Bloody Eyes
|bab 42|

Timing. Timing. Timing. It made him sleepy as Melahel paced back and forth as if in slow motion. Maybe it's an optical trick. Luana leaned her head on the back of the sofa, noticing the stern-faced twin stopping in front of the Time Mirror, studying it with her thumb and forefinger under her chin.

"What are the signs?" - the blonde asks more for himself than for the others.

“They are from an ancient language that these people have long forgotten,” Zoey replied with her arms crossed over her chest not far from Lua.

The way his face was light and partly smooth. Despite his young and mature appearance, his wise eyes told him how much he had lived. How much experience and how much knowledge he had about that world. Knowledge of age, centuries. Luana did not doubt that she should have at least half a millennium to live and perhaps she would even have thousands of years if she were not killed in the future for what she did.

"And how did Daniela know how to use it?" - Mahasiah asked curiously.

— I taught him part of what I knew, and the rest he learned by traveling through time or investigating the depths of the library, where he found books forgotten thousands of years ago.

Books that were forgotten thousands of years ago. Who knows, Luana won't be looking for them either.

"A strange language." commented Lua, frowning at the mark on the mirror diamond, the, the moment Melahel touched the blurred surface that reflected itself as if no woman inside was looking for a man from another realm.

“That's a long-forbidden language,” Zoey said.

"So, does this mean Daniela used forbidden language to conjure up the power of her time control?" - Mahasiah asked.

“Daniela studied the signs so that she could filter their powers into the Mirror of Time, that was the only way to use them. Daniela doesn't need a sign to conjure up her powers, let alone a mirror. The Mirror of Time required an ancient spell and a kind of injection of its power to work. I used a mirror to teach him because his uncontrollable power would be fatal to this world if we did not use it. Daniela could bend this place if she twisted the flow of time the wrong way. It's safer. But I don't expect the Mirror itself to choose him to control it. He has been hers ever since and has only obeyed her. In addition, if someone finds it and does not know its existence, they will think it is an ordinary mirror with an unusual and beautiful rough diamond frame with some strange clock shape - Zoey concluded.

"Then, can his power destroy the world?" Melahel asked, still studying mirrors.

"If he wants to," he said.

"God helps us if he loses control" murmured Mahasiah.

"Even the gods can't" whispered Zoey.

“From what I saw about Daniela, at least that's what we should be worried about. She knew what she was doing - Luana retorted, calming down on the sofa as she looked at the movement within the turbidity of the mirror and Melahel withdrew narrowing his eyes to the gray mass.

Two bodies emerged from the mirror wrapped in white fog and lastly there were Daniela and Layton gasping for breath. Zoey stood beside Luana, as did Mahasiah, then Lua did the same, drowning her skirt while Melahel put herself beside her sister in a defensive position. Mahasiah then had to be the twin sister, Lua looked as she looked at the position of the twins with a serious expression. Daniela corrected her dress skirt while trying to catch her breath.

“It looks like you two ran a marathon,” scorned Luana, stepped forward. "You're not going to tell me that just walking through the visible glass is already doing all that ...

Daniela smiled grimly with eyes electrocuted.

"It would be much better if you were like that, Your Excellency—sarcastic." “But the heir to the throne of Nature in Fog and Fire, Misthre, left the castle to go to the solstice celebration. So we have to run back before the fucking portal closes.

A small piece of information was added to the casual speech in order not to make Luana out of place. The Queen silently nodded her head in gratitude and the Princess gave a slight smile of conspiracy in response. Prince Layton still hasn't said anything. Until then, I only evaluated the stairs that descended to the right of the mirror and the corridor that stretched in the same direction on the furthest and darkest wall. Undoubtedly, Layton learned it with his strength— just like Luana had. Finally, she turned to Luana casually shifting her weight between her legs.

— It is an honor to meet you again, Your Majesty — the heavy voice of the prince stormed the room and he bowed deeply.

— I just want to know one thing about you, Layton — said Luana. "Do you really want to betray your father and swear allegiance to me?"

— I won't betray my father, right? He chuckled, combing his blonde hair by hand. "He doesn't even consider me his heir and if he can, he'll raise my older brother to take my place." Another laugh. — Too bad her lover is dead, isn't he?

Daniela opened a mischievous smile that made Luana raise an eyebrow.

— Oh Luana, don't look at me like that! Sebastian is so annoying.” He rolled his eyes.

— I don't scold you, Daniela — Luana smiles evil —, I'm just surprised. It's rare that you don't get along with someone, you know? - making fun of.

Zoey moved, sitting back with a dissatisfied expression on her face and Melael put her arm on the back of the chair, letting Mahasiah sit there if she wanted to.

