Isle of Beasts and Shadows (The Forgotten Isle Saga #1)

Chapter 37

Airella’s shock turned to a torrent of emotions, her grief and anger manifesting in a luminous blue glow that radiated from her eyes. She let out a scream of desperation as the ground beneath her quivered as icy spikes emerged, impaling the malevolent beings in a display of raw power and fury. The vivid transformation marked a turning point in the unfolding chaos, a moment where her resolve solidified amidst the surreal events transpiring around her.

Arii’s cries echoed loudly, his voice breaking into screams that seemed to pierce the air. Jonathan, feeling helpless, tried his best to soothe Arii’s overwhelming emotions. The situation spiraled out of control, a sense of chaos filling the space.

“Sirius!” Jonathan’s voice trembled with fear and desperation. “Where did he go? What have you done to him?” His accusatory gaze landed on Father, but all that met his eyes was the eerie silence of the shadow.

“He’s gone. Where? I can’t say. I never seem to know where they vanish to, but one thing is certain: He won’t return.” Father’s words were cold. With Sirius’s disappearance, the reality of his absence sank in.

Airella stood in disbelief, processing the sudden turn of events. Sirius, a steadfast companion who had stood by her in the face of countless challenges, was now lost to the unknown. Their shared adventures and unwavering support now relegated to bittersweet memories that lingered in the shadows.

“No!” she cried out in anguish, her voice trembling with despair. “Please, don’t leave! Sirius!” Her anguished scream echoed through the stillness as she pounded her fists against the unforgiving earth.

With a fierce determination, she delved deep within herself, overcoming the barrier of silence that had gripped her. The overwhelming sense of loss and sorrow triggered a profound change within her, unlocking words that had long held captive. No longer silenced by her grief, her voice resounded with a newfound strength.

“Don’t you dare abandon me.” Her cries resonated with raw emotion, tears streaming down her face. Casting a fierce gaze towards Father, a sudden shift in her demeanor was palpable. “You. You’re going to pay for this. I may not know how, but I swear I’ll bring you down!” Her command of their language had fully returned, her words dripping with fury like molten lava. As her rage intensified, a chilling transformation took hold—icy shards formed on her skin, her complexion paling with each passing moment.

Raising Dawnbreaker, she lunged towards Father with a vengeance, but to no avail. The spectral figure remained untouched by her blows, a mere apparition in the face of her wrath. Undeterred, she swung her weapon repeatedly at the elusive shadow, each strike punctuated by her heart-wrenching cries.

“Where did you send him?” The words tumbled from her lips in a torrent of anguish, her sorrow reverberating through the empty expanse.

“Airella!” Jonathan screamed at her as he used a thick, gnarled branch to pull both him and Arii out of the shadows that ensnared them like invisible tendrils.

Bloodsuckers, vile creatures of the night, took their time, savoring the scent of the duo’s blood before making their sinister move.

“Stay back, you evil spawn!” Jonathan’s voice echoed through the eerie silence of the dark forest as he clutched Arii protectively. Together, they pressed against the rough bark of a towering tree, their backs to the solid trunk, seeking refuge from the encroaching darkness.

Everything had shifted, transformed into a waking nightmare that twisted reality into a macabre dance of shadows and fear. Airella, once vulnerable and uncertain, now stood amidst the chilling winds that wrapped around her like an icy embrace. In this moment, a raw, seething anger that simmered beneath her skin replaced fear and sadness, consuming her senses.

She attuned her body to the freezing temperatures that encased her. With a steely resolve, she felt a surge of power coursing through her veins, freeing her from the shackles of doubt and restraint. In this altered state, she stood defiantly, facing the shadowy figure of Father, the very entity responsible for the death of Sirius, her trusted companion.

At her side, Dawnbreaker hung ominously, a silent promise of retribution. As she stood poised for battle, the wind howled around her, carrying with it the whispers of a coming storm. Airella’s gaze, fixed upon Father, held a fierce determination that belied the chaos swirling within her.

“This power, you don’t know how to harness it!” Jonathan’s voice, filled with concern, echoed through the gusting winds. But the blizzard, stirred by Airella’s unleashed power, intensified, swirling snowflakes dancing in the air.

“Airella!” Jonathan’s voice pierced through the storm, pleading with her to regain control.

As the snowflakes danced in a frenzied whirl around her, Airella’s inner turmoil mirrored the external chaos. Her newfound power, a force she had yet to fully comprehend, surged within her, eager to be unleashed. Jonathan’s warning words, lost in the maelstrom, served as a stark reminder of the untamed energy that coursed through her veins, waiting to be harnessed.

“Hüè g?tt?!” Zol repeated urgently as he dashed to Airella’s side. With determination etched on his face, he grasped her left shoulder. In a mysterious twist, it appeared he was drawing power from her, amplifying the blizzard’s intensity twofold with his own energy.

“I always knew you’d defy me. But, oh, how mistaken you are about who has the upper hand!” Father’s voice boomed as he conjured a radiant purple gem out of thin air, his shadowy form hovering above the ground ominously. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about our lovely time spent onboard the ship. When I said you’re under my control, I meant it.” The island resonated with his words as he brandished the gem for all to see, its glow captivating onlookers. Squeezing it tightly, Airella crumpled to the ground, struggling for breath, feeling the pressure on her chest intensify.

