Naya's P.O.V.
Red Mount 1990

The​ ​temperature​ ​around​ ​us​ ​dropped.​ ​A​ ​chill​ ​in​ ​the​ ​air​ ​aroused​ ​the​ ​hairs​ ​on​ ​my​ ​arms.​ ​I​ ​shivered, surprised​ ​by​ ​the​ ​coldness​ ​that​ ​touched​ ​me.

"I've​ ​heard​​about​ ​the​ ​Darkling​ ​coming​ ​after​​you​ ​guys​​too.​​My​​ancestors​ ​have​ ​used​ ​the​ ​cloaking​ ​spell since​ ​centuries.​ ​It's​ ​a​ ​simple​ ​blood​ ​ritual."​ ​There​ ​was​ ​a​ ​small​ ​pile​ ​of​ ​dry​ ​twigs​ ​and​ ​branches,​ ​set​ ​up neatly​ ​near​ ​the​ ​middle​ ​of​ ​the​ ​clearing.

She​ ​snapped​ ​her​ ​fingers​ ​at​ ​the​ ​pile.

Fire​ ​ignited​ ​from​ ​thin​ ​air​ ​with​ ​a​ ​growl.

"WOAH!"​ ​Ocean​ ​shielded​ ​me​ ​with​ ​his​ ​body.

"It's​ ​a​ ​blood​ ​ritual​ ​so​ ​I​ ​will​ ​need​ ​you​ ​to​ ​that​ ​yourself."​ ​She​ ​handed​ ​Elina​ ​a​ ​knife.

Ocean​ ​protested​ ​relentlessly​ ​but​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​our​ ​protection​ ​won​ ​over.​ ​We​ ​could​ ​figure​ ​out​ ​everything later​ ​once​ ​we​ ​were​ ​cloaked.​ ​She​ ​dove​ ​right​ ​into​ ​her​ ​chant.​ ​She​ ​said​ ​needed​ ​the​ ​moon​ ​at​ ​its​ ​highest to​ ​channel​ ​the​ ​Spirits.

We​ ​scored​ ​our​ ​palms​ ​and​ ​dropped​ ​couple​ ​of​ ​drops​ ​of​ ​blood​ ​on​ ​the​ ​burning​ ​fire​ ​as​ ​instructed.​ ​We healed​ ​quickly​ ​and​ ​waited​ ​for​ ​her​ ​to​ ​finish.​ ​The​ ​fire​ ​burned​ ​blue​ ​when​ ​our​ ​beads​ ​of​ ​blood​ ​douched the​ ​flames.​ ​She​ ​chanted​ ​in​ ​a​ ​foreign​ ​language,​ ​words​ ​from​ ​ancient​ ​civilization.

The​ ​air​ ​around​ ​us​ ​thickened,​ ​fog​ ​emerged​ ​from​ ​the​ ​roots​ ​of​ ​the​ ​trees.​ ​Moonlight​ ​highlighted​ ​the grey​ ​waves.​ ​There​ ​was​ ​something​ ​lurking​ ​behind​ ​the​ ​shadows​ ​that​ ​had​ ​no​ ​scent.​ ​My​ ​eyes​ ​picked​ ​up a​ ​figure​ ​but​ ​for​ ​some​ ​reason,​ ​I​ ​couldn't​ ​get​ ​a​ ​scent​ ​of​ ​it.

The​ ​figure​ ​started​ ​to​ ​move.

I​ ​stepped​ ​back​ ​startling​ ​Shaya.

"Who's​ ​that?"

Shaya​ ​didn't​ ​stop​ ​chanting.​ ​She​ ​looked​ ​flustered​ ​and​ ​I​ ​was​ ​having​ ​hard​ ​time​ ​breathing.​ ​Gulping​ ​I started​ ​to​ ​back​ ​away.​ ​Ocean​ ​on​ ​the​ ​other​ ​hand​ ​knocked​ ​out​ ​the​ ​bowl​ ​out​ ​of​ ​her​ ​hand​ ​and​ ​the​ ​blue flames​ ​returned​ ​to​ ​red.

"WHAT​ ​DID​ ​YOU​ ​DO?​ ​It's​ ​not​ ​going​ ​to​ ​work​ ​now."​ ​She​ ​shrieked.

"What's​ ​wrong?"​ ​Elina​ ​didn't​ ​have​ ​heightened​ ​senses​ ​like​ ​we​ ​did,​ ​so​ ​she​ ​couldn't​ ​see​ ​the​ ​figure.​ ​My breathing​ ​turned​ ​back​ ​to​ ​normal.​ ​Ocean​ ​was​ ​outraged.​ ​He​ ​thought​ ​Elina​ ​betrayed​ ​us.

