Nikolai

Chapter 14

"We declare war against Japan. I don't like going the easy route all the time, so I decided to use the war card. Warring rules state that only power and non power users can fight. No weapons, no nuclear war heads. Just our own powers."

Right, like you would be in the front lines.

"If Japan falls, so the rest of the world would too. Then the rest of the world you speak of would side with Japan in this war, correct?" I asked looking directly at President Malvado.

"Yes but at the same time, no. They are scared, they'd support Japan but if the United Front gets to them, they'd surrender immediately."

"You don't know that." I answered.

"I will lead the fight." Hades intervened.

I looked at him, "NO! You're not leading that army, you are not a fighter! You've never even fought your own battles!"

Mom looked at us with worried eyes. She knows what's going on with Hades.

If this continues, Epineo would be pushed to fight against the United Front.

"Don't be so dramatic, Persephone. After all of these, you'll be the one to rule over the world. You and your brother. Doesn't that sound amazing?" He laughed.

"Dramatic? You're using my brother as a weapon, Malvado!"

"You're Mom doesn't complain, here she is still standing by my side."

I almost puked.

He held my Mom's hand like they were in love.

My Mom looked at Malvado with a smile, is this all in your plan Mom? You whoring yourself to this prick, one of your plans!

I screamed inside my head.

"Don't bite yourself, Persephone. I called you here so we could be a family."

My eyes turned blurry, I couldn't hear what they were saying. Family? You of all people.

I dropped my spoon, and rested my back in the chair. My appetite was gone.

...

"What did they say?" Nikolai asked.

We were driving back to the Temple after the dinner. After that "Family" stunt Malvado pulled in front of me, I couldn't stay for one more second in their presence.

"The attack on Japan, they will continue as planned. In three days, Hades will take over and he'll declare war."

"Hmmmm…"

"Hmmmm? No response? That's new." I rolled my eyes.

"Where should the Temple side?" He questioned.

My eyes widened, I completely forgot.

The Temple was never part of the government to begin with, the High Priest was always a different entity compared to the president! The citizens always sided with the Temple, like how my childish mind when I was a kid, adored it.

"Why are you like this, Nikolai?"

"The question is, why not? Malvado sent you to Japan so I won't step down. They knew I wouldn't come after you because of the treaty. They don't know who they're dealing with, I guess." He smirked.

I don't know what to think. Why is he suddenly becoming helpful?

"I didn't like that they purposely isolated me from you earlier too, that was rude. Kinda shot my ego in the head."

A car suddenly stopped in front of our lane, Nikolai swerved to right and made a stop.

"What the heck?" I heard him under his voice.

The dark night made it hard to see along with the blinding headlights pointed at our direction.

Nikolai stepped out the car, and I followed.

He looked at me, "Stay inside."

I saw him put on his hood, "This is Nikolai Abrevi. What is the meaning of this?"

A red laser like flame came out from the darkness in front of us, and flung Nikolai a few meters away.

I can fight but I'm not as strong as Vilde.

"STAY INSIDE PERSEPHONE!" Nikolai screamed.

I heard thrashing and all sorts of scary sounds happening outside, I huddled inside the car and couldn't see what was happening.

The car door opened, and a man hiding his face with a mask appeared.

Deja vu?

"Are you okay, Persephone?"

CHARLES! IT WAS CHARLES!

"How did you find me?" I asked.

He held his hand out, "Questions later."

"No! Charles, I can't. Nikolai has Hitagi and Vilde hostage, his manipulation is still in effect and any minute now he could do as he pleases with them."

"We're taking Nikolai with us too, so don't worry. Trust me okay, Persephone? Just follow my lead."

I climbed out the car, Charles stood behind me and held my arms together at the back.

He guided me slowly in front of Nikolai's view, he immediately noticed I was out of the car.

He was out of breath, the person he was fighting with was probably a formidable opponent even for him. "Who are you? Don't do anything to Persephone."

"Are we the villain here, Nikolai?" Charles voice was different, there's probably a voice changer under his mask.

"Are you with the government?" Nikolai asked.

"If I say no, would that make a difference?"

The glow in Nikolai's hands disappeared. That means he's not fighting anymore.

"Yes, that would make a difference. I'm disarmed, I don't want to fight."

Charles slowly backed up going to the side where the others are.

"Why not? We have Persephone here, we're taking her away."

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

…

That's what he meant by the Temple picking sides.

He planned to go against the government using me.

Charles drove Nikolai's car, he mentioned that we go back to the Temple.

As we arrived, the other priests didn't mind the strangers that came. As if they were expecting them to.

"What's going on?" Nikolai asked Charles.

Charles didn't respond.

We continued on until we reached the hallway with the pictures.

A hooded priest was standing In front of Regina's painting.

As the priest turned to face us, it was Doxa!

My heart ached once again, realizing that she gazed unto her sister's painting, Doxa left her sister to die alone. I wanted to tell her that she wasn't alone that day, I wanted to tell her I was with her until her last breath, but is this the appropriate time?

"You." Nikolai glared.

"Same to you." Doxa laughed.

My burdens slightly became light, hearing Doxa laugh made me forget my problems for a bit.

We entered Nikolai's office, Adelfo, Vilde ,Althaia, Magus, and Hitagi were there.

I kept my emotions at bay, but I was really happy to see them!

"If you made things clear from the start, Nikolai. We wouldn't be at each others throats."

"If I didn't force Persephone to come with me, she wouldn't take the High position."

"We could've avoided unnecessary fighting."

"Okay, I get it. So, what's your plan?"

Doxa looked at Adelfo and pointed back at Nikolai.

Adelfo approached Nikolai, "You suppressed my powers?"

"That was needed, we still don't trust you."

…

The priest that guided me yesterday at the broadcast was an Epinean.

I was amazed how Doxa's influence has already infiltrated so many places in this world.

That's why the other priests didn't resist Doxa and the others was because of him.

"Is President Makoto okay? I whispered to Althaia.

She nodded, "Riordan too, he decided to stay behind Epineo to prepare our army for the war."

I was right, Epineo will fight.

Charles was left to guard Nikolai, and the others went on their way.

I stayed behind to accompany Doxa, but also to tell her what Malvado's true intentions.

Doxa went back to Regina's painting, I stood beside her.

"This is Regina, she looks like you." She smiled.

I nodded, "Yeah, first time I saw this I thought it was me."

"When you were born, I couldn't stop crying. You looked like her, when I watched you grew, I sometimes cry with a smile on my face because you resembled her in so many ways."

Regina's vision came true.

I smiled, I was happy for her. For Doxa too.

"The war on Japan…" I started.

Doxa looked at me with anticipating eyes.

"Malvado's true intentions is not for the United Front to conquer the entire world."

"He plans to revive the Primordial Ancestry."

Doxa went back to stare at Regina's painting, I don't know what to expect.

"So, he plans to use the Dunamis blood, the Dunamis family to revive the Ancestry." said Doxa.

I nodded.

"The prophecy is inevitable then." She whispered.

"What do you mean?"

"Our efforts, will this just go to waste?"

I couldn't understand her.

"Tell me, Doxa. What do you mean?"

"I don't know what to do, Persephone."

Her hands were shaking, I looked at her and tears slowly dripped from her eyes.

"From the moment of your coming of age, I knew. I knew but I still let everything happen."

I didn't respond.

"I am last." She whispered.

That was a line from my coming of age.

"I already knew from back then, why you are the last, Persephone? Because, Regina was the first. She was the true Origin."