| Eleven |

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."

- Oscar Wilde

Song : Mercy by Shawn Mendes

•••

February 6, 1943

The crowd jeered and said hateful words. They cursed out my existence and began to throw more things like dead cats and rotted fruit. Those poor dead cats. What have they done to receive such torture in having their poor corpses thrown at the lowly. Well, me. They deserve a proper burial. The dead deserve such respect. Immortal society is quite Gothic most of the times. Everytime a play is held at a local theater, if the omegas in the audience didn't like it, they threw dead animals and rotten food at the actors.

I know it's harsh, but I can't stop them. Sometimes there are even people outside the theater that make a living by selling the rotten food and dead animals. I find it ridiculous but it's just culture. If this is what they want, then so be it.

But then again I feel bad. I used to be the one watching as the audience threw the food, I wish I could have stopped them. This is probably karma taking it's revenge on me. I really regret not stopping the harsh audience. Those poor actors...

Draven.

I surprised myself by calling out Draven's name. I never thought about Draven as much. I love him now and forever. If only I hadn't left the palace, then maybe me and Draven could have had some real sister brother bonding time. How ironic when my world is falling apart I find a friendship with Draven? If only...

I swear when I escape I will tell Draven how much I care. I want to show that I do. I want him to care as well. I care about all my brothers. Since Caius, Dominic, and Lucius were usually never around, I was practically raised by my brothers. I was so caught up my thoughts I didn't notice that I was led up to a stage where Jonah stood. He smirked ever so slightly and came walking over to where I stood. His heels clicked as he walked.

Click.

Click.

Clack.

All I could think to myself was 'pick up your feet'. It was certainly not proper. He was probably taught etiquette by a street rat. A real live street rat. The scent of immortal blood filled my nose. Our blood was unique and allowed us to have magic. Except no one know why or how.

The reason and way we were created always puzzled historians and healers from all over the world. No one knows how exactly we were created. We look like humans, but have a tendency to have an animal's temper. Most assumed it was an accident and the blood of the first human and animal combined to form the first immortals.

That was considered the most reasonable theory.

"Behold!"

I was snapped out of my thoughts when Jonah clapped his hands together and raised them dramatically. What was it with villains and evil people and drama? Was this to make the situation more hysterical.

"The evil Nyx shall be shown the same treatment as her kin have done to us! She will pay for her bloodline's crimes against the immortals!"

I was forced to kneel on a wooden pedestal covered in blood. They couldn't bother to clean it. How gentlemanly.

"You ready, Nyx."

"I would be more ready, but thou's manners resemble those of a junia going savage."

Jonah turned around, scowling and returned his attention to the crowd.

"This evil creature will pay for her family's crimes against the immortal society."

I followed Jonah's hands towards an man in a mask, dressed in all black cloaks. An executioner, perhaps. But how can he kill me? I read in old libraries and archives that gods are the hardest to kill and can be killed by two things. A Styx, which I heard are extinct and something else I couldn't remember at the moment.

My fingers clawed at the small hand cuffs I had around my wrists, that were pinning them to my skin.

"Now she will pay. Begin the canning."

A man dressed in all black came waltzing over to me. A black cloak covered his face and I watched as he grabbed a large whip. My eyes widened when he dipped the whip in a silver substance. I heard it was called Silverbane, a substance created by the junia hunters to weaken immortals. Were they going to whip me with the silverbane?

Draven, help me.

I looked behind me to see the man in black come behind to rip the back of my dirty dress open. The pervert dragged his hands up and down my skin. If my hands were free I would have his hands cut off. His cold hand continued to feel my skin. The nerve of this man. Why I have never-

"Tis' a shame I have to damage such beautiful skin." He rubbed my back.

A snarl hit my lips as I began to struggle in my chains.

"You sadistic pervert-"

"One!" I heard Jonah cry.

A sharp pain filled my back. I fought the tears in my eyes, for I knew if Jonah saw me crying he would win. I would fight like my family. I felt the silverbane on the whip drip down my back like rain drops. Or was that the blood from my back? I may never know.