"We​ ​need​ ​to​ ​go."​ ​I​ ​grabbed​ ​Ocean​ ​and​ ​beelined​ ​back​ ​towards​ ​where​ ​we​ ​came​ ​from.

Suddenly​ ​we​ ​became​ ​air​ ​born.​ ​I​ ​was​ ​thrown​ ​across​ ​the​ ​clearing​ ​against​ ​a​ ​tree.​ ​My​ ​body​ ​collided​ ​with a​ ​tree​ ​and​ ​a​ ​loud​ ​screech​ ​tore​ ​through​ ​my​ ​vocal​ ​cord.​ ​Ocean​ ​on​ ​the​ ​other​ ​hand​ ​was​ ​thrown​ ​into​ ​a ring​ ​of​ ​fire​ ​that​ ​wasn't​ ​there​ ​before.

"RUN.​ ​That's​ ​the​ ​Darkling."​ ​Elina​ ​finally​ ​saw​ ​the​ ​perpetrator.​ ​She​ ​became​ ​air​ ​born.​ ​Her​ ​green luminescence​ ​wings​ ​cut​ ​through​ ​the​ ​air​ ​and​ ​towards​ ​Ocean.​ ​I​ ​couldn't​ ​move.​ ​My​ ​legs​ ​were​ ​bent backwards​ ​and​ ​I​ ​couldn't​ ​move.

I​ ​couldn't​ ​feel​ ​anything​ ​because​ ​my​ ​body​ ​was​ ​in​ ​shock.

"OCEAN."​ ​I​​tried​ ​to​ ​crawl​ ​towards​ ​my​ ​him.​ ​He​ ​was​ ​suffocating.​ ​That​ ​bastard​ ​did​ ​something​ ​to​​him.​ ​I watched​ ​in​ ​horror​ ​when​ ​an​ ​invisible​ ​force​ ​shoved​ ​her​ ​into​ ​the​ ​fire.​ ​Her​ ​beautiful​ ​wings​ ​caught​ ​fire. Green​ ​flames​ ​and​ ​sparks​ ​spurted​ ​through​ ​the​ ​air.

Blood​ ​curdling​ ​scream​ ​split​ ​through​ ​the​ ​air.​ ​A​ ​mystified​ ​ball​ ​of​ ​air​ ​appeared​ ​in​ ​her​ ​hand​ ​before​ ​she threw​ ​it​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Darkling​ ​direction.​ ​He​ ​was​ ​wearing​ ​a​ ​dark​ ​cloak​ ​with​ ​a​ ​hood​ ​hiding​ ​his​ ​face.​ ​My​ ​bones tried​ ​to​ ​reconstruct​ ​itself​ ​back​ ​to​ ​place.

I​ ​used​ ​my​ ​forearms​ ​who​ ​crawl​ ​towards​ ​the​ ​fire.​ ​Pain​ ​choked​ ​me,​ ​cutting​ ​away​ ​my​ ​air​ ​supply.

"Ocean..."​ ​I​ ​pleaded.​ ​"I'm​ ​sorry.​ ​I​ ​shouldn't​ ​have...​ ​I..."​ ​He​ ​withered​ ​in​ ​pain,​ ​reaching​ ​out​ ​for​ ​me​ ​but the​ ​fire​ ​blocked​ ​us.

I​ ​screamed.

An​ ​image​ ​flashed​ ​through​ ​my​ ​mind​ ​of​ ​him​ ​burning​ ​and​ ​that​ ​exact​ ​same​ ​figure​ ​flashed​ ​through​ ​my mind.​ ​Tears​ ​sprang​ ​from​ ​my​ ​eyes​ ​when​ ​blood​ ​started​ ​pouring​ ​out​ ​from​ ​his​ ​lips.​ ​He​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​roll towards​ ​me​ ​but​ ​the​ ​fire​ ​barricade​ ​stopped​ ​him.

I​ ​remembered​ ​the​ ​old​ ​tale​ ​about​ ​the​ ​moon​ ​and​ ​the​ ​spirits.​ ​Deliberately​ ​I​ ​put​ ​my​ ​hand​ ​on​ ​the​ ​ring​ ​of fire.​ ​Pain​ ​triggered​ ​the​ ​healing​ ​process.​ ​It​ ​scorched​ ​my​ ​skin​ ​with​ ​such​ ​intensity​ ​that​ ​I​ ​screamed​ ​until my​ ​lungs​ ​gave​ ​out​ ​but​ ​my​ ​legs​ ​were​ ​popping​ ​back​ ​in​ ​place​ ​quicker.

I​ ​turned​ ​to​ ​see​ ​the​ ​witch​ ​bleeding​ ​on​ ​the​ ​ground​ ​and​ ​Elina​ ​with​ ​her​ ​burnt​ ​wings​ ​fighting​ ​with​ ​the Darkling.​ ​They​ ​both​ ​had​ ​the​ ​same​ ​air​ ​power.

