CHAPTER 31: BROKEN INSIDE

Aries has been fidgetting since a moment ago. She trusted her instincts more than her senses.

Something has happened...

That's what she felt. Unknown fear and nervousness combined, make her somewhat hard to walk but she remembers she was one of the Bright Star users. Danger will always come to her and she won't be able to escape.

"It's close..."

She turns towards the knight headquarters. Her instinct screams at her, telling her the danger was inside.

"Rafiz, Pegasus! Are you there?! Answer me!"

As she ran she called them through telepathy but both were silent. Worrying, she immediately told the rest of the Bright Star to be careful. She even warned them.

"Everyone, please protect Kairi!"

"Understood!"

Libra, Cygnus and Eridanus were nearby the palaces, so they immediately went to the yard. Aries had told them of Kairi's location.

"Aries, where are you?!"

Kairi was distressed. Since she opens the communication channel with their friends, he also heard it. When Aries first walks away, he doesn't see it and only realised she was gone. He was disappointed but now, he felt uneasy.

Aries was alone... But he has the others with him.

"I'm near the knight headquarters. Something happened here. I can't get through Rafiz and Pegasus."

Her next words didn't make him feel better.

"Agi, Virgo, she-..." Before he could finish asking them to leave him, Agi cut in.

He also sternly looks at Kairi.

"Protecting you is our most priority. Please understand."

Virgo and the rest agree with him. Kairi was dissatisfied.

Is he just going to watch this?! Screw them! And he hasn't told Aries yet about his feelings.

Frustrated, he glares at them who just ignore him. They have surrounded him with palace guards so there was no way he could leave.

As for Aries, once she stepped into the knight headquarters, the communication in her mind was cut-off. She no longer can use her telepathy with others. It's just like there was a field to stop her power.

Frowning and putting vigilant against her surroundings, she slowly approaches the training area where Rafiz has a duel with Pegasus. No one was in the hall, not even the palace knights or guards that always walk around.

Quiet... The place was so quiet even she could hear her breathing and her heart beating wildly. The walk feels like hours before she stops somewhere in the hall between two pathways.

"These smells like..."

She gasped and swallowed nervously, then followed one of the two pathways. When she reaches a corner with an open hall, she gapes in horror.

Red liquids were colouring the wall, the trees, the grounds and the small stone road. Bodies belonging to their knights and guards were laying dead, cut into pieces. Some even missed their limbs which scattered everywhere, unknown which one was theirs.

Stunned in her place, she watches everything. Memories of them were still fresh in her mind. She knew them and did not forget any of them.

How can this happen?!

She starts to sob while she holds her tears. These were her people, her friends.

I can't believe this! No! This is not true!

Barely moving her weakened legs, she saw someone she recognized.

"Pegasus!"

She saw Pegasus at one corner. Blood flowing from his nose and ears. Aries ran towards him and immediately checked his pulse.

A few seconds later, she breathed a sigh of relief. Pegasus was still alive. Thank god!

"I need to call Agi. Wait, I can't!"

Aries realised she can't communicate with anyone. After all, Agi needs to be by Kairi's side. If their enemy could get here without them realizing it, he was sure Kairi and the others were in danger. She wiped her tears and looked sternly around.

The enemies probably have gotten inside earlier without them noticing it.

How can they silently enter without alarming their palace protector shield? This confuses her.

Is their shield out of power? Since when?

"Hey, look at that. There's another one..."

Someone's voice from above startled her. She looked up and shuddered when a drop of red liquid fell on her face. Eyes narrowing, she finally saw the enemy who kill her people.

A man with a Doberman dog-faced, dressed as a black knight was floating on top of her. Her eyes widened seeing him carrying a wounded Rafiz on his right shoulder.

Rafiz's conditions look really bad. The liquid that dropped on her was his blood.

"Rafiz! Let him go!" She yelled as she released her auras.

In Aries's grasp, an archery weapon materialized with a pair of wings and its arrows were made of red light. Without delay, she released the arrows toward the dog-faced man.

"Heh! Do you think these arrows can hurt me?"

He laughed. Aries' attack looks so slow to him and he dodges them easily.

