No Pain, No Gain

The next morning, everyone gathered at the training area of the superworld, they started the training for the upcoming combat. Jade was being briefed about basic moves by Aiden. The witches also practised combat training only if things go that far. The wolves were up against the vamps as that made training more effective. There was, of course, a no-killing protocol for both sides. At first, there was fierce anger in the eyes of both the opposing teams.

First to fight were the leaders, Thea and Augustus. The duo entered the ring and Thea measured Augustus carefully before the bell rang and combat began. Both were beings with super strength. The fight was intense. Augustus had incredible speed whereas Thea’s reflexes were equally fast. Augustus tried to punch her but she effectively dodged them. He soon got to her, flipping her over. Thea was nothing in comparison to Augustus in size, but don’t judge a book by its cover. Her techniques were sharp. She immediately got up and for a while let him take his chances on her. She dodged the attacks most of the time. She noticed his breathing getting heavier as he was getting tired. She went nimble-footed behind him and attacked him on the leg, making him fall to the ground … panting she then kept one leg on his stomach and her hand to his throat, “And you are dead.” She said and gave a snort.

Augustus was surprised at the suddenness and took time in understanding her strategy. He felt too stupid not to be able to comprehend it earlier. “I … um … it was a chance defeat, that happened,” he said and got up, he didn’t want to admit his defeat in front of everyone; but he was quite impressed by Thea’s unique skill set. He turned around and gave off an unsure smile. The crowd cheered for Thea. The first combat ended in a good spirit. The next two competitors were up, and the training continued.

Jade was mastering her moves quickly. Ace and Skylar were up against each other. The fight between the two was also very intense. No one was a clear winner between them as no magic was to be used, otherwise, we know who would have been the winner.

Lucy and Emerald were cooking up a storm by combating with each other. After a two-hour session, they all decided to rest. Skylar checked up on Jade’s progress. Jade had informed her parents about her acquaintances in the superworld and that she has to move there for a while at least. Emily was keen to join her to check up on her, but Jade was reluctant as she did not want Emily to be in danger. She was too important to her.

Before leaving Augustus came towards Thea, where she was standing, packing her belongings and drinking a glass of water, “Hey!” He said nervously with one hand in his pocket, “You again! Wasn’t that enough out there, that you came back for more,” Thea said chuckling sardonically.

“Well, you were good out there I must say,” Augustus accepted.

“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you someday, till then watch and learn,” she said as she walked away after picking up her stuff.

“Sure,” he said as he leaned against the wall. He did not even hear what she said and just gave a passing response as he was too busy ogling at her.

It was like a new beautiful relationship brewing up between the two. From the beginning, it was believed that werewolves and vampires were each other’s worst enemies. No one had seen this coming, not even Augustus. He was clear about his heart; it was too new, but he was certain. She made him nervous, which was not a common emotion for Augustus, but he was comfortable around her in a different way. He didn’t feel judged as they were both somewhat the same. Both were brave and were warriors, and both had blood on their hands for different reasons, but the goal was common. But he didn’t think that these feelings would be the same from Thea’s side as she was already so pure despite her blood-stained hands. It was her nature to be sugar sweet and witty and he adored her for that.

When everyone left, Emerald approached Jade as she saw her leaving and said, “Leaving so soon, Jade.”

“Um … yes, the training is over.”

“Yes it is, for others, but not for you. You need to strive harder. First ignite your magical skills. Only physical training isn’t enough, embrace your gift, your powers, you are a spark of new hope to our bloodline.” Emerald smiled, she knew that she had made many blunders in her life and that it cost the entire bloodline enormously, so she didn’t want any vengeance to get in the way of bringing Shax down; but this didn’t mean she wasn’t greedy for power.

Jade nodded to Emerald’s advice and decided to sit next to her. As Emerald held her hands, she taught her the hand movements and a few basic self-protection spells, tracking spells, and the adverse advances.

