“Master”, his still young voice from rebirth called out to her and Nina was startled. “You called for me in my dreams…”
Nina looked around to see him fly in from God knew where, settling gently onto her shoulder.
“How even!” she cried out as Totters cocked his head to look at her. She breathed deeply to calm herself down. She would figure it out. She’d figure it all out one day.
Diana was furious. She simply couldn’t get a hit. And Ivanna was absolutely punishing.
“You have a limp on your left hind leg,” she stated as she threw an energy disc at Diana’s ankle, tripping her to the ground mid-run, “Your right eye is weaker, interfering with your aim. You jump too much and hardly stick to the ground.”
“What does this have anything to do with the fight?” Diana growled.
“I’m stating your weak points,” she answered and shot another disc of energy at her. Diana rolled out of the way instead of jumping. That was a little improvement.
“If anything, jump to the right because that leg is better,” she advised, making the ground fall apart under Diana. Diana did exactly that, landing on her foot and not tripping. She got ahold of the friction under her paw and did not slide away. “Let go of anger and keep your weak points in mind. Work accordingly to it. Your efficiency shows not through your stamina, but strategy. It’s not about how much damage you can take, or do to the other person to get them to stop attacking. It’s about rendering the other person unconscious at most. The sooner you’re able to finish a fight, the better.”
Diana charged at a tree and catapulted herself off the trunk straight toward her opponent. Ivanna lifted off the ground and Diana’s strategy changed midway and she twisted her body and pushed herself off of the tree that was behind Ivanna and upwards. That was unexpected and she managed to knock Ivanna to the ground, herself landing on her right foot and standing up stable. Ivanna immediately stood up. She was impressed with the improvement.
“Give your opponent the chance to attack you,” Ivanna continued as she neared her and started to combat. “Make sure your dodges and defenses are up to par. Observe your opponent and find their weak spot.”
Diana dodged and kept backing away as she tried to read Ivanna’s movements and find her weaknesses. But it proved difficult. She had none.
“I’ll give you a hint,” Ivanna grunted as Diana shot forward to attack and earn herself more room to dodge. “What’s the one part of my body I’ve hardly moved when fighting up close?”
Diana zeroed in on her forehead and launched a punch, throwing Ivanna off effectively and sending her falling to the floor. She scrunched her eyes as she tried to dissolve the pain that was starting to accumulate there and Diana saw a bump starting to form against the redness.
“Good news, Diana,” she said weakly. “You learn quick. Training you guys won’t be all that bad at all.”
Laughter came from one of the trees, and Ivanna knew who it belonged to. She immediately rolled onto her knees and stood despite the pain and dizziness. She’d been waiting for Viria.
“That was a good match for starters,” Viria said hopping off from where she was settled high on a tree. “Tell me, is attacking and running on instincts all they teach you?”
Diana recalled her training days and how Gael would fight with her once she was rescued from the Morbus. “Well, maybe?”
“She learned fast, though,” Ivanna stated. “I feel relaxed with that notion.”
“Everyone will be needing a reboot,” Viria stated as she pulled Ivanna’s head close to examine it, softly running a thumb over the bump. Viria moved her hand in a complicated formation and spat onto her thumb that glowed an icy blue, and she spread it onto Ivanna forehead.
“Ew, Viria!” Ivanna yelled and pulled away from her smirking face. “I tell you not to use your spit! You could’ve used mine!”
“Learn the healing formations and I wouldn’t have to,” Viria laughed.
“We’ve hardly had time!”
“You can meditate and practice while sleeping, too,” she reminded Ivanna and walked past her to Diana, “I won’t use my spit on you. Shift and let me deal with your injuries.”
“I’m fine,” Diana growled at her.
“No need to be hostile, wolf,” she breathed for patience. “We’re not enemies for the time-being. Shift. I need to restore your stamina and body to a better condition.”
Diana grunted and shifted, revealing a curled up figure on the floor trying to cover herself. Viria chanted something and pieces of Diana’s clothing that had ripped apart in the woods came zooming into the clearing and piecing itself together onto Diana’s body, coming together as good as new. She lowered herself to Diana’s level and crossed her legs under herself, putting her hand out to her.
“Arm,” she ordered. Diana tentatively placed her hand into her small one. Compared to hers, Viria’s hands were extremely calloused. She could feel the scabs of wounds on them. Unlike Diana’s there was no softness to spare. She observed Viria carefully, her eyes falling to horizontal lines on her arms.
“You… you cut yourself,” she stated.
“Used to,” she confessed as her fingers glowed blue and started pressing over Diana’s wounds. “It was simply a lot of anger pent up inside that I took out on myself and turned to self-hatred. It was better to damage myself than other things and people around me. Not that I had any control over what I was thinking and I’m not proud of that past, but I got to move on.”
“What even happened to make you do that?”
“Eh, typical teenage shit.” She shrugged with a glance at Diana, and she knew what Viria would say next would be painful. “I walked away from my mate.”
