Chapter 163: Chapter 164

Chapter 75 – Asim

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“We only have what we give.“–Isabel Allende

Third Person POV

Lady Sanguine had disappeared. She kidnapped Neron. They left behind trails of devastation that wracked through the bodies of Lyra and Nikolai as the black portal sealed all chances of a rescue. Helplessness settled in their hearts after witnessing their daughter fall into darkness once more, Lady Sanguine usurping control of Neron’s fate. The clock was ticking, and time was no longer on their side.

Neron’s life rested in their hands.

The news traveled far and quick, reaching the ears of Alpha Anthony, his warriors, and Neron’s brothers–in- arms. Panic filled their veins like an unwelcomed injection, working alongside their adrenaline as they piled into cars and raced toward Pauline Park. Anthony’s knuckles threatened to turn white as he gripped the steering wheel, blinded with devastation from the sudden twist in events. His little sister was so close, and she slipped away again!

A war erupted on within Anthony, both sides armed with swords and shields. His brotherly side wanted Kiya away from the Osiris, but his Alpha side acknowledged that he needed the unexpected change to find the snake’s hidden fortress. Anthony knew his father was successful in planting the tracker, but he wanted Kiya back so much that he wanted to roar in frustration.

Tires screeched when he slammed his foot on the gas petal, accelerating his speed down the road. His passengers fell into a rift–raft of shouts and complaints as the car behind them tried to catch up.

“Black magic was

was at play here.” Phoebe muttered, raising her hand to the air as if she was touching glass. Her eyes shimmered like amethysts as they scanned the earthy area. “Residuals of the magic are lingering in the air. Those two haven’t disappeared for long.”

“What about the tracker?” Sapphire asked. “Do we, at least, have a signal on where Lady Sanguine is?”

“Let us pray to the Moon Goddess that the magic doesn’t interfere with the signal.” Kwame responded, fingers dancing across his tablet screen. “It is on and active, so a reading will come soon.”

“How soon?” She asked again. The Gamma arched an eyebrow, eyes still glued to his screen.

“Soon.”

Galen kicked a couple of rocks as his confuddled mind tried to make sense of everything. He was never much of an intuitive person, but he knew something didn’t feel right. He became concerned not just for his friend, but for the missing Alpha. “Hey,” Everyone turned to him. “I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but how long do you think we have until Neron dies?”

“He won’t die.” Valerian interjected; confidence interlaced in his voice. “Neron wouldn’t go out without fight.”

“How can you be sure?” Abigail spoke, rubbing Jacqueline’s arm. “This time, Neron’s opponent carries his

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Chapter 75–Asm

heart. I’ll be the first to say it, but I don’t think Neron will fight against Lady Sanguine.”

“You’re contradicting yourself, Abigail.” The Beta retorted, his emerald carrying embers of anger. “You are doubting Neron when you say that. It is in an Alpha’s instincts to fight to survive.”

and

“Not when your mate threatens your survival.” Her fingers weaved through Jacqueline’s, who was reticent, squeezed. “Any man can see how deep in love Neron is for Kiya; we’ve all seen it through his actions and words. However, Neron’s biggest adversary isn’t Osiris. He can fight Osiris until his end days, but if Kiya stands between them, he wouldn’t raise a claw against her. If you had to fight against Raina, would you raise a hand against her, even if it meant you’d live?”

Valerian’s voice caught in his throat, words falling deceased on his tongue. The simple thought of him hurting Raina was enough to tear his heart in two. His sadness and uncertainty doused the embers of anger, eyes cast to the ground. “I wouldn’t. I couldn’t live with that.”

“Then, you know Neron has no time left. It’s not a question of how long until Neron dies, but when.”

The gravity of the situation drenched the surrounding air with suffocating heaviness. Kwame, although silent, paled at the thought of losing his best friend; the man he grew up with and trained with. Everyone else fell into silence, contemplating on what to do next. Nikolai sat on a rock next to Lyra, thumb running over the polished surface of the teardrop–shaped golden gemstone. Specs of dust clung onto the silver coils. Kiya’s last words echoed in his mind, exposing the significance of the necklace.

“That is Osiris” weakness! It belonged to Amber, the avatar before me!”

“Dad?” Anthony asked, walking over when father’s eyes dimmed. “What’s wrong?”

“This might not help Neron, but Kiya left this behind before she vanished.” The elder Alpha held up the necklace with silver snaked around the stone, hooking to the bail. Under the sunlight, the gold stone shone brightly like a miniature sun. The others walked closer to see the stone up close, enraptured by its beauty, but Phoebe grimaced. “She said it belonged to the avatar before her, named Amber.”

