The Summoning of the Afflicted

Graceona

The streets of Infernias normally, a pleasant place when I visit, is now crowded, instead of the regular chatter the streets are a mixture between cheers or rebellion for my trial, the realm and its people at odds with one another, some seeking my freedom, while others seek my demise, my head held high, a defense mechanism that I have taught myself well, being a Lupir Queen I will not allow my sentence to give those dealing it the glory of seeing my weakness, in honesty, fear was something that I refused to feel, instead with this trial and the death of the only man that I have grown to love, this seems fitting. Something that I am embracing with arms wide open, hoping the visions of seeing Leonard's limp body being erased from my mind, the looks on his face when I had cleaned his body. The look of peaceful slumber, having to fight the urge to wake him up, it seemed cruel to call Arianna to perform the Revival Ritual, death had taken him so gently, despite the pain that I had felt from his presence when his wounds busted open by the Magik that Cryptika had flowing through the small cabin.

I now stood in front of Ammon, the Siren ruler, his dark eyes fully on me, his strong face cold, colder than the blizzards of Halcyon. His robe absent now, his attire was that of any other creature's attire. Our eyes locked. His gaze sought the death penalty for my responsibility in the love triangle that his brother and my alter ego both now lying dead in some grave somewhere. The guard threw me to the pavement, "You will show your higher power some respect, you have no authority here, slayer."

I swallowed my anger and the iron taste of blood in my mouth, I looked at the young man who had unknowingly signed his death warrant should I make it out of this mess alive, his icy blue eyes glared daggers into my own, if not for Ammon speaking up, the glares would have brought bloodshed, "This creature, that stands before us this day, has some skeletons in her closet, skeletons that have finally come to the light of day." The sounds of murmurs picking up, " this Lupir that we have so graciously allowed her into our inner circle, is nothing but a cutthroat, she has silently used our fears to control us, but yet she hides behind an innocent child, a child that is one of us, an innocent six-year-old child who has not only taken the life of a great ruler but my older brother, with these charges against her, I will give this creature a chance to defend herself, the reason being is, she is expecting, also, before his departure, her husband signed a treaty with us, so with these two reasons she deserves a chance to give us her side, as well as her motives for why she would go behind the back of a man that she 'loved'." His tone of my love towards Leonard sickened me. The only thing to keep my retort to myself was my fangs clamping down on my tongue to the point of sharp pain radiating through it. "Speak now, Lupir, because I don't regret this. You and Leonard won't be joining one another in death, even he had 'some' decency."

I stood to my feet, the crowd backing away a pace or two. However, Felix and Ammon stood unmoved. "You may accuse me of whatever you want, Ammon, you and your little toy here." I motioned my head towards Felix, "you can both beat me to the ground, do whatever you desire, but one thing I deeply advise is that you leave your judgments of my husband to yourselves, as he is no longer here to defend himself, as for my motives of creating Cryptika is simply this. Protection for my family, I sought to destroy her and now that I have, I won't lose a wink of sleep over her, or her fling, her one-night stand, your cockroach of a brother Ara Crimson, both are worm bait as they should be," Ammon's face red with anger, "You talked about my partner you should know it would come and bite you where it shouldn't, Ammon."

I heard chains clatter behind me, then saw as Ammon held his hand up to dismiss whatever Felix was plotting, " I see in your expressions, Graceona, that you desire death, but, that would do you kindness, but I'm not in a generous mood after your accusations, so you are to be forgiven from my hands, but," he stopped with a sickly smile as his gaze went to the crowd, "Kyra, however, she will pay gravely for your error."

" Kyra, I haven't seen her in a year try again, Ammon." I casually let the words flow from my lips, hoping to hide my fears.

Ammon exploded into a fit of laughter, the whispers among the crowd now hushed. As I stared icily at him, finally he stopped. " My dear Graceona, you amuse me with your cocky smiles and lack of know-how."

I looked at him, my look seemed to be the one that he had expected, "That is correct Graceona, your time away from your daughter has cost you, for the man that you have so eagerly welcomed into your home, told secrets too, not all is what it seems." He snapped his fingers, "Darin, bring in the guest of honor."

Moments later the sight of Darin dragging a beaten up and banged up, Kyra, her situation outraged me. A soulless look in his eyes, however, the smile showed that mind control was far from his motives. Kyra looked at me as I looked at her. Her eyes were gentle though not tearless. She seemed ready for this outcome as if she knew this was going to happen.

I placed my hand on my wrist band waiting impatiently for my gem to form, "What does Kyra have to do with this Ammon, this is between us!" my fear never failed to betray me once it came to a loved one, but right now watching what this deranged creature was commanding Darin to do, once he was one of Leonard's followers and most trusted general looking at him now made my blood boil, at Darin's betrayal, just in a short time. My anger clouded my judgment, causing the massive delay in time in my gems' summoning.

Instead, the sound of a faint whistling of something traveling at great speeds and the sound of a cloak being removed alerted me, I looked at Ammon, "This has everything to do with Kyra my dear delusional warrior, you will soon learn to keep your snarky remarks to yourself."