Diana was silent. She couldn’t comprehend it. The fact that a sixteen year old’s life had gotten so hard to the point she was compelled to leave the one person who should have been her world. Who could do that? Why would anyone ever do that? Wouldn’t it hurt her mate just as much?
“B-but why?” Diana demanded.
“Ah, I was too fucked up in the head and denied it the whole time after I figured it out,” Viria said with a shake of her head. “I didn’t even dare thinking about it ever again. Anyway, it would’ve hurt him more to be with me, really. I wanted to get better but nothing worked until I got on medication and was able to start thinking right in the next few months. It helped me try to overcome my limitations and I’m a lot better now. I’d probably have killed myself by now instead of doing all this.”
“You could still go back to him…” Diana tried to coax her. “He would want you back.”
“I severed my essence bond with him,” she explained. “Once a witch does that, the essence tries to find a new mate and his was successful. Mine is too damaged to try and form a connection with anyone without transferring my own spiritual scars to them. It’s a well-intended limitation I put on myself for the time being.”
Diana felt distraught. What Viria had explained was almost as bad as having a mate die. She couldn’t imagine a life without Fergus and her memory being wiped out during her capture was a blessing in itself. Also, Viria was just a child. She was only sixteen and to have found her mate so young and left him as soon as he was found, she couldn’t imagine what kind of torture Viria had to live through every day.
Viria sighed. “You know, A lot of people say that being alone is better and we should never be dependent on anyone. That’s where they go wrong. People are made simply to be with each other for support. And mates, especially. I don’t know if you shifters are aware but you and your mates can combine your powers together and become equally as strong as the other. When your mate dies, their power and essence transfers into you and it helps ease the pain of the loss. It’s not necessary that there be love between two people. Love doesn’t save anyone. But compassion helps a lot to get anyone by.”
People are made simply to be with each other, it echoed in Diana’s head. And for a moment, she wondered if there was a time Viria had abso
lutely no one.
Chapter 11
Mitch had decided to bury himself well in a spot and wait until Viria returned. He needed to rest and replenish his energy, and that meant undergoing a form of death where his essence would awaken to collect and process dark energy. Viria was intrigued to ask more questions but he stopped her before she could start, promising her that he’d explain when she got back.
Viria had not expected to be opening up to Diana about her life, but she needed to gain her trust to allow her to sift through her memories and extract her experience under the Morbus’s capture. Their essence would still be lingering within her and Viria knew their extraction could help track down more bases.
After healing Diana completely, they headed to where everyone else was. They had woken up and looked better than ever and were assembled together and talking to each other. Nina saw the three coming and simply glanced at Viria. It was awkward to bring herself to talk to her. She wasn’t sure how to be with her. Nina couldn’t find peace between her hate trump and newfound trust for her. Viria was sarcastic, bitter, and condescending most of the time and Nina couldn’t understand how someone as nice as Ivanna even put up with her.
Which reminded her, she needed to pull Ivanna aside to talk.
Kalen spoke once the three girls joined the group, “So we went to the sanctuaries. None of the shifters have gone extinct like we thought we did. We were going to come home after the first sanctuary but decided to visit the others, too. Everyone is well-cared for. Viria and Ivanna have done a lot for not only the Elders, but for the whole realm as well and I think it’s about time we try to set aside our differences and come together to help each other. These two have won my trust.”
“That good and all,” Luke started and looked at Viria, “but what’s the plan then?”
“Mass training,” Viria explained. “Once I have everyone I need to save in all the sanctuaries, we start training and discipline them. Educate them and raise awareness. All of this in masses. Once done, we shift them to the largest abandoned sanctuary that is connected to three others. My people are working on breaking down the boundary walls to add space. There, we level out everything and bring every being in this real to work with each other. All shifters, vampires, ghouls, and everyone else I may have missed. Whilst that carries on, my team and I will actively work on tracking the Morbus down and undoing whatever we can, and bring down their numbers. They are not to be underestimated since they’re spread out around the whole world and have a large army combined. Before we target the HQ, we take out their bases as I’ve been doing so the past few months.”
“How will we tackle those outside?” Kevin asked.
“I’m not the only one who’s been working against them,” Viria explained. “I’ve made contact with our people in other countries and they’ve come to realize the danger and are working to rise against the Morbus, as well. My team and I will have to constantly travel to them every two to three months and help with progress as they prepare. Our allies in Germany have already come together in one place under a vampire lead and they’ve been moving forward quite well with dismantling the Morbus while they prepare for battle.”
“What do we know about the Morbus’s location here?” Samuel asked.
“I’ve come around to extracting one of their member’s essence from a victim I came across,” she continued, “Ivanna and I parted ways due to an ambush and I found a community of ghouls that need my help. I found a lead there and will be on my way soon to track them down and annihilate them. Diana must also hold traces of their essence and I’d appreciate it if I was allowed to extract it.”
Fergus moved to object but Diana put her hand to his chest and looked at him firmly. “The decision is mine to make, and I say yes to it.”
“Thank you, Diana,” Ivanna said. “This will really help.”
“What about your mission in the Inner Circle?” Nina asked. “I thought you couldn’t move forward until that was solved.”