Aries stared at him angrily. Wherever the dog-faced moved, her arrows that were released followed.

"Such a nuisance. Might finish her quickly and the other one soon." The dog-faced man thought.

"Dark Howlan, you shouldn't look down on them, you know."

A blue-purple pink hair man appears next to him. With one swipe of his hand, the arrows were destroyed and disappeared from view. Aries who had used her strongest attack was destroyed easily by him.

"Where did you disappear to, Dark Hartina? I already got Dark Lordany." Dark Howlan pointed to his right shoulder.

"It's a secret. Wait, did you hit his face?! That is his asset!"

Dark Hartina scolded while wiping the blood on Rafiz's face.

"We meet again, Dark Lordany." He said softly, caressing Rafiz face gently.

Then, Dark Hartina looked at Aries. He disappeared from view and appeared behind Aries as his hands hugged Aries' body from behind.

Aries was startled and moved her hand to stab Dark Hartina but he stopped her by grabbing her hands. Then, she tried to use her power and channelled her screams to Dark Hartina's head.

But, he seems unaffected. She begins to fear him.

"Heh! It's a pity you're a member of Bright Star users. If not... I would make you my dear wife, Aries."

He chuckled before he kissed Aries on the lips.

Aries pushed him hard but his strength overpowered her. He even kissed her deeply which made tears flow down her cheeks. She felt so disgusted and miserable.

"No! This is my first kiss!" She cried in frustration.

She dreams of having her first kiss with her loved one, not by such a disgusting man. These forces make her body weak. Her worldview starts to darken and bleak.

"Kairi..." She called sadly.

Dark Hartina had to let her go when a lion-shaped light attacked him. Before Aries fell, the arrival person caught her and tucked her behind him.

"Damn, who's messing with my fun?"

Dark Hartina was irritated before he looked at the person.

"General Leo, what a surprise..."

Leo glared at him.

"Aries, are you okay?" He asked.

Aries nodded slowly but her tears didn't stop flowing. Her heart was broken by Dark Hartina. One of the important things she had been careful of was now lost.

Leo, who understands it, glares dangerously at Dark Hartina. His body gave off a dangerous mix of red-orange aura. From the surrounding situation and lots of death, also makes him feel so furious.

"Ah, we're in trouble now."

Dark Howlan smirked and turned towards Dark Hartina.

"What's our chance to defeat him?"

"Half. I can't attack his brain. He has a strong shield around it."

Like Aries, Dark Hartina can also use mental abilities. His power was almost the same as her but at the same time, it was different.

"We could fight him if you want but we can't possibly win it. Let's go. I have found the heir location and our dear Dark Lordany power emblem."

Dark Hartina knew his limits and decided to leave. He told Dark Howlan his decision.

"Okay, it's time to find the heir next," Dark Howlan smiled.

Both of them disappeared from the place.

"They're going after Kairi! Aries, snap out of it! Kairi needs us!" Leo yelled at Aries who was trapped in her misery.

Hearing Kairi's name and the danger he's going to face because of the enemies, Aries' dull eyes sharpened again.

"Everyone, protect Kairi at all costs!"

Her urgent voice sounded in the Bright Star mind. She realised when Dark Hartina and Dark Howlan were gone, she could use her mental power again.

On the way...

"Hey, Dark Hartina. I'm a bit confused. Why did you kiss her? Don't you hate them?" Dark Howlan means the Bright Star.

He saw Dark Hartina kiss her. Stunned, he almost dropped Rafiz from his shoulder.

What the heck is wrong with him?! That's an enemy for goodness sake! He was speechless.

Dark Hartina smiled mysteriously.

"I found something interesting in Aries' memory. He likes Siarah's heir. I like to destroy her hope, you know. There's nothing more interesting to see someone lose something valuable, right?"

"Heh! You're bad, Dark Hartina. But I like it. It's just... Please do that somewhere I'm not around. I almost vomited because of you."

Dark Howlan shuddered. He felt so disgusted for his mate to kiss a Bright Star user. Although Aries does look kind of beautiful, hers was the opposite of Dark Lusophia.