“Jade, dear, you must understand, magic is a part of nature and us witches are its keepers. To brew something, you need to give something.” Jade stared at Emerald with sympathy in her eyes she was able to feel how awful Emerald felt about her past sacrilegious actions and decided to move past it and develop a healthy relationship with her great ancient grandmother.

The training went on for a few weeks, till they were all able to hatch a plan to defend themselves. Jade mastered her witchcraft skills. Now, she could control the elements — air, water, and fire. She was even better than Emerald in that department and it was as if she was made for this. Aiden was immensely proud of her, and it made him fall even harder for her.

On the last day of training, the combat was between two teams to check the skills of everyone and hone them to perfection — team one was Thea with half her crew, along with half of Augustus’s crew, Jade, Lucy, Kayle, Ace, and Bree. The second team was Skylar, Emerald, Aiden, Kol, Augustus, and the remaining werewolves and vampires. The battle was intense. This time Augustus had an upper hand on Thea. Ace and Skylar were up against each other, Lucy came out of nowhere and used her powers to knock down Skylar. Emerald helped her up, together Emerald and Skylar seemed virtually undefeatable. The combat was a good way to practice and it all ended well, everyone had a good laugh as they analyzed. There was a hint of revenge in Lucy’s eyes while she took Emerald and Skylar out, but she didn’t let it get to her head.

“You were surprisingly good today,” said Thea to Augustus.

“What do you mean by ‘surprisingly’?”

“You know what I mean, you’re learning a lot from me you know,” she chuckled.

Augustus then laughed and said, “Ya how could I forget.”

Ace was noticing them from a distance and was relishing the knowledge of knowing that Augustus had finally found someone for himself. After so many years, there was someone who brought light into his eyes. Skylar noticed the same with Thea, she went up to the duo and said, “Do you mind if I steal this firework here?” She said and winked at Augustus and led away Thea by her hand.

Augustus smiled to himself, he could feel butterflies in his stomach. He couldn’t believe this was actually happening and he was in love, in so much love, with Thea. He felt it was probably one-sided. Despite knowing what she was, the rivalry didn’t matter to him anymore. He just wished deep down that Thea too should feel the same way, and how lovely the relation could be. He had promised himself to confess about his love to Thea after the battle when this mess gets settled. He was looking forward to it eagerly.

It was more than just a dream for him. Thea was everything he had ever longed for unknowingly. As Skylar took Thea by the hand she said, “So missy what’s up between the two of you huh,” and raised her left eyebrow.

“Uh … what nothing. What could be up between us, nothing. We’re just friends. It doesn’t make him any less annoying,” Thea sounded far from being convincing. She wasn’t being entirely true. There was something; she always had goosebumps seeing him. She liked the time she used to spend with him, taunting him, listening to him praise her, training with him, everything that involved him was pleasant and enjoyable for her.

Skylar said lightly, “Are you telling that to me or trying to convince yourself! You know even if you don’t tell me, I’ll get it out from him. I have my sources.”

“Hey – don’t you dare ask him anything.”

“So you spill then.”

“Oh god you are such a bully. It’s just a little crush maybe, I’m not even sure,” Thea said as she shyly closed her eyes.

Thea was arguing to herself in her head. No, you can’t have a little crush on him. Thea thought hard trying to decipher her feelings. Is it true, she asked herself again. Now Skylar was there scrutinizing her expression. She felt she was caught in a limbo. Only if she listens to her heart and ignores her head. “Yes or No!” Skylar seemed adamant trying to find a closure.

“Y … yes,” Thea hesitantly said ignoring the voices in her head.

“Oh my god! How did I never see this coming Thea the Alpha and Augustus the jerk vampire together,” Skylar said with a warm smile. She was happy for them.

Skylar winked and left Thea to herself and her wandering thoughts.

On the other hand, Ace went and sat next to Augustus.

“What?” said Augustus. “Why are you staring at me man? What’s wrong?”

“You scamp, you like her don’t you,” Ace went straight to the point instead of beating around the bush. Augustus stared at him with an open mouth, He was out of words. His mind was not able to process the correct words.

