by C C Morgen
“I can’t do that, because I love her.”
“But you love me as well—don’t you?” Her lips kissed mine. “The connection is so deep between us. More than I’ve ever felt before.”
The taste of her lips was even better than the pie and the hunger inside me grew as she embraced me. Her hands grazed my face, making me mesmerized by the look in her eyes. This woman was not playing anymore. She was completely serious about wanting me.
“I can sense that you are hungry.” She kissed the side of my neck. “Did you know a Succubus can sense each other more deeply in a state of hunger?” My stomach twists as she took my hand and placed it on her abdomen. “It feels like a whirlwind in here. Drawing us closer and closer to each other.” She whispered in my ear. “Having sex with another Succubus is intoxicating.”
In that moment, I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and embraced her in a hug. My heart was racing out of my chest just from her words. The connection that I didn’t want to happen had finally set its roots inside my soul. We cannot undo this if we let this happen. “Are you sure you want this? You don’t know how much a curse it is to find your twin flame. No one knows until they find them.”
“I saw what it can do.” She took my hand and held it over her heart. “We can try to make this work. I’m being too selfish making you choose between Angelica and me. I know perfectly well how much you love her. I love my sister as well. If we are honest with her about this, we can figure out a solution together. Angelica is a lot more reasonable than I am. Let’s just be honest with her.”
The hand on her chest, I moved to caress her face. She kissed the palm of my hand where the fire between us began to ignite. The flames in her eyes glowed blue, and she noticed mine did too. “Your eyes?”
“I can see your flame,” she said as the fire burst around us.
“It doesn’t feel hot.” We looked at it radiating off our skin. “You don’t burn.” I said before embracing her lips in a passionate kiss. The blaze expanded further and further the longer we kissed.
Until all of a sudden, my stomach rumbled a loud growl. Claudia stopped while being overwhelmed with laughter. I shied my face away in embarrassment, realizing I still needed to eat actual food. She slid the pie a lot closer to us and handed me the fork. We ate the pie together, and she had a smile once again that finally comforted me.
Once the pie disappeared into our stomachs, we parted ways for the time being and agreed to talk to Angelica together in the morning. Claudia went one direction and I went the other way, having to pull apart our hands that were intertwined for longest time in the kitchen.
Her touch and scent lingered on my mind while making my way down the shadowy halls. Something I thought wasn’t possible, it happened. She was in my heart right next to Angelica. I can no longer deny either of them. However, if things don’t work out when all secrets are let out, I might have to leave this place.
Strangely while passing the royal corridors it appeared unguarded without a soldier in sight, and I saw from a distance the door to the princess’s chambers cracked open. The candles in the room brightly lit and there was the sound of struggling in the room. When I pushed open the door. The princess was fending off three invaders, attacking her. She had her back against the corner of the walls as two male demons in black leathers tried to get close to her, but she was armed with poisonous daggers where one cut can kill in an instant like a Ghoul’s touch. The third, was a woman in red leathers, came at me with her sword the moment she saw me enter the room. Her movements were agile as she moved quickly to try to get a cut worthy to slow me down. I rolled to the ground and used my entire body to trip her over. She collapsed over me where I was able to wrap my legs around her waist and squeezed tight to disarm her. I was unarmed, no armor and not even boots. My strength was only half facing these assassins. They were quick in their movements without making much of a sound. The princess lunged at one man when I had the woman in a hold. Her blade cut across the side of his neck. The poison in the blade seeped in quick, turning the veins black. He knelt in extreme pain, screaming for his life.
Armenia yelled desperately for the guards, that I knew were nowhere near assisting right away. She just wanted to yell loud enough to echo down the halls for anyone to hear. The woman in red dropped her sword to grab onto my legs to pry them off. She grunted with straight black hair in my face. I could see in the corner of my eye the princess charging at the other assassin that tried to avoid the blade of her daggers. His comrade had already disintegrated to ash and combusted across the white marble floor. He grabbed a torch mounted on the wall and used the flames to push the princess back from attacking. Suddenly, he came at me on the floor and in a split second, the flames of the torch came at my face. The fire burnt the left side of my cheek and the vision in my eye had gone to black. I screamed in pain since it was excruciating until I lost my grip on the woman.
