Chapter 114 - 116

Chapter 114: Chapter 116

Chapter 116

Just as I didn’t know how long I’d been Nathan’s prisoner, I didn’t know how long I’d huddled by the balcony either. Nature remained out of balance, crashing wildly about.

The thumping of heavy boots against the cobblestones drew my attention. Men of the House of Steele marched forward in deliberate formation. From my distant view, they appeared like ants, silhouetted by their own glinting armour, caught in the frail light bleeding through the enormous black clouds.

Then I sighted Nathan. The men parted for him to pass through. I sat up, my interest fully snared. I gripped the rails to stand and watch with narrowed eyes, unfortunately deprived of my powers that would have allowed for a sharper scrutiny.

Five men bent the knee and Nathan approached them. The scene unfolded right before the armies. Whatever was happening, it couldn’t be good, and I didn’t need to be told twice before I bolted out of my room.

My death was already certain, and so nothing frightened me anymore. All I could do now was prevent whatever I could, and gather anything that could be used against him. Even the smallest scrap of information.

"You better let me through!" I yelled as I barrelled into the guards at the front door, but they sent me stumbling back as though I were a splash of water against stone. No harm done to them, no budge given.

"I said, let me through. I’m Luna of SilverFang. This is my Pack, and you’re a member of it. Step aside." My voice hardened, authority woven into every syllable, but the men remained rigid.

I attempted to push through again, my head almost breaking past their line, and then they suddenly parted. I nearly tripped but caught myself in time.

The men remained impassive even as I darted past the first and the second. But I didn’t linger any longer before speeding out to see what Nathan was up to.

Outside, the cold bit at the tips of my fingers, but I pushed through until I had a better view from behind a fountain.

"You are my blood, a new generation of Seers that will follow me in faith and worship. Believe in me, and you shall know your path." Nathan declared just before he blinded the men. It happened within seconds.

One second they were blinking, and the next, the air billowed, consuming their sight along with their cries of pain. But it soon settled.

"You are my most devoted followers. Today, I am transitioning you into my sorcerers. You’ll be the first to taste of my new world. Arise, and be born anew." Nathan chanted, his voice layered beneath others. He wasn’t the only one speaking even when he appeared alone.

The knights in formation took their weapons and struck them in a unison thudding against the earth.

"Arise, my water sorcerer." The first of the five men arose as he drew water from the air, wrapping it around himself before turning it into ice, his hands smoothly leading the deadly choreography.

"Arise, my fire sorcerer," the second of the five men released a fierce punch that sent fire bursting from his fist, followed by an orb fuelled with electricity where his eyes once were.

"Arise, my air sorcerer," the third of the five men stood, seizing the air for himself before intensifying the chaos carried by the wind.

"Arise, my earth sorcerer,"

Nathan stepped to the fourth man who, as he rose, drove his fist into the earth and drew it along with him. His muscles hardened, his flesh thickening like metal itself.

Finally, Nathan turned his gaze to the fifth man who stood a few steps ahead of the four. "My most devoted disciple, arise, my fifth element." Nathan’s tone carried a distinctly different energy with this man.

The sky halted, the entire chaos coming to a momentary pause as the fifth man rose. His aura surpassed the others by far, sending chills even from that distance.

Though all of them had hoods covering their heads, shadowing capes cloaking their frames, this particular man seemed familiar. His posture and frame reminded me of a presence I’d encountered before, and curiosity etched a crease upon my forehead.

Then the men turned the opposite way. Following the lead of the fifth man who seemed to be their commander, they punched a tear through the fabric of nature itself, opening a portal.

"No..." I stumbled back. "How...creating new Mage-wolves. Impossible." I muttered beneath my breath.

As recorded in the archaic books of Moonblade, true accounts told of creating new Mage-wolves as impossible, yet Nathan seemed to have breached that boundary. To what end was he going? And to what limitation did his power extend?

Raising my hands to my head, I watched as four portals were simultaneously opened and the knights followed behind the sorcerers.

When the portals closed and Nathan remained with a handful of men, I stormed towards him.

"Where did they go?"

"You speak as though I’m truly obliged to answer you."

My hand connected with his cheek. The striking sound sent a shock down my spine.

I stepped back instinctively.

"You fear me? Good." He growled. "To answer your question, my men are to wage war on SilverFang. The purge is happening."

Like right now? When he spoke of it, I had imagined it wasn’t happening this soon. Why did I keep seeing this bastard as a man?

"You...bastard," I seethed, but he caught my hand this time, turning my hiss into a sharp howl of pain as he twisted my wrist, using my weight against me to pull me close.

"It’s time I stopped being a gentleman and let my wolf take over the rest of this party. Time to paint the town red." His lips parted. "And I mean, literally."

His hand connected with my jaw, holding me in place as I struggled fruitlessly. He flipped the cork off a vial and forced the contents down my throat. My eyes blurred immediately after, and I couldn’t fathom whatever came next.

?

When I woke up, I was back in the workshop, but this time, I was strapped to...

"He’s awake, sire." A voice, held together by the frail masculinity of shattering courage, called Nathan’s attention.

Before he arrived, his aura and scent already announced him. Bright light pooled at my vision, forcing me to shut my eyes.

Frantically looking around, I finally registered where I was. I was atop the stretcher I’d seen here earlier...and that part of the room, it was...

"Prepare the surgical tools necessary for this theatre. I’ll have the surgery begin immediately."

In that moment, every other voice drowned and only Nathan’s remained. What surgery was to be performed on me?

Oh, shit. My wildest, most dreaded thoughts.

"No, no, no. Nathan, please!" I wailed, the kind of cry that shatters glass. My throat tore open as I screamed his name but he turned utterly deaf ears.

Then I tugged against the strap and that failed too.

Then I froze when the closest surgeon picked up a scalpel, his hands moving towards me. And that’s when I realised how bare my stomach was, and I wasn’t even in my previous outfit anymore. I was entirely unclothed, with only a sheet of blue silk draped over my lower half. My bump was completely exposed to them.

"KAI!!!!!"