Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Déjà Vu in the Fire

Without thinking, Aria dropped her weapon and threw herself over the mother and her child. It was a reckless move, but it felt right. Her body trembled, a strange déjà vu washing over her—like she had done this before. The last thing on her mind before the flames reached them was one word: Corinna. The mother and child screamed in fear, and Aria clung to them, trying to shield them with her own body—hoping, somehow, to protect them all. But then, something unexpected happened. The fire didn't hit. Aria looked up and turned around. It was Ares. He had stepped in just in time, holding out his shield to block the flames. "Get inside! Now!" he shouted. Wasting no time, Aria grabbed the mother and her child and hurried behind the shield. She quickly got her weapon ready, eyes scanning the area—knowing they couldn't stay hidden for long. Ares stood firm, using all his strength to move the shield wherever the fire spread. But the heat was intense, and it was already burning his forearm. "Don't do anything!" he yelled when he saw her aiming her weapon. But… Suddenly the fire stopped after someone yelled "clamp!" Aria breathed out in relief. "Go somewhere safe," Ares told her as he quickly got rid of his shield that burned through to his arm. The fire had somehow also reached his shoulder and he dusted it off before quickly leaving her side. He used a wire that he shot out of his sleeve and then ensnared around the werewolf's legs. He used it to swing and climb the werewolf by attaching another one to the werewolf's back with a hook, and then he mounted it. Aria stared stunned for a moment. It was very pirate-like, swinging with ropes but what surprised her was the blades that snapped out of his sleeve. They were slightly bent and he hooked them to the werewolf's wing. Sliding down, he used the weight of his body to force the blades to cut off the werewolf's wing. The werewolf couldn't make a sound with the clamp around its mouth, but she could see it struggle with pain and try to keep flying with one wing alone. Soon it fell to the ground with a loud thud while Ares already landed smoothly somewhere else with the help of his wires. The army gathered and finished off the werewolf. The crucifiers had managed to kill the one they held off and Aria looked up to see where the third one was. Since she couldn't see any, she guessed the army on the other side must have killed it. "Aria? Are you alright?" Ares came to her. "Where is the third one?" She asked, unable to relax yet. "The terrorists took it down." She turned to him. His whole warmth was burned. "You are injured." She said knowing how painful burns could be. "I am fine. I wear protective pads under. It is not that bad." He assured her. Aria looked over at the mother and her child and the whole town that was burned. Rage grew within her again, so much that it brought tears to her eyes. The soldiers began to help the citizens as much as they could, removing the rocks from the underground entrance and freeing the ones that got stuck there. They also tried to free other entrances and people who got stuck under the fallen buildings. It was chaos and Aria walked in it feeling her heart sink lower and lower. So many homes and so many lives were lost. She found her uncle standing somewhere in the chaos, just looking around with a frown, probably pained by what he saw as well. She could see the anger slowly becoming more evident in his eyes and his jaw clenched. He turned around and their eyes locked but he quickly looked away as if ashamed. Aria wanted to let him know that it wasn't his fault. They were doing what they could. The men with Ares were his crew. They had weapons and tools effective for such situations. They joined the soldiers and helped out everyone. Aria helped out as much as she could as well and then they began to head toward the castle. The way back home was very quiet and felt very long. Aria was still shaken by everything that happened. Everything reminded her of that day. That terrifying day. By the time she reached the castle, she felt paralyzed. As she walked through the halls back to her room, she heard her uncle in a corner speaking to the commanders. "A second attack might happen soon. We should still be on guard and prepared." He spoke in hushed tones. Ignoring them she continued on to her room. She felt exhausted by the time she arrived. Elda waited for her and helped her get rid of the armor. She didn't say a word, guessing why she was like this. Instead, she made the room warm and made her a cup of warm tea that she served beside the bed. But Aria just wanted to sleep. She hid under the covers shaking even though she wasn't cold. When she finally fell asleep, nightmares haunted her. Screams and cries echoed in her head, terror made her skin glisten with sweat. She turned back and forth fighting the monsters in her sleep, trying to get away and save her sister, crying out at the loss of her parents, crumbling from all the agony and despair. She wanted to escape this pain. She pleaded, turned, fought, and finally with a cry, wrenched herself away. Aria shot her eyes open with heart-pounding and tears streaming down her face. She sat up, looking out the window ahead. The sky was dark and the crescent moon shone among the many stars. Aria took a deep breath, but her heart still pained in her chest. She wiped her face clean with the back of her hand and removed the covers to cool her burning body. She went and took a shawl from among her clothes and left the room to get some fresh air. The breeze was calm and cool. She sat in the quietness, allowing the wind to gently blow her hair while she emptily stared ahead. Her sadness slowly turned to madness. Those black werewolves would pay and King Marcus… well, if she turned out to be his breedmate she would laugh. She would laugh out loud and then she would keep smiling because he wouldn't. As much as she wanted to go downstairs now and see his face when she told him they killed three of his people, she knew that alone wouldn't satisfy her. Shooting him to death wouldn't satisfy her either. Her uncle must have already begun his torture now after what he witnessed but she knew that kind of torture wouldn't work on him much. That was why shooting him was the least she could have done. She just wanted to test out her new invention while threatening him. She wasn't good with pistols but she knew this one was somewhat a success. He wasn't able to hide his pain completely. Maybe the infected wound added to it. Perhaps she would have tried to shoot him somewhere else to know the true impact, but she needed answers and she got them. No werewolf language. Now she knew she would have to look somewhere else. But where? Her guess was that it wasn't an existing language but possibly a code. A language created by the notetaker so that only he could understand. That would make it impossible for her to know what was written there. Standing up, she decided to take a walk in the garden. As she walked between the hedges she found her uncle seated in a secluded part, all alone. He stared ahead emptily, not noticing her presence until she came near. He turned his head. "Aria. What are you doing here this late?" "I just woke up. Why are you awake?" She asked. He sighed leaning back. Aria sat beside him. "I couldn't sleep." He said. "You did what you could." She told him. "I know." "Did you go down to the prisoner?" She asked. "No." She nodded, happy that he didn't make himself angrier by going down there. "You could have died today." He began. "I want you to listen to my orders next time." His voice was firm. I understand, she said quietly. I just wish you'd trust me more. You're all I have. I see you as a father. Don't, he said, avoiding her eyes. It'll hurt more if you lose a father twice. She paused, heart sinking. Please don't say that. Just leave, he said. Get away from this place. Leave this life behind... or you'll end up like me. What's happened to you? she asked gently. A lot, he replied. I'm not who I used to be. I've changed—and not in a good way. I understand. I won't judge you. He gave a short, bitter laugh. No. You won't just judge me. Aria frowned. His words were unsettling, and when he finally looked at her, his eyes burned with something she couldn't name. You need to go, Aria, he said. Things are only going to get worse. Remember the book I gave you? The one about revenge? he asked.