Chapter 23- NEW WORLD

"Not really. Thanks to you I discovered a new beauty hack. I won't tell you everything but, you can always come to me if you need a new pretty face. As long as you can afford my potion." Letitia replied in a sing-song voice. It was evident she took great pleasure in her so-called beauty hack.

"You're sick." Selena said disgustingly.

"We all are," Letitia drawled, her eyes moving towards my corner and settling on me. "Aren't we?"

Oh shit!

'Did she see me? She definitely can't see me. I shouldn't pani- aahhh!!!.." I started to scream but never got to as my mouth suddenly got covered by a hand from behind. I went stiff from shock and my brain started finding it hard to register what was happening.

An eerie dark blob the size of a head with a hideous face flew out of the old witch towards me but before it could reach me, a domineering blazing blue wall appeared before me, stopping the dark blob's advance.

My head started spinning but my eyes were rapidly absorbing everything happening - Letitia, pulling a serious face and flying into the portal, the portal's ring-like light shrinking into nothingness like it never existed, then Selena walking towards me.

Lastly, the fact that someone has been aware of my presence while staying behind me all this while only made my head spin so fast that my body couldn't take it anymore, as I helplessly slipped into darkness, the last thing I saw being a bright ring light similar to a...portal's???

~End of Rina's POV~

__________

The presence in the dark watched as the portal closed.

"You aren't saying something,"Serena said, moving closer with an air of seriousness around her as she pondered over something."Most of these things are just as foreseen," she sighed.

Silence...

"Why did you almost go all out?" A cold voice belonging to the hidden figure asked.

Serena turned to face the charred land.

The place once beeming with greeneries had not one single blade of grass left. Her eyes were the only green thing there and a tinge of coldness seemed to crawl into them as they overlooked the destroyed buildings and burnt skeletons of various sizes depicting they were once men, women and children going about their normal lives. Some of the skeletons suddenly cracked before crumbling into dust.

"She was testing me. She didn't go all out herself, that crooked witch. If I had shown any weakness, she wouldn't relent and would only keep annoyingly coming after us." Serena answered.

"Fine. A storm is brewing in the palace so she won't have your time." The hidden guy replied.

"Let's wait and see. There is an anomaly with the girl. How unfortunate for her to have come across Letitia's dark charms." Serena said.

"Speaking of the girl, she has no wolf." The cold voice sounded.

"The vision can't be wrong. She's one of the chosen." Serena replied, her face turning solemn. A pair of icy deep blue eyes watched from the dark as blood trickled down the right corner of her red lips.

"Damn Letitia." Serena whispered as the blood evaporated into nothingness before it could drop on the ground.There was a ripple in space and a ring-like light started forming.

"I'll send you back."

Serena remained silent as she approached the fully formed portal. "Wondering how she would feel if she discovers you have the portal - creation gift? Ha! Letitia would go nuts."She laughed, the fire crown hovering over her shaking in unison. Then she snapped her fingers and it disappeared.

Serena turned back, her emerald eyes giving a once- over at the whole wrecked land. Finally, she stepped into the portal.

" Don't die."

"I won't,.. Jared," She responded and with a solemn face, entered the portal, vanishing.

A pair of icy blue eyes watched on as the portal closed.

*******************************************

Somewhere across space and time;

Modern World;

City Z;

8:55PM.

Twilight in City Z has always been a splendid one for the people living there. Even better for the upper echelons who unwind in the best beach resort mostly popular for it's great view of the beautiful scenery of Luminescent sea at night.

The sea was where the resort got it's name, Luminescent resort, from.

People from the middle class also have their section but those from the lower class can only watch from afar without being able to step a foot in.

One needed to look good, dress good and smell of money before entrance can be gained.

But before going further, the money smell of course needs to be validated by purchasing the Class chips.

The chips are in five sets denoted by the colours lemon, green, yellow, purple and black. Green and Lemon for the average class, Yellow, and Purple for upper class. Of course belonging to the same class doesn't mean there's no difference in value of the chips It's actually the opposite case as there is a wide gap between them.

Black chips are limited and can only be purchased by top influential echelons who rank highest in the order of society. This chip stands above all other chips and not just anyone from the upper class can lay their hands on it.

The chips are inserted in a system that encodes the amount paid and let's the attendants know what or what not to serve the guests, how and how not to treat them, and then where and where not to take the guests to. Due to the services being seemingly preferential, some people almost caused trouble at first, even dragging Luminescent to web forums and throwing shades but thankfully, people with brains were surprisingly still very much alive.

'Whats this?? Do these critics have nothing to think of again?'

'Im guessing anyone behind this left his or her brain behind coz what's this? Preferential treatment?'

'Even Luminescent didn't bother about this. How laughable.'

'Why would they? It's a matter of you getting what you want if you have the money. You want something better others are having? Of course you can. Just pay and you'ld be given, right? Even a kid knows this logic. But some people surprisingly don't think anymore.'

'Such a waste of time reading this lousy content.'

.....

With many keyboard warriors expressing their distaste over the matter, it was silently discarded and Luminescent kept bustling with rich clients from various walks of life.

This day however, there was a heavy stom forecast and people were advised to stay indoors and away from the sea areas. Guests at Luminescent resort were also advised to stay indoors and not step out to avoid mishaps.

Somewhere else though, unaware of the impending storm, a totally different scenario was being played out.