“I … uh … no! I don’t like Thea, no, she’s so annoying I mean no I don’t, her voice hurts my ears.” No actually not so, it doesn’t … it’s like music to my ears … he voiced inwards …

“Stop lying on my face, I can see straight through your soul Augustus, ha! Or, you want me to ask Thea?”

“Ugh stop, it’s just a little crush maybe ...”

“Maybe!”

“Yes, maybe …” Augustus whispered shyly and hesitantly.

Ace prodded, “When do you plan on telling her?”

“Um … maybe never, she doesn’t like me that way. I doubt if she even likes me; she always beats my butt in combat without remorse.”

“Oh! I think that’s not true, she might reciprocate your feelings, after all.”

“And what makes you think like that?”

“Instincts, man.” Ace retorted confidently which made Augustus laugh along with Ace. Now it was Augustus’s turn and he said in a light vein, “The chemistry and tension brewing up between Skylar and you is also being felt elsewhere, Ace.”

Ace pondered a bit, “I am in the same boat, Augustus. Well there is nothing, yet my heart says there is something … I am not yet sure.”

“God can you stop being so poetic and get to the point, did you even ask her out like the old days centuries ago?” Augustus chided in a brotherly fashion.

“U-h no I didn’t,” Ace said looking at the floor and playing with his fingers.

“Then you better hurry up before someone else carries away the prize, dude.”

“Gotcha, best wishes to you too.” Ace concluded before Augustus left the training arena.

Jade and Aiden sorted their feelings in a simpler fashion and had also officially started seeing each other. Things were going exactly as Jade wanted them to be. She just longed for the normal teenage life without sham when the ruse was over. Jade had read about such extramundane things but she was so overwhelmed when it all started happening in her life.

The following night, in particular, was quite an uneasy one for Skylar as she lay on her bed. She was feeling unusually cold and decided to put on her blanket to cover her legs. She thought deeply about the plan to overthrow Shax. Full of fear, she did not however want anyone to lose life this time on account of Shax. A lot had already been claimed in the previous stint and there was no scope for more fatality. She wanted to put an end to all of it once and for all. But the strange feeling kept creeping inside her. She got up from her bed, no longer able to rest in peace. She opened the huge mahogany wooden bathroom door and approached the washbasin. She placed both her hands on the sides of the washbasin and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked miserable with worry, she thought as she stared at her image.

Skylar then turned the faucet on and washed her face. After dapping drying her face, she went back slowly to her bed. She suddenly noticed that the side window was open. She knew she never even opened the windows, leave alone keeping them open. As she was about to close it, she had the eerie feeling of someone standing behind her. She whirled around gasping with a shriek and found herself staring at the person she least expected in the whole universe to make an appearance.

“What are you doing here?” Skylar said suddenly getting emotionless.

It was none other than Elizabeth Lindale, Skylar long lost grandmother. No one was even sure if she was alive and no one knew where she stayed. She was like a ghost resurrected from the oblivion. Skylar absolutely despised her; when Skylar lost both her parents when she was just a child, she had no support from her grandmother. Skylar felt whatever the reason was, she would never be able to justify Elizabeth abandoning her only grandchild. Skylar even trained herself on magic by herself. She was perpetually lonely. Seeing Lucy having Trixie and Emerald having Jamie, she always wanted to have someone to look up to but she had no one to fill that void. As she met eyes with her grandmother’s old blue eyes, she took a deep breath and sighed. She was a little shocked and anxious at the same time. What could be the apparent reason for her to come all the way here after all this time before Skylar was going up against Shax.

“My sweet little doll! Oh I have missed you so much. These pure eyes, the look of your face is embedded deep in my heart, you look just like her, your mother and you have your father’s eyes,” Elizabeth said and smiled endearingly.

“Sto-stop it, get to the point why are you here after all these years? You’re surely not here to tell me how much you missed me and how I look … what is it that you want, Elizabeth?”

