rapmike:
TWENTY FIVE

"The evidence is clear, he must die!" SIMI thundered in the council. "He killed my mother!"

Gerald looked at his Empress with cold anger. You are so blind to the truth! He knew that Jake was innocent, he was with Muyiwa for most of the day. The excuse that the murder happened in the morning was a farce.

"We must be careful in making conclusions, My Empress." Uche softly chided. "Let's not forget that he was the reason that she was here in the first place. If he didn't save her and his team, we won't be talking of this."

"So you are insisting that we let him go, Lord Uche?" Kike asked.

"No, I only want a fair judgement in this case. Jake has been with us for a long time....."

"The Imperious were with us for a long time before they decided to revolt!" Reagan clapped back. "This Imperious boy has done the same. Do you realize what he has done?"

Gerald heard enough. "You all are terrible counsellors and worse lords! Should I remind you that he has been on judgement from the very minute he arrived in this coven."

"For justifiable reasons!"

"What reasons? The prophecy? His abilities? The Deviants? Are we forgetting who we are?"

"Are you forgetting who you are, Emperor?" Glabach asked in a cold manner. "Your duty is to the coven and all it's associates, which includes her mother...."

"And Jake!" Gerald halted him there. "Have you forgotten that we have accepted him in our coven, that he is one of us? Where is the love, the affection we show to our own? Why are we so glad to judge him guilty? Answer me, COUNSELLORS!"

"It's councilors, my emperor." Lord Glabach smiled. " I understand that you must protect your son, but the evidence is on the screen. We all watched it here. Why delay?"

"Why?" Reese spoke forth. "Why we are delaying is because there is a system in place to judge such issues. Moreover, we have judged him falsely due to his abilities and heritage. Reagan spoke of the Deviants. We shouldn't forget that the reason why we stand here is because many vampires, including Imperious vampires rejected the Deviants and fought to preserve the sanctity of the coven. Should I also remind us that the reason why we made those laws against the Imperious is to make sure that they prove worthy of becoming one of us and that once they do we treat them as such." He paused. "He has done that again and again. If he actually killed the Empress Mother, there we have to find now why and how. We must judge him fairly and justly."

The hall was quiet for a long time. Gerald looked at them all. Glabach is looking for Jake's death but he won't find it easy! He could see that he and Kike were not happy about the way Reese had cooled the tempers down. I have to thank him.


"Let's recovene tomorrow." Gerald stood up. "Reese, Uche, come with me."

rapmike:
He had read of a certain spell that could be used to break through chains of enormous sizes. It was first used by a werewolf but the vampires had copied the spell and now they were comfortable using it. If he could use the spell, he could break free.

It had risks though. The spell used copious amounts of blood and he had lost enough blood as it is. Most of his blood was been harvested by those who want him dead and they did so meticulously, using several tubes directly connected to his veins to bleed him. The method was efficient, losing as little blood as possible. My enemies want to make sure they get the best from me. He still had some blood left, after all he hadn't passed out but he wondered how long it will take for the blood deficit to tell on him and if he could bear losing more blood to break free of the chains.

Jake was about to start when he heard some noises and people shouting. Something is happening outside! He didn't expect a rescue but he could surely do with one. The voices became louder.

".... This is treason and the Emperor will take your heads for this!" The voice would have said more but Jake heard a crunch sound and the drop of a human body.

The door opened and two vampires moved straight for him.

"We must kill him before they know what's happening!" One of them with silver hair spoke. He brought out a long, sharp sword. Jake judged that he was one of the Empress men or one of those who captured him. His face was familiar.

The second man, a short, bald man with a big protruding stomach, looked at him, not quite as convinced as his fellow. "He will soon be dead anyway. Why do we kill him now?"

"Because we need no challenge to our ascension, idiot! He could do that!"

"I am not convinced about this, Gilmir. This looks like a way to just pin his death on us. What if he is proved innocent or we are caught?"

Jake's mind was already drifting but he wondered why they were debating killing him. Do it already! He couldn't stay much longer, his eyes drifting towards sleep......

