// Chapter 9 \\

My eyes were wide and my lips parted as I gazed at the smirk that had retorted that bone-chilling remark from moments before. His folded arms made his figure take a stance of robust, but imperil all the same. The purple lavender hair cascaded down his forehead which was tilted down and slightly blocked his sharp, flickering violet eyes. Those eyes were menacing— threatening. Like a slash of those black blades which would finish what was started. I'd foolishly hoped never to see him again.

"Elara Omal," Wooyoung smirked as he casually brushed back the strands of hair out of his face, revealing just how crazed yet composed his eyes were. He leaned back in a loose manner, head tilted up.

I needed to get away— away from this cage.

I stumbled back. It felt as if I was falling back into another voided hole of oblivion. However, I suddenly felt a warmth brace me by the arms. Strong reassuring hands stabled me there. They were the hands of the woman that was behind me. I had little time to think as I was forced back. Suddenly, the woman that had caught me from behind was now in front of me. One hand was still placed on one of my arms while the other held a blade of silver and blue out in a defensive position to the Taker who stood many steps in front of it. I didn't need to see her to know she was gritting her teeth at the utterment of her name.

Elara.

Wooyoung tilted his head to the side, lifting his brows in what would be an innocent manner if it wasn't for the uncomfortable chill that seemed to trace his features, "So you've got nothing to say?"

Elara didn't utter a single word and I much did the same, however, unlike her, I couldn't keep myself from shaking and shrinking behind her. My mind was clouded and confused with who was in front of me. I felt like I'd been blind-sided and all that brood inside of me was on the eventful path of being let out. But my insides remained quiet— a deadly quiet. Just as the deadly quiet that filled the hall with only the cold chilling sensations to speak between us.

This was all only broken by another bone chilling chuckle from Wooyoung. I couldn't quite say it was the unusual cold that made it seem that way. His eyes almost seemed too clear with clarity for a moment before it was covered by his sneer, "What? Are you mute too or something?"

Not a word from Elara.

Wooyoung smirked. It widened in satisfaction before his eyes landed on mine. I found my mind tumbling beyond the floor unlike what my body had done before. He did all of that to me with one single stare.

"Your perception grows weak," Wooyoung flatly stated as his lips curved into what would've been a kind smile if his eyes didn't convey something different. Something different but not something unexpected. It was as fathomable as I found his words unfathomable. It was like he'd read my mind when I was supposed to be the only one with the powers to do such things.

There was a brush on my arm. From the hand Elara had there as she loosened her grip. The hand slowly traced the length of my arm before letting go entirely. There was a slight sense of stability as my eyes moved to her. She stepped further out in front of me, both hands on the hilt of her blade, her figure shining almost purely.

Her words were full of clarity and just, "You don't get to say a thing about her."

Wooyoung's eyes faintly turned towards her with that kind smile. He almost looked normal, civil, friendly in that second. However, one moment and that smile became a deadly, hazardous grin, "So that's how you tick."

I shuttered. He was going to charge at her. I knew it. I could tell by the look in his eyes and that grin on his face. I finally stumbled back like my mind had a repetition of this forgettable downfall. But my eyes remained plastered on an unmoving figure, despite what I'd convinced myself of seeing. I panted. My vision blurred for a moment at its failure in focusing before it cleared— before my heavy breaths had slowed. The sleek black robes remained standing there unmoving, with the insane, monstrous, yet, handsome face staring down the knight in front of me. Suddenly, my eyes took in what they found to be foreign in nature. I'd noticed how odd his passive stance was and how those black blades weren't present on his figure— they were nowhere to be seen. No, he was without them. Yet, he still stood there with the same face and threatening intention.

Elara didn't make a move either, crouched there in silver gleaming armor in a defensive stance. Her calm and focused sense almost seemed all the more intimidating compared to the chilling speakings of the Taker. All the normalcy and all in welcoming protection was what I felt from her presence. Though it should've been unusual to feel that, I couldn't reason myself to think the feeling was foreign.

"You're going to surrender and turn yourself into the Night Court Guard," Elara firmly directed with a slight tilt of her head.

Wooyoung copied the gesture, lifting his eyebrows as well. He chimed, "And what point is there to do that?"

"Because you're the first Taker sighting there has been in months." Elara clearly spoke out every syllable, almost as if her words could see right through the pitch black void of the Taker's robes. "Nothing happened since The Black Day and I think we all know— every Court knows— that something isn't adding up. You're all more than just mere power hungry monsters."

Wooyoung barked out a high pitch laugh, tilting his head up high into the air as his eyes scrunched closed. He clapped his hands together in a thunderous manner that quickly sorted out the contemplation of his rather innocent laugh. His laughter stopped as a small smile plagued his face. He bowed slightly and gestured his arms out wide at his sides as if he was welcoming a partner to his sickening elaborate dance.

"Ah, seems like you're actually making some clear sense around here," His eyes darkened as they shifted to me before they gazed back to her, "Even more clear than those eyes."

That's when the first strike happened.