Fae.

That​ ​bastard​ ​was​ ​half​ ​fae.

I​ ​looked​ ​at​ ​the​ ​moon​ ​and​ ​imagined​ ​the​ ​thin​ ​veil.​ ​The​ ​spirits.​ ​I​ ​didn't​ ​know​ ​how​ ​to​ ​communicate​ ​the great​ ​ones​ ​but​ ​I​ ​knew​ ​if​ ​I​ ​didn't​ ​try,​ ​Ocean​ ​would​ ​die.​ ​I​ ​couldn't​ ​let​ ​that​ ​happen​ ​even​ ​if​ ​it​ ​meant​ ​I​ ​had to​ ​give​ ​my​ ​life.

The​ ​burnt​ ​flesh​ ​took​ ​some​ ​time​ ​to​ ​regenerate.​ ​I​ ​stood​ ​on​ ​shaky​ ​legs​ ​and​ ​stepped​ ​into​ ​the​ ​line​ ​of​ ​fire, calling​ ​out​ ​to​ ​the​ ​spirits.

Airworld​ ​me​ ​stopped.​ ​The​ ​flames​ ​held​ ​their​ ​pointed​ ​peaks.

A​ ​gliding​ ​figure​ ​appeared​ ​before​ ​me.​ ​Green​ ​tendrils​ ​of​ ​flowing​ ​smoke​ ​surrounded​ ​the​ ​ethereal​ ​being. Everything​ ​was​ ​too​ ​bright.​ ​A​ ​floating​ ​face​ ​loosely​ ​formed​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​me.​ ​Lips,​ ​nose​ ​and​ ​white​ ​hollow eyes.​ ​Her​ ​hair​ ​were​ ​green​ ​tendrils​ ​of​ ​smoke.

"My​ ​child.​ ​You​ ​must​ ​defeat​ ​him.​ ​You​ ​must​ ​finish​ ​him."​ ​A​ ​voice​ ​spoke​ ​in​ ​a​ ​frenzy.​ ​I​ ​turned​ ​to​ ​find​ ​the Darkling​ ​breaking​ ​through​ ​the​ ​time​ ​vacuum.​ ​Elina,​ ​Ocean,​ ​the​ ​fire​ ​and​ ​the​ ​air​ ​stood​ ​still.​ ​Only​ ​the Darkling​ ​twitched,​ ​moved​ ​in​ ​slow​ ​motion​ ​breaking​ ​the​ ​spell​ ​that​ ​we​ ​all​ ​were​ ​in.

"He's​ ​becoming​ ​more​ ​powerful,​ ​he​ ​can't​ ​pass​ ​through.​ ​Remember,​ ​you​ ​can't​ ​trust​ ​anyone."

I​ ​landed​ ​on​​the​ ​ground​ ​with​ ​a​ ​soft​ ​thud,​ ​the​​had​ ​fire​​gone​​off.​​A​ ​loud​ ​inhale​ ​from​ ​Ocean​ ​distracted me​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Darkling​ ​letting​ ​out​ ​a​ ​gurgling​ ​scream.​ ​All​ ​my​ ​injuries​ ​were​ ​healed.​ ​So​ ​were​ ​Ocean's.

He​ ​grabbed​ ​my​ ​arm​ ​and​ ​dragged​ ​me​ ​back.

"We​ ​have​ ​to​ ​go."

"NOO."​ ​A​ ​disgusting​ ​scream​ ​emanated​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Darkling.

"RUN."​ ​Elina​ ​was​ ​weakening.​ ​I​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​help​ ​her.​ ​"I'm​ ​sorry.​ ​I​ ​didn't​ ​know."​ ​He​ ​kept​ ​throwing​ ​balls of​ ​air​ ​towards​ ​the​ ​Darkling.

"I'll​ ​get​ ​her​ ​back.​ ​Doesn't​ ​matter​ ​how​ ​many​ ​lives​ ​it​ ​takes.​ ​I'LL​ ​GET​ ​HER​ ​BACK." Using​ ​our​ ​heightened​ ​speed,​ ​we​ ​ran.

--

We​ ​went​ ​back​ ​there​ ​the​ ​next​ ​day​ ​to​ ​find​ ​Elina's​ ​bloody​ ​body​ ​with​ ​burnt​ ​wings.​ ​She​ ​didn't​ ​know,​ ​she gave​ ​her​ ​life​ ​for​ ​ours​ ​and​ ​we​ ​let​ ​her.​ ​Shame​ ​filled​ ​me.​ ​Ocean​ ​told​ ​me​ ​there​ ​was​ ​nothing​ ​we​ ​could have​ ​done.​ ​So,​ ​we​ ​buried​ ​her​ ​body​ ​by​ ​the​ ​large​ ​tree.

