked, releasing his body to look into his eyes. She noticed the cuts across his face and shirtless torso. Dried blood stained his nose and mouth. "Why do you keep risking your life like this, Zeo?"

"You already know why." He shrugged as a timid smile pulled at his lips.

"You're crazy and stupid!" Remnya scowled, clenching her fists. "But you're amazing! I'm sorry I was too blind to see how strong you really are."

"Nonsense. If you hadn't believed in me from the beginning," Zeo cradled her hand, "I wouldn't be here now."

Remnya lowered her face, embarrassed and out of words. Then, from the corner of her eyes, she noticed the horrible burnt scar crossing his chest. Remnya gasped, and without thinking, she touched his skin.

"Who did this to you?" she asked as her trembling fingers trailed the dead skin across his torso.

"Don't worry about it now." Zeo smiled.

"Uh . . . What happened to Skado?"

"Dead," he replied coldly.

Remnya ran out of breath for a moment. "Who killed him? Ronner?"

Zeo tilted his head, his gaze as gelid as ice. "I killed him. I cut his head off."

Remnya's arms dropped on the bed, lifeless. Her pupils dilated as she scrutinized the boy in front of her. Was he Zeo? She tried to read his face.

A cold shiver ran down her back.

He wasn't lying.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, lowering her head as tears welled up in her eyes.

"For what?"

"For causing all this . . . " Tears landed on the blanket, forming moist dots on the white thread. "It's all my fault, I dragged you into this."

"No." Zeo frowned and leaned closer. "You did not. You're a victim here. Those monsters forced you into this hell."

Remnya sniffled, trying to hold back her tears. "If I weren't a Nephilim, none of this would have happened . . . You wouldn't have gone through all this pain because of me . . . "

"You did nothing wrong." Zeo cradled her hands between his. "You're wonderful, the most amazing girl I've ever met." He leaned his forehead against hers and stared deep into her eyes, almost caressing her soul. "Nephilim or not, I don't care. You are you, and I love you for it. Stop blaming yourself for being who you are, Rem."

His words pushed against the softest spot of her heart, and tears flowed like a torrent of sorrow and joy. Remnya darted at him, burying her face in his chest, and squeezed his body.

Remnya cried, and Zeo held her. The time lost its meaning; it was only them in the world.

"I . . . " she started, but tears muffled her words. "I . . . " Remnya swallowed the pain and ran her fingers through his messy hair, soft and rough, stained by blood.

A sudden spasm shocked her body, and Remnya let out a groan of pain.

"Don't push yourself. Your body is badly hurt." Zeo caressed her back tenderly, trying to ease her pain, and then helped her to lie on the pillow. "I've been treating your wounds, but I still have a lot to do. However, I tried to use my Vectors to fix your back."

"Vectors?" Remnya widened her eyes as she wiped her tears.

Zeo chuckled. "It's a long story."

Remnya rolled her eyes and nodded. Trying to understand the severity of her wounds, she lifted her blanket to stare at her body. Her chest was covered by bandages, and all she was wearing was a white shirt that barely covered her thighs.

Heat burned her ears and face; she wanted to scream and run. "Don't look at me!" she yelled, pushing Zeo away and yanking the blanket over her head.

"I never looked, I promise," Zeo rushed to say.

Remnya's cheeks turned as crimson as her eyes. "Stupid idiot! Why didn't you tell me I was naked!"

"You're wearing my clothes . . . "

"Dumbass!"

Zeo lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Rem, but I couldn't dress you while you were unconscious. That'd mean I had to look at your body."

Remnya suppressed the urge to punch his savior and peeked at Zeo from behind the blanket. "Do you promise you didn't look at me at all?" she asked, stuttering.

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"I promise." Zeo leaned his hand on his heart. "As soon as I found you, I covered you with my shirt and carried you away from that place."

Remnya could read Zeo like a book, and she knew he was honest. She lowered the blanket, revealing her pouting flushed face. "Okay . . . "

"Can you move your legs?" he asked.

She sighed as a gloomy expression spread across her face. "I can't . . . my body is useless now."

"Try," Zeo said.

"Zeo, I told you—"

"Do it, Rem." He raised his voice, narrowing his eyes.

Remnya stared at him for a moment until resignation forced her to comply with his request. She hissed and nodded.

It'll never work. My body is dead from the waist down.

Ignoring the pain, she tried to move her right leg.

She gasped. "What?"

Her right foot moved, and then her left one, her knees, and even her hips. Everything worked again. However, a pain resembling a knife stabbing her bones turned the slightest moves into torture.

