Dreamer

16.

Octavius immensely flummoxed by my statement, and not just him but everyone around him. I let him breathe for a while, as I watch him recuperate to speak.

"I...have no excuse for what I did, and... Even if I did, it probably doesn't matter, so if it makes you feel relieved, if it does subside that anger in you by killing me, then do it, but I know one thing Atheena, all I have ever done was for your own safety and well being, ever since the day I met you and you know that.

Do not let the anger you have towards me make you become something you're not." Octavius speaks uses the time I'm giving him to lecture me.

"Tsk tsk...it doesn't matter to me anymore." I nod my head negatively. I stare at Octavius, recalling the first time I met him. The warmth I felt towards him, the care he showed to me and the hope I held in my heart even if I never said.

I want to feel that same warmth I felt that same day, but I can't help the exorbitant anger fueling up inside me, the desire for revenge burning deep inside.

"Don't you see it Atheena, this is what Articus wants, he's winning by doing this. Yes, I accept I never paid attention to get to know what you were going through, and I acted like a selfish prick to which I know, but please Atheena do not let Articus make you become want he wants." Orion cuts in as his blue eyes, which I always find changing my mind pierce deep into my soul stares at me.

"If it means getting my revenge on everyone, then let him have his way." My voice low but dark, as my decision stays valid, staring deep at Orion.

"And you think we would let you go around killing?" My gaze instantly turning to Orion's mother speaking, as when I turn I'm taken by surprised seeing men and women behind her each carrying a weapon, either an arrow or a sword.

My heart beating faster seeing their numbers. "Celia don't,... Don't fight her." My gaze moves back to octavius whom I held against his will defending me.

Or was it? Did I really hold him against his will?

"Like you said Octavius, she is more powerful than a warlock himself, how do you expect me to let loose a person with so much power and revenge in them, the heaven's would asks us." Maria, who is octavius mother speaks, while I stand still where I am, not knowing what move to take next.

I'm not used to this life, and its because of that I have no training on how to use my new power bestowed upon me, still yet, I can't let Maria capture me like she wants to.

My gaze moves to Orion whose blue orbs hasn't left mine, as he stares at me with perplexity and something else I do not know. His gaze seems not to be the only one piercing through my soul, as mine begins to go deeper than those blue orbs covered at the surface.

Amidst all the chaos going on, with Octavius and maria, so does something extraordinary do the same between I and Orion, as even if I want to take my gaze off him, I can't.

"Don't become like him, you are far too good that he could ever be, Athena." I don't know if it is by Orion's doing or my doing, all I know is that I can hear Orion in my head.

I think I'm going crazy.

"If she wanted to kill me she would have, there is good in her and if you do this Maria, we loose her completely. She's hurt, of course what do you expect her to do, she feels she has nobody else in her life, so please, put yourself in her shoes and don't make this decision." I finally I'm able to turn my gaze away from Orion, looking back at Octavius.

Yes, Octavius words may touch my heart, but it doesn't get to it, because everytime I stare at him I'm brought back to recall the events of grandmother.

"Do not take my side Octavius, I am not who you think me to be anymore, and not just you am i going to avenge my quest for revenge on, so do not take my side because it changes nothing to me." I speak where as Octavius doesn't seem surprised, yet,  hurt is evident in his eyes.

"Capture her, chosen one or not, we must be restrained!" And the next words that comes out of Maria's mouth takes me flummoxed.

It begin with an arrow flying down my direction, as on reflex my body dodges it slightly, but not before its scratches pass my arm. I wince painfully, touching at the pain, when I feel blood oozing out of it.

Not only did they do wrong to me, but they also want to keep me prisoner. How cruel can people be?

"Mother stop, you're going to far!" Orion's voice comes, but its too late, as my gaze rises up, and this time I do not have pity in my eyes, gazing at each of them. With a vision of my memory of what I want, I send their arrows back to them, as it each either pierces through their arms or chest, while they scream.

