Page 68 of Isle of Beasts and Shadows

“Why fight it, Alikad?” he taunted, his voice a mixture of cruelty and persuasion. “You’re mine, and yet you resist. Whatdo you cling to with such determination? There is nothing left to save, Alikad. Your companions have met their fates, and your resolve only weakens you further.”

With each word, Father’s influence seemed to tighten its grip, a web of manipulation encircling Alikad’s wavering thoughts. “I am your sole ally, Alikad,” he whispered, his tone a blend of false comfort and domination. “All you require is me, and nothing more.”

Alikad hesitated, his hand trembling as he tried to grasp the purple gem tightly held by Father. The weight of his decision bore down on him. Destroying the gem meant freedom, yet the thought left him paralyzed. As he struggled with his inner turmoil, his grip on his will weakened, slipping away like sand through his fingers.

Finally, unable to bear the weight of his choice any longer, Alikad collapsed to the ground, his body surrendering to exhaustion. The commanding presence looming over him demanded his obedience, and with great effort, he rose to his feet. In the background, Airella’s soft groans filled the air, a reminder of the turmoil surrounding them.

The manipulated and demonic appearance within her had vanished alongside the gem’s destruction and the physical exhaustion. She no longer bore the two spiraled horns or the silver hair. In her place stood the familiar blonde girl whom he’d grown to care for, stripped of the mysterious aura that once shrouded her. Her eyes were back to their multi-colored state, one green, and the other an icy blue. Alikad realized that the hellion within her was not a creation of the gem but an inherent part of her being, a revelation that dawned upon him with newfound clarity.

“Alikad?” Airella’s shocked voice broke the silence, her gaze fixated on his presence. The once familiar features were now obscured by a cloak of feathers, his eyes ablaze with a deep purple hue. Her horror mirrored in her expression, a mix of fear and disbelief at the unexpected turn of events.

“Sirius? Where is Sirius?” Airella was in a state of confusion and had no awareness of all that had just occurred. She was oblivious to the danger he had yet to bring. Zol’s hand then grabbed her ankle, keeping her from getting any closer.

“Sirius is no more, girl. They merged. Now, Alikad. Kill her,” Father ordered, raising the gem, which forced Alikad into action.

Without question, he picked his scythe up from the ground. He slowly turned to Airella as he popped his broken wing back into place. He took a few deliberate steps toward her, his eyes fixed on her, calculating his move. With a sudden burst of speed, he dashed towards her, the scythe cutting through the air as it sailed towards her. Airella’s instincts kicked in, and she swiftly dove out of harm’s way, narrowly avoiding the deadly weapon.

Before she could fully process the unfolding events, Airella found herself suddenly face-to-face with her attacker. The intense shade of purple cast an eerie glow in his eyes, hinting at the danger she was in. As he extended his hands menacingly towards her throat, a surge of inhuman strength surged within her, a power she had always possessed but rarely needed to call upon. With a swift and forceful motion, she pushed him away, using the nearby tree for support as she regained her footing.

The entire encounter had taken its toll on her, leaving her feeling physically drained and weaker than she had ever beenbefore. Coughing up blood into her trembling hand, Airella’s gaze met Alikad’s, who had stumbled but quickly recovered his composure. In a blur of movement, he closed the distance to retrieve his scythe, fixing her with a chilling glare that sent a shiver down her spine.

As a tear trickled down Alikad’s stern and stoic face, he uttered a single word.

“Run.”

Chapter 40

A mixture of defiance and resignation welled up within Airella, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. Tears welled in her eyes as she raised her head defiantly, a newfound resolve taking root within her.

“I won’t run anymore. I refuse to be a coward, always fleeing from the inevitable. No longer will I cower in fear.” With a sudden surge of determination, she met Alikad’s advancing form head-on, ready to face whatever awaited her.

Alikad jabbed his scythe at Airella’s head repeatedly, but she agilely dodged left and right, like it was a choreographed dance of death.

“Father, why do you avoid facing me directly? You aspire to ascend to godhood, do you not?” Airella’s voice echoed through the confrontation.

In response, Alikad swiftly turned his scythe horizontally, using its bar to press Airella against a nearby tree. She strained against the bar, the threat of choking looming just inches away.

This encounter felt markedly different from their initial meeting; Alikad had evidently grown immensely in power now that he and Sirius merged. A sinking feeling formed in her gut.Did that mean Sirius was gone forever? Do he and Alikad share those memories?

Heart pounding and breath ragged, Airella’s voice trembled with both fear and unyielding love. “Sirius, I know you’re in there somewhere,” she cried out, her eyes searching Alikad’s. “I love you, Sirius. I always have. Please, fight him. Fight Father from within. Remember who you are, remember us!”

Alikad’s cold eyes flickered momentarily, a brief falter in his relentless assault. Airella’s words seemed to reach some hidden part of him, some fragment of Sirius still alive within.

“You and I—we shared dreams, hopes, and feelings that even the darkest powers cannot destroy,” Airella continued, her voice growing stronger with each word. “Come back to me, Sirius. We can still defy him together.”

For a fleeting moment, Alikad hesitated, the grip of the scythe bar loosening ever so slightly. Airella seized the opportunity, pouring all her heartfelt emotions into her plea, hoping that her confession could reach the Sirius she knew and bring him back from the abyss.

Airella couldn’t help but long for the demonic presence that had previously overtaken her, feeling its absence with a deep sense of loss. While her demonic form had been something she initially struggled to accept, it granted her a physical prowess that was incredibly helpful in battle. The power, the agility, the sheer might—it was all so much more than her human form could ever provide. Yet now, she was utterly exhausted and uncertain if she could even shift back into that form without Father’s intervention, as he had helped her the last time.

Airella did not know how to initiate the transformation on her own. The process remained mysterious, and without Father’s guidance, Airella felt hopelessly adrift. She had tried to remember the sensations, the triggers, anything that could help her replicate the shift, but it seemed elusive. The gap between knowing and doing loomed large and insurmountable.

Stuck in her usual human form, Airella felt a profound weakness that gnawed at her confidence. The strength she had once wielded seemed like a distant memory, a dream she couldn’t quite grasp. The roles had reversed, and now she faced the daunting task of overcoming Father without the demonic strength she relied on. Despite this, she had already strategized, formulating a plan to face Father. But the uncertainty of her ability to transform left a lingering doubt—could she truly succeed in her current state?

“You’re nothing but a coward, Father, delegating your battles to others to avoid facing them yourself.” Airella’s words dripped with defiance as she strained against Alikad’s hold.

In a moment of desperation, she swiftly ducked under the scythe, causing the tree supporting her weight to shatter in response to the force of his weapon.

Airella, her heart pounding, slowly pushed herself up from the forest floor, Dawnbreaker in hand. Her eyes fixated on the shadowy figure before her.

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