The Rise of Nix
Chapter 25

A red haze covered his senses as he watched from behind a cluster of trees, his body hidden from their sight as he watched them. The voice in the back of his head softly entices him to attack. The group huddled in a hug before her hut, tears combined with smiles littering their faces. Frozen in place, Maverick silently observed their behaviour, catching whispered words in the air from his vantage point across the field, the rest of the village doing chores between him and the group. As he zoned in on their conversation, the red haze fueled the anger boiling inside him as his vision blurred for a moment. His nails elongated as they crushed the tree trunk below his grip, sending dozens of broken bark shooting up in the air around him before falling to the ground. His chest heaves up and down as he tries to calm down, the voice edging him on with the knowledge of losing her. He had set a plan into action, sending his Beta to take care of Deimos as he made his move on Nix, but the current outcome was not what he had planned. The sudden death of David had rippled through the pack; the mental connection they all shared had sent a surge of agony to their minds as he had taken his last breath. Maverick had been on his way to see Nix, but he had changed course. Shifting to his wolf and following the familiar scent, a mournful howl burst from his chest as soon as he discovered his friend lying dead on the forest floor, dried blood coating his pale skin and what he presumed was a knife wound in his chest. As the image shocked the pack via the mind link, the voice had woken up again, whispering to kill the man responsible for his Beta’s demise. Clinging to the last threat of his humanity, Maverick gently closed his fallen comrade’s eyes, silently demanding his pack to pick up the body, for he had a new mission.

Deimos is like a thorn in his side and one that refuses to die. The man, or whatever he is, slipped through the cracks and beat him for the second time. First, he stole his mate, Nix, and now his second in command is dead. Sending others to do the job he should have done was his mistake. One he would not fail at.

What are you waiting for? The dark voice whispered.

Shaking his head to dislodge the distraction, Maverick resumed his spying, watching as the group disparaged. With a final wave and a sad smile, Nix and Deimos entwined their hands and turned their backs to his gaze before walking the opposite way into the trees, disappearing in seconds.

Your chance is gone, the voice pointed out.

Maverick slammed his fist into the tree, ignoring the flash of pain over his knuckles as he replied loudly, “She was with him. My mate is innocent, and I will not involve her with this.”

A deep chuckle blasted from the back of his mind, the sound making him jerk with shock.

You fool, the voice teased as it continued laughing.

Maverick’s deep growl replaced the voice, but only for a moment before it continued its assault on his mind. “Who are you?” he asked. Stomping back and forth, he waited for a response as he considered his next move. Letting his mate leave is out of the question, but attacking Deimos in front of her is not ideal. An innocent soul like hers does not need to witness the darker part of the world, not yet, anyway.

I am you, the voice answered.

“Pft,” spat Maverick. “My wolf would disagree. So, who are you really?”

Smarter than I thought, the voice sounded impressed.

“Answer me,” Maverick’s raised voice echoed through the tree, the volume sending a flock of birds flying from their nests. Watching them go with his tilted head, Maverick closed his eyes while taking a calming breath. Everything is falling apart. Their new home was supposed to be perfect, but now it is ruined. He is Betaless, his mate is with another man, and the truce he agreed upon with Khan is on thin ice, especially now that half of the bargain is dead. With a bellowing roar, Maverick’s eyes shot open as they turned black, his wolf rising to the top.

I am here to help you gain what you seek, the voice offered.

“And that is?” Maverick asked.

The girl.

“And how are you going to do that? You are just a voice in my head,” smirked Maverick. With a final glance at the village through the cracks in the trees, Maverick set out to his town. Plans had to be made with the funeral and a new Beta chosen. As much as he would like to tear Deimos’ head from his body, the pack comes first. But after that, he will hunt them down, kill the man, and finally claim his mate.

I am everywhere; the voice began as Maverick strode home. Stronger than any creature or man.

“Yet you hide. Why not do it yourself?” teased Maverick, the edges of his mouth raised as he found it a bit humorous. At least the voice is currently distracting him from running back.

No answer came, and Maverick shook his head, thinking maybe he just dreamed it all, but then suddenly, his throat choked up as invisible fingers wrapped around his neck. With shocked eyes, he reached up to stop the attack, but his fingers brushed through the air. As he squirmed and fought, the voice returned.

You dare insult me, the voice threatened as pressure intensified.

Maverick’s skin began to turn blue as his eyes bulged out, the black gone as the white turned red. “I ...am..sorry,” he groaned.

The pressure disappeared suddenly, and Maverick dropped to his knees, gagging as he tried to breathe. Coughing, he slowly returned to normal, standing up to face an empty field. Scanning the area while sniffing, he gathered he was alone. Whatever it was, it was powerful. Brushing the hair from his forehead, Maverick thought of a plan. This creature, or whatever it is, has powers which he could use to his advantage.