“Aren’t Selene’s avatars born once every century?” Anthony pondered. “Why would Kiya, or Osiris have a century–old necklace?”

“Better yet, why is there dark energy in the gemstone?” Phoebe blurted, narrowing her eyes. She fished a handkerchief from her pocket and took it off Nikolai’s hands, cautious. “It is enchanted. Kiya was wearing this?”

“Yes.” Lyra answered in a hoarse whisper.

“I need to inspect this.” The witch placed the necklace in her satchel. “No one will handle this necklace except for me. I don’t want anyone getting infected with whatever is in the stone. There is a connection between this necklace, Amber, and Kiya; we need to find it.”

“At least we’re getting somewhere.” Darien muttered from a tree. An owl’s whistle cuts through the air without warning. Many eyes look up to see Diana, wings spread, soaring under the sun. She circled around before perching herself on Lyra’s shoulder. It startled the woman to see the bird on her, but after a few seconds, she relaxed and rubbed her finger on the bird’s head.

Anthony groaned. “Great, this thing is trying to steal my mother too.”

Chapter 75–Asim

“Mijo,” Lyra warned as Diana cooed. “Don’t be rude.”

“Well, that bird won’t help us find Neron and Kiya.”

“No, but I might.”

All heads turned toward a shadow emerging from the nearby trees. A youthful man emerged, adorned in an elbow–sleeved dark blue, knee–length linen kaftan with white pants and black sandals. His aureate arm cuffs glistened against his dark skin as his colorless hair was tied in a high ponytail, revealing his honey–colored eyes. The energy emanating from the man was pleasant and encompassing. However, one look to his face was all it took for some wolves to spring into action.

Jacqueline punched the man in his jaw. “You have some nerve showing your face around here!”

The area exploded into violence like sprouting fireworks. Jacqueline threw the first punch and the rest of the Garnet Moon wolves joined, venting out their frustrations over their missing friend through a flurry of punches and kicks on the man they believed to be responsible. It wasn’t until Anthony’s authoritative command stopped them from killing the stranger, forcing them to scamper back to their initial places. The man, unfazed, chuckled as he rose to his feet, patting the dust off his clothing. His injuries healed fast.

“Who the hell are you?” Anthony demanded, gritting his teeth to keep his anger in check. “And why do your look like Osiris?”

“Is that his name now?” The man scoffed. “Stolen the name from the lord of the dead and rebirth. Interesting choice. But no, I’m not him. He is Asir. My name is Asim, his identical twin brother.”

Silence befell amongst the crowd of wolves staring in either wonder or disbelief at Asim. No one dared to move or speak. After the madness they’ve endured, trusting an outsider wasn’t an option. However, when Diana flew to Asim’s shoulder and a smile befell this face, some slackened in their stances.

Birds fly away from danger, not toward it. Diana wasn’t afraid of the man.

“Osiris” twin brother?” Anthony narrowed his eyes. “How are we just hearing about you now?”

“Lord Ra. I’m his avatar, and he guided me here.” Asim pulls from his leather satchel a large gold amulet shaped like the ancient Ankh, encrusted with raw lapis lazuli, peridots, and turquoise. The teardrop loop circled a glittering Sunstone. Raising the talisman to the sun, a golden light show bedazzled the surroundings with strips of sunlight twirling around the members of Zircon Moon and Garnet Moon, bathing them in great warmth. They gasped and jumped at the magic gyrated around their bodies. Sunlight seeped into Asim’s skin, outlining hieroglyphics and other intricate markings as Ra’s avatar, including the Eye of Ra on his forehead. After a few seconds, he settled his ankh away and his markings vanished.

“Wait, something doesn’t make sense.” Darien mentioned after the light show faded. “Osiris is a vampire, so that makes you one as well. How the hell are you the avatar of a sun god when you also smell like a

werewolf?”

“You see the juxtaposition I’ve wondered since my awakening, but I’m afraid Lord Ra likes to keep his choices. a mystery.” Asim smirked, the corner of his eyes crinkling with his smile. “But it ties to the destiny of my brother and me. Our gods, his being Apophis, are eternal enemies. Holy light versus damning darkness. I wasn’t aware Asir was alive until Lord Ra informed me of an escalation of his Apophis‘ presence in the mortal world, therefore beginning my two–day journey from Egypt to California.”

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Chapter 75 – Axim

“The attack on Zircon Moon was two days ago.” Kwame mentioned. The mention of Zircon Moon brought darkness to Asim’s eyes..

“Hmm. Zircon Moon.” The man walked toward a rock and settled upon it, folding his leg over the other. “By the grace of Ra, I had hopes it would fall during my lifetime.”