"Well, we don't have much time" Daniela said. “Layton, the twins are Melahel Standing and Mahasiah. Melahel, Mahasiah, this is Prince Layton as you know him.

“Nice to meet you,” greet Layton with a smile on her lips.

Mahasiah smiled back, while her sister just nodded in acknowledging.

“And finally”—Dani smiled to the witch—“Zoey.

The smile on the prince's lips faded and he observed the seated woman with eyes full of probing. Zoey stood up straight with her chin raised, looking at her.

- I think they don't like each other, not Dani .. - Low Mahasiah Commentary.

Daniela rolled her eyes and headed to the sofa, sitting down.

— I doubt the girls — said Daniela directed the word to the twins who looked at each other. “I know you are loyal to me, but I wonder if you will be loyal to Luana as well. If so, they must take a blood oath to the Moon with Layton.

The twins stared at each other as if they were having a quiet conversation. Are they able to communicate with the mind like one soul in two identical bodies? They were supposed to have telepathic powers between them, but eventually the two faced off against Daniela.

“We will take the blood oath,” replied Melahel and Mahasiah nodded in agreement.

“They should know that the oath cannot be broken. When finished, for a lifetime - silence. “Of course there is a way to break an oath, but often two or more bound people have to agree, but some types of oath cannot be broken even when both parties agree.

- I believe we all realize that Zoey - said Layton looking at her without even blinking a single glance.

- I'm pretty sure it was, it was just a warning - he smiled funny.

"Oh, don't be ashamed Uncle!" Zoey looks old but is still fit and likes to have fun with brave men and fighters - Dani said with a smile like a viper.

Fighter. Luna has to agree. Wide shoulders, muscular biceps that looked as solid as a rock. Here was a formidable warrior, but still a little under his Harvey. Yours. Her. There's no one else. Moreover the Aurora that******* is.

"Daniela," Zoey hissed warning, but her eyes danced in playful tones.

"Sorry, it's just a joke!" - exclaimed Dani with a smile.

Surprisingly, Layton also smiled, his eyes purple like Daniela sparkling mischievously.

- Melahel, please lend me another dagger, - said Daniela extending her hand to the woman who handed over her weapon. "Luana, all yours." The princess offered the dagger to the queen with a slight smile, her now naturally emerald eyes seemed to be burning with amusement.

With unspoken words in her eyes, Luana took the dagger from her friend's hand, inhaling it. An amused feeling flowed within him, but he still remained steadfast. That or the possibility of his betrayal and death. The blade grazed his skin, as if caressing it, and finally buried in his forearm, causing blood to start flowing. Luana blinked at the red liquid seeing a drop of her blood dripping onto the stone again. And one more. It is in this way that life empties itself and in this way it merges with others.

"Pronounce," whispered Daniela, her voice stroking, an injection of courage to do what was needed.

Layton then knelt down, not snapping as Luana looked into his eyes. The queen was panting again, but seemed to be dripping onto the stone with her blood blurred.

“Layton, crown prince of the Mistre Realm, the Realm of Fog and Fire,” a scrap of information given to him unwittingly, “swear allegiance to me, Queen of Wendville, the daughter of the Gods who must be protected and above all respect?

“I, Layton, swear my whole life to protect, obey, and respect you. Even if it means giving up my life in exchange for yours.

The words startled her, but Luana quickly controlled her expression, making her return neutral.

"Then drink, prince," Luana ordered while thrusting her arm that was still pouring fresh blood to the heirs of Mishre.

Layton did not hesitate before the offer, taking the arms of the daughters of the Gods and taking the blood of the queen whom he would swear allegiance to as much as necessary. His blood felt like the moon in its radiance, its essence, and it burned comfortably in the prince's mouth and throat like warm sunlight. Luana's spine shivered as something burned down her right thigh, but she held on.

He looked through the darkness, among the abyss that did not allow him to enter into Layton's mind, a piece of gold rope that was so delicate that astonishment ran through him as he imagined the possibility of breaking the rope if he moved. But the silhouette of the prince appeared, as clear and visible as before, and he smiled sincerely. And before Luana could reply or say anything in the midst of the darkness below, a golden light emanated from his body and his silhouette was slightly reduced until the man completely disappeared and a huge tiger came out of the light unaffected, his size would hit him, at least at the height of the seias, distance does not give him much certainty.

Luana just didn't flinch because the beast's eyes — Layton, Daniela, and Merleah's eyes. A tiger. Big, majestic and quiet. The two stared at each other in silence as the lilac power radiated from him, swirling around the small cable. Unknowingly, silver magic radiated from him, wrapped around the rope and running along it, until it mixed with the power of the tiger in the middle of the abyss. The thread it— that is very vulnerable— shines bright, golden, and becomes thicker, firmer, and when the radiance is completely gone, the, the cliff was gone and Luana was facing off with tiger—Layton—they were both shrouded in black fog.