“Fine,” began Maverick. “You are strong, I admit. So why do you want me to help?”

Because I have my limits, You are a great and powerful leader, and I could use your gifts.

“Then what do you need me to do?”

Do as I say, and the revenge you seek shall be yours.

“And Nix?”

The girl will be yours to do as you please.

With a triumphant smile, Maverick agreed, continuing his walk back to camp; the voice and he came up with a plan. Soon enough, his mate will be in his arms and Deimos’ head on a spike, displayed to all as a warning to what will happen if you cross the Alpha.

The early morning air washed over their sleeping forms as their bodies moulded together. Tiny bugs squirmed below the ground as they slept, with trees covering them from any unseen eyes that might wander too closely. After a full day of trekking through the woods, Nix and Deimos had chosen cover to rest for the night. After the sun had set, their path had been blocked, for they had used the bright globe as direction. Word had been that the land ends east with the sun rising over the horizon, an unending blue ocean behind it. They did not know where they were going, just that the ocean was their destination.

Snuggling more profoundly into the warmth, Nix rubbed her sleeping face against Deimos’ chest, his arms instinctively pulling her closer to him. A Sharp brightness pierced the enclosed bush around them, casting light over their faces. Nix slowly opened her eyes, squinting from the brightness, letting them adjust before she sat up, Deimos arms falling from her body. Glancing around, Nix ignored the light snores of the man and enjoyed the incredible view. It might look the same as her previous dwelling, but the knowledge that they were travelling elsewhere lit her spirit. With a smile, she rose, covering Deimos’ sleeping body with her half of the deer skin rug. With a loving glance down at him, she prepared for the day. Lighting the dead fire from the night before, she rubbed her hands near the warmth, allowing it to crawl up her arms. Standing back as she rested them on her hips, she proudly admired the yellow flames as they sparked with life. Next, food had to be a priority. Leaving on foot meant they had to carry all their belongings, leaving the rest behind. This means they only had one pot, but she was resilient and knew all that was important. Emptying the sachel of water into the pot, Nix scoured the surrounding bush, finding a few edible herbs for the soup. She propped it over the heat with two rocks on either side of the flames, dropping the herbs into the liquid. Rummaging through her bag, she spotted the dried meat, grabbing half to put into the soup. After breaking up the pieces and dropping them into the boiling water, she stirred as the delicious aroma wafted to her nose. As she observed it, a grumble came from her stomach, the clear liquid turning brownish from the meat. Satisfied with their meal, she scooped some into one of the two cups they owned and blew at the hot liquid before taking a sip. Her stomach stopped complaining as she filled it with the meal.

A soft groan sounded behind her, and turning, she watched as Deimos woke up, his hair dishevelled, the sight making her chuckle.

“What is so funny?” asked Deimos as he stood up, his gaze peeled on Nix.

“You are.”

Deimos cocked his head in confusion, shrugging his shoulder. “Whatever,” he murmured.

“You hungry?” asked Nix, showing the cup in her hand.

“Famished,” replied Deimos.

Filling the second cup, Nix held it out to him. Taking the offered food, he smiled before taking a big gulp. His eyes grew double as his mouth shot open and his tongue fell out, dragging the air in greedily. “It... is... hot.” he sputtered.

Nix couldn’t help but laugh at him, “I was going to say that, but you couldn’t wait, could you?”

“You she-devil,” Deimos said. Unable to contain his humour, he joints her laughter while they ate.

Surrounding the fire, they sat silently while consuming their meal, both thinking of what the future holds while simultaneously scared. The road ahead is unclear and unknown, but Nix knew if they stuck together, there is nothing they could not do.

“If we leave soon, we might hit the shore before sunset,” exclaimed Deimos as he thought about the advice James had given them. He had been the only one who had seen the land’s edge, and his words might afford them a new life.

“I agree. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can start building our new life.” smiled Nix.

Cleaning out her empty cup, Deimos sipped his soup as he watched her work, still unable to comprehend that she was here with him. Nix is unique, something she cannot see about herself, but he will remind her daily. Carefully filling the sachel with the remaining soup for later, she packed up their belongings, shuffling dirt onto the fire to kill it. With a finished meal and cleaned cup, he packed it into his bag and slung it over his shoulder, approaching a waiting Nix.

“You ready?”

Nodding, Deimos led the way as Nix followed. The previous day’s walk had tired them both out, but the urge to cast their gazes over a body of water so great urged their screaming muscles to push forward. The only distraction on their long journey was the magic lessons. Now and then, Deimos would request Nix to perform a small spell, catching her off guard to sense what she had learned. And each time she surprised him. The last act of starting the fire for warmth as night had fallen the most shocking. Whispering under her breath, Deimos had missed what she said, and before he could question her, his mouth had dropped wide as a glorious and colourful ball of flames moulded in her open palm. Light emitting from the sphere cast over her form as sparks reflected in her eyes, making them shine as she lovingly watched the yellow and red webs morph and grow.