He grabbed her by the arm and lifted her up to run. They rushed out of the room, leaving the sword on the floor where I could see it with my good right eye. I stared at it thinking of Eric’s face and voice echoing in my mind. ‘Get up.’
The princess kneeled over me in tears, reaching out for the burnt side of my face that I could not see how it looked. I crawled on the floor towards the body mirror near the vanity. The princess’ expression had nothing, but shock displayed on her face and her eyes speaking how mortified she was by my face. I gripped the frame of the mirror and pulled myself up to my feet. In the reflection, on the left side where my scars were supposed to be were now covered with burnt red and black chard skin. My eye shifted white with my eyelids completely black. I gasped at the sight of my injuries. I lost my eye.
Still feeling disoriented from the loss in one eye, I stumbled across the floor and picked up the sword once my hand could find it. “Ali!” The princess called out to me. “Stop. Don’t move anymore.” But for some reason I didn’t listen to her. It filled me with anger and the darkness that I’ve kept under control raged out of me. I rushed out into the hall, falling against the wall. I could see the two assassins escape through a window not too far down the hallway where I also watched the guards racing back. Without the vision in my left eye, my whole-body balance was off. I tried to run forward, but I collided into the wall instead, until I fell to my knees in pain. I grunted loudly, slamming the grip of the sword on the floor. Angelica’s voice was in the distance and from behind me was Claudia. I couldn’t see which one reached me first. However, Claudia’s breath brushed my ear as her arms went around my chest and held me. “Stay still—don’t move anymore.” Her voice panicked. I felt her breath on the side of my face where I could not see her at all. I heard her gasp.
When I looked up, Angelica raced to her knees in front of me with terror in her eyes and nearly in tears. She couldn’t say anything at the sight of me. “We need to get her to the healer now.” Claudia’s stern voice order Angelica to get back into focus.
The soldiers passed by us and into the princess’s chambers. I could hear her voice in the background, angry and sad because they badly injured me. I rested back into Claudia’s chest, not knowing what to do anymore with the anger consuming me from within. This was my doing and now I no longer have both eyes. The very thing that a Dark Elf needs; otherwise, we are rendered useless. I gripped tightly the grip of the sword where I could feel my veins turn black. Claudia moved her hand over mine. “Let it go. You’re hurt right now.” Angelica tried to get my hand away from the sword along with her sister. Although, I exhaled in anger not letting go.
I leaned forward and away from Claudia and crawled to my feet using the sword. “Ali stop,” Angelica’s voice tried to reach out to me, but I could no longer hear their words seep in over the darkness, clouding my soul. I raced to the open window down the hall and leaped over and out, landing on my feet from the huge height. I felt the grass on my bare feet as I ran across the courtyard to the scent of the red warrior, the smell of her hair was still strong in the distance. They haven’t gotten too far.
I ran faster and faster with more balance as the darkness gave me strength. The very strength my mother warned me was hard to resist. It coursed through my veins as it did with hers. I am almost my mother’s daughter. The smell of her was near, and the woman in red had caught my sights and by the look on their faces, they didn’t expect anyone to follow.
Her sword in my hand I struck at them. The male assassin jumped in front of the blade where his skill didn’t match mine. I sliced right through him, his body combusting into ash before our eyes. The woman leaped through his disintegrated body and tackled into me.
I could hear voices far behind, trying to find our location. However, I continued to fight the woman out of anger. She struggled to get me down until I plunged the blade into her stomach. “Dark Elf. You were not supposed to be there.” She uttered at me her last words before I cut off her head.