Seeing her grimace in pain, Zeo rushed to her side and caressed her hand gently. "Take it easy, please."

"What did you do, Zeo?" Remnya murmured as a part of her still refused to believe that guy was her old friend.

"Don't worry about that. Now we need to focus on the important things." He caressed her face, his touch causing the pain to disappear.

Remnya curled her lips and nodded. "Thank you."

Zeo beamed at her, and her cheeks turned red. She averted her eyes.

"I'd love to spend more time with you, but we don't have much time left," Zeo admitted, letting out a deep sigh. "You need to get out of here and find someone. He's the only one who can protect you now."

"What are you talking about?" Remnya gaped at him. "You and Brisa need to come with me."

"Things are more complicated than that." A downcast expression spread across Zeo's face. He sat on the bed next to her and began explaining all the events that led to that moment.

The light left Remnya's eyes as she learned the details of their tragic journey. Tears threatened her eyes again, but she refused to let them out. There was no time to cry anymore.

"So, Danny guided you here," Remnya murmured, her gaze fixed on the blanket.

"He managed to lead Alayna's soldiers through a different route. If I ran into them, I wouldn't have made it in time."

"Are you telling me he wanted you to . . . " Remnya swallowed through a closed throat, " . . . kill Skado."

"I don't know, but he wanted me to stop him."

Remnya clenched her fists. "What will happen to Brisa? I can't just abandon her."

"Rem." Zeo raised his voice, staring deep into her glistening eyes. "You need to understand your limitations. You did everything you could and more. You saved her life. Now, it's time for you to allow us to take care of this."

Two tears trailed down Remnya's cheeks. "I can't . . . "

Zeo leaned his hands on her shoulders and leaned closer, frowning. "You can't save the world alone, Remnya. That's why I am here. Brisa was brave and went out there to protect you, and I am here to fulfill her wish." He caressed her cheek, wiping her tears. "Ronner, Viper, and even Danny are going to bring her back alive. Hell! I hate Ronner, but he's fucking strong and somehow loves Brisa more than his own life. Give that bastard some credit."

His words sent shivers down her spine. Anguish and sorrow mixed with a dim light of hope in her restless heart. She remembered her dream, Brisa's words echoing in her mind.

'When all this ends, we'll walk those streets together. Free, finally . . . and there won't be any more tears. I promise you that.'

Remnya squeezed her eyes shut and buried her fingernails into her palms. Her whole body trembled as she muffled her sobs. Finally, she nodded.

"Just promise me you won't die," Remnya mumbled, fixing her glistening eyes on Zeo, her crimson fire burning in her heart.

Zeo leaned his forehead against hers, and their noses touched. He narrowed his eyes, the fire in his soul as powerful as hers. "I promise you I won't die."

*°*°*

Ronner

A large cloud of black smoke and embers spread across the battlefield, along with the corpses of Alayna's soldiers. The dry trees crackled, devoured by fires that flickered in Ronner's eye. He stood still, his face half-covered by blood, and his right arm, glowing in an intense cobalt light. Open wounds drew a red river across his shirtless torso, yet he smiled.

In front of him, Alayna staggered, trying to stand tall and imposing, but her left leg limped and bent under her weight. Blood filled her mouth, and multiple crimson lines covered her body. Her coat had been destroyed, and only her broken armor covered her chest. Her eyes glimmered under the moon as she glared at Ronner, the veins in her forehead bulging with hatred.

A magnetic field surrounded Ronner's body, causing his hair to bristle. "It seems like even with one arm and one eye, I'm still better than you and your army."

Alayna clenched her teeth, sparks shooting from her fingers, and smoke coming out of her mouth. "A nasty bastard like you will never come out victorious. I won't allow it!" she bellowed, limping forward.

"You're alone now, most of your soldiers died trying to fight by your side." He snickered. "Honestly, I thought better warriors walked among The Hunters."

"Shut up!" Alayna roared and shot a stream of scarlet fire from her right hand.

Ronner summoned a cobalt whip of plasma, destroying her attack with a quick swing of his arm. The fire turned into a rain of sparks and glowing particles that roasted the grass.

"I gotta say I've seen a fourteen-year-old girl with more impressive fire control than you." Ronner sniggered.

The ground beneath Alayna's feet exploded as she charged at him like a burning torch, leaving a trail of flames behind her. She threw one punch followed by an uppercut, but Ronner dodged them easily.

He ducked, evading a kick to his face, and counterattacked with a strike to her nose, drawing a stream of blood.

Alayna recoiled, letting out a muffled groan of pain. Before she could react, Ronner whipped her body with a lightning strike, causing an explosion across her chest.

