Finn waited with his remaining brothers and Cross, the throne room quiet as each waited. The tension thick almost as if it had drowned out all life in the room of vampires. The Prince of Lust sitting on the stone steps leading to his throne, almost as if he had forgotten it was even present behind him. Adam on the other hand paced from one side of the room to the other, seemingly unaware of Tommaso watching his every move, as if it would somehow bring comfort to the gloom surrounding each of them. Aleister on the other hand waited with patience, as if he had knowledge the others didn't. Yet even the Prince of Pride couldn't help the feeling of uncertainty to wash over him, as if something terrible was about to happen. Something none of them could stop even if they wanted to and tried their hardest.
Bray on the other hand, stood in the shadow filled corner, quiet, far quieter than he was known to be. Yet as Cross looked over, she wondered what he was doing, even when the four princes seemed to have overlooked to the oddity in the room. Before she could utter a single word on the subject, Ricochet appeared, either side of him, the beautiful silver eyed High Seeker twins. It being clear they too were ready for the battle ahead even if no one else was, even if they were strangers to war. Within moments Bray had left his darkened corner, seemingly with purpose to his steps, looking around his determination seemingly disappeared, as if he wished to speak to everyone at the same time rather than repeat his words over several times.
"They should be back soon" commented Aleister, as if he had anticipated Bray scanning the room for the three missing princes and the two princesses. The moment he spoke the words his mind instantly took him to Letha, hidden away in the Seeker cities along with Dakota and Mercedes thrust ensuring they were safe and out of harm's way in case anything went array. As most of them had suspected would eventually happen. After all they had Star with them, the woman had made it clear she would force all of them to suffer if it meant getting what she desired. She would destroy anything and anyone whom stood in her path. Just as she had the motivation to do anything, especially now when she didn't have anything left to lose. After all she'd lost her power as High Seeker, she'd lost the trust of the people both vampire and Seeker, and she had lost her love in Drew. Even when she didn't want to accept it.
"Going to the mirror with the sword will give her the opportunity" spoke Bray, being straightforward this time rather than speaking in his normal riddles. Showing each of them whom knew the ancient Shade so well it was serious. How could it not be? The creature to have brought fire and destruction with it, could be released on Inferno once more, although the only ones to truly remember the destruction the creature had caused, hardly spoke of it. As all records of the time had either been destroyed or lost. Thrust ensuring no one would ever know what really happened all those centuries prior. "We'll need all the druids for this one. Together those with the same darkness can place a bubble around it, should it be freed" added the ancient Shade, knowing few knew what he spoke off, the darkness was something rarely mentioned amongst the Seeker kind, as was the creation of the druids, High Seeker and Yami.
"I'll call for them" added Nikki as she looked over to her twin sister, almost as if she was silently telling her, I told you so. As if the discussion had come up between them before but been turned down with little to no effort behind it. Yet the moment the older of the twins left, a portal opened. Randy walking through it, shortly followed by Alexa, a wisp of blue and silver fire following her, as if to once again signal her status as the Fire Druid. Star walked through moment later, with her normal complains and reluctance, almost as if she didn't know where she was walking to, or believed she was going somewhere else. Almost instantly she stopped upon seeing the remaining princes, as if them stood waiting together scared her or once again through a spanner in her plans. Morgan and Seth walked through after her, Baron, AJ and Drew behind them, Seth merely holding a hand on the hilt of the sword hanging from his hip, as if suggesting it was what they went to retrieve.
"This is where all roads have led for each of you" voiced Bray, looking to the seven princes in particular, knowing by the end of this battle only six would remain. If it turned out right. If not then at most only five would remain and the remaining either injured or suffering a loss of their own. "All the wars, the up and downs, the loss, everything lead each of you boys here, to the girls. You have something this creature knows nothing of, something to fight for" added the ancient Shade as if motivating, not just the princes, but Randy too. He too had found someone he could finally call his own, someone he was willing to put everything aside for. The blue flamed druid. "If that creature gets loose again, Inferno as we know it will end, those whom look to you will end up losing far more than before" finished Bray, noticing how Star looked on as if finding his words funny, as if she found the entire situation funny or believed in her own self confidence. After all it was no secret to anyone what she had planned to do before being caught. How she planned on releasing the creature of fire and shadow on Inferno, even bounding with it to become far more powerful and defeat those who stood before her, or wronged her in a way only she knew of.
