jewel pov.

I looked around in a state of pure happiness, some may think this was the worst time to feel so content, but to me it was the best. My friends lit a match of euphoria in my heart just by standing by me in time of such disarray. Of course I'd preferred them inside where they'd be safe, but they made me want to be selfish again. I needed them. I couldn't do this on my own.

We all surrounded Nova's unconscious self while Clara put out her fire after making sure the sphinx was dead. "Do you think she's dead?" Taehyung asked simply, peeking down at her making all of us look at him in question at his stupidity. "I can hear her heartbeat, she's ok, just a little tired," Zanira informed us as silence filled the atmosphere. It felt like the war was over but deep down we all knew it had merely just begun.

No one that we fought had the nefarious mark on them, not a single person. The real deals haven't arrived yet, but we chose to keep that thought buried inside us for a little while, we wanted just a moment of peace. Although the thought would claw its way back to our heads to eat at us, we wanted to rest, at least for now.

The entire entrance area to the Paradox was filled with dead bodies, it was a nightmare yet a sense of victory because we were still standing. Nova jolted awake, startling all of us as she jumped up to run, "GO AWAY SPHINX!" She yelled making us smile at her behaviour. "It's dead don't worry," Isaac reassured her, as we all got into a huddle, giving each other warm hugs. Taehyung had thrown away the fear he had for Zanira after seeing how he helped us, it was such a sweet moment.

Like calm before a storm.

"Party's over kids," a voice was heard behind us making me sigh, "for fucks sake," I muttered under my breath as we separated from the hug. It was a group of 4, 3 boys and a single girl, they walked as if they owned the place. Each and every one of us were drained and the real deal hadn't even shown up yet. The leader was yet to come.

"Ah Jewel, you've grown up so well," one of the boys had a sinister smile across his face. I paused for a second, he called me Jewel... no one except the school kids called me that here. Come to think of it the man in my head always called me Jewel too, that's peculiar. Their ambience wasn't intimidating, it left us holding our breaths to see what they'd do. "Enough playing with mythical idiots, why don't you try fighting your own kind?" Another boy tilted his head. The girl slowly strutted towards us, she walked past the line of us, looking at us one by one.

"Boring, boring, boring, a little interesting, boring, and AH, perfect." She stopped in front of Clara, running her finger down the auburn haired girls cheek, the movement dropped her sleeve a little to reveal her wrist, unveiling the nefarious mark. It was a little different than the ones on the men who attacked me in my home, it had more detail on it, as if they were senior members. Me and the others glanced towards each other, wondering if we should take action or do something. But Zanira, the eldest between all of us, shook his head, signalling to stay put for now. Just see what their intentions were.

"I'm Sya, I've seen what you can do," she spoke, "then you must know I can burn you alive," Clara replied, trying to act cool but we could all see the sweat of taut falling down the side of her cheek.

"I do, but I'd love to see it up close, would you care to show me?" Her voice had such a seductive tone to it, it really left us clueless on what this group wished to do. Clara hesitantly lit her fire, controlling it in the palm of her hands. Sya walked around Clara, moving the back of her hair as she leaned over to her ear.

"Acrasia,"

Her breath blew the hairs on the side of Clara's face slightly, before smirking she stepped away and headed back to the boys. "Ah classic," they high fived Sya, "I could do better, but just for your entertainment," she snickered, as they watched Clara.

"Uh guys- I don't know what's happening- I can't control it!" Clara yelled making all of us look to the side to see what was happening.

We watched as Clara struggled to contain her fire to herself, Isaac who was luckily standing right next to her put his arm on her shoulder. I realised he was doing exactly what he did to help me the time I lost control, he was siphoning the magic. The fire had now been put out, but Clara still grabbed onto her head screaming in pain as her eyes would glow red now and then. "What's happening to me?!" She screamed, having to shut her fist tight otherwise it would release her red light.

"This is why you're my favourite sibling," the boy patted Sya on the shoulder, "sorry to disappoint you Rael but brother you aren't mine, Seth takes that spot," she teased him, as they all found amusement in the show.

"SCRASIEUM!" Nova yelled after thinking for a while, she must've been trying to recall the counter spell for whatever Sya casted.

"Ugh, the Harlow's and their brains, you just had to spoil the fun didn't you?" The group of siblings were annoyed at Nova's ingenuity, walking towards us as a whole. One of the boys, Seth I think his name was, tried to be sneaky and surprise me with a random attack of energy, but my reflex somehow managed to stop it. Grabbing his magic in my hand, I turned it into my own, my eyebrows naturally went up at what I did.