The electricity burned her skin, opening a deep bloody line from neck to waist. Alayna staggered backward, refusing to fall. She trembled and clenched her teeth not to let out any sign of pain.

Ronner took a confident step forward and smiled, his teeth reflecting the moonlight. "Is that it, Captain?"

As she cursed between her teeth, two men emerged from the shadows charging energy in their hands. They dashed toward Ronner, closing the distance in half a second.

Ronner stopped a fist aimed at his face and retaliated with an elbow to the stomach of the first man. The second one swung a massive sword at his neck, but Ronner used his companion as a shield.

The blade cut through the first man, opening him in half. Using his electricity and the sword as a conductor, Ronner released an electric shock into their bodies, roasting them instantly.

Both men fell to the ground, contorting and screaming with their skin smoking.

"Nice try, I already knew you were there." He glanced around, a smug smile dancing above his lips. "Anyone left? C'mon! Come out of your hiding spot and die with your dear captain!"

Guffawing, Ronner turned to Alayna and scrutinized her wounds, marveling at his deed. Alayna tried to attack, but an electric arc emerging from the ground paralyzed her legs.

A powerful punch to the face sent the captain with her back smashing into the floor.

Ronner shook his head as he loomed over her, mocking her with arrogant eyes. "Pitiful," he said, brutally kicking Alayna's sides.

She contorted in pain but refused to let out a single sound. He sprawled over her and snatched her neck. "Does this sight remind you of something?" He giggled.

"Fuck you," Alayna spat through clenched teeth and buried her fingernails into his arm.

"Luckily for you, this time I'm not interested in your body. I found someone better, much better." He buried his foot into Alayna's wounds. She let out a scream of pain as his boot broke through her open skin, drawing a torrent of blood.

"However, I missed your moans of pain, Alayna." Ronner licked his lips, pushing his foot deeper into her muscles.

Alayna charged a fireball in her left hand and hurled it at Ronner's face, but he leaped aside, allowing the fire to whistle by his side. It exploded against a nearby tree, turning the trunk into a scarlet torch.

"If you tell me where they are . . . " Ronner shoved his finger into her mouth, "I might allow you to live, what do you say?"

She tried to bite his finger off, but Ronner electrified her mouth, shocking her. "I'm gonna start by chopping your limbs, that might change your mind, fucking bitch."

Alayna's mouth and nose were smoking. However, her body was immune to burns, only the shock of his electricity had caused damage, and blood dripped from her tongue and lips.

"No matter what you do . . . I'll never give up before a coward like you, not ever again!" Alayna's voice was a furious roar, echoing throughout the night.

Ronner shrugged. "As you wish."

Alayna tried to kick Ronner's groin, but a punch to the face stopped her. Blood flowed from her broken lips, staining the dry soil.

A twisted expression crawled through Ronner's face, and a sinister smirk made the night shiver. He shoved his hand against Alayna's breast, close to her heart, and buried his fingernails into it. His hand began glowing in an intense cobalt blaze, shooting sparks over her chest.

"Do it, coward!" Alayna spat, glaring at Ronner as she missed two punches aimed at his jaw. Her whole body twisted violently, trying to break free from his powerful grip, but her clumsy attempts didn't faze Ronner anymore; wounds had taken their toll on the prideful captain.

"I'm not gonna kill you . . . yet," Ronner said coldly as electric arcs formed around his arm, reflecting in his blue pupils. "But I'm gonna rip off your tits."

A blinding flash lit the night.

The hot air turned into a gelid breeze, killing the fire particles in the air and turning them into white mist.

Several cracks echoed throughout the night.

Ronner tried to attack Alayna, but his arm didn't respond.

Half of his body had been covered by a thick layer of ice, freezing his bones.

Glancing around the dead field, Ronner spotted a familiar figure standing behind him. His attacker's hands were buried in the ground, and a path of glimmering ice had formed between him and his body. His eyes glowed white, fixated on his prey: himself.

Ronner grinned, enraged, and marveled at the sight. "I was wondering how long it'd take you to show up." A smirk spread across his face. "Viper."

"I came to finish what I started, Ronner," Viper said, his voice as gelid as his ice.

"I always wondered what your ability was." Ronner jerked his arm until the ice cracked. "So, Water manipulation . . . Not bad." He giggled. "But you will need much more than this to stop me." Releasing a burst of energy, Ronner shattered the ice around his body, turning it into thousands of sharpened crystals, sparkling under the moonlight like a rainbow of diamond dust.

"This is just the beginning of the end." Viper rushed to his fighting stance, half of his body engulfed by white.

"One of us will die tonight."

*°*°*