"It doesn't matter what you do. You won't beat it" responded Star, pushing some of her neon hair over her shoulder, as if she was the most important being in the room. Yet just as she was about to start her rambles, Eva the water druid entered, side by side with Nikki. Yet instead of fear in her large eyes as Star had hoped to see, she instead was greeted by confidence. As if the redhead druid was showing her, how far she'd come since the twins were given the power of the High Seeker. Not only had Eva changed but so had the Seeker cities, especially since the peace treaty had been put in place. "There is nothing you can do to stop me or it. It will be free again. This time there will be no hero to make a sacrifice" added the former High Seeker, once again showing her true power-hungry ways. Yet when Star had mentioned the hero, her eyes drifted over to the Prince of Wrath, as if she was intending on making sure he couldn't do anything against her or stop what she had planned. Even when she knew it was near impossible to kill a royal vampire, let alone one that was also a powerful druid.
"There is good in this world, and it's worth fighting for" commented Cross as she stood behind Finn, the prince of lust turning around to look at her, as if she was the only one in the room to be speaking any sense. A soft grin coming to his lips as he nodded in agreement. Showing he had a similar line of thought yet had not voiced it. As Bray looked around the room, he noticed the other princes were also nodding in agreement, even Seth was, as was Morgan at his side. "As long as we are together, we'll be fine. The creature was defeated before, times have changed. We can do it again but without someone laying their life on the line" voiced the princess, attempting to encourage both Seeker, Vampire and Shade alike no matter what their standing was. As if it was the encouragement needed. Finn stood to his feet, leading the way to temple in silence, even if dread was stinging the pit of his stomach. How could it not be, he faced a battle with his family and those once considered to be an enemy. Yet the more he thought of it the more his smile become friendly, as if he was pleased with the changes to occur. No longer were Seekers about to fade from existence, nor were the Shades about to disappear, no longer were Seekers and Vampires at war with each other. Instead, they were about fight side by side to stop a common enemy.
"Here" spoke the Prince of Lust, as he opened the vanished double wooden doors, the iron work decoration done with such care. Yet beyond the doors was no dark and forgotten room as Star had come to suspect, but a courtyard. The setting sun lighting up the pools of water surrounding the mirror, with shimmers of pinks and purples. The Mirror of Heirwreath itself stood alone in the middle of four pools of water, a symbol of the four elements the druids represented carved into the bottom of each. As if the mirror was meant to represent the High Seeker. As Star approached the seemingly harmless mirror, the others stayed back, some clearly hearing the low rumbling growls echoing from the lonely object. Whereas others feeling the tremor radiating off the seemingly normal mirror, the anger of the creature trapped within it.
"I don't see anything" uttered Star, staring into the glass only to see her own reflection looking back at her, as if it was all some sort of joke on her. Yet as the once respected woman looked down, she noticed the pattern of the tiles created an X, as if treasure was buried below it. Stepping up to the mark, she once again turned her attention to the mirror, as if by magic her reflection was still there, but the area reflected behind her was alight with burning flames. Parts of the castle falling in on itself. But her reflection was also different, where as it had been so mundane before, it now showed her eyes as black as night and her hands stained with blood. A crown upon her head as if she was some sort of ruler maybe even queen. A sight Star wished was a reality, her reality and one she still dared hope would come to pass.
"Remember me" whispered AJ, as she stood before the mirror, to Star's side. Almost instantly the growls become louder and deeper than before, for the first time the neon haired Seeker seeming to notice the noise it had been making. Almost as if it didn't like company in its courtyard, or the people whom stood before it. "I was one of them to lock you away in this prison back then. My friend died to ensure you wouldn't terrorize and destroy this world as you had with others" added the ancient Seeker, sadness in her voice as she remembered her past, the mistakes she had made and the cost of those mistakes. Once again, she remembered Tyler, although she knew Seth was him reborn, he was still different. Yet still she was glad to have her friend back, even if things weren't the same as before. "It's time this finally ended" finished the dark-haired woman, turning to leave. Already sensing Star's confusion, yet she also knew what she had just done.
