A L M I R A

Chapter 28
Almira Davenport

"You're going to help me do something."

I looked at the radiant woman before me. "No offense, but this situation doesn't sound so promising. For starters, I don't even know you, and you're in my head. Secondly, I have my own problems and I'm not sure if my plate can hold much more," I kindly explained, slightly smiling.

"I can clear one of those up for you. Hello, darling, I'm the Goddess of life and light, and pretty much anything good in your life," She greeted, a warm smile on her face. "Odd timing, I know, but it's important nobody finds out about this but you and I."

"You're the Goddess? The same Goddess I worship and practice magic under? The same Goddess that pretty much created me?" I gaped, staring at her with wide eyes. "There's no way."

She shook her head and lightly laughed. Her laugh was a melodic, mesmerizing sound that I had never heard before. Everything about her way perfect and enchanting. She grabbed my hand and I gasped. Just the touch of her made me feel a whole new feeling. I was alive, happy, warm, and content. It was amazing. "Hopefully that's enough to get you to believe me."

"Okay, so, you're the Goddess. Um, wow." I stood up and bowed my head in respect. How could I be so calm right now? Is this seriously the aura she gives off? "What exactly do you need from someone like me? I'm a hybrid, you're an all-powerful goddess who literally created our existence."

"Ah, that's where you're wrong--" The Goddess shook her finger--"you're not just a hybrid. While those may be rare, you're more than a witch and lycan breed. I've had my eye on you since I first created you and you were born.

"There's only so much I can do as a goddess. Even my husband and I have limitations as to what we can do and interfere with. My darling has been blinded by his gifts, though. He's not the same man I married. I fear the darkness is close to corrupting him. You're aware of the whole war that's been declared, yes? That has part to do with my husband. We made a promise to each other when we first created life and death that we wouldn't personally interfere with our creations. He broke that promise the moment Alastor made his sacrifices during a ritual to my husband."

"I have so many questions right now," I mumbled.

"Go ahead and ask them, I have time. So do you, considering I'm in your head. Technically I can delay you're awakening, but not for long."

"What did Alastor sacrifice during a ritual and what does our war have to do with God himself?" I questioned, leaning into her presence. I was drawn to her, almost like her aura was calling me.

"I'm getting there, dear one." The Goddess made her way to the chair in the corner of the room and sat down, folding her arms. "A long time ago, my husband, Sephtis, fell off the deep end, right into the darkness. He craved the dark witches and warlocks' praises. He absorbed their rituals and sacrifices, growing stronger by the day. When I finally got him back, he told me he'd return the magic and sacrifices he had greedily taken back into the earth and dimensions. Although, now, I find it hard to believe he actually returned it. My guess is he kept it, and kept feeding into it after he told me he didn't, and now he's much stronger than I ever would have anticipated. He's claimed more lives than I can make, and this war, it'll only boost his abilities and hunger even more."

"I think I understand it now," I mindlessly said, staring at the floor before looking to the Goddess. "Alastor did a ritual and sacrifice that caught Sephtis's attention, didn't he? It was the one I was in? Your husband knew I was the one you had your eye on and when Alastor used me as part of his ritual, it caught his attention. So whatever Alastor did or said, your husband listened."

"Well, don't you catch on fast? But there's more, isn't there?" She persisted.

I gasped. "Whatever Alastor asked for, Sephtis will grant after the war begins. Thousands, if not more, will die in the war. All of those souls for him to reap will add more to his strength and abilities, feeding his never-ending hunger. He wants the war, and he wants bloodshed and chaos. When he gets what he wants, he'll grant Alastor his wish," I gushed, looking at the Goddess.

She sat in the chair and looked at me momentarily before standing up. "Now you've got it. I figured you'd catch on after I told you everything. So, are you ready to help me, or did I waste my time on nothing?"

I stood up and walked over to her, nodding. "I'll help. What do you need me to do?"

Her lips turned into a smile. She placed both of her hands on my shoulders and my body automatically felt warmer. I was at peace, calm, and it was as if I had no worries. "For starters, call me Abelia. It's my name. Next, I need sacrifices. I hate it, but I need them."

"What sacrifices do you need?" I hastily asked, looking into her luring orbs.

"It's not as simple as a couple spells and voila, world saved, darling. I have to dip my hand into the bad guy's side. I need the five holy sacrifices. I need a soul of witch and lycan hybrid, a pure vampire, a pure lycan, a pure witch/warlock, and a new a pure soul, an innocent one," She frowned.

"But those are people. I thought Sephtis did the death and reaping," I murmured. Five lives. Five lives who should be happy and live their life.

"I know." She sighed and took a step back, wrapping her arms around herself. "I hate it. But I've suppressed most of my abilities in the mindset that my husband did as well. I see now that I was wrong, so very wrong. But if we're going to save those people, my husband, and stop Alastor, we're going to have to wear blood on our hands. There's a spell in your spell book that will trigger the five holy sacrifices. Once they're triggered, a mark will appear somewhere on their body of the sun. That's my mark. You won't have to kill anybody with your bare hands, but they will die. As long as they die with my mark on their body, their souls will go to me instead of Sephtis."