"We​ ​should​ ​have​ ​saved​ ​her.​ ​We​ ​should​ ​have​ ​done​ ​something​ ​about​ ​it."​ ​The​ ​vehemence​ ​in​ ​my​ ​voice startled​ ​Ocean.

"There's​ ​nothing​ ​we​ ​could​ ​have​ ​done.​ ​She​ ​trusted​ ​the​ ​wrong​ ​witch."​ ​He​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​comfort​ ​me​ ​but​ ​I didn't​ ​want​ ​to​ ​feel​ ​better.

I​ ​wished​ ​I​ ​knew​ ​her​ ​better.​ ​She​ ​seemed​ ​to​ ​have​ ​truly​ ​cared​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Ocean​ ​and​ ​Naya​ ​she​ ​knew​ ​and​ ​we treated​ ​her​ ​like​ ​an​ ​enemy.

Months​ ​had​ ​passed​ ​my​ ​birthday​ ​had​ ​finally​ ​arrived.​ ​Neither​ ​of​ ​us​ ​ever​ ​told​ ​anyone​ ​about​ ​the​ ​about that​ ​night.​ ​Truth​ ​be​ ​told,​ ​we​ ​didn't​ ​know​ ​what​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​people.​ ​How​ ​to​ ​explain​ ​it​ ​to​ ​them.​ ​We​ ​didn't even​ ​know​ ​what​ ​she​ ​meant​ ​by​ ​"he​ ​can't​ ​pass​ ​through".​ ​We​ ​understood​ ​that​ ​the​ ​darkling​ ​was​ ​the "he"​ ​but​ ​pass​ ​through​ ​what?

We​ ​also​ ​understood​ ​that,​ ​when​ ​he​ ​shouted,​ ​"I'll​ ​get​ ​her​ ​back",​ ​he​ ​meant​ ​his​ ​only​ ​love.​ ​But​ ​he​ ​was​ ​a pure​ ​psychopath,​ ​what​ ​did​ ​he​ ​know​ ​about​ ​love?

"We​ ​should​ ​do​ ​something​ ​special."​ ​My​ ​head​ ​was​ ​resting​ ​on​ ​Ocean's​ ​chest.

"I'm​ ​not​ ​in​ ​the​ ​mood."​ ​I​ ​couldn't​ ​let​ ​go​ ​of​ ​the​ ​guilt.

"You're​ ​turning​ ​18​ ​baby."​ ​Ocean​ ​put​ ​my​ ​head​ ​on​ ​my​ ​pillow,​ ​pushing​ ​my​ ​back​ ​against​ ​the​ ​mattress.​ ​"I know​ ​what​ ​happened​ ​and​ ​what​ ​we​ ​did​ ​were​ ​wrong.​ ​I​ ​hate​ ​seeing​ ​you​ ​like​ ​this."

He​ ​meant​ ​my​ ​catatonic​ ​state​ ​of,​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​sleep​ ​and​ ​appetite.​ ​He​ ​covered​ ​me​ ​with​ ​his​ ​body​ ​and​ ​rested his​ ​head​ ​on​ ​my​ ​bare​ ​chest.

"I​ ​can't​ ​believe​ ​you​ ​spoke​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Earth​ ​Spirit."​ ​He​ ​mumbled.

"I​ ​know​ ​but​​what​ ​I​ ​don't​ ​understand​ ​is​ ​how​​he​ ​expects​ ​to​​being​ ​someone​ ​dead,​ ​back​ ​to​ ​life."​​She wasn't​ ​his​ ​mate​ ​and​ ​neither​ ​did​ ​their​ ​soul​ ​go​ ​to​ ​the​ ​spirit​ ​realm​ ​after​ ​death.​ ​I​ ​didn't​ ​believe​ ​it​ ​was love​ ​but​ ​Ocean​ ​did,​ ​because​ ​he​ ​said,​ ​he​ ​would​ ​have​ ​done​ ​the​ ​same​ ​thing​ ​if​ ​it​ ​were​ ​me​ ​who​ ​was taken​ ​away​ ​from​ ​him.​ ​Get​ ​plain​ ​and​ ​simple​ ​revenge.

"Wait!"​ ​Ocean​ ​shot​ ​up.​ ​His​ ​eyes​ ​dancing​ ​with​ ​epiphany.​ ​"What​ ​if​ ​he​ ​thinks​ ​his​ ​mate​ ​is​ ​in​ ​the​ ​spirit realm​ ​and​ ​he's​ ​using​ ​us​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​her​ ​back?"

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Do you like this theory? Do you think Ocean finally cracked the code to why they are being killed so many times? Don't forget to vote and comment. Edited by Sweet_Lovexx
Take care -Kat