....... only for him to find Cleopatra holding him and feeding him her blood. Zachris and Austin looked at him with worry.

"What happened?" Jake turned around and found the debaters dead. "How, what happened?"

"Later, Jake." Zachris answered. "The coven needs you now. We need you Jake!"

A horn sounded from the deep.

rapmike:
Twenty-seven
The blood on her hand was fresh, the pain biting. The phantom in front of her wielded a knife with her blood in it.

"Why?"

"For the council. For the coven. For the Empire!"

Her phantom assailant attacked her again, but Simi stretched her hands and snapped the phantom. It disappeared, leaving no trace. Simi raced to the treasure vault. If Jake was innocent, then whoever did this would use his blood. His blood contained power! She had to get there on time.

Fortunately,the treasure vault was guarded by men loyal to her and the Emperor. At least that is what she hoped. As she got to the royal chambers, she was greeted by a sea of dead guards. Impossible! She ran straight on, disregarding what she saw there. Her mind was in the treasure vault and the horn of Pandora. It must not be blown!

The treasure vault was broken through, but there were two men fighting in it. Simi prepared a fiery ball of mystic energy ready to strike whoever she needed to. As she got closer, the face of Reese appeared, looking quite injured but still fighting on.

"You can't get the horn of Pandora! I can't allow you!"

His assailant was also tired, so Simi fired her mystic ball. The attack took two of them, tearing through their bodies and ending on the other side before dissipating.

She moved to the horn and realized it was safe. She then looked at Reese's body. "I am sorry Reese." She turned the other body to see who was attacking him.

It was Reagan!

Simi was besides herself with shock. Reagan, how? Why? She dragged the body up and screamed at him.

"Reagan! Why? Why??"

"For the Empire!" A spear right through her, forcing her to the ground. Simi turned to see who was that.....


And woke up, sweat all over her body. What type of dream was that? Simi looked at her disheveled hair and clothes. It was a nightmare, the worst she had in years.

The worst since she became the Empress.

A knock ripped through the door. Simi got herself together and put a robe on her body. "Come in."

It was Sierra, her maid. "The Oracle requests your presence."

The Oracle. About time! She looked at her maid. Sierra was shaking.

"What's it? Why are you shaking?"

"Nothing ma. I just have a chill."

Simi didn't have the time for the frailties of a teenage maid. "Prepare a hot bath for me and get my attire ready. The ocean blue gown with sharks on it for today."

The maid bowed and walked out.

The bath did wonders to her state of mind and when she wore her gown, Simi was Empress once again, confident and defiant. Whatever happens, she was ready to face it.

Whatever it was.

rapmike:
Simi ran away in confusion, the fumes from the room almost choking her. What just happened? Did the Oracle just die? What did she mean about Jake's blood unlocking the Horn of Pandora?

She stumbled out and was relieved to find Sierra waiting for her. Simi comported herself.

"Sierra, let's go. We need to get to the treasure vault." That's all that matters. No matter what Jake's blood can do, she can forestall any destruction by having the horn protected.

If I can lay hold of ..... A sharp pain cut through her thoughts. Simi looked at her left hand and found blood on it.

"What's the meaning of this? Sie....." Another slash was attempted. Simi quickly moved back and caught the knife with her bloody hand. Sierra's eyes went blood hot, her hands fuming with smoke.

"For the council! For the coven! For the Empire!"

Simi kicked her and twisted her hands, snapping her grip. Whoever force that took control of Sierra then left her as she staggered back, looking at her with disbelief.

"I am... I am sorry..... They have...." Sierra spurted as she suddenly found her mouth overwhelmed with blood. Simi looked in horror as Sierra choked on the blood and then stumble to the ground.

"Sierra!" She held her body as the young girl crumbled, her head falling off her body.

Why? What's happening? She remembered the Oracle's last words. Has the destruction started? If she doesn't get to the horn...... It may be all over.

Determined, Simi ran towards the treasure vault.

