Hey guys! I'm back with Chapter 12!
Wow, 10 reviews since my last update! Thanks so much to all my reviewers! I've hit 80 reviews now, and I'm celebrating like crazy. Thanks to thesecondgarde, charasweet, revenge-is-sweet-98, scone104, Prajnaa, Colemet Milinia, EpicLoric24, Pheobetitanessofthemoon1234, Kiwi and Love on Lockon for reviewing!
Okay, just for clarification, I'm inserting Raylan's POV at the top just so that it's clear that everything Ella sees is a lie. Okay?
Oh, and at the request of EpicLoric24, one of my most regular reviewers, I'm asking all you guys to tell me in your reviews whether you want Six to end up with Sam or Nine. I was going to do a Sam/Six, but EpicLoric24 asked me to do a Nix, so… I'm asking for your opinion. Thanks!
Wow, that's a long A/N. Sorry. Enjoy!

Raylan

I gather the sleeping girl in my arms, and sighing, I gently place her back into the bed, tucking her comfortably into the sheets.

I step back and appraise her for a moment. Her small face is twisted into an expression of apprehension as the vision takes over her mind, showing her what I want her to see.

I sigh again. It is a pity to have to lie to my own daughter, to use the vision to pull her into a past that never happened, but regrettably, it is necessary. She would never understand my actions if I told her the truth. She would never willingly become my heir.

She would never willingly be my daughter.

I chide myself softly for showing weakness. The vision will bring her to me, make her fight for me. That is enough for now.

I prop myself on to the bed next to her, and wait.

Ella

I stand sightlessly in the darkness, waiting for something to happen. What is going on? Why can I not see anything?

A sudden flash of light rips through the darkness, enveloping everything and blinding me. I squeeze my eyes shut, and slowly, it fades away.

I open my eyes a crack and squint. I am in a gigantic throne room, dazzling and beautiful, with marbled walls and ceiling, and a floor inlaid with jewels. The room is filled with gigantic busts and statues of wise-looking men and women, and I know immediately that I am looking at the Elders.

They recline lazily in their thrones, their faces earnest and wise. They seem kind and generous, and I get the overwhelming urge to throw myself at their feet and seek their blessing.

My father kneels in front of them.

'But, my Lord, I have inherited all my father's Legacies.' he says. 'I am the perfect candidate for the role of the tenth Elder.'

The statement is addressed to the Elder who sits in the central throne. He is built powerfully, and, unlike the others, he sits straight, with a regal air about him. His face is kind and comforting, but his eyes glint with a fire that promises danger to all who oppose him.

Pittacus Lore.

'My apologies, Raylan.' he says, his voice soft but firm and commanding at the same time. 'To my knowledge, you have not inherited all his Legacies.'

My father looks puzzled and is about to protest, but then he stops himself and bows his head. 'Who shall be the tenth, then, my Lord?' he asks.

Pittacus brings clasps his hands together and arches his knuckles, forming a steeple. To my surprise, beneath his confident gaze, I see a hint of worry. And something else, too.

Fear.

'No one for now.' he admits finally, a small bead of sweat forming on his brow. The other Elders straighten in surprise at this announcement. 'We have to assume that your father's powers faded out during the Secret Wars. Until we find his successor, there shall be only nine Elders.'

My father grits his teeth in frustration, but bows his head obediently.

'As you wish, my Lord.' he says, and the scene changes.

I'm back in the throne room, but this time, the relaxed atmosphere that was present during their last meeting is gone. The other Elders sit nervously in their thrones, and Pittacus paces anxiously in front of the dais.

My father is facing him once again, but unlike last time, he is standing rather than kneeling. 'My Lord, we Loric are known for our kindness and generosity.' he says. 'It is our reputation that we help those in need, especially friends and allies such as the Mogodorians. Why are you opposed to this scheme?'