“I know dearest that I have disappointed you by not being by your side all these years and I’m truly, deeply sorry for that. But you have to trust me when I say it was for your good. As much as I wanted to stay with you I just couldn’t, you have no idea how much I regret not being the one to teach you your first spell, to reads you books at night, accompany you with your friends, buy you your favorite food and a lot more … it took every ounce of strength in my body to be away from you.”

Skylar’s eyes were filled with tears. She couldn’t control it anymore; it was years of piled-up emotions. She cried last about missing her family some centuries ago. But she didn’t let the tear escape her eyes. She didn’t want Elizabeth to think that she was weak and vulnerable. She took a deep breath and asked, “So, what should I do now, I can’t take you back in time. Why are you here, really?”

Skylar noticed tears running down Elizabeth’s wrinkled face. She knew she was being too harsh on her, but it was either getting hurt or hurting her, she chose the latter.

Elizabeth knew she won’t be able to convince Skylar just by confessing her heart out after all these years of distance. It was her actions that could make a difference. She decided not to reveal the secret of why she had left after all those years, as she didn’t want to worry her further. “Skylar, I know you have decided to go up against Solhm.”

“How’d you know?”

“I’m your grandmother dear, I know you.”

“Doesn’t seem like it,” Skylar whispered to herself.

“Skylar you can’t take him down, once again, he is too strong,” Elizabeth said firmly.

“We have additional support, you need not be worried about it, you can return to wherever you came from. You are not needed here, we can handle it,” Skylar tried to sound firm and confident.

“We … you mean you and Emerald? She is too clouded for the greed of power, not a surprise if she backstabs you again.”

“Mistakes happen, it’s all right, she has changed …”

“She has changed, is it … maybe that’s why she had put Shax under the spell that enables only Emerald to absorb his power after he is dead, anyone else trying to do so will perish,” Elizabeth said assertively, “Do you even know that, Skylar …?”

“How’d you know that?” Skylar was all ears to her grandmother’s claim and wanted answers.

“I know more than you can think dearest.”

Skylar didn’t respond, she was deeply thinking about what her grandmother had said. She did have a point, what if Emerald only wants to join forces to get what she always wanted, what if she is still a potential danger to others. There was no more scope for “ifs and buts”, Skylar could not afford any uncertainties in the plan and hence she asked for Elizabeth’s advice. As much as she despised her, she was a woman with immense experience and ancient wisdom.

“What is it that you suggest for me to be up against Shax?” Asked Skylar narrowing her eyes.

“I wish to stand by my strong granddaughter,” she said proudly.

It instantly made Skylar smile, but she hid it away quickly and ‘hm … mmmed’.

“All right then, you must join us, but you must keep in mind, that I don’t trust you completely. You betray us and I am warning you it won’t end well.”

“I understand Skylar, I won’t let you down like I always have.”

Elizabeth took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Skylar was overwhelmed by the nostalgic tension in the room and turned away to wipe a tear. When she turned back, Elizabeth was nowhere in sight; she had already gone. Skylar sighed to herself and said “Of course, you had to go, you always do.” Skylar sat down and thought to herself that Elizabeth would be a good addition to the team, but she was also a dangerous one. Skylar knew very well to play safe and not to expose all her cards to her grandmother after all the wickedness that ran in the family.

She was sure of one thing that Elizabeth won’t let Emerald absorb the power of Shax and that if Elizabeth turns their back on the team, Emerald would be alongside Skylar to take her down, either way. She and the team would be safe, it was only Shax she now had to worry about.

Her plan was simple to hit two birds with one stone in case things happened otherwise. The plan was pretty sorted to proceed with. The werewolves and vamps along with Aiden, Jade, Kayle, Kol, and Bree would fight the cavalry of Shax. This time Emerald, Lucy, Skylar, and Ace all of them would go up against Shax together to defeat him, take him straight away, kill him! No loose ends this time.

There was one thing they had to make sure that Emerald and Jade had to look easily distinguishable as a lot of times people confuse Jade for Emerald, and letting Jade go up against Shax was very dangerous. She was indeed strong now but not enough to face him straight away.

And Shax’s prime prey was Emerald, that’s what they believed.