"Two!" Jonah announced.

I turned to him to see him smirk. He covered his mouth to choke down a chuckle. He's a sadist. He enjoys seeing people in pain. I never knew why people found joy in hurting others. Ryland always did tell me though that the world is filled with terrible people-

"Three!"

The whip lashed at my back as I arched my body. Don't cry, Snow. Hold it in. You can do it. My fists began to clench roughly, then an idea hit me like a pebble. I'm an immortal! I have enhanced strength! I can break the hand cuffs. Why didn't I think of that before? A princess must be clever, well minded and mannered, and witty. My fists began to clench to snap the hand cuffs, but every time I tried my wrist began to sting.

The silverbane

It has worked it's terrible magic. Now I can't break the chains!

Draven.

I hope he or one of my brothers hear my whimpers. I need him. After eight more strikes, I can feel the skin on my back pealing. The burning sensations of the It will take much longer to heal since I was hit with silverbane. If I make it-

"Unhand her!"

I look across from me to find my family standing across the people. My heightened sight was able to catch Draven's eyes. Dark. Meaning he was angry. I always knew Draven was hot headed.

"What kind of man art thou? Hitting a young girl of thirteen!"

It was considered a great crime to harm children in immortal culture. People who harm children purposely are seen as evil and are banished for years from the kingdom to live in the cellars. The cellars are hidden in the Cerise woods where criminals are kept away from society until they pay their dept. If it were up to my family, Jonah would be cleaning the animal dung off the cellar walls, for all Draven would care.

Jonah, concerned, shouted into the crowd. "Don't just stand there, get them!"

I watched in fear as Draven leaped five feet above the air attacking the soldiers that began to charge at my family. Ryland began using his special element of nature to tie the soldiers up in vines of ivy. I saw Foxclove race into the shadows, and then sneaking up on Jonah. Jonah was thrown against the wall, causing the stage I was on to crumble to the ground. Foxclove then grabbed me bridal style, and carried me off. Archangel used his fire to melt my chains to liquid.

"Thank you," I breathed out. "You heard my call?"

Draven smiled down at me "Indeed. Apparently Jonah and his coven were a bunch of scavenger immortals."

Scavengers were against the new system of laws originated after the first immortal empire fell in the roman times. They are especially against the more powerful immortals ruling including titans, eris, and aethers. But before I could answer Draven, I suddenly felt really weak at the knee. I noticed how the world began to fall as I tipped over.

"Snow!"

"Give her some space!"

"Mind Link the healers!"

"It's the silverbane!"

•

The dust the room danced softly against the rays of the sunlight. My eyes struggled to open as a scorching headache filled me. My numb hands tried to lift my body off the small bed I was lying on. I recognized the place as the healing center. When did I get to the healing center? I did not remember getting there.

Then the memories of last night came flooding back to my mind. I look behind me to find thick bandages all over my upper and lower back. I reached behind to touch them and was met with an unwelcoming pain. I winced at the sensation.

"Don't touch it, sister."

I looked over to find Draven at the doorway. He was holding a small rose he must have picked outside. Was that for me? It probably was.

He cleared his throat. "I brought this as a peace offering between the two of us. You know, from what has happened."

I smiled. Red roses were always my favorite I loved roses so much. I always believed that the roses were the most interesting of flowers. Beauty beyond compare with a deadly and exotic strike of thorns. I took the small flower in my hand and smelled it. The heavenly scent of pollen and other sweet scents overwhelmed my nose. I loved roses.

"Thank you." I smiled.

I tried to get up to hug him but the pain in my back prevented me from sitting up properly.

"It will heal in due time. If you were human than it would've scarred." He laughed at the idea.

Human. I never thought about the idea of becoming human. The humans always seemed to have an easier life than the life of an immortal. And they have gifts that deep inside I wanted. To grow old and die and know you'll see your family and friends again. When an immortal dies we simply turn into ashes and become part of the world of humans. It helps cleanse and keep the Earth clean. So if someone dies, you would never see them again.