'What do you suggest I do, Raylan?' Pittacus asks, throwing up his arms in frustration. 'Do you want me to invite their entire population here just because their planet is dying out? Need I remind you that Lorien is smaller than Mogadore?'

'No, my Lord.' my father replies, struggling to stay calm. 'Just enough so that their species can survive.'

'Most definitely not.' Pittacus replies, his kind face suddenly twisting into an expression of fury and cruelty. The fiery look in his eyes is much more terrifying now, and I realize that- finally- he is revealing his true nature.

'I'm afraid…..' my father begins, when Pittacus stops short, his mind fixed on something far away. Suddenly, he spins around to face my father. He advances on him, his finger pointed accusingly at him. 'I can sense ships.' he snarls. 'They have not been shot at yet. The grid is disabled. You… You have already brought them here.'

His expression turns into a mask of hate, and he raises his hands until a vision forms, a live transmission of what is happening in Lorien right now. He raises his hand, and the other Elders stand up too, imitating his stance.

Pittacus closes his eyes and concentrates. He motions with his right hand, and something loops out of the Mogodorian ship in the sky, barrelling towards the city below. It collides with a building and explodes, causing chunks of debris to rain down on the Loric below.

'What are you doing?' my father asks in horror. 'You're forcing them to attack! You'll destroy the city!'

Pittacus turns to my father, with a manic expression on his face. 'No.' he says, his eyes burning with rage. 'I'll destroy the planet.'

'What?' my father asks incredulously, but Pittacus is already rambling on.

'The Mogodorians would not be satisfied even after they came here.' he spits out. 'They would want a part of our government. They would want to share power!' He turns to glare at my father. 'You think I will ever share power? Especially with them? Now Lorien will be destroyed, and the destruction will be blamed on them. When we die, and our successors rise, we shall return, taking over their bodies and reviving this planet. We shall be young again!'

He turns and nods at another of the Elders, who drops his arm and trudges out of the room. 'Loridas has already gone to protect our successors with the charm.' he says, turning to face my father again. 'The moment they inherit all our powers, we will take over their bodies and crush their minds. We will rule Lorien again!' He smirks. 'Don't you realize? This day was always predicted. The day Lorien will be destroyed from the inside.'

'You're insane.' my father says, horrified, backing away from the crazed Elder. Pittacus doesn't seem to notice. He turns back to the illusion, and my father takes advantage of the distraction to race out of the room.

The scene changes, and I'm back at my house. Fires flicker around me, and I recognize the setting. I am back in my earlier vision. I turn, and sure enough, I see Crayton, racing out of the room with the baby, making for the ship my father has hidden.

My mother rounds on my father the moment they have gone. 'I've covered for you long enough.' she hisses. 'I know you caused this, and I won't forgive you for it. You have taken advantage of me because I loved you. No more.'

My father grabs hold of her arm in desperation. 'I am not lying, Erina. You have to believe me! They will kill you! They will kill you if you go there. Please…'

My mother ignores him. She yanks her arm free and strides out of the room. My father follows, still pleading desperately.

The scene changes.

This vision is hazy, flickering. I'm back in the throne room, and Pittacus is holding my mother, the dagger clenched in her hand pressed against her throat.

My father races into the room, and, just for a moment, my mother locks eyes with him. 'I'm sorry.' she tells him quietly. 'I should have trusted you.'

Pittacus grins savagely. 'That's very touching.' he drawls, and suddenly, out of nowhere, his hand snaps, the knife flashing, cutting into my mother's throat.

She collapses on to the floor, her blood trickling across the jewels studding the floor. I stare in horror- it can't be true, what I saw has to be a lie, it has to be….

'No!' my father roars, his voice furious, resounding, filled with sorrow and grief. I blink and fight back the tears that are forming in my eyes, trickling down my cheek. It can't be true….

My father yells again, and this time, the roar is so loud, that it seems to be engulfing me, engulfing everything. My vision hazes more than ever, and I'm completely surrounded now. All that exists is that sound, that horrible sound of my father's grief, his pain, and I can't take it anymore, I have to get out, I have to…..