"I will free you. I will merge with you" whispered Star, finding out the hard way, how her words easily echoed and amplified in sound levels in the otherwise quiet courtyard. Yet quickly she found her path blocked, the water from the pools forming a barrier in front of her. A serpent lashing at her whenever she got close to the edge, as if on instinct Star turned her attention to Eva, the redhead druid on the other hand not sparing her a second glance. "I will win this battle. When I do, all of you will regret standing against me" yelled the once powerful woman. Yet as if it was her cue to strike, Star summoned as much power from her ancestral line as possible. Striking at Eva, Ricochet and Randy, thrust leaving the twins unprotected, even more so when the neon haired woman knew they were new to the idea of battle.
With little effort, Star was able to grab hold of the Prince of Gluttony, throwing him through the wall of water, hearing him cry out in pain mere moment later. Her next target being the Prince of Sloth. Although she was surprised when Cross stood in her path, the princess clearly angered by her husband being taken out so easily. Yet the princess put up a fight far beyond what Star had expected, while doing so confirming she too was a vampire. Morgan too coming to her aid as the two women attempting to team together, especially if it meant preventing disaster. Just as they had gotten the upper hand, Star muttered an undisguisable word in Latin, blasting both women away with a powerful fireball. Steam and smoke coming from both women as they hit the courtyard walls.
Only now did Star begin to look for the swords. The one of the heroes so the creature would trust and see her as a willing ali, and the other so she could rid the world of Inferno of its soon to be former princes and overall royal family. Almost instantly she remembered Seth had the hero's sword, the sword that ironically once belonged to him, yet she also wondered whom had the other sword she looked for. Almost instantly she returned her attention back to Adam, blasting him away as she did with Brie upon reaching her, yanking the necklace from her neck as she did so. As if Star was attempting to symbolize, she would rule the Seekers once more, this time there would be no peace or weakness.
"The blade to kill vampires. Which of your retched weaklings have It" yelled Star as she forced Adam down to his knees, knowing she could cause serious injury, even if she couldn't kill him through her power? She could at least torture him until someone answers. Adam on the other hand shook his head, staring definitely back at her, determination alight in his icy blue eyes as if he knew, by denying her she would eventually lose. "You defy me even at the cost of your own wellbeing?" questioned the once respectful woman, knowing she had done well with hiding her growing power. Just as she knew her specific bloodline had a lot of hatred towards vampires, even when she had fallen for one, or thought she had. "Fine" muttered the neon haired Seeker as she placed her hands on either side of his head. Miming a few words, as those opposed her screamed out in protest, the Prince of Sloth began to wither in her grip, as blood seeped from his nose, ears and mouth, within moment Star let go with a satisfied grin on her lips, watching in almost amusement as Adam fell to the ground in a bloody slump.
Just as Star turned to the mirror once more, her path once again blocked but not by the wall of water and the serpent, but by a bird of air and a phoenix formed of the same fire she'd created. Yet somehow neither the fire nor air harmed the barrier forming from the roots and vines of nearby trees, not even the creature seemed to mind, although Star strong suspected it recognized the fire as something it knew. Aleister and Finn on the other hand, almost played protection detail. Keeping close by to the High Seeker twins, as if knowing they were the likely targets, especially if Star's past actions were anything to go by.
"We have to destroy it" voiced Finn standing before Brie although with his back towards her, each of them greeted with Drew and Baron fighting side by side as they had once done before. The trust in each other finally having been rebuilt, as if Star was the common enemy they needed to do so. Just as the hope began to rise however, Star once again used her own powerful form of magic, displaying just how strong she was. Instantly stopping both older vampires in their tracks, as if she'd simply pressed the pause button. With slow striding steps she walked over to the man she'd believed was her prince charming, the man whom had hurt her far worse than the others. Upon doing so she grinned wickedly, stroking a finger across his cheek, a wicked glint in her eyes as she did so. Even more so when she grabbed the sword hanging on from his hip, a sword which had seen many battles and been blooded many times through the centuries. Only now did she take notice of it, quickly realizing each prince had a similar blade.
