What is good? As the philosopher, G. Moore described, the abstract concept has no psychical presence or significant properties to be noted, it was simply a matter of an individual's own conscious and morality.
So, with that being said. What is evil? It is but a feeling which leaves an individual with a heightened sense of fear, disgust, hatred and anger. With many negative contentions associated with such an adjective, it is objectively impossible to reduce the nature of this into a simple principle or state. Evil is in the eye of the beholder. And for Lolita, the intensity of evil which lurked in these shadows had ultimately moulded her ideology of the concept, holistically around her present feeling.
In a frazzled state, the petite girl held her weapon excruciatingly tight, leaving her body trembling in response. She had long lost her friends in this dark abyss, the peculiar hunk of metal in her hands deemed to be her only source of comfort.
A brisk movement within the distant, dismantled the structure of the branches ahead. Whisking out an arrow from her pouch, Lolita fumbled this into the metal crossbow, aimlessly shooting in the direction of the disturbance. The sharp arrow flew significantly further than Lolita had anticipated, the advanced crossbow alerting her of the whereabouts of the item with a hologram which appeared from the top of the crossbow, asking her whether she wanted to retrieve it. Realising she had hit nothing, the baffled girl complied, as the arrow flew back to the owner, a similar rustling occurred in the tree it had passed.
"Isaac?" She stuttered, sliding the arrow back into her weapon. "Lily, Anna?"
No response.
Trembling, Lolita aimed the arrow towards the branches, silently waiting for the next movement.
~~
"W-what?" The king stuttered.
Sirens, notorious for their alluring nature and psychical beauty were not a creature you ever wanted to encounter. The concept of having them as a rival made most sane creatures take their lives.
After all, the power they bestowed compelled most men to obey their every command. Even if these included the murder of their mate or children. Once under the influence, you would become blindly devoted to these abhorrent creatures.
However, around four decades ago, durning an epidemic of violence and hatred. With the help of Damien, the wolves had risen in superiority in the supernatural realm. To remain top of the hierarchy and insure the wellbeing of their peers, mass genocide of destructive creatures, such as sirens had been mandatory. Only a few of these beasts remained, no doubt thirsty for vengeance.
Although a siren's compulsion did not extend to females, the King worried for the safety of his daughter. The ghastly creatures were impeccable warriors, the threat to their existence only served as another reason for the remaining few to excel in this department.
"She's not responding" He heard Steph grimace triggering his Alpha further.
"Send men" He shot, his frosty eyes flickering multiple shades.
Damien knew his mate would've been safer by his side, he had been moronic for dismissing this as his primal urge of proximity due to the mating bond, assuming leaving her protected on his territory was sufficient.
He had too many enemies, Lolita was only truly safe by his side. Determining that he would attach himself to her hip once he had found her, the raging wolf prepared to jet off in search of his mate.
"Damien wait" Steph urgently voiced. "We can't reach her because she's not on our territory, chances are the idiots are loitering in the woods, dangerously close to-"
"Then why the fuck are you still talking?" Damien spat. "For once, I like him" he furthered, motioning towards the direction of the King who was endlessly calling all his allies closer to Damien's homeland.
"You won't find her on your own, at the moment, you're too feral" Steph bluntly responded. "It would be safer if you don't go alone to the woods, it'll only stir the sirens further"
"Right" Damien pondered, his Beta had always provided level headed words of wisdom when he was in no condition to do so himself. He was the perfect counterpart for the Alpha, thus the high respect Damien held for his suggestions.
With a click of his fingers, he patiently waited. Leaving the King to string out his many aggravations and Damien's futilely as a mate. Irked but dismissing this, the Alpha grew pleased when a distant growl filled the prison.
"What the hell was that?" The king added.
"Damien's pet" Steph blankly replied, following Damien away from the dungeon.
"You kept a damn dragon?" The king angrily bellowed in shock of the sadistic creature before him. These were one of the creatures which had been successfully wiped out, or so he though.
"No" Damien lazily exclaimed, boarding the terrifying beast.
"Then what is this?" His irritating voice rang. Had he not been oh so concerned of his daughters safety moments ago?
"A unicorn" Steph beamed. Climbing the scaly back.
Damien sighed, he was in no mood to further irk the King, his whitty remarks and dark humour in such situations, once a second nature, had now completely dissipated from him. Mate's life is in threat, this central thought looped in his mind, dictating his every action.
The dark Alpha had never valued another being's life so much, he held Lolita's above his own, the compassion and love which sweltered within him at the simple mention of her name was enough to drive him off the edge of sanity. His mate, without doubt, was his greatest weakness.
"Shapeshifter" He spoke through gritted teeth, this was enough for the King to hesitantly join them on the dragon-like creature, yet not without whispering displeasure of his own.
"Never trust creatures from hell" He distastefully muttered.
And with that, the fiery beast cut through the sky with such momentum, the icy wind left the king momentarily visually and acoustically impaired.
When the creature finally halted within the woodland, the King haggardly fell from the creature's side, spilling the contents of his stomach onto the murky ground.
"Lovely" The Lycan bitterly stated, feeling nauseous himself.
"Help me find my mate" Damien's low melancholic voice murmured.
"We'll find her, don't worry" His Beta affirmed through multiple short breaths, attempting to rid the nausea and comfort his Alpha.
"I was taking to Hades" Damien exasperated, motioning towards the monstrous dragon. Who surprisingly whined in response, the creature's 12 foot head nudging his master before he transformed into a mundane dog, speedily strutting into the darkness.
The familiar sickly cackle met his ears, in Damien's peripheral vision he caught a glimpse of a dainty figures rushing past the swollen trucks of the trees. Adjusting his sight, the lethal beast advanced forward in means of terminating the threat.
A yelp echoed through the woodhall as his hands firmly latched onto two delicate throats. Before he tightened his grip any further, the murderous Alpha locked eyes with his victims. The expectant sirens they were not.
Loosening his grasp, he watched as the twins staggered onto the ground, rushing towards the King's outstretched arms.
"Sorry" He stated uninterestedly. "Where's Lolita?" He eagerly added, turning towards them.
"And Isaac" His Beta quipped.
"We don't know! We uh got lost, it was so dark and-"
"Hush" The King soothed the flustered girls. "You're safe, your parents are on their way, we'll find the others" His comforting words seemed to calm their nerves, their shaking body's becoming at ease.
"We're sorry. We should've never left the castle" They whispered in union.
"It's okay" The king further comforted. "You're safe now"
An impatient Damien further stomped into the darkness, followed closely by the Lycan both in search for his mate.
"No" he announced, sensing his Beta but continually moving. "Stay with the others, I trust you can keep them from harms way"
"And take your mate with you" He added, skilfully capturing the stake which sliced through the air with a bored expression.
"Damien?" Isaac voiced, emerging from the shadows. "Shit, my bad I thought-"
"He's not my mate" Steph interjected.
"Keep telling yourself that" His Alpha blankly stated. However before anyone could respond, Damien stiffened as a feminine scream ricocheted in the atmosphere.