With a scream, I wake up, my breath hitching as I gulp in air. I scream again the moment my lungs are filled, letting out all the air I sucked in. Tears form thick and fast, blurring my vision, burning my eyes, and I just keep gulping in air and screaming, screaming…..

Strong arms wrap around me, and my father pulls me to his chest, hugging me, stroking my hair to calm me down. Slowly, steadily, my breathing slows, and I stop crying, choking down my sobs and struggling to be calm again.

My father begins to murmur gently into my ear as he hugs me. 'It's alright now, Ella. You needed to understand. Now you do.'

Yes. I do. I understand everything.

'The Elders destroyed Lorien.' he says softly. 'They killed everyone living on the planet, making it seem like the Mogodorians were responsible. They sent your friends to Earth, to train and grow, so that once they were ready, they could take over their bodies. That is why I had to kill them, Ella. The Elders cannot come back. It pains me, but they must not.'

The thought of killing Marina or Nine makes my gut wrench, but I still say nothing. I am afraid that if I open my mouth, I will start crying again.

'I struck a deal with the Mogodorians.' he continues softly. 'We escaped just in the nick of time, and they agreed to help me find the Garde, so that the Elders' evil scheme would never come to life. In return, when I would return to Lorien to revive it, they could come live with me.' He shrugs. 'They agreed willingly. They are a proud species, and they do not like being framed. They became a lot more violent than they needed to. It's all I can do to keep them in control.'

I look up at him, and for the first time since the vision, I speak. 'So my friends need to die?' I ask, my voice thick.

'They need to die.' My father answers gravely. 'Their only other option is a fate much worse than death.'

I sit up straight in my bed, suddenly imagining Marina cackling with evil laughter, Nine's face twisted into the expression Pittacus wore when he killed my mother. A fate worse than death. My stomach tightens as I speak hollowly, not letting him know how much this hurts inside. 'Then I'll help you kill them.'

Six

The car barrels across the highway at record speed, the tires screeching at every turn. Nine drives like a maniac, his foot never releasing the pressure on the accelerator.

'Come on.' he mutters, talking more to himself than to us. 'Come on!'

I stare at him, startled at his outburst. His face is pale and ashen, and instantly, I know something bad has happened. 'What….' I begin.

'There!' Marina yells, leaning out of the window and gesturing at a large helicopter that appears above us. Nine stamps on the brakes, and we tumble out, just in time to see the Mogodorian ships behind it open fire.

With a horrible screech, the rotors are shorn off, and the helicopter dips, slowly beginning its tumble to the ground below. I wait for John to use his telekinesis, to slow down the helicopter, but it only picks up speed. A horrible vision forms in my mind, of all of them lying dead or injured, unable to stop themselves from plummeting to their deaths.

'No!' I yell, as desperation and rage course through me, filling me with energy. I summon all my strength and call on my telekinesis, stopping the chopper from falling. It grinds to a halt, floating mid-air, and I lower it gently to the ground.

For a moment, there's no movement inside, and I'm afraid that they're all already dead, that we were too late, but then, someone stirs and stumbles out through the door, clutching a gun. Sam. Malcolm and Sarah follow, along with a pale-faced person I've never seen before.

If I wasn't distracted, I'd probably have realized that he was a Mog. But I glance around, not really paying attention to them. I'm searching for someone, but he's nowhere to be seen.

'Where's John?' I ask.

Wow, that was a bad chapter. I'm really slipping. I promise the next one will be better, and it'll be here by tomorrow, in return for giving you such an awful one after three whole days.
Just to be clear again, Raylan's POV was inserted so that you know that everything Ell saw was a lie. I repeat, everything Ella saw was a lie. I hope you're reading this, because it's really important.
Don't forget to vote in your reviews about who Six ends up with! Thanks for reading!