Chapter 15

Miaka’s P.O.V

The ‘card’ was an old fashioned scroll made of pure gold and the writings were burned onto it, making it look even more ominous. The time for running has passed.

“I need to speak to Rihero.” I told Grapy as she twiddled with one of her rings nervously.

“No!” She stood up from her chair instantly. “You will not go near that bastard! God knows what his intentions are.”

“I think his intensions are very clear.” I threw the scroll onto the floor, gritting my teeth in frustration.

Rihero wasn’t thinking straight and he was driving me just as crazy. I need to sort this before he did something stupid.

Getting up from my chair opposite Grapy and Rain, I rushed out of the parlor and headed straight for my room, ignoring the calls from my grandmother and my Knight. I had been sitting around for way too long.

Shutting my door, I went and sat on my bed and closed my eyes.

Inside my mind, each of my brothers and my sister’s conscience were like threads of several different colours. Erick’s was a vibrant blue; Kalna’s was a blazing silver, just as mysterious as herself. And then there was Rihero, as dark as obsidian, blending in with the walls of my consciousness like it didn’t want to be detected. I caught onto that single threat, unlike when I would choose all during a Dark Council meeting…and followed it.

“I was waiting for your call. I have so much to discuss about us.”

Rihero was sitting on a throne opposite mine, our surroundings dark and indistinct. I wasn’t in the mood to decorate a room today, so him and I were the only people illuminated.

“I’m done playing your games, King Rihero.” I warned him. “I’m here to end this once and for all. Hear me loud and clear. There will be no wedding. There will be no merging of power and there will be no ‘us’.”

Rihero’s lips lifted up in the slightest. “The Council has become very accepting these days. The new generation isn’t living up to their ancestors.”

“The new generation of rulers is exactly what the Council needs.” I countered. “They no longer live in the stone ages and believe in the betterment of all races. Maybe you’re no longer compatible with the Council.”

“Oh, I think I’m perfect for the Council.” He tilted his head to the side. “In fact, maybe the Council needs a new leader.”

“The Council doesn’t have a leader.” I told him the truth. “I’m merely a peacemaker. We all have our own worlds to deal with and I make sure our ideals do not clash.”

“Tell me, Miaka,” Rihero leaned forward, placing his hand under his chin. “Exactly how accepting is your world? Are they going to support a hybrid King? Knowing that demonic hybrids had been the most unstable of all before they were dealt with by the Ancients?”

“Enough!” My patience just snapped and the entire room was engulfed in flames. “You’re not looking to get stronger, you’re obsessed with me! I’m not someone you can jerk around, Rihero. My people will stand by their King and you know that better than anyone else. So stop this madness!”

Rihero’s obsidian eyes turned a bright red for such a short second that after it was gone, even I was confused as to if what I had seen was real or not.

Red eyes? No. There must have some kind of mistake. Right?

Flames, dark and hot, engulfed the room, quashing out my fire in an instant.

My eyes widened as I looked at the black flames roaring around me. Black flames…how? They were magnificent to look at, but the heat from the flames felt real. It was almost impossible to detect except that the outer layer of the flames appeared white. They burned with a crackle similar to any ordinary flame and I almost wanted to reach out an touch it.

But the biggest surprise was that we were inside my conscience…then how did Rihero have enough power to take over the narrative? Till date, only I had been able to create and control these vaults. Then how was Rihero controlling them now? Or had he always had the power but only chose to show this today?

“We may be inside your head, Miaka…but I can take over any time.” Suddenly, Rihero was in front of my face, his warm breath fanning my cheeks. “I’m older and stronger than you can imagine and this is just a little demonstration of what I can do.”

“Wh-”

Rihero caught my chin with his hand before I could speak and the sensation felt all too real.

“Yes, you were right.” He spoke, eyeing me up and down with hungry eyes, making my skin crawl. “I am obsessed with you. You are mine and I’ll keep on coming for you until you come to me willingly or things will start to get bad, very soon. You wouldn’t want your family’s blood on your hands now, would you?”

“Don’t touch me!” I slapped his hand away and my fire ignited once more, burning just as brightly as his, clashing with the black fire with a thunderous sound that shook the room. “I’m not your, Rihero and I never will be. Only I decide who I give my heart to.”

“I’m not after your heart.” His smile was the worst kind of sinister. “I’m after your body and your soul. If you come to me willingly, everyone survives, if not…worlds will burn, Miaka. And it will all be your fault.”

The room vanished and I opened my eyes to find Rain and Grapy leaning over me in concern. I took in deep gulps of air, feeling as if I wasn’t breathing.

“Wh-what happened?” My voice was hoarse and my throat felt dry.

“Oh my God! Miaka!” Grapy lifted me up from the bed and held me tightly in her arms. “Thank God you’re alright!”

“Why?” I looked at their concerned faces in confusion. “What happened to me?”

“You didn’t feel anything?” Rain asked me. I shook my head as Grapy let go to look at my face, touching my hands and face as if to make sure I was alright.

“Oh, honey,” it was Grapy who answered me, her voice a broken whisper. “You weren’t breathing for ten minutes.”