The exhaustion hit my body like a wave. My legs seemed heavier than usual and I stumble backwards away from her dead body. I sighed in sadness thinking about Eric. “This was for you brother.” Suddenly, a shadowy figure emerged out of the darkness and in a swift second, it lunged a dagger into my chest where I could feel it pierce my heart. The blade exploded magic into my chest where it finally shattered my aura. It was crumbling around me and my body began to wither away. Then with my last breath before my heart stopped, I whispered. “Brothers—please forgive me.” My vision turned to black until it was all over.
Father…
I am sorry.
CHAPTER 30
Angelica
ALI! IN THE DISTANCE, HER BODY LAID lifeless on the ground. Her face pale white with her eyes still open as I knelt down above her in agony. All I could feel was sadness and Claudia hunched over, holding her chest desperately, crying as if she was in physical pain. The color in my sister’s face began to wash out at the sight of Ali. She was dead, and magic shattered her soul into pieces around her body.
My hands trembled as I pulled the dagger out of her chest and sensed the enchantment of the blade. This was a cursed weapon.
I laid my hand on her wound and tried to heal together her shattered soul beginning to disappear before our eyes. She would not exist anymore if something isn’t done. I don’t have the power to undo this. Claudia glanced at me desperately and then fell to her side to curl up in a ball. I rushed to her not knowing what was happening. She’s acting as if she’s the one dying. Then I realized the stream of fiery blue linked between her and Ali. The stream from her dead body turned completely colorless and was effecting Claudia dramatically, making her lifeline slowly rot and wither. What was going on?
All of a sudden, a dark portal formed near the dead body and a long dark-haired woman steps out of the portal with two giant hounds that smelled like an awful scent of cinder and burnt hair. Their eyes glowed bright red like fire. Their growls sent chills down my spine with how deep it sounded.
The woman glared at me with her deep golden hazel eyes, her red lips curled in anger. I held Claudia in my arms and gasped in fear. The Dark Princess is here. Alphard!
Her hand reached into the portal and another woman with long golden chestnut hair walked out in a shimmering blue dress. Diamonds embedded in the cloth glowed and her blue eyes caught my attention as if I was gazing into the vast sea. It was like a Goddess was standing before us. Her fair features and the color of her skin was so beautiful it was something that I haven’t seen before in the Underworld. She appeared devastated at the sight of Ali. She gripped onto Alphard’s hand in shock, not knowing what to do.
The Dark Princess was cold and turned her eyes away as if she didn’t want to be bothered by the Goddess. Alphard pushed her forward towards Ali. The hounds stared at us growling, especially one that appeared to be angrier than the other. Her red eyes looked straight into mine. Then I realized the hound was Phyla, who seemed like she wanted to rip my head off along with my sister; the way she revealed her teeth. This was Ali’s terrifying family.
The Goddess knelt before her body withering away. She laid her hand over Ali’s chest and a white light formed around the body. The light felt cool as the ocean water and then I remember the same light that appeared when Ali used Valora. This woman was a Goddess who protected her.
I saw the fragments of Ali soul absorb back together into one ball of light that faintly glowed in the woman's hand. She held it gently against her chest like a mother nurturing her child. Her eyes glanced up at Alphard who formed a wide grin, while looking at the ball of light. The woman stood back to her feet and then strolled over to Claudia and me. My sister had already regained color back to her face, and no longer ached in pain.
“You two must be the sister’s Ali loved so dearly.” The woman spoke. “My name is Amphis. I am the Ocean Goddess that watched over her.” She holds out the ball for Claudia and me to see. “This is Ali’s soul. Would you like to hold her for a while before she goes away?”
“Go away?” I reacted in confusion.
“She’s going to reincarnate into the third realm. It’s the only way she can live again. In time, she will gain back her memories of who she once was, but she will have a completely new life living among the mundane.”
I brought the ball to my chest where I felt how warm her soul was. This was Ali in my hands. Claudia sat up and touched the ball with her fingertips, and blue flames formed around her hand and around the ball.
