Elyria bit her lips as embarrassment washed over her, replacing her rage, she felt eyes on her. All having a mix of confusion and unease.
She lost control of her emotions and it was all for a stupid reason.
She wriggled out of his arms and turned around to face him, her eyes back to their glossy look, "I'm sorry. I hope I didn't hurt you."
Nightshade chuckled softly raising his hands to the back of his neck, "You did more than hurt me, if not for this..." he trailed off as he realized he was as Nightshade before her and she had no clue who was under the mask, except the Alliance.
"If not for this armour, I would have been unconscious on the ground," he admitted, also agreeing with himself.
The memories of the last time he got kicked below the belt flashed through his mind causing him to shiver.
He teased one of his seatmate back in college, when he was just getting popular.
He teased her so much she got mad and used her feet covered with combat boots to knock him out.
But that was the old him. Now he could endure pain and even reduce it if he switched identities.
However, he could not deny that he was still in pain, his abdomen hurt, but that could be solved.
He still had to give an explanation to the Alliance, regarding his identity switch, especially to Seraphina and Torvald.
"Claire," he called out, his eyes still on Elyria who was mumbling incoherent words to herself. Words he made no attempts what so ever to understand or even listen to.
She left the crowd and walked close to him, a mocking smile on her face, "You're in big trouble," she mouthed and walked over to Elyria.
Claire threw her arms around her shoulder and smiled, "Cheer up, Princess Elyria," she said, shaking her shoulders gently, "Why don't we go inside and do something about your emotions, and if you want I could show a little summoning tricks."
Elyria's face brightened up almost immediately, she wiped away the tears that were about to touch her cheeks.
Claire led her back into the temple, leaving Uravis and the Alliance alone, in an awkward silence.
He turned around, also switching back to his self before them, most were still stunned by his unique ability. The one out of two percent of the world with the ability to switch identities.
But his ability was far more complicated.
Seraphina stepped out first, her express serious and her eyes burning with an invisible flame that he could be roasted with it care was not taken.
She tore the mask off his face and almost fainted, from his dark hair to his red eyes, he was still good looking. She imagined he was hiding his face because he was ugly, but she was wrong.
Uravis laughed nervously and clasped his palms together, "I guess I have to introduce myself properly and state good reasons why?"
"Yes!" they all responded in unison, their voices laced with anger and everything negative, especially the feeling of being betrayed alongside curiosity and confusion.
He snapped his finger, calling the attention of his scorpion.
When it arrived, he leapt onto it, his gaze now lowered at the Alliance.
"I am Uravis Lockwood, known by many as Drakonis," he began, his eyes focused on Seraphina especially.
Torvald only stared with a knowing smile on his lips that he would have to address later.
"Let's see," he rubbed his beardless chin, one of the behaviors that got imprinted on him from Arcanis. "I am not from your world, you all see me as a different race, well I am but not from this world. I am nineteen, a professional E sports gamer and well, that's that," he concluded, his gaze settling on the silent crowd.
"Why did you hide this from us?" Seraphina finally asked after two minutes of excruciatingly painful silence passed.
Uravis chuckled dryly and smiled, "Because there is a thing called trust and betrayal, Seraphina," he paused and exhaled.
"In my world, you trust no one. You could trust friends, but at your own risk, bestfriends, sure. But brace yourself for the back stabbing of a lifetime, the scar left will remain for ever till you grow old or maybe find yourself in an accident that would cost your memory. That is, if your bestfriend is not the reason for it,"
"As for family, you could trust them, but also one must be careful of how things are between yourself and that family member, I trust my sisters alot. Claire and Cassie," he smiled and glanced at Torvald.
"But I could take a risk in trusting you all, especially him," he pointed at Torvald, earning a smile in return. "I am also genuinely and sincerely, sorry,"
Seraphina scoffed and averted her gaze, "Your real identity is not bad, just don't do it next time," she mumbled, trying to hide her emotions but he smiled and nodded.
"However, before we do anything else or start thinking about forgiving me. We have visitors," he announced and spin around, switching back to Nightshade.
"We have members of the rogue's guild visiting because I told them to, Stay on guard and expect anything and everything. I must admit and warn you all they are as diabolic as me," he gestured at himself and gave them the go ahead.
At that same moment, black smoke began forming before the crowd, making them move back and slowly draw out their weapons.
The shape shifters, shifted to vicious wolves, sword masters took their stances around the smoke. Spell casters and mages began creating blasts and different spells.
Nightshade leaped off the Scorpion and to the ground beside Seraphina who shot him a glare, that he ignored.
As the smoke materialized, a mysterious figure with eyes like Nightshade chuckled softly as he moved towards him.
"Vasquez."
"Nightshade...or should I say, Vendetta," the man replied with a smirk on his lips, "You look better than I last saw you."
"You saw me on a hologram two hours ago."
"I know," Vasquez replied with a grin as he opened up his arms and embraced Nightshade in a tight but not so pleasant hug.
"Yeah, now let go of me," Nightshade uttered, tapping Vasquez' shoulder, "Your hand in going in the wrong places."
"I Know," he replied again and inhaled, "You smell good," he added, his gutteral voice sending chills down Nightshade's spine that made him shudder.
Meanwhile, Seraphina watched in disbelief. Shock but more of disbelief.
Vasquez released Nightshade and moved to his side, Total ignoring Seraphina like she wasn't there. And she was already hating his presence.
Vasquez Bloodmoon, The Rogue's Guild leader and founder, a white haired and crimson eyed twenty one year old. His void eyes are a reddish brown shade, different from Nightshade's but dark enough.
A man with a different mind and nasty thoughts, not a fan of women, but a fan of guys, take Nightshade for example, who managed to pique his interest over two hours.
And he will do anything to have his way, forcefully or not.
"Everyone, this is Vasquez, their own leader and our soon to be ally," Nightshade said, glancing at Vasquez who simply winked at him and turned his expression serious with ease.
"We will be joining forces with his Guild to continue our mission and deliver positive results. Take him as your second leader and a," he hesitated, finally accepting Vasquez' friendship, "A good friend of mine."
Vasquez smiled, phangs peeking out of the side of his lips, "I look forward to working with you all, especially your leader, Vendetta."
"Please stop calling me that," Nightshade said, pitching his nose bridge in annoyance.
"Kiss me and I will stop."
"Call me anything you want," Nightshade suddenly said , he faked a smile and turned around to take his leave, but he paused, "For the safety of my men. I mean the males, stay away from him and most of his red eyed men," he added and walked off.
Unfortunately, Vasquez moved behind him, his eyes set on Nightshade as he moved.
"You really have the guts to speak to me like that," he finally said after they had gotten away from the eyes of their men.
"Oh please, we are evenly matched, I could talk to you anyway I like," Nightshade replied still walking. "Besides, you're the one who desperately needs blood and me," he halted and turned around.
Vasquez also stopped moving, the sinister gleam in his eyes increasing by the second, "Forget about blood, I need you. I could get blood from anywhere."
Nightshade shivered as those words got into his ears, he found a good ally, but that ally, unfortunately turns out to be homo.
He sighed and turned around to keep walking, "I have nothing to say to you."
"Lovely, your silence is even better than your complaints."
'This is going to be one hell of a mission,' Uravis said within as , Nightshade made his way into the temple.