The sword tore the stone of the grey marbled wall. Wooyoung had sidestepped from its perceptive course that would have pierced right through the middle of his chest. Elara remained stone still as her hand was still stretched out from throwing her sword.

"I'll take that as your refusal then," Elara stated before she bursted into a run heading straight for the Taker. She was the first to engage and I could only stand frozen in horror.

There he was, desperately trying to fight. The urgency to protect could be felt so strongly coming from his figure. His silver eyes and armor gleamed so brightly that even the darkness of his hair became pure with it. It made my heart patter and clench in a dreaded pit of fear for what I knew would happen. His silver eyes shone in such a clear justice, I almost would've been convinced to follow them. Follow them to the stars and reach clarity. Reach the fathoment of the implicational blows that would've been fatal hits to the one cloaked in black. If the one in black didn't shy away from these blows would they have hit. Those fists only landed to where the black robes had slipped out of reach from, like a shadow did to the light approaching it. The shadow always shied away from the light filled with the intention to take the shadows away. But the shadows always came for the light that was vulnerable to them in the night. Like a literal promise to my mind's compromise, the shadow grabbed that face bright of light. The shadow clenched and the light cried out in shock that it had found the shadow's clutches. The shadow dangled it in the air before thrusting that face into the ground with a crack.

Those eyes. Those piercing eyes...

The woman's muffled scream snapped my limped state. Her dark and warm hands looked slightly pale and desperate as they clung in spite of the black gloved hand. Wooyoung tightened the grip of that hand which silenced her screams into the uneven patterns of breath. He kneeled there over Elara with that one hand and the other holding tight to her neck. His eyes had a slash of light that appeared sunken in greed. He stood over the knight who had sworn to protect me. Like that day he stood over him and I'd laid there in unmoving shock, doing nothing.

His nose curled in agitation to the figure squirming, yet, pinned below him, "You know the tone was subtle, right?" Wooyoung glared down at Elara who's hazed eyes were wide in an unfocused shock.

She guttered another scream that was once again covered by that hand that tightened its grip over her. Her body shook and convulsed in pain. He was taking her.

I was filled with multiple senses. First, it was helplessness. Then, it was fear. Remorse grew in to take the place of the thorn bushes of thoughts before they were ignited with out-right denial. And that flame bursted into something I never saw myself being able to face. It bursted into rage.

Then, there was a clear, loud, scream. Not a scream of horror or defeat, but a cry of a warrior— of one who held the flame of battle and who hadn't let the waves crash over it and snuff it out. I was the one who screamed.

My gold eyes were glaring as the violet ones looked up in shock to meet them. They froze there, locked in place with mine. I took in a sharp breath. A breath that took me deep within myself. Even to the point where the thick layers of mind had no possibility of being reached— that wall of dust. I dug there— my inner dust of starlight— from the bottom of that void. I stirred that eroded ruin until there was a flicker of light. Until sparks were flying. Until stars filled that void. Until that void soon began to glow brightly of all those different colors of stars. Until the light overtook all that darkness. Until only light was left. I channeled it and took that light from where it brood in the shadows of myself and I gave everything I had.

So I peered into those eyes and I went beyond those violet pupils.

I entered his mind.

I didn't bother to take note of how dark and cold it was or how it all seemed to cling to my presence as if it had known me. I didn't take note of a powerful brooding force that was set on pushing my presence out. No, I couldn't bother. I couldn't be bothered. Because I was enraged. I was overtaken by rage and my mind collectively only had one goal in that very moment.

Get. Off.

I'd somehow taken the reigns in my statement as it forced itself upon all that lied there. Somehow that thought of clarity I'd uttered brought a clear sense of direction and peace within me. The rage began to slip away as it was replaced by those feelings. I felt even more satisfied as I knew he'd complied. However, as fast as that rage left was as fast as my eyes clenched and my head spun. It was like my mind had been yanked and then thrown. Out of the subconscious that belonged to that force caused a quaking ring to fill my ears.

I struggled to remain propped from where I laid on the harsh vibrant blue carpet. It was a struggle just to desperately push down the twist from my stomach. My head continued to spin as my eyes blurred. I looked up then, trying to take in the scene.

First, the blur of grey and blue. The sword that was still firmly engraved into the wall. My eyes traveled below it to the black robed figure who was now sitting, backed against that wall. His chest was heaving heavily. I could only presume the blurred holes of where eyes would be were watching me in shock. Then, a figure rose up from below my view before the Taker covered my view of him entirely. My eyes could barely focus to take in the silver figure who now shakily stood in front of me. There was a mumble of words, but I didn't know what they were.

The ringing was taking over my ears as the distant thundering grew louder. And like the ringing, the burr had done the same with a dark shade to accompany it. Until the precious things that were made to protect my vision subdued me into the state that would take away their form of clarity. I closed my eyes.

REMEMBER:​​​​​​

1. Smack dat butiful star

2. Leave a comment talkin abt dis tea

3. Share dis tea induced book with yo fwends

WHY? Because I appreciate it 🥺

\\ See u in the next chapter! \\