"That's why no one could find the weapon to kill you royal vampires" uttered Star, her neon hair becoming matted in the battle she found herself in the midst of. "You all carried the only weapon capable of killing you, to ensure no other could use it" announced the former High Seeker and the one known by the gargoyle as the Fallen Mistress of Seekers. Almost instantly she began to look over the bloodless blade, seeing the inscription on it, a language she couldn't translate, but she suspected it was an old language, from the place Kane had once spoke off. The moments following Star turned her attention from the blade, looking around, knowing she stood little chance of taking out the druids, even if one of them was a vampire prince and another a royal shade, their combined connected power could only be taken down by that of the High Seeker. "You love will watch, helpless to do anything as someone you love falls" finished the sadistic woman, waving a hand behind her to release Baron from the hold she previously had over him, watching as he quickly went over to Adam still motionless in a growing pool of his own blood.
As if on instinct, the former High Seeker turned to looking for the woman she had long since branded as her enemy, knowing although she could do little to stop Seth and the other druids, she could at least force the Prince of Wrath suffer, as she believed she had. Yet no matter where she looked, she found no sign of Morgan, the vampire princess seemingly hidden from her as if by a powerful form of magic. Only now did she hear the growls again, yet this time it sounded like a deep rumbling voice, similar to Yami's but far older. As if the voice was a relation to the little galaxy colored dragon she had once known and relied on. Yet despite hearing the words so clearly, the neon haired woman was unable to understand what it was saying, as if the language it spoke was the same as the inscription written on the blades.
With a yell of anger, Star released another powerful blast of energy, one even she seemed surprised about. As if she hadn't expected the sudden boost in her magic. Yet she soon turned to the mirror again, although blocked from her view by the roots, vines and fire, she knew it had something to do with her boost in power, as if the creature had spoken a spell. One more powerful than any she had personally cast since discovering she was a Seeker. With this burst of energy, Aleister, Finn, Nikki and Brie all went flying backwards, the doors to the courtyard locked themselves when the four flew thru them, thrust ensuring neither could get involved any further. As well as all but ensuring she had less to battle on her path to the mirror.
"Princess" called Ricochet, the word alone catching Star's attention, especially when she knew the four remaining women in the courtyard with her, all had the royal title called. Only now did Star see Morgan again, her black hair trailing along behind her as it normally did. Her path seemingly cleared by AJ whom used her magic to seemingly protect the vampire princess, whereas Randy stayed close to Nikki as if ensuring she too would survive the battle. Star soon used her magic to create daggers from nothing, throwing them at the princess she branded her enemy, missing every time by inches. Only when the last one missed as she seen Morgan get close to Ricochet did Star remember she had hold of Drew's sword, a sword capable of killing a royal vampire.
Without a second thought Star began to run at Morgan, the sword in a tight grip thrust ensuring no one could take it from her without a fight. When she was sure she was close enough she swung the sword with intent, screaming out in anger as she did so, only for the sword to clash with something metal rather than flesh and bone. Upon opening her eyes, she was met with Morgan holding up the sword once tethered to her waist, confidence radiating from her, especially when it was no secret, she was trained to use the blade, something Star herself wasn't. Yet as she swung the sword Morgan met her at every turn, with ease. To the surprise of Star, when she looked into Morgan's blue eyes, she saw something she didn't expect, anger, even hatred. Something that almost scared her. Even more so when the former High Seeker began to remember what she had done to deserve such hatred and anger.
"Go" yelled AJ, as she forced Star back, playing to the plan seemingly coming up from nowhere, one only a few of them had known about. As Morgan ran past, AJ used her magic once more, switching the swords over, allowing Morgan to hold the Heroes sword while Seth got his original one back, although it was unclear if the prince noticed the change. Ricochet used his power as the Air Druid to lift Morgan over the water, flames and vines, placing her gently in the centre with the mirror. Away from where Star could harm her. "Destroy it" called the Seeker princess, seeing Seth truly take notice of what was happening, thrust letting the vines down, as if he was attempting to save her.
"I love you Seth" whispered Morgan, as she rammed the blade of the hero's sword through the back of the mirror. Hearing a roar as she did so, the creature seemingly angered but helpless against the blade it feared so much. Almost instantly the hilt of the sword began to heat up at a rapid rate, quickly becoming too much for the vampire princess to bare.
Brides of Blood by Dakota Boo