“It seems you and Osiris–excuse me, Asir, share the same sentiment.” Jacqueline snarled.

“Of course. Alpha Titan tortured us both when we were children because we were horn hybrids.” He revealed. “Asir suffered the brunt of it, sadly. I’ve protected him as often as I could when our mother was banished, but…” His eyes shone with sadness. “I had the chance to escape, and I took it, but it forced me to leave my brother behind. I wasn’t strong enough to go back and rescue him from that hell. How is a child to fight. against men more powerful than him?”

“You abandoned Asir.” Anthony concluded. Asim nodded, bowing his head in shame.

“Yes. A mistake I’ve carried in my heart since then. Twins carry a unique bond that can transcend time. No matter the distance, we’d always find each other. Now imagine that bond breaking, leading you to believe your twin had died.”

Jacqueline flinched, a hand going to her heart as she reminisced about her twin bond with Dwayne. Abigail noticed her discomfort and held her hand.

“Now, after so many years, I found out he is alive and causing chaos. I don’t know the full details of the conflict, but I know people you all care about are affected. Please, allow me to help you.”

Anthony was hesitant. “This is too coincidental for me.”

“Understandable. I would’ve been skeptical, as well. However, my only goal is to stop Asir’s madness before it bleeds beyond these grounds. With Apophis, darkness and destruction is his end goal and I don’t doubt Asir has the same.”

“Anthony.” Nikolai mind–linked his son. “We don’t have any other options now. We have to trust him.”

Anthony looked at his father, then to Asim, and then to Diana perched comfortably on his shoulder. If Neron’s pet trusts him, he has no choice but to trust him as well. He sighed before nodding. “Very well. You can help. us. However, if you do anything that jeopardizes our mission, I won’t hesitate to kill you. Understood?”

“Loud and clear.”

Shrill beeping resounded from Kwame’s tablet, drawing his attention to the screen. A vivid red dot flashed on the map of Oregon in a deep, forestry far northeast from any known civilization. The location read as Unknown. “We have a location on where Lady Sanguine is, but the area is not recorded in any state records.”

“May I see?” Asim asked. Kwame handed him the tablet. “I…I think I may know where this is. The only connection my brother and I have with our family is our father’s home. However, as he was a vampire, his home is hidden and protected under Goddess Nyx’s blessing–the matron to all vampires. This is a typical occurrence for their deity to hide their homes from the world’s view.” The flashing suddenly ceased, marking

the tracker as offline.

Phoebe tapped her cheek in deep thought. “What do you propose we do, Asim?”

pter 25- Asim

“Your friends are there, so storm the castle. However, to defeat an avatar is with another. If my hunches are correct, Asir will be a tough opponent to beat.”

“Our friend, Kiya, is one too.” Galen mentioned.

“Ah, double trouble.” Asim hummed. “Then, it’ll be best to have at least two avatars on your team. I’ll be one.” He turned to Phoebe. “You’re an avatar. I can sense it. You can be the second-

“I’m not stepping foot in Oregon.” Phoebe retorted, fists shaking. “I have my reasons, but I’ll help from afar. However, there is another avatar I know who I think can help. Violetta could use some adventure in her life.”

“All that is left to do is to plan our attack.” Anthony proclaimed, gathering everyone’s attention. “With Asim’s information and Osiris‘ location, we have enough ammunition to move forward. Our primary goal is to rescue Kiya and Neron before Osiris gets the opportunity to stop us.”

“Hopefully, Neron will still be alive by then.”

Lady Sanguine kneeled on the dirtied ground of a prison cell, her knee coming in contact with Neron’s warm skin. Unconscious, the Alpha breathes with case, unaware of his current surroundings. As the woman continued to stare at Neron’s tranquil face, a struggle ensures.

A struggle to not take her blade out to slice his throat.

A struggle between her darkest desires and her restraint–her dark versus her light.

But an unusual urge blossomed in her chest. Lady Sanguine didn’t know why she felt the urge to do it, but she did it anyway. She reached out to cup Neron’s check in her hand. Her thumb caressed his smooth, tan skin, lightly brushing up against the corner of his lips.

“Why am I doing this?” She thought to herself.

A simple, affectionate such as this could ruin all of her plans, and she couldn’t afford that.

Suddenly, pain whizzed from her stomach to her chest, knocking the wind out of her. She gritted her teeth to hold back her whimpers as the promise of no pain began unraveling into the hidden truth. Is it from Neron, or

is it from another source?

This was too much for her. Her damned light was coming out, and she needed to stop it. Standing erect on her shoes, Lady Sanguine walked out of Neron’s prison, slamming the door behind her.

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