The fastest way to the vault was through the royal quarters. The royal quarters was protected day and night by guards, all of which were loyal to her and Gerald. The other route to the vault was filled with traps and snares with other guards on duty. Anyone attempting to get to the vault won't find easy entrance.

Simi suddenly stopped at the entrance of the quarters. A guard looked up in the ceiling, his eyes looking stunned. She could see a huge bite on his neck. Werewolves? Simi moved passed the guard and entered.

The quarters were filled with corpses of guards like a great slaughter had happened. Simi gained pace, her eyes flying between dead carcasses.Who could have done this? The guards stationed here were some of the best the coven has, yet they seemed to have fallen quite easily. Who will have such power?

At the end of the quarters, she found two men fighting hard. One of them was Reese, with two hunting knives. His hands were bloody and he seemed to run out of stamina.

"You can't have the horn of Pandora! I can't allow it!"

His assailant growled. "It's not for you to allow me or not. We shall have the horn, even if I have to cut through your corpse!"

Simi shot a mystic ball, which went through both of them. As they fell to the ground, Simi walked towards them, lifting the other man's head. It was Reagan!

cokhale:
coven reborn

scopiicaar:
Happy new year fellas

Kaesyrn:
Cc. Dathypebruv

rapmike:
Reagan? Why? Simi's mind was trying to process what she just saw. Why will Reagan betray her, betray Gerald? He was the one she trusted the most.

She walked and picked the horn of Pandora, rubbing it's surface. She then looked at Reagan.

"Why? Why! Reagan, why?" She grabbed his head with one hand while holding the horn with the other.

As she shook his head, a spear took her from the back, forcing her to fall to the ground. She lost control of the horn and watched it fall to the ground. Simi saw footsteps walk towards it.

"For the coven, for the Empire, My Empire!"

Pulling herself up, Simi removed the spear from her back and faced the traitor.

It was Lord Glabach in full battle armour.

"You! You are the cause of this!" Gerald saw you right! Simi walked towards him, her body attempting to heal from the spear wound.

"Yes, it's I. I am the brain behind this, Simi. I am the brain behind everything! The Deviants uprising, this, I did it!"

"The uprising? You? But you fought against...."

"Them? Yes, I fought against them when it was clear that they will not enough to overrun the coven. Gerald was far more capable than I anticipated and others were rising as well. I had to join or be exposed. But the uprising served its purpose and took care of many rivals. Now, it's my turn."

"So you were after Gerald's title? You wanted to be Emperor?"

"I supposed to be the Emperor! You know it, everyone knows it, yet you all chose Gerald because he was controllable, biddable. I could have shaped the world. We could have shaped the world, I as the Emperor and you as my Empress, but you chose him! Now you will watch everything that you have burn, even those so precious to you." He flexed his hands, choking her telekinetically.

Simi attempted to fight back but her wounds were refusing to heal. As she struggled to understand what was happening, she saw Ore fly towards Glabach's back with a knife, attempting to stab him. From his grin, she could tell that it was futile. Ore, run! She wanted to speak but her voice failed her as Lord Glabach caught Ore and disarmed her with one hand.

"You will lose everything..including those precious to you." He lifted Ore up and twisted her head before dropping her. He picked the horn of Pandora and walked away, smiling.

The last thing Simi heard before she died was the horn of Pandora.

drewsman:
I swear I'm stopping following this story. You take so long to update, and when you do it will just be a few lines that isn't worthy of my time.


Thanks for the wonderful story by the way.

rapmike:



Please are you paying for the service?


To all those following this story:

I know the pace of update is frustrating but that is my situation at the moment. When I started this story, I had my Android phone and I could do much work within a few days. I rarely failed to update, even though each update was not as lengthy as some other writers; apologies for that because I don't know how to write lengthy updates on phones. Now my Android phone has spoiled beyond repair and I don't have any money for a new one. I have to borrow other people's phone to update this story, so please try and understand if this story is moving slowly. I am continuing with it because I don't want to leave the story abandoned.

Thanks for your understanding.

P. S. This is the last time I will address this.