The ferocious beast placed its front claws in front of its glorious body and lowered its head. Luana took a step forward, getting close enough to touch the beast and kneeling in front of him. The tiger raised his head, his ears twitched, feeling his Deity move. The two stared at each other for a moment. The lilac's eyes are so. Luana touched the orange fur with black stripes on her head, stroking that magnificent soft feather. The tiger closed its eyes, leaning towards him with a lazy snore. The scene made Lua smile. The shape of the beast was more like a lazy giant cat than a wild tiger with deadly fangs and sharp claws.

Luana withdrew her hand, letting it hang beside her as she watched the fog around them disappear. With a loud jolt of reality, Layton and Lua return to their respective bodies somewhat confused. Luana's right thigh was still burning as the prince felt the skin above his ribs burning. At the same time, the two cursed gently and creatively, then became aware of their surroundings. Luana was actually kneeling in front of Layton, their noses a few inches from touch, their breaths gasping.

- Are you okay? Layton hissed while pressing on his aching ribs. They were not broken, but there was something strange, something that had never existed before.

"I guess," Luana grumbled as she tried to stand up and the burns on her thigh spread all over her legs.

"Are you okay?" - said Daniela running towards them with attention and kneeling beside them, facing the mirror that this time reflected her silhouette.

Luana almost desperately began to pull the dress skirt up, muttering softly as Layton clumsily unbuttoned her shirt after taking off her coat. Zoey and the twins were in seconds behind Daniela with a haunted expression. Zoey tried to hide it, in vain.

"What are you two doing? What the hell was that? — the princess' eyes widened as Luana finally managed to pull so much fabric up and show her full, tanned thigh.

Layton also finally managed to remove the last button on his shirt, tearing it in despair. He cursed when he saw what was on his skin. Zoey's eyes also widened this time and she hid her trembling hand by gripping her dress. The twins looked puzzled beside the witch who did not know if they were looking at the queen's legs or the prince's ribs. But Zoey does not last long with a surprised feature, immediately calming them with understanding and letting go of the dress.

Daniela, in turn, touched Luana's feet while observing Layton's mark or using it as an excuse to judge the prince's abdominal muscles with voracious eyes. He didn't even notice it when he saw the bluish crescent design on his right ribcage, a mark not only on the skin, but also that he could feel gripping his bones. Layton's eyes drifted into the black tattoo of a tiger with lavender on his feet. The flower the color of your eyes: lilac. Dani rubbed the tattoo and saw his index finger looking for ink or something. There's nothing.

“Month in Layton reasonable: Luana. But...why tiger? - Daniela's question is confused.

Luana's gaze lifted, meeting with Layton on it, a question silent in her eyes. The two stared at each other for a while until Lua whispered:

“That's Layton.

Confirmation seems to be enough for men. Daniela pondered, tilting her head to the side, judging her uncle naked from the waist up. He seemed to notice this, as soon as the prince took out his discarded shirt and started wearing it with his fingers still trembling.

“How could that tiger Layton? - muttered Mahasiah blinked his eyes.

— My mother is a mixed race — the prince snorted as he got up and staggered onto the sofa, the coppery taste of Luana's blood still warming his mouth. Zoey watched him carefully. “Some species of magicians can change shape, taking one form as the main one. Merleah and my middle brother also inherited this, but I was the only one who inherited the Suregon lineage.

The twins stood straight up. Daniela gritted her teeth as she placed Luana's arm over her shoulder and helped her up, heading to the empty armchair and leaving Lua there. Although she had lowered her dress skirt, the queen's hand was still pressing on her thigh which was slightly hot.

"What is Suregon?" - Luana asked to see Zoey who caught Layton's attention and walked to the chair.

“Melahel and Mahasiah are pure blood Suregon, maybe they can explain better. Please let me see her tattoo again, ” Zoey said as she looked at the thigh of the young queen, who lifted her dress skirt again without question.

While the witch evaluates it, Luana confronts the sisters in silent demand.

“Suregon is a creature that can turn into a dragon. The first transformation of a suregon, let's say it happens right after maturity of about fifteen years, no less than that. Our people were greatly reduced by the wars of centuries ago and that sometimes made us unable to accept other threats - Melahel explained with a flash of regret in his eyes that was soon replaced by a cold attitude.

“And that's why we're here, Luana. As the heir of our people, we have chosen our side in this future war. World war against Owen and his private army. The being who supported his death and who was on the side of the former king - complemented the Mahasiah, placing himself more on the side of his sister.

"Thank you," that was all Luana could say so openly.

The twins are convinced and everyone they are willing to fight on their side or better, in the sky in a war that does not yet exist, but it will definitely happen.