I brushed the thoughts of humanity aside. "What happened?"

"You passed out. I carried you to the healing center."

I gave a small smile. "Thanks, again."

The awkward silence was overwhelming. I honestly didn't know what else to say to him.

"Are you scared?"

I gave him a confused look.

"Of being a goddess. And the last one, no less." He clarified.

"I am not afraid," I said. "I am terrified."

I gave him a look of worry and fear. He immediately moved closer to me and wrapped an arm around me. I cried into his chest.

"Brothers, she's awake!" I saw Ryland and the others walking into my large room.

"How did Draven get here before us?" Jedidiah said in surprise.

I laughed at my brothers behavior. I always knew that men were always to most immature of people.

"Art thou doing alright?" Ryland leaned down and asked me.

I studied his face and memorized every feature to remember. looked at him and noticed a large bruise on his face.

"Was that from the the rescue?" I asked a little scared.

"It's just a bruise it will heal in due time."

I still couldn't accept the fact that it was technically my fault he's in that state. Then I scanned the room to notice bruises on each of my brothers. Whether it was from the rescue or the power explosion I had, I was terrified.

It was my fault, it was because of me. I voice within me began to whisper things to me.

I listened. They must have noticed my eyes on their wounds because they gave reassuring smiles.

"We're fine, sister."

They're not fine. You did this. It's all on you.

A voice like this has never spoken to me before. I didn't know if I was loosing my sanity or going crazy. I almost thought I was going insane until a pounding inside my head came. Like an rabid beast banging against the bars of a cage, it felt like that. Something inside was begging for an out. To release.

It's your fault, you beast

I began to wildly shake my head all over the place. I ripped off my bandages from the back and shook wildly again.

"You're not fine! Ryland get the healers!" Draven shouted

Steele came over to me and tied me with his water. In an instant the tides he has summoned to contain me disappeared. Archangel wrapped me his shadows but instead they backfired and tied him up instead.

Ryland returned moments later with Rebekah, two other healers, and Eikko.

"My goodness!" Rebekah looked as if she was going to faint.

The male healer then screamed at me acting like a beast.

"By starks! The princess has gone mad!"

Then another sharp pain hit my back as I fell to the ground and arched my back. Draven tried to come and hug me but I waved my arm in a sweeping motion causing him to fly backwards against the wall, hard. He fell back so hard the wall collapsed, causing a large boulder from the wall to fall on his head, knocking him out.

Look what you have done? The fear you caused? Doesn't it feel right?

The question the voice asked "Doesn't it feel right?" made me shiver. What was more terrifying was it did feel right. I've become a sadist!

Then the pain came back as I felt something sprout from my back. I looked behind me horrified, to find large raven wings resembling those of Diaval. They were very large, so large I bet they would drag far behind me when I walked. They had pitch black feathers with horns on each end. They were beautiful, but terrifying. I couldn't believe it.

"Wings?" Ryland exclaimed.

I snapped around causing my wings to shoot feathers out of them. They were as sharp as knives and blades because one hit Eikko, causing his arm to overflow with blood.

You're a beast. Better yet, a savage rogue.

The voice was right. In fear and panic I decided to run away. I broke the windows open and nervously looked down at how high I was. Inhaling, I jumped out the window. My eyes slowly opened as I noticed that I was flying. Taking one last look at the chaos I have caused I flew off in fear.

Landing in the woods outside the palace, I landed so hard I knocked down a few trees. I don't remember being that strong. I need to learn to control it. What if I snap someone in half with a hug?

Then snap them! We have the power to kill! We should not waste it!

We?

You're a monster. Embrace it!

I sharp cracking filled my back and I knew something was happening. My eyes struggled to stay wide open as I felt my bones crack and my back arch towards the ground.

Embrace it!

Before I knew it I heard my name being called in a distance.

"There she is!"

Caius and Dominic's voices rang out together. "Snow!"

"We're here, we're going to take you home!"

My vision blurred and all I heard were the screams of the alphas and the cries of my brothers.

"Father!"

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