“What sorcery is this?” Airella uttered between gasps, her eyes darting around in defiance. Jonathan and Arii observed helplessly from a distance, encircled by miscreants, while Zol remained steadfast by Airella’s side.

“This is what I’m capable of,” he chuckled softly, a twisted glint in his eyes. “I give an order, and you’ll do as I say. Otherwise, I’ll break this gem and you’ll be miserable for centuries to come due to the awakening of the hellion within you.”

Airella, her heart pounding in her chest, clenched her teeth together, a mix of fear and defiance in her eyes, slowly rising to her full height. “You’ve already gotten what you wanted. The humans are stuck on this island, and Sirius is dead.”

“Yes, but why stop there?” he mused with a chilling smile. “I’m on the path to becoming a god. You will all bow down to me, and you all will become prey and servants to all the beasts who walk this earth. I am capable of anything, don’t you see?” He finished his dark proclamation, a sense of manic triumph in his voice.

“You just sound power-hungry and selfish,” Airella retorted, her voice tinged with a mix of defiance and disgust, her fists clenched tightly at her sides, ready for whatever may come next.

“You just wait, you’ll be begging me for mercy,” Father menacingly uttered as he raised the purple gem to his shadowy lips. With a whispered command, the purple gem ignited in a radiant glow, casting an eerie light that mirrored the new violet intensity in Airella’s eyes.

As the mysterious power enveloped her, Airella felt a profound transformation taking place within her very being. It was a struggle to resist the overwhelming surge of strength coursing through her veins, as if her essence was slipping away, replaced by something unknown and formidable.

“Kill them,” Father’s bitter voice pierced the charged atmosphere, his command targeting Jonathan and Arii, the unsuspecting victims of this dark power play.

Airella’s body seemed possessed by an unseen force as a new presence, deep and commanding, resonated from her. It was a stark contrast to her usual demeanor, exuding a sense of dominance and power beyond her own. With swift and unnerving agility, she lunged towards Jonathan, displaying a strength that defied her previous self. Gripping him by the collar, she effortlessly hurled him against a nearby tree, leaving him gasping for breath amidst the crimson splatters of blood.

The malevolent presence within Airella’s form shifted its focus to Arii, a wicked grin playing on her lips as she seized him by the hair, lifting him with an unsettling ease. Before the malevolent entity could unleash its wrath upon him, a sudden impact sent them crashing to the ground, disrupting the unfolding chaos.

“Airella, stop!” Zol pinned her to the dewy ground, dampening the scent of earth as Arii sprinted to Jonathan’s aid, heart pounding in his chest. She defiantly kicked Zol off her, his weight sending him skidding across the grass, blades bending under the force. “You’re strong,” Zol spoke through his thick accent, eyes narrowing in respect.

“What did you expect?” The defiant hellion girl chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “If you persist in this battle, I suppose this will be a walk in the park.” Nonchalantly, she feigned a casual yawn, belying the intensity of the situation.

Jonathan wheezed and leaned on the sturdy trunk of the oak he was hurled against, using it as leverage to regain his footing, as he said, “Airella! Can’t you see that you’re being manipulated?”

Airella’s lips curled into a sharp, almost predatory smile, revealing a glint of something primal within her. All eyes, save for Zol’s, watched in a mix of fear and fascination. The being before them was no longer Airella, but a manifestation of the enigmatic essence that set her apart from mere mortals.

Zol’s gaze darted towards Father, who held the glowing pendant in his outstretched palm, a sinister gleam in his eyes. Reacting swiftly, he lunged towards him.

“No, no,” Father chided, the corners of his mouth turning up in a sly grin. “Unless you wish for your friend’s metamorphosis to be irreversible, I suggest you think twice before making any rash moves.”

“I care not for your threats,” Zol growled defiantly, an icy aura emanating from his obsidian helmet, crystalline spikes forming around him like a fearsome halo.

“That’s the spirit.” Father applauded mockingly, reveling in the chaos unfolding before him.

“You killed Emma.” Zol’s words were strained, laced with grief and accusation, each syllable heavy with emotion. His eyes, filled with a mix of anger and sorrow, locked onto Father.

“Oh, yes. She was quite the hassle, along with the rest of her people. But that’s in the past now, so I believe it’s your turn to die,” Father retorted callously, a twisted smirk playing on his lips. The weight of his words hung heavily in the frigid air, echoing the darkness that had consumed his soul. “Airella, take care of this saucy fellow.” Father’s laughter, once filled with a sinister edge, now sounded hollow and manic. The immense power he wielded seemed to take its toll, seeping into his very being and clouding his judgment.

Airella gave a dark smile. With a swift motion, she delivered a ferocious punch to the center of Zol’s chest, the impact leaving a visible crack in his obsidian armor. Zol staggered backward, collapsing into the pristine snow, his hands instinctively reaching for the source of searing pain.

“I’ll make this quick,” Airella declared, her resolve unwavering as she raised her foot above his head, poised to deliver a final blow. However, before she could enact her next move, a sudden wave of commotion disrupted the tense battle scene, introducing a new element of unpredictability.