Nychta - The Bloodrose Kingdom

Chapter 18 - Rose-Tinted Nightmare

And my body. I was walking, but I was walking towards outside the arena. I was going to leave the arena. It was controlling me, with me only being able to see it.

My head turned to my side, and saw that one of the girls was also manipulated. I wasn’t alone in this. Eman had larger plans.

It was none other than the girl my power loathed so much. My opposite.

Lucia of the Light was now walking beside me, her eyes totally black. She was also possessed with the shadow.

Why did it aim for us? What was it with Lucia and us that made us viable for their plan? And did Lucia also know about them?

Lucia’s head also bobbed, her head in agreement with the shadow inside mine.

We were now walking, our hands joint. We were puppets, walking without control. The only difference was that both of us was awake inside.

We were walking as the shadows circled around us, covered us. They left the soldiers for they now had what it was they were looking for. The two contestants from the Divination, now walking out and leaving it.

The other contestants can only look in shock. They knew that we weren’t moving on our own, and yet, they were too afraid to move.

Adelaide of the Woods looked at us, her eyes having an evil glint. She was enjoying this, having a small smirk on her face. Did she know? And if she did, was she just enjoying this?

A hate beyond control sparked inside of me. The b***h will have her time later on.

As we walked towards the doors, I saw that Faeric of the Gems was still on the stage. He was crossing his arms, eyes looking at Lucia and I. But he wasn’t moving. He wasn’t doing anything to help us.

Was this a part of their plan?

But as we looked outside the arena, the trees from outside not far anymore, I saw a glinting light.

It was pink in color, growing by the second. Was it magic? Faeric’s first sign of helping? Or was it another contestant? Out of all them, none had the color of pink though.

But this one. It moved slowly from afar.

And as it finally moved closer, I finally saw what it was. It was none other than another carriage.

Drawn by white horses adorned with chains and cloths of sparkly pink, another carriage was making its way.

A 12th contestant. From what place did she come from? And how powerful was she to betray tradition and to add another to the known 12-girl line-up?

It seemed that this year was the year of breaking traditions.

As the shadows finally joined the ones encircling the two of us, the arena was now basked with sunlight again. And as it did, it finally revealed the carriage fully. The ride itself was designed more with the pink sparkles, it looked pretty, but it also had an edge to it. Roses decorated the sides of it, and yet, it had different petals. It was made of sharp-ended knives, but still decorated with the crazy, hot pink.

It moved faster as it saw that the shadows was nearing it.

And as it finally halted in front of us, content with the display of grandeur, I felt the shadow inside of me stop. It was the same for Lucia, both of our bodies now stopping to see the new intruder.

And as if on cue, the door of the carriage finally opened.

I felt my body go weak, my senses overtaken as I saw the most beautiful female I had ever seen in my life come out of the carriage.

There was nothing to describe her. She was just… perfect.

As if a rose was given form, a young but greatly-proportioned girl came out. She was wearing a huge, ball gown. As if having a theme along with her carriage, it was also intensely pink and sparkly, with a few shades of lighter pink decorating some parts. It was intricately drawn with spirals, adding a majestic and powerful touch.

Her face was pale, her lips a lustful pink. Her long eyelashes batted at us, smiling as she saw the commotion happening in front of her. She was extravagant, and yet it was only perfect. Not too much.

She finally opened her eyes, a melody as sweet as a siren coming out of it.

“Now, now, what did I miss?” she say, a smirk in her mouth.

The shadows seemed to be distraught at her arrival, with me gaining a bit of myself for a second before returning to be a spectator. Her effect was big, even threatening the shadows.

“Rosetta of the Roses,” a voice from my side said. It was none other than the ever-handsome Faeric. “I thought you would be later,” he said, teasing the girl as if she knew each other for a long time already.

And yet he didn’t move from his spot, only waited for what was to happen.

Rosetta finally looked at us, her pink-tinted irises looking straight at us. Her charm seemed to change every time. She was pretty when she came out, lustful when she spoke, and innocent as she looked at us.

She was assessing the situation, her eyebrows knotting in concentration. She analyzed every part of the shadow, which now moved towards her as they seemed to regain their composure.

“Ah,” Rosetta finally says after a while, fully assessing the situation. “A classic case of scum power,” as she looked at our eyes. She looked at them, and yet, it was if she was looking at the shadow instead.

“Tell me, how many nychtas did you have to kill for such power?” she said again, her voice reverting back to its lusty tone. And as if she knew what to do, she raised her eyes and looked at us.

I looked at her and saw that my vision now had a pink tint to it. It was if pink was now inking my sights, Rosetta now using her.

But this was the shadow she was influencing.