Amphis’ eyes widened to the response that Claudia and Ali’s soul had to each other. “Twins—my dear Ali found her twin flame.” Then she looked at me. “And her soulmate. She was surely blessed. I wish she had been around longer to live a fulfilling life. She would have been happy with you both.”
I didn’t understand what she was talking about until I saw the sad look in my sister’s eyes that spoke shame.
“Looks like she didn’t know that my daughter was in-love with her sister as well. Love is such a fickle thing.” Alphard stepped towards us and squatted down to look me in the eye. “You must be the gullible one. And older sister here is the devious one.” She glances loathfully at Claudia. “Huh—I don’t see why she would give up her life for you both. My daughter is a disappointment in so many ways. Nothing sinks in.”
“Alphard please.” Amphis pleaded with her to stop talking badly. “Have some respect.”
“Why?” Alphard gripped Claudia’s chin firmly. “I warned her of the consequences. I even warned my father she does not belong here. The darkness in her blood is like mine. The urge drives us to bring disaster. Did she choose either of you? I think not. She ran off on her emotions as she always does. Love doesn’t have the power to keep her still.” Alphard grabbed the ball from my hand. “Ali is special to me. Her soul was once like mine. Sweet as love. Then we realize it doesn’t last. The bitterness sets in ladies. Just as you Claudia. That tastes grows stronger looking at me.” She gripped her by the neck. “I heard you have a delicious hate towards the clan. It must be painful right now not being able to do anything at this moment and you just lost your chance to steal Ali for yourself.” Claudia bit the bottom of her lip and Alphard manifested a knife in her hand. “Would you like me to ease all that hate for you? And save you from your sister despising you for seducing Ali behind her back?”
Amphis placed her hand on her shoulder. “Alphard, please. Your mother doesn’t want to deal with your mistakes right now. I’m sure she’s upset receiving news about Ali. Don’t give her a reason to punish you like last time. And you promised to behave.”
“Ugh. You and my mother are going to be the end of me. It’s not fun if I don’t get to torture them a little.”
I sensed Claudia’s rage grow as if she was about to summon the black flames until I wrapped my arms around her chest and held her close. “Don’t play into her games,” I whispered. “There’s no point.”
“You there—whispering.” Alphard looked straight at me. “Does it look like I’m playing games right now? Are you not the slightest bit angry that my daughter was in-love with your sister as well?”
“I’m upset about it, but it doesn’t mean that I should be angry to the point of allowing you to harm my sister or speak ill of your own daughter.”
“Huh—you are no fun at all.” Alphard shrugs and hands Ali’s soul to Amphis. “I have to admit you made my daughter quite happy in her final days. This is not something I’m proud of since her true place is with the Dark Clan. I would hope you agree to this by now Angelica. Ali must become a Harpy in her next life. For that to happen, I will need help.”
Claudia stood to her feet and confronted Alphard face to face. “Help—we are not helping you.”
I grabbed my sister by the arm and pulled her away before anything else happened. “My word—this one has a temper. I like. You are an honest one, aren’t you? Feelings and all.”
“I don’t know what you’re planning. However, you shouldn’t force things your way. Ali wanted nothing to do with you or the clan.”
“Claudia…” I tugged at her. “Maybe we should hear her out.”
“Are you serious?” She acted enraged by my words. “You say you loved Ali and you want to scheme against her! Do you have any idea what she has done for you and me?”
“It doesn’t matter—I wanted Ali to turn in the first place, because I was worried about this happening. As you said, she is frail not invoking her true potential. And I was in such a wishful state, thinking it was possible to keep her out of harm’s way for eternity. Now she’s dead and they almost destroyed her soul. Her only hope is to become a Harpy.”
“Oh, so you are the rational one!” Alphard laughed. “Claudia you should listen to your sister and stop being stubborn about this. Ali belongs with her true family and me. The Underworld would never become her home. Have a family with you two. Huh—please! Happily ever after is not a thing in our family. Shame on you for believing things would actually work out that way. Especially you, dear Angelica.”