By doing that, it is clear I have declared war, as the fear of it beams my heart, but my quest fuels it again. "Call the warlocks!" Maria yells making me take in a gulp.

I have to find a way out.

I have to leave.

As though on cue with my thoughts, more bellator luminis block my way, while I gaze at them and back to Maria. "I'm guessing you chose to loose more men." I tell Maria, trying to feign confidence.

"Not if the warlocks are here." She replies me as from her back I see a portal opening and a ton of men and women, whom I presume to be warlocks and witches come in from.

"I would not stand and watch this Maria!" Octavius cuts in with his voice in rage.

"Then you can either join her or stand down, but either way I am not letting someone as dangerous as she is, walk out of here with such a heart." Maria responds.

"A heart that you all created." I stare at Maria in disbelieve.

"Surrender peacefully or we make you." Those are her next words as my own words doesn't seem to faze her.

"Let it sink in Maria, I would never surrender or bow down to anyone." My voice true and stern as Octavius turns to stare at me.

After my words, it doesn't take a second when I begin hearing the warlocks chanting in a particular language I've heard before.

Latin.

Disconcerted by my own body, I understand every word it is their chanting, hearing they are performing a weakening spell. At that moment, I begin to feel the effects of the spell, as I begin to wince painfully, starting to feel my body cold.

"Stop it mother! You're hurting her!" I hear Orion.

"Stand down Orion!" Maria's voice with command lacing her tone as she stares at Orion, but the gaze in his own eyes proves differently.

"I cant." Are the last words I hear from orion before I see him slide to me, and with force, he plants his lighting sword to the ground, as that instantly creates a barrier around the both of us.

As the barrier arrives, the cold feeling detests, yet, I know my body has begun to feel weak.

And I say I'm stronger, how deceived I am.

"What do you think you're doing?" I ask Orion who stays inside the barrier with me, where as his mother stands with fury outside, saying something inaudible I can't hear.

"Protecting you. I couldn't do it the first time, so I'm not letting it happen again." His blue eyes meets mine.

"And I didn't ask you to. I don't want you to, so do not put yourself into something you can not handle." I tell him.

"Who says I can't handle it?" Orion asks me, but I don't reply still getting lost in his eyes. "You can read memories right? Then I want you to read mine." Orion tells me as I stare at him dumbfounded.

"You i***t. Do you think its going to change anything? Do not sacrifice your world for mine, because I wouldn't do the same." I tell orion as that makes him quiet.

"I'm not asking you to. I only want you see that we're good people, and whatever happened, wasn't of our own making and if....Agh!" Orion doesn't complete his statement as his grip on his sword weakens.

"What is it?" My question coming worriedly before I can process them.

"I can't hold on much longer...they're stronger." Orion tells me as that keeps me on the edge.

"Then I should be able to do something...I should be able...Aghhh!" I scream in pain getting a pang hit my chest, hurting in pain shortly after Orion.

"Atheena! What is it?" Orion asks me wanting to help me out, but with him using his sword to protect us, he can't move.

"I don't know... My chest hurts... Aghh!" I scream again as my knees go down due to the pain, while holding my throbbing chest. I raise my head as my gaze meets with Octavius while he stares at me worriedly and mutters something inaudible.

"Atheena!" Orion calls my name again, but that doesn't faze me as the pain only seem to intensify, while it begins to feel as though a part of chest is on fire.

Unable to take it any longer, I drag my shirt open revealing my chest, as that doest suffice, when I reveal it the more, not caring if my left breast is almost on display.

At the sight in front of me, while I stare at my chest in horror, seeing the circle mark on my chest burning bright red, while it shines through my skin.

I raise my gaze as my body trembles meeting my gaze with Orion first as he also stares in horror, before I look forward to octavius who also has a stare I have never seen before.

A gaze of fear.

Because as we all know it, that mark is the mark of demon king, which means Articus has found me.

Articus is coming.