Scars Will Remain

Chapter Twelve

“Khan.” I moved away from Aaron and he backed off as well but I managed to catch the hurt look in his face. “Ariahni, I’m so sorry.” He pushed past Aaron and unfastened the straps before pulling me into his arms for a long embrace. I put my face into his chest and inhaled his scent. He rubbed circles into my back and I felt more than one person’s arms around me. Phaedra and Fane joined the hug. “You came after me. That’s all that matters.” They all pulled back from me and Khan looked over me. He brushed my hair back and looked at my eyes and then he looked down at my legs. A low growl erupted from him and he pushed Aaron up against the wall, holding him by the scruff of his neck. “Khan!” I moved towards him but Fane held me back. “Fane.” “Were you responsible for her injuries?!” I watched as Aaron struggled against my brother’s grip. “No…” “Khan! He was ordered to do it. The warlock had him under his control. Let him go.” “Ariahni please don’t tell me you actually believe him. Whatever he’s told you.” “I saw it with my own eyes Khan. I’m telling the truth.” He let go of Aaron and I moved from out of Fane’s grasp and checked on him. “I’m sorry for my brother’s rudeness.” “You don’t have to be. It’s who we are.” I helped him stand and supported him even though I was the injured one and faced my siblings. “How are we getting out of here?” Khan was glaring at the way I was holding Aaron and I sent him a silent prayer hoping that he would let me explain when we returned to Transylvania. He gave a quick, sure nod and cleared his throat. “Serena is going to transport us back.” “Who’s Serena?” An ethereal being floated into the room and smiled at me. “Hello Ariahni, it’s such a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m a friend of your brother’s and I’m a witch.” “My pleasure as well.” She nodded and turned to Khan. “I’m afraid to tell you that he’s returned. And he’s waiting in the courtyard.” Khan snarled and turned to Phaedra. “We’ll need to use our soldiers.” “I can order some of my brothers to help as well.” I looked towards Aaron as he spoke and smiled. An unfamiliar warmth was felt through me and although it left me confused and curious, I welcomed it. Khan snarled and turned away. Setting Aaron down into the chair I touched Khan’s shoulder and turned him to face me and buried myself once more into his body. “He’s prepared to help. Maybe this is what is meant to happen between our races. Maybe it happens with me.” I felt his head turn as he looked at Serena and he ended up nodding. “Maybe. Alright Aaron, I accept your help.” I looked back at him and he nodded in acknowledgement of my brother’s acceptance. Khan held me gently and moved towards the door. “Let’s get moving then.” Serena moved out first, then Phaedra and Fane and finally Aaron. “How badly are you hurt Ariahni?” “I’m fine.” “Don’t Ariahni.” “Really Khan. Aaron gave me blood from the apothecary. I’m healed up.” “Emotionally?” My sudden silence was enough of an answer for him and he pulled me closer to him. “I’ve never seen you so comfortable around a Lycan before, not after that night.” “Like I said, times are changing and it’s time that I’ve changed as well.” He laughed but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I heard your scream. It tore me apart. I’ve failed our parents and I’ve failed you. What kind of brother does that?” “Please don’t Khan. You’re all here. The sooner we get home the sooner the better.” “Khan, we’re here.” We had reached the exit and there, near the gates, was the warlock. He was surrounded by his sprites and a grey aura was surrounding him. He smiled and laughed. “If you think you’re going to escape this place, then you are terribly mistaken.” “Can you stand?” “Hell yeah. I want to pay this bastard back for what he did to me.” “Not before I do.” Khan stepped forward and pointed at the warlock. “You and I have some unfinished business to attend to caster. And only one of us is going to get out of this alive.” He shivered. “You must be the older brother. I’d like to thank you for providing me with the perfect mate. Oh yes, your sister will be the perfect scapegoat for my revenge against you, your sister and your parents.” Khan growled. “You deserved what you got. My father was right to pass judgement on you. What you’re trying to do with my sister, you tried to do to my mother. Yes, I was there that night you bastard.” He laughed again. “I hope you enjoyed what you saw little boy.” He growled again and charged forward. We followed him too and the sprites charged forward as well. