Page 122 of Cosmic Power

Her werewolf pushed against her skin, wanting out. As their stronger half, the entity always wanted to be in control when surrounded by such powerful, threatening creatures. But this wasn’t the time for her were to have control.

Zamorra shoved her werewolf back down.

“Everyone, take your seats,” Zvetari boomed, his voice echoing through the air.

Asses hit chairs so quickly, it was comical. Julius made his way over to the shifter side and sat down, eyes still firmly on the Ancestrals, studying their every move. He was trying to figure out who they were. It seemed he’d forgotten all about her (for now, anyway). And she was fucking glad.

Zamorra stepped back from Luther and gave the powerful beings at the front of the room her full attention.

“I’m sure you’re all wondering why you’ve been summoned here tonight. Your monthly Regent Meeting was not for another few weeks, however this simply could not wait. I sense your confusion, your questions, and everything will be answered in time.” Zvetari nodded to Elias, who then stepped forward.

Dark magic tainted the air and a collective gasp rang throughout the room. Red lightning swirled around Elias’ fingers as he held his hands up in front of him, palms facing each other, fingers bent slightly inwards. Lightning zapped between his open palms and he slowly pulled his hands apart, a portal of some kind appearing in the space between his hands. The further he pulled his hands apart, the bigger the portal became. Red lightning whipped out all around him in a chaotic frenzy, his power building and building in a terrifying display.

The mages watched, completely enraptured by him, their mouths hanging open, eyes wide in fascination.

Elias clenched his teeth, red lightning flashing in his eyes as he pulled even more power, making the portal grow and grow until it was as tall as him and three times as wide. His hands glowed red and he spun them in a circle once before pushing the portal through the air, sending it sailing to the back of the room.

Everyone ducked low, afraid they were going to be hit as it soared over the top of them. Then they all turned to look at the portal, now plastered to the wall. Except it wasn’t a portal. It looked like a mirror. It showed exactly what was going on in the room right at that moment. Right down to the supernaturals who stood, waving their arms in the air as if to see if it was an exact mirror image.

And it was.

Elias stepped down from the platform and marched down the aisle. Supernaturals shrunk away from him, terrified of the power he wielded. Elias took a stand next to the mirror portal and raised a hand. Red lightning sparked from his fingers and shot towards it, a steady stream flowing from Elias to the mirror portal. His eyes were no longer there. Instead, a constant red hue blazed from them as he focused on something else.

Confusion wracked Zamorra. She was sure she wasn’t the only one confused about the giant mirror encased in dark magic now hovering at the back of the room. It shimmered slightly, tiny ripples running through it like water.

Luther’s lips brushed her ear and she gasped. “They’re broadcasting this to all the other Regent Meetings taking place around the world,” he murmured, his breath hot against her skin. “So that everyone can see.”

Zvetari clapped his hands, regaining everyone’s attention. “Now, this may come as a shock to you all but there is simply no time to ease you all into it.” Unease fluttered through the supernaturals. “You may be wondering who we are.” Zvetari gestured to Vargas, Lenore and Praxis at his side. He let the suspense build. “My name is Zvetari Lo Van. I am the Ancestral Vampire.”

Uproar ensued. A mixture of gasps, squeals and screams of complete denial filled the room.

Praxis stepped forward. “Silence!” he roared, the power in his voice shaking the room.

Everyone shut up. Fear tainted the air, wafting from so many of them that it made Zamorra’s head dizzy. Except for the vampires. They were looking at Zvetari with complete reverence, like they’d just found their God.

“As I was saying,” Zvetari continued, “I am Zvetari Lo Van, the Ancestral Vampire. This is Lenore, The Ancestral Light Mage.” Lenore stepped forward and bowed slightly. “Vargas, The Ancestral Shifter.” Vargas joined Lenore at her side and thumped a hand to his chest, bowing his head. “Praxis, The Ancestral Demon.” The angry, red-skinned demon grunted, a bellow of smoke blowing out of his nostrils. “And at the back is Elias, The Ancestral Dark Mage.”

Bewilderment and complete and utter shock overtook the room.

“I’m sure you all have a lot of questions. Right now, they will have to wait. We have come before you today because a very dark and powerful force threatens this world,” Zvetari said, sweeping his eyes across everyone. “Earth is not where we originated from. Myself, along with the other Ancestrals, came here through a Galactic Portal thousands of years ago. Our own world, Alterra, was invaded by a species called the fae. They waged war on us. Killed millions of our kind. Enslaved millions more. We came to Earth to escape them. To start anew. A few days ago, the former Shifter Regent of America inadvertently alerted the fae to our presence, and they have declared war once again. They plan to take this world like they took Alterra. They will kill any who stand in their way. We must all rise up together to take them out before they come for us.”

Mayhem broke out. Everyone jumped to their feet, yelling and screaming, voices overlapping one another as they all tried to be heard.

“That’s insane! You’re crazy!” a demon barked.

“Oh my god! What are we going to do?! We’re all going to die!” a light mage screeched.

“Let em’ come. I ain’t afraid. We’ll destroy them,” a griffin shifter barked.

“There’s no such thing as a fae!” a vampire shouted.

“If what you’re saying is true, then it’s your fault! They’re after you! Go back to where you came from!” a shrill voice called out. From which species, Zamorra was unsure.

Zvetari raised a hand in the air, demanding silence. The majority of supernaturals quietened down in an instant. Some still grumbled under their breath, expressing their extreme displeasure and disbelief at what the Ancestral Vampire was saying.

Zvetari looked at Luther and nodded. Luther blurred away, returning a moment later holding a thick chain in his hands. Connected to it were the fae captives, each with a section of the chain wrapped tightly around their neck. They marched in single file, one in front of the other, with more chains wrapped around their wrists and ankles, making them shuffle their feet as they walked.

Zamorra noticed it wasn’t a normal chain that held them bound. Strange writing was carved into it—a runic design. The writing held a faint glow to it that caught her eye.

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