Smirking as he leaned against a tree, Deimos admired her. Her inherited power had grown as her control fastened over the magic. She was finally becoming who he hoped she would be, which meant soon, the Gods would call upon her to do their bidding, and he despised that. Coming to the mortal realm, he had a plan. To help Nix and maybe spend some time with her, but falling in love was not part of that plan. Now he was stuck. Should he continue to teach a witch until the Gods were happy with her, or should he protect his lover from the darkness the mighty three dragged with them?

As the sun blared down on them, Deimos motioned towards a low overhanging tree, the shade it provided a godsend from the heat. Shrugging their heavy bags from their tired shoulders and dropping to the soft grass, Nix laid back against a few rocks jutting from the ground, the coldness easing her pained muscles. She let out a relaxed sigh and closed her eyes, enjoying the barely-there breeze. Deimos plopped beside her, watching her as her facial features turned from tired to peaceful. Suddenly, regret ate at him as he saw the struggle carved on her delicate face. Maybe he should have stayed in her village and faced the Alpha; instead, he ran like a coward.

“The air is different,” noted Nix, her eyes still closed as her chest rose with the deep breath she took, opening them as she exhaled.

“Good or bad?”

Turning her head slightly to peek at him from the corner of her eye, Nix admired his beauty before answering. “I think good. The further we get from the village, the lighter I feel. It is as if something was holding me down, but now I feel more alive than before. Strange, isn’t it?”

The edge of Deimos’ mouth turned up as she spoke, and the fear from earlier vanished. “So, you don’t regret leaving your friends behind. All that you have known your whole life?”

Nix silently pondered his question, catching a flash of remorse gleaming over his face. Taking his hand, she pulled it onto her lap, entwining their fingers as she held on. “A part of me is screaming to go back to them, to go back to the known. But another, bigger part of me is begging me to move on. I am not the woman you met in that pool, and to be honest, I am grateful to you.”

Deimos’ eyebrow cocked up, “How so?”

Using the hold on his hand, Nix pulled herself closer to Deimos, throwing her leg over his lap as she dropped down to straddle him. Untwining her clasp, she ran her hands up his chest before settling on his face. Gently grasping his jaw, she pulled him closer to place a soft kiss on his lips. Pulling back, their gaze locked, and she smirked.

Whispering, Nix explained, “You have confirmed what I have been feeling and thinking this whole time. I knew I was different, and the village was not where I could thrive. For a while now, I have wanted to leave, but I was scared until you came along.” as she spoke, her thumb caressed his lower lip as she fought back the hunger taking hold of her, but she needed to say her peace before things went too far. “If I am being honest, the way things started between us was wrong. The lies you told broke me,”

“I am sorry-” Deimos interrupted, but she stopped him by placing a finger against his mouth.

“I know,” she smiled, “And I agree with you. No sane person would have believed you if you told them about what is out there. Some would have stoned you to death for mentioning it. But it had to have happened that way. I had to have seen and experienced supernatural beings to accept my becoming one. We don’t have any control over our destinies, but we can control how we use what we have been given.” Leaning in, Nix teased Deimos as her warm breath brushed against his cheek, her body pressing against his chest. “I am trying to say that I love you, and I cannot wait to start our new lives together. Whatever might happen, I will always be by your side.”

The admittance of her love stoked the flames in Deimos, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, their bodies moulding together as he held her tight. “And I love you, my little witch.”

Talking flew away with the wind as their mouths collided in passion. Not caring that they were in the open, their bodies showed their love for each other as they became one. Forgetting about the trip, they spent the night under the stars, curled together as they imagined their new life together and the adventures they might have. Their souls formed an unbroken bond as they promised to be each other’s anchors in this dark world and always do the right thing. Nix dreamed of a beautiful life filled with love and happiness, the family she always craved close enough to reach.

But for her joyful dreams, Deimos sank into darkness as reality swamped his fantasies. Blood and death haunted his night as scenes of a dead Nix flashed before him. His subconscious mind yelled not to ignore his vision from before, but he did not want to believe in it, for that would give it power. Shooting awake from the nightmare, Deimos frantically reached for Nix next to him, relieved as their skin connected. Swiping sweat from his brow, he pulled her closer as she snuggled into his hold. Telling himself she was safe, he fell back asleep, this time dreamless, for the source just smirked from the side.

A dark aura stood over them, watching smoke wove in the air; dark intentions materialised in the vapour. Releasing the cloud, the entity moved back, watching his plan drift down, their noses inhaling the darkness. Satisfied with this part, the aura gave a final glance down at his prize, knowing soon he would possess the power before vanishing into the night.

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