"Awh, what an improvement, last time we saw you, you were so helpless all you could do was cry." He spoke, confusing me, had I met them before?

"You know Jewel, you've been really quiet, I was expecting you to throw an entire planet on us after what we did," another boy chuckled before Seth hit him on the back of the head.

"Ravan are you a goldfish? We stole her memory of our faces remember?" Seth said, making the boy stride towards me, "well then I guess it's time we return your memory princess, must've killed you this whole time to not even remember the faces of those who killed your first love." Ravan faked an expression of pity, pouting like a fish as I didn't even notice Sya get behind me.

"Remember,"

memory

"I get you love me, because let's be honest how could you not, but skipping Mr Kim's extra classes just to hang out with me? Damn you're obsessed~" I teased Seojun as we walked out the school a little later than everyone else.

"Well I do love you, no denying that, but to be honest I just want to see how Mr Kim lectures you because of me," he stuck his tongue out making me slap the back of his head. "Mr Kim loves me too much to lecture me, but I'll make sure to let him know that your reason for skipping was because you're smitten for me!" I flipped my hair exaggeratedly as we walked near the exit of the school gates.

I felt an ominous presence, and just when that gut feeling arrived, so did they. A group of 4 people appeared from the dust, surrounding us. "Jewel oh Jewel, our famous girl, the only motherfucker our father talks about," they circled us as I held onto Seojun's hand as tightly as I could. It's not like holding onto him would protect him. "Seth, Ravan, Sya and Rael, 4 such powerful spawns of evil who could benefit our fathers evil plans so much but what does he do? Spend all his life on earth obsessed with a powerless half blood who could destroy him once she gains power." The boy spoke, flashing a red light to pull me towards him. It was the first time I was seeing magic.

He punched me in the face and I was ok with that. They were going to hurt me, and that's fine as long as Seojun stays safe, he's innocent and has nothing to do with this, he doesn't deserve to be involved in such evil business. 2 of them tortured and attacked me with random spells while the other 2 held Seojun back from helping me. Suddenly a phone rang, the boy who was torturing me stopped for a moment to panic at the caller id.

"Fuck its dad, you said he was working overtime today!" He shouted, clearing his throat before answering the phone, putting it on speaker so the rest of his siblings could listen. "You know what happens when people meddle with my plans," a mans voice growled, I was so out of it from being tortured I didn't even hear the voice properly. "Father we're sorry we just wanted to-"

"You were going to kill her, I told you Jewel is not to be touched! You wanted fun, have fun, take the boys life and make her watch, it'll make her stronger." He commanded, making me shake my head weakly, "please no..." I pleaded, hands filled with blisters from the harmful spells they used on me.

"Now that sounds more like satans right hand man, we will do as you say father, we won't let you down," the boy ended the phone, jumping in joy. The girl grabbed my hair while I was on my knees, forcing me to look up at the ropes strangling Seojun. "STOP!" I yelled, trying to run and help him but they held me back firmly. Seojun didn't resist, he just sat there, letting them do as they pleased while all life slowly escaped him.

The girl then kneeled down eye level to me, grabbing my cheeks with one hand while staring into my tear filled angry eyes. "Everything from today is a blur including our identities, you will remember nothing but the picture of Seojun, your epic first love dying in front of your eyes while you stayed useless. Euphorium,"

present

As everything flooded back to me my blood boiled, I hyperventilated in fury, not even attempting to calm myself down because I wished to be as angry as I could get. "We weren't going to take your memory but father always spoke about your brains and quick wit, it wouldn't have taken you long to figure out who he was, and we couldn't have that," Rael spoke.

"Why return my memory now?"

"Because father's plan is coming into action, he doesn't need to conceal his identity from you anymore," Seth said, throwing his arm over his sister.

"No I get that bit, but why return it while you're standing so close to me? Just makes it easier to kill you," I chuckled painfully. "Oh don't make me laugh," they mocked me. "The monster inside me has a fragile cage, you've disturbed her, and now she's released, so it's game over for you guys, even I can't control that bitch." I spoke out, faintly smiling.

"Take my advice and don't tamper with fire, you'll burn," Ravan warned.

"Take my advice and don't underestimate me, you see..."

"I've always liked to play with fire."