Soon the ringing of blades brought me to what was going on. The Afflicted Ones they were here, but for what purpose? I looked at Kyra as she smiled kindly as if to say everything was alright. How could they be so unconscious of the threat roaming in the crowd, watching and waiting for their chance to attack?

A loud and mighty roar sounded from above, every eye now on the source as large fireballs fell from the skies like rain the massive rain of fire, crushed many that weren't alert in time as screams soon filled the streets and the people running in terror. The Spirit Warrior Rayth turned against his origins. By the lone Affliction warrior, Ammon, looked at me, then at Felix, who stood still. Darin looked around, his hand resting on his sword, prepared for the confrontation that was sure to come.

The skies overhead turned a dark red and the sight of seven black moons as the red liquid poured from the skies, eating away at the grounds as acid would the insides, just like acid the crimson drops were quick and merciless. Rayth landed on the ground beside me with a thunderous impact. The roar rang out as Ammon, Felix, and Darin stood on the podium, preparing for the onslaught.

I looked at the rider upon the great beast a creature of beauty whose black leather attire, and long white hair seemed to glow a blood-red aura, his eyes looked as the Afflicted Ones piercing, dark, and soulless, and out for blood, his looks colder than possibly Ammon could ever dare to draw forth. He was stunning; he leaped from the Great Spirit's back, landing on his feet with ease with a slight thud beside me as if he had glided from the beast instead of merely jumping. I looked at him, feeling my fear escalate, his dark eyes looked at me, his expression of stone as he drew his weapon without looking away from me he then looked to Felix, for once I saw the little vermin squirm under the man's gaze. The death glare looking for its latest victim, the look made me think of Leonard. The two would surely become friends in thirty minutes, or possibly less. I continued to watch almost seeing a suggestion of a smile hidden by the glare he wore, the man pointed his sword at Felix's neck, "Let's play a game shall we Ammon, the lives of the girl and the woman in trade for your brother's safe return and you live to fight another day, " his voice dark as the gaze he wore.

Ammon looked at the man, "Ara is dead! There is no safe return."

"Mm-hmm, is your role model aware of your unbelief?"

Ammon looked at the man, "Why are you helping me?"

The man beside me, grinned with lips turned upward, but his face still cold, "Believe me, Ammon, this has nothing to do with me helping you, rather you live in this moment or not is entirely up to you, I'm just here for business, but once it comes to you, I would happily switch to your Executioner, fact, I couldn't care less about you or this floating rock you Sirens want to call a Realm. Your opinions of the Seven Realms differ from mine, thus making me hate you. Ara never was my problem, just you."

Ammon looked at the man beside me, "Leonard Shepherd, death looks good on you, you had me fooled."

I looked at Leonard, who put his sword closer as the blade licked the pale flesh of the young Siren general, as blood droplets stained the steel of the blade. "Death? Now Ammon, just because you buried your brother doesn't mean I stayed underground."

Ammon tilted his head, looking daggers at me. "Graceona, were you involved in this?"

"Nope, this is new to me as well."

" I don't need to explain myself to my family, if I desire to confide in them, they shall know, but I am not a child without a mind to think for myself," Leonard looked at the sky with the same smile, his eyes closed, " Graceona had nothing to do with this, this beauty is all my brainchild, along with my followers, isn't that correct my darling daughter?" Leonard opened his eyes, looking at Kyra, who wore a smile and tear-filled eyes.

I looked at him. "Why not tell me this, Leonard? I was going to die for you?"

He looked at me his cold face melting just a little, " It wasn't time for you to know, but you dying here isn't your fate." Leonard smiled, looking at Felix as the sounds of flesh rip entered my ears and the screams of pain from Felix who fell to his knees. "Now, back to the issue at hand. For the second time, I will state my purpose of being here. I want what is mine. Give me that and I will give you a chance to live another day. It's really up to you."

Ammon looked at Darin, "Release her, Darin. There is no need for us to die here, not because of the Shepherd Clan."

Darin released Kyra, who then ran to us. She wrapped her arms around Leonard's neck, weeping. Leonard wrapped his free arm around her holding her close, his gaze still on Felix then with a kick he sent Felix face-first to the ground sheathing his sword looking at Darin, "You have done well, Darin, you may return to the base, your next assignment is with Christian."

Darin smirked at Ammon, and with a smile to Kyra, he departed from us. "Kyra, you and Graceona get back to the base and get taken care of. I'll be there when you arrive."

Kyra looked at him, confused.

He looked at her, walking her to Rayth. As the mighty beast sat down, allowing us to set down before we could say a word, Leonard silently ordered the spirit to take flight.

Leonard

I looked at Ammon, his expression that of anger, either anger at my words or Graceona's words or a mix of the two. I grinned, putting my hands in my pants pocket, " Calm down Fido, you shall have your revenge, unfortunately for you, not today."

I felt as one large wing come from my back and I took flight, allowing the Realm to become what it was before my summoning.