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Aaron and beside him, his brothers. I collided with a sprite and its claws tried to scratch my face. I grabbed its arms and pulled them apart before snapping off its head and tearing its heart out. The warlock was sending out hellhounds now as a rush of fire came sweeping towards me. “Khan! Get your witch to numb his defences.” “Already doing that child.” A hellhound tackled me on the side and I punched at its jaw. It rebounded but shook it off and came back at me. I twisted to the side and slid underneath him pulling his neck down as I ripped its throat muscles out. Then I kicked the side of his body and he went flying away from me. Another was rushing towards Fane while he was preoccupied with another and I intercepted it while also twisting its neck and pulling its heart out in the process. Aaron and his brothers were finishing the sprites off and we were finished with the hellhounds. Blood stained my clothes but I didn’t care. My fury was aimed at the warlock and I advanced towards him. “Wait for me Ariahni.” Khan came up beside me and we charged towards him. “Tag team strategy?” Khan nodded. A purple haze came streaming towards us but we didn’t feel anything. It simply went through us. He hit at us again and again we were unharmed and that’s when my fist met with his cheek. He stumbled to the ground and hurried to get up but Khan held him in a head hold and I furiously punched his gut. Then I did an uppercut underneath his chin and he staggered in Khan’s arms. Blood was pouring out from his mouth. “That’s enough Ariahni. It’s time for me to deal with him.” Serena stepped forward this time and I noticed that she was corporeal now. She gazed at the warlock. “I am Serena. Grand white witch in Hecate’s name. You have dishonoured her by attempting a forbidden act. Do you pledge guilty?” “I…do not…answer to Hecate. I pledge…nothing.” “Fool. We all answer to Hecate. There is no other.” “Then…you are the fool…grand witch. For there…is another…celestial being…greater than her.” Serena was silent and then she closed her eyes. When she opened them, they were fully glowing a light blue colour. “Silence!” Her voice had changed. She was Serena but she wasn’t. The warlock heaved out a raspy laugh. “My lady…you haven’t shown yourself in centuries.” “What is your name warlock?” “I go by the name of Ironis.” “Roman. Why have you strayed from our path? You know the rules. The traditions.” “I…am no longer in your service Hecate. There…is another.” “I am aware of that Roman. I have watched over you since your last attempt. And there is no other.” “How…can you talk…of your husband…like that Hecate?” He stumbled and Khan let him go. Hecate was staring at the warlock and I realised that his pain was coming from inside his mind. “Why this change Roman? Why this resistance? I have sacrificed male warlocks for years because of their resistance to my rules and traditions. In you I saw a difference. Am I right to judge you once more?” “I loved you! And you show me nothing in return. After all that I’ve done.” “You have indeed. But I am incapable of falling for another.” “No. You’re not.” “Roman, you must stop this. I’m passing judgement.” He hung his head as he struggled in pain once more. “Confinement in chains. You will be held in hell.” “No! Not the chains!” From out of nowhere, chains glowing in a blue and purple aura wrapped around him and he screamed in agony. He disappeared from view, but the emotion on his face was still etched into my memory. Serena turned to face us. Her eyes were returned to their normal and she staggered a bit. I rushed forward to support her. “That’s never happened to me before.” “Is it because you’re a grand witch?” “There are three of us in the world child. And it’s never happened to either of us. I must reconvene with my sisters.” “Do you have enough power to transport us back?” She looked at Khan. “Of course I do.” “Good. Because I’d like to see that my sister gets some blood and rest after she sees a healer.” Serena nodded. “Gather around me. All of you. In a circle.” We did as she asked and I felt a warmth growing in me. The warlock’s home disappeared and light engulfed us. My eyes closed of their own accord. When they opened again, we were standing in the courtyard, but this time it was a familiar courtyard and the feeling of home came over me. Phaedra and Khan were at the castle gates and they were dismissing their allies. Fane was standing near the stables and Aaron and his three brothers were standing near the gates as well. Aaron was in his human form and I approached him. “Where are you going?” He turned to face me. “I’m returning to the mountains. I need to return to my pack and look after the new pups.” “Oh. I see.” Silence. And then he caressed my cheek. “Thank you.” He nodded. “You’re welcome. And I also have thanks to give.” “What for?” “You have opened my eyes. We can live together without fighting. It’s obvious we survive without constant fighting between each other. You bought a change. A long awaited one I think. And that is what I thank you for.” “You’re welcome. I think I knew it was coming from the moment I realised that it was time to move on from the memory of my scar.” He looked down at my stomach and laid a hand over it. My skin tingled again. “Yes. Change is good. For everyone.” He sighed. “It’s time for me to leave.” “Why?” “My brothers are telling me. I may be alpha, but family are the ones that give good advice.” “You can talk to them. In Lycan form and human form?” “Telepathically yes.” He stepped away from me. I didn’t realise how close we’d been. “Goodbye Ariahni.” He shifted before me and ran off to meet his brothers. “Goodbye…” A whisper he couldn’t hear. “Ariahni come now. Let’s get you to a healer.” Khan wrapped his arm around my waist and guided me towards the castle. A healer sounds like a good idea.

Authors Note

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Here's what I promised. Another update. Hang on tight because I have other chapters on the way. Again thank you so much for all the reads you've given me. So proud :)

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