Chapter 63 - Attack (9)

I stood over Lyra, my wings slightly unfurled, the sharp edges glinting in the dim light.

Her face was streaked with tears, her body trembling as she knelt on the ground.

The others were behind me, their presence a quiet backdrop to the tension in the air.

I could feel their eyes on me, their unease palpable. But I didn't care. Not right now.

I repeated the questions, my voice cold and detached. "How did you get here? How did you know we'd be here? How did you know when we'd be here?"

Silence.

Lyra just stared at the ground, her lips pressed tightly together.

Her defiance was infuriating. But I didn't understand why I was so angry. I wasn't particularly loyal to Terra.

I didn't owe them anything. And yet, here I was, interrogating a Fantasian with a brutality that surprised even me.

I couldn't help but notice today especially, how my mood shifted every time I got into battle.

And today, I had been unnecessarily cruel to the Fantasians, even though I had no real reason to hate them.

It was like something inside me just took over, something dark, frightening and worst of all, unknown.

In the background, I heard Lucas's fist clench tightly.

Of course he wasn't comfortable with this. I mean he came from the same planet as these people. But I pushed that thought aside. Right now, I, no, we need answers.

I repeated the questions again, my tone sharper this time. "How did you get here? How did you know we'd be here? How did you know when we'd be here?"

Still, Lyra said nothing.

My patience snapped. With a flick of my wings, I crushed her arm.

The sound of bones breaking was sickening, the blood splattering across my face. I didn't flinch.

"Kya!"

Behind me, I heard Maria scream, a soft, horrified sound.

'Why is she screaming?' I thought, glancing around briefly. 'I mean didn't she kill these Fantasians too? Or is it the torture that's making her scream.'

Haa. Forget it. I don't have the energy or time to dwell on it.

I turned back to Lyra, who was now crying openly, her body shaking with pain. I repeated the questions again, my voice colder than before.

Still, she didn't answer.

Then I noticed something—a necklace around her neck.

In a burst of speed, I snatched it, the chain snapping easily in my hand.

Lyra's eyes widened, and she immediately began begging, her voice breaking.

"Please… give it back…"

I ignored her, opening the locket. Inside was a picture of Lyra and a much younger girl who looked like a younger version of her.

I glanced at her, my tone indifferent. "Your daughter? Or is it your sister?"

Lyra's tears flowed freely now. "My sister… she's all I have left… Please, have mercy…"

I raised a hand, cutting her off. "I don't care."

The calmness in my voice seemed to shock everyone, including myself really.

I could even feel their eyes on me, their expressions a mix of disbelief and unease. But I didn't let it faze me.

"Speak," I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. "Or I'll kill you, and I'll make sure your sister pays the price too. It shouldn't be that hard to send an assassin to sneak into fantasia through the frontlines afterall."

Lyra's sobs grew louder, her body trembling as she begged. "Please… don't make me a traitor to my own race… to my own planet…"

I leaned in closer, my voice low and menacing. "Then talk."

For a moment, it seemed like she was about to break.

But then I felt it—a chill crawling up my spine, a warning I couldn't ignore.

I flapped my wings, launching myself into the air just as a loud boom echoed through the forest.

The ground where I had been standing erupted in a shockwave, leveling everything nearby.

Trees were uprooted, rocks shattered, and dust filled the air. I looked to my side, relieved to see that River, and Natasha had jumped to safety.

As for the others—Kevin, Alicia, Patrick, Marcus, Lucas, Maria and Annabelle—I didn't really care but they had managed to jump to safety.

As the dust cleared, I looked down at where Lyra had been. And the sight almost made my stomach churn.

She was impaled through the neck by a golden spear, her body limp and lifeless. But what surprised me most was the smile on her face.

"Thank you, sir," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "At least now… I won't be a traitor… Please take care of my sister."

The light left her eyes, and the spear shook violently before pulling itself free and flying back toward the entrance gate—toward the control room.

I cursed under my breath, my wings flaring as I hovered in the air. "Shit. They've taken the control room."