"Let me get this straight. I perform a spell for you, and I trigger the holy sacrifices. After I trigger it, as long as they die, their souls go to unlocking your hidden abilities. Once you restore yourself to your full potential, you can help us stop Alastor and Sephtis?" I inquired, pacing the floor. I glanced at Calix's sleeping figure before looking at Aeblia.

"Yes. That's exactly it," She nodded her head vigorously. "I know it's a lot to ask, but those men need stopping or else the worst is yet to come."

I was quiet for a while. I just stared at the floor and played with the hems of my night gown. "Alright. I'll help you do it. Just promise me that everything will be okay. I need it."

Abelia shook her head, frowning. "I cannot make promises I don't know for sure that I can keep. I can promise you I'll do everything in my power to stop this madness, but I cannot do it alone. The war will most definitely still happen, but we're trying to save as many lives as we can."

I sighed and walked back to the bed, fixing my pillow fort. "That'll suffice, I guess. Is there anything else?"

"No, but I'll be in touch. You'll see me again, trust me." She smiled and walked over to me. "Go back to resting up. There's far more to come."

Adelia touched my head and suddenly it was dark, there was no more of my bedroom or her.

~-~

I sat up in bed and looked around. Was this reality or was this another dream?

"It's about time you wake up. You have duties to attend to, Almira. I suggest not being late to them," Calix said, looking at me before buttoning up his shirt.

Yep. This was reality.

I sighed and crawled out of the bed. "What's on the list today?" I asked, walking over to the closet and grabbed a dress and laid some ribbons and accessories out.

"You have paperwork in my office, we have a meeting, Ashli requested your presence, and we're welcoming some new guests into the castle today. They'll be here for a couple days, as we're discussing alliances and terms of agreements," Calix answered, looking at himself in the mirror before sliding his coat on. "I do expect you to be on time."

He walked out of the room and I got dressed, following shortly behind him to his office. I sat down at my desk and he sat at his. He would sign papers and write stuff down before handing them to me for me to analyze, officiate, and pass on to Cole's desk.

Time had soon passed before Calix stood up. "The meeting will be starting soon. We should head to the conference room to prepare."

"Alright," I nodded before signing a paper and setting a stack onto Cole's desk. He's going to be very upset later.

Calix and I walked side by side to the conference room. I didn't bother saying anything. Conversations with this man were pointless. You never got anywhere with him and it usually ended up with me embarrassed.

Calix opened the door for me and I glanced at him with concern before walking in and taking my usual seating. Soon everybody else walked in and took their seats. Calix cleared his throat before beginning the meeting.

"Thank you all for coming. I see we have everybody here for once." He glanced at Cole before continuing. "We have a couple things to discuss today. To begin with, Alexander, if you will, report how the town is and what the people are up to."

Alexander stood up as Calix sat down beside me. "Well, your majesty, nothing has particularly changed. Crime rate has slightly increase, but is still being punished, and since those stands Lady Almira had built were introduced, trade and markets sales have had extreme growth within the people. That is all."

I smiled. I knew those market stands would do this kingdom some good. I was proud of them.

Calix nodded. "Good, that's great news. Thank you, Alexander. Now to discuss the obvious problem, the war. What do we have on the war?"

Ambrielle spoke up, looking at me before turning to Calix. "We can start more magic procedures, but we already have a barrier and a protection spell set up. I'm not sure what else we could do, your majesty."

Calix nodded. "I see. Is there anything for luck?"

I thought for a moment. When would I get the chance to do the holy sacrifice spell? I know that I'll need more than just myself to do the spell. After all, it's a spell directly made from Abelia herself. My small frame couldn't take on that much energy all at once. I would need someone else to lighten the load for me. All of a sudden, it hit me.

"I might have one more spell up my sleeve, but I'll need Ambrielle's assistance with performing it. It's a rather large spell that I couldn't take on myself without falling ill," I explained. All eyes were on me and I suddenly felt nervous. Did any of them know I was lying? I mean, technically it wasn't a lie. It's for the greater good, but I feel horrible not being able to tell them we have a good plan.

Ambrielle laughed. "Of course I'll help you with the spell. You don't have to ask!" She smiled at me and my guilt only grew. This was going to be hard for me.

"Then it's settled. We'll increase the magic components and send out troops to scout the area. I'll try contacting my spies to see where Alastor is and what his progress is," Calix claimed.

"Does that conclude the meeting, your majesty?" Alexander questioned, looking at Calix.

"Actually," Calix turned to Cole, raising an eyebrow, "where were you and Lauren when we were supposed to be welcoming Ashli and Ryker home?"

Cole sunk back into his seat and glanced at Lauren. She had been awfully quiet through this meeting.

"Might as well tell them," Lauren exhorted.

Cole sighed before grabbing her hand and standing up. "Lauren and I are mates."

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