Silva hated this. This party was filled from wall to wall with lords and ladies. They drank, ate, and were merry. The men clinked cups and cheered and the women either stood next to their husbands or dates, joining in on their conversations, or were in small groups talking about the latest gossip. It made Silva feel sick. This was the main reason why she didn't want to come down here, she hated mingling with all these mortals. They were oblivious to the on-goings of their world. That's the mortals for you. They were flawed, but they helped keep the balance with nature.

Those of the Arts like Silva needed mortals to keep their magic going. Without mortals, life would be difficult for them. Not that living with mortals was any easier, but that was balance, mortals, and immortals. Something Otis would never understand. "Ugh, claw my ears out already," Barlo said, pinning his ears to his head as he tried desperately to block out the music that was playing in the background. He sat beside Silva who was leaning against one of the pillars. Silva couldn't help but agree with her companion but refused to voice it. Another thing that she didn't particularly like about the mortals, their awful taste in music. Something that could never compete with the natural music that nature creates for all to hear. She sighed and chose to block out the terrible music, she had other things that acquired her attention.

"There you are!" Alec said, making his way through the crowd to her. "I didn't think you would come." Silva flicked her eyes at him but didn't say anything. Alec held two drinks in his hands and handed one to her. Silva looked at the drink and carefully took it from him. "What do you think? Is this your first party?" Silva narrowed her eyes. Why did he care?

"No," She decided to answer. "And I can't say that I care for them." Alec laughed and was about to say more when the throne room doors burst open sending in a thrust of wind that blew out the torch lights sending the room into darkness. The guest screamed at the sudden eruption. Their screams were echoed by the screeching of wraiths as they came in from all directions circling the room. They pinned the guest in corners, taking bites and scratches at them. Silva dropped her cup, spraying glass on the floor and the liquid that was inside oozing.

"Hey!" Barlo complained, jumping out of the way.

"What the-?" Alec started but was quickly cut off as a wraith grabbed him by the shoulders and threw him over by the throne chairs where his father stood, his hand on the hilt of his sword. Laughter filled the room as a figure strolled through the doors.

"Ahh," he said. "What a beautiful sight." The guests fearfully parted as the man walked down the red rug up to the throne chairs where the king and prince were being held hostage by the wraiths. "Your majesties," he said mockingly, giving an overdramatic bow.

"What do you want?" The king demanded, ready to draw out his sword. The man smirked and gestured to the scene before them.

"This," he told him. "The hold that I have over your people. You see, your majesty, you mortals don't know what you have, not truly. So it is time that I show you what you mortals are meant for. And that is serving me and many more like me. We, people of the Art of magic, are above you, but you act like we are beneath you." The young man laughed. "So," he continued. "Give up your crown and deem me, the rightful ruler of this kingdom."

On the other side of the room, Silva observed. She couldn't believe that she hadn't seen this coming. So that's what you wanted, she thought, staring at him from across the room. You want the throne so you can truly terrorize the mortals. She swore for being so naive.

"I will never give up the crown." The king said standing his ground. He raised his head giving the sorcerer a challenging look. The amusement in Otis's eyes disappeared as his eyes turned dark. There was a screech as a wraith flew in the air and swooped down towards the king. King Frederick didn't have time to react as the wraith tore through him. His screams died in his throat as he fell to the floor.

"Father!" Alec said crouching down beside his father. Otis laughed and the crowd screamed. Chaos erupted as they tried to escape the room. The wraiths felt their master's demand as they slammed the room's doors closed and chased the guest around the room.

"Nobody leaves!" Otis said into the chaos. He was about to step over to the prince when he felt a searing pain in his right thigh. Otis hissed and turned to scan the room. He saw Silva standing several feet away with a dagger stabbed into her own right thigh. She pulled it out and Otis felt a tingle of pain, feeling the blood run down his leg. Get her, he sent the command to one of his wraiths. The wraith screeched and swooped down grabbing Silva and dropping her down beside Alec and his father's corpse.

During the chaos, Barlo slinked away, finding a way out of the throne room. Otis limped over to Silva and roughly grabbed her chin. "Nice try," he said. "But we both know that you don't have the guts to do any real damage." He let her go and hovered over the prince. "It would seem that you now hold the crown," he told Alec. "Do what's good for the kingdom and hand it over. Or meet the same fate as your father." Alec gritted his teeth. He stared hatefully at this new enemy. Out of anger, Alec drew his father's sword, and took a swing at the man standing before him. The sword's blade cut Otis's left cheek, making a deep gash. Otis seethed in pain and Silva cried out.

Alec looked over at Silva to see that a deep gash was made on her left cheek as well. He was confused and horrified. Otis let out a laugh. "Whatever you do to me, young prince, you do to her." He said, laughing again. "Our life forces are bound together, as brothers and sisters should be." Alec's eyes grew wide as he looked between Otis and Silva. They were identical in appearance, same auburn hair, same eyes, similar facial features. It made his head spin. Before he could make another decision, a wraith swooped down, knocking Alec down on his knees and sending the sword off to the side.

Otis kneeled in front of the prince. His eyes turned sharp. "The crown. Now." Alec looked up at Otis, feeling defeated. But he knew he couldn't give up the throne, not willingly.

"Never," He said, and closed his eyes, ready to be devoured by the demons. Otis smirked, stood, preparing to give the demand. A screech sounded in the room as a wraith flew in the air and Alec squeezed his eyes tightly, waiting for the pain to come, but none came. Alec heard a shout of anguish before him and he opened his eyes just in time to see the man before him stumble backwards, his hands on his stomach. Blood began to sweep out, covering his hands in red.

A look of shock mixed with astonishment appeared on Otis. "You-you did it," He said softly and shook his head, an ironic laugh escaping his lips. "I can't believe you actually did it." Alec's eyes grew wide, and he turned to see that Silva had taken his father's sword and drove it through her abdomen.

Pain etched on her face, she gritted her teeth, biting her cheek as she did, but she kept her eyes on Otis, the face she had seen since they were born. His identical face stared back; his face turned to one of despair. "You chose them over us." He said, spitting out blood. "You've doomed us all, Silvie, you've doomed us all." Life was draining out of his eyes as he laid down on the hard floor. His glossy eyes staring at the ceiling. His chest rose one last time before it deflated. His hand slid from his stomach and onto the floor, staining its surface with blood.

Silva withdrew the sword from herself and fell to her side, feeling her life source leaving her body. She wished it didn't have to end this way for the both of them, but Otis had left with her no other choice. If only she had more time to try and convince her brother to try to save him, to save them both. If only things could have been different. The last thing she saw before her vision blacken was Alec hovering over her and Barlo bounding his way to her side.