“With the way things are turning out, I’m forced to multitask,” Viria admitted. “But it still needs to be done and I need your help.”
Nina looked at Ivanna and caught her eye. She turned away immediately and back at Viria. “I want to talk to Ivanna alone about this.”
“No problem with that.” Viria shrugged. “Anyway, if I may be honest, should you agree to be with me through all of this, you will have to come back to our HQ in Ivanna’s community. We have all the facilities there to accommodate everyone.”
Ammara intervened. “We don’t feel comfortable leaving this place.”
“It’s safer there than here,” Viria stated reasonably. “You won’t have to make unnecessary use of your powers to reinforce the borders and protect yourselves. The choice is up to you, though. If it isn’t all of you, then at least Nina so that we could start infiltrating the Inner Circle.”
There was a collective share of glances amongst each other.
“Can we have a little time before we come to a decision?” Nina said. “I still need to talk to Diana.”
“I can give you a day at most,” Viria said warningly and Nina nodded saying it would take less. With that, Ammara announced for lunch and they headed to the Silver Table.
Ivanna and Nina walked through the woods in silence away from everyone. It still amazed Nina that Ivanna was here with her, that she had taken over Morrigan’s position, and how much she had changed over the years from when she last knew her. Ivanna had been the kindest person she’d met in the community, and it trumped all social norms imposed upon her and her family. They were not bad people, though they tried to maintain a strict image. The Ivanna she knew was in no way like those of the community and she was glad to see it, but she had definitely hardened and become strict in demeanor. She didn’t even offer Nina a hug like she used to back in the community.
“Times have grown very hard for us,” Ivanna started slowly, somber. “After Morrigan was executed, we faced a shitload of burdens she had left behind. Since the day I was put into the office Viria and I haven’t seen a day’s peace. I handled the paperwork, meetings and negotiations, and fixing the community and have seen very little battles. Viria, though, handled the hardest of situations. She’s led and fought every battle to fall upon my community, fell hostage and has seen torture I can bring myself to imagine. She’s been an agent going undercover for numerous missions and coming back with treasure troves of information. She is no ordinary child of average intelligence and emotional capabilities.”
Ivanna stopped walking and took a breath for strength and looked at Nina desperately. “She’s endured a lifetime of constant pain that’s made her who she is today and I assure you that her soft heart does not come easy to understand behind all the walls that she’s put up, yet she lives for the good of the realm. I’d appreciate it if you came with us to the HQ and helped us in our mission.”
“Ivanna, I wouldn’t hesitate to help, really,” Nina said. “I just wanted to talk to you and, I dunno, bond with you again?”
“Nina, no offense but we’re not in the best of times and circumstances to do so,” she stated. “I have no space left in my heart to focus on anyone else besides Viria. My parents and mate come second.”
“I understand Viria has gone through a lot,” Nina started disapprovingly, “but that doesn’t mean you forget about yourself and pledge your complete devotion to her.”
“You are in no position to make such a statement, Nina.” Ivanna frowned. “I don’t mean to blame you but—”
“Yes, I know,” Nina cut in, exasperated. “All this would have never happened if I’d stuck around Morrigan and did what Viria has.”
“Please don’t question where my duties lie ever again,” she warned coldly. “You may be one of the Elders, a title given to you simply because the first Caillagh is your mother, but you still ran away from your first responsibility that I’m now bearing the burden of. I decide what I have the time and energy for. Just tell me if you’re willing to help or no
t. I won’t force you to say yes.”
To say Nina was hurt was an understatement. She felt attacked. She couldn’t believe the person that was in front of her. Time really did change people and she didn’t understand if it was for better or for worse in Ivanna’s case.
“I’ll accept,” she said. Nina wasn’t sure how she would adjust to a place she hated so much, but she could try. For a better future for everyone and mostly for her daughter.
“Thank you, Nina,” Ivanna said with as much sincerity as she could muster. She hated doing this to Nina, but the years that had passed by had worn out their friendship, due to lack of contact and she felt no desire to revive it again. All Ivanna wanted was her mate, her family, and Viria. She had no more energy to spare for anyone else.
They walked out of the woods and to where everyone else was, announcing Nina’s decision to them.
“Again, it would be better if all of you moved into our HQ,” Viria suggested. “I have every file there to mark our progress. I would need you people to select representatives of the shifters in the sanctuaries through whom we must convey messages to the people through and have order amongst them. This is not a small mission.”
Kalen spoke up this time, “I talked this through with Ammara and the rest of the Elders. We think everyone should go. It’s for the benefit of the masses and we’ve done nothing but focus on ourselves majorly for the most part of everything that has been happening. But Ammara and I will be with the rest of the Elders and focus on reviving our kind in the sanctuaries.”
“We really appreciate you for making such a decision,” Ivanna said. “We’ll do our best to be hospitable to the best of your comfort.”
“I’ll have to give you a little of my essence and set up a teleportation system in your quarters to allow you to visit them,” Viria explained. “I can do that as soon as everyone is at Ivanna’s quarters.”
The Hidden Truth (Shadow Claw Book 7) Page 7