“You don’t control the shadows. You’re simply making an illusion,” Rosetta says. Every word was a song.

“Now that’s a naughty scum, don’t you think? The Illuminae will teach you better tricks,” Rosetta continues. Was she a part of the Illuminae? Was that why she was able to join?

I felt the shadows slowly losing grip. This was it. Rosetta’s gem, a pink one in the middle of her pale forehead, shone. She was a charmer. I wondered if her beauty was only a part of it, or if it was a natural part of her.

I felt the shadows pouring out of me, as if water now leaving my body. Slowly, I was gaining control. Slowly, Lucia was letting go of my hand, her eyes now returning back to its pure blue state.

I looked at her as I finally felt my body again, as goosebumps lingered in my body.

And when Lucia was finally free herself, she only looked at me. And as if fully weak, she hugged me, as I felt her light weight full flung onto me. I was shocked, of course, but I let her be as I looked what was now happening.

The shadow was now swirling by our feet, fully leaving us.

But as it finally regained its power, it now moved away from us. In full speed, it now ran towards out of the arena, a black shadow now shooting out of the arena. It was a coward now, escaping after just possessing us, forcing us to move against our wills.

I ran instantly, my feet feeling painful as I had only regained control of it.

But I felt a cyan gem now shoot by my side. It hit my hair, barely inches away from hitting my face.

I looked to my left and saw that it came from Faeric himself. His left hand was held out in his front, the permanent smile on his face now gone. Now, I was interested.

And then I looked at the shadow now again, now pinned by the gem. It was as if an arrow was shot from afar.

It struggled, trying to change form, continually going from shapes and forms. From its former free-flowing form, it was now acting as it was water pinned by an arrow, if water held on together.

But Faeric was not playing. He clicked his finger, making his power work. The gem in his forehead glowed, variety of colors constantly going through it. His power was an infinite arsenal, capable of doing anything and everything he wanted. He was to be feared, his powers legendary. He was now showing his capability, and yet, barely revealing anything about it.

And in an instant, the cyan gem cracked, each part of it crushed to become a powder. It spread through the shadow like webs forming out of it. It now held the shadow as captive. It was as if a net was made out of the powder, now closing to completely seal the shadow inside.

“Who are you?” I heard Rosetta’s voice said, as she looked at the shadow. Her bright pink hair rustled with the winds, gentle curls framing her slender shoulders.

And as if it answered back, a masculine form came out of it.

I didn’t need anything to help me as I knew who it was. My childhood friend. The only friend I had before Rosemary, before the Black Gem chose me.

Eman. He was now laying helpless on the ground, the cyan web now spreading around him as his form finally showed.

On the ground was a young man, wearing a black leather tunic, knives aligned in a belt around him. His black hair, ruffled hair was disarranged. His gentle face showed, eyebrows knotting. He was struggling to get the net out, to no help.

Rosetta only looked at him, her arms now crossed. She was analyzing Eman.

“Eman of the Illusions,” Faeric said from beside me. He now walked towards Eman, a hunter ready to kill its prey. Was I to help him? Was I supposed to say about all of what we went through? Should I save him by telling Faeric that I knew him, or would that only make things worse for us by giving evidence that both of us are thieves?

“I heard a lot about you back from the guards in Silverfang,” Faeric continues, his eyes intent on Eman. If a man in a power that high has heard of Eman, then he must’ve been a really big criminal then. I only knew him when we went on missions and when we occasionally talk, but never when he was to rule over the Serpents. He portrayed himself to me as comic and light, but it looks like there was so much more about him that I didn’t know. Maybe I made the right choice in choosing not to go with him, after all.

And as he finally goes towards Eman, Rosetta going to Lucia’s side, he finally sits down besides the struggling boy. And as Eman finally stops, looking at the leader of the Illuminae, the latter takes him by his chin.

“I didn’t know you grew that much now. From a petty thief to the Serpent’s leader? My my,” he says, teasing Eman. He was looking intently at Eman, seductive eyes looking at every part of his body. Faeric has always been known to be attracted to nychtas his same s*x, and Eman was charming in his own that I knew that he was capable of charming even a high nychta like the former.

Eman only looks angrily at him, and then spits on the ground. I looked at him, as he finally looks at me. There was still anger in his eyes, but as if it was somehow dampened by mine, he looked at me gently.

There was more talking to be done later then, later, if I was even to find him alive after this. I wonder about what will happen to him. Will he be the alchemist’s pet? The Rust Prison’s next big star? Faeric’s new lover? Or was he simply to be executed like every criminal in Bloodrose?

“Take him to the Red Palace!” Faeric’s voice boomed, ordering the guards.

The serpent was a friend

But the raven wasn’t one anymore

For she was greater than the scum

From which she nestled from