Serene’s POV

Relief washed over me as I watched Zeph kill that Warmingtin and jump down from its limp body.

"You alright," I called over while lowering my bow.

"Yes, I am fine," he answered as he cleaned the blade of his sword on the dead body of the Warmingtin.

Golden spikes holding me hostage slowly disappeared into the thin air and I heard Artins Sensei call over to us.

"Serene, it’s time," listening to his words I focused all my energy and spread out my shield. It spread like a tidal wave all around and covered each one of my companions.

Kilamin had flown over and landed beside me. He nodded at me indicating we were going for Meliana. I steadied myself and focused on my shield.

"Clearing the path now, Zeph are you ready?" Kilamin inquired turning to Zeph who had sheathed his sword and was holding the vial of vanishing potion.

"I am," he gave me one final emotion-filled glance and emptied the vial in his mouth. Instantly he began to fade along with his clothes and sword. I gasped as disappeared into the thin air.

Then I felt his warmth near me as his soft lips slightly brushed mine. I stayed still, not wanting Kilamin to know about him kissing me. Zeph softly kissed me and whispered:

"Love you," in my ear before letting me go and moving away. I glanced around and found creatures falling left and right, being slain by his blade.

We had the upper hand now, due to my shield and I could feel hundreds of attacks as if tiny needles were being pricked on my skin but I held on as Artins Sensei, werewolves, Kilamin, Mariela Sensei, Ziva and others advanced toward Meliana. Shielded from her mind control they approached her fearlessly, wiping every creature that crossed them and dealing with all the vampires that hindered their path. Zilver and Lavaria Sensei stood with me, guarding me against anyone who would dare approach.

I heard Meliana scream: "You think you can defeat me, you dare enter my realm. I will unleash my wrath on you."

The ground began to shake and split open in several places, creatures, werewolves, vampires, and folkels began to fall inside as several 30-40 feet high creatures rose out like smoky specters. Their yellow eyes shone brightly, the creatures we had only read about in books, never seen before. They were the creatures that dwelled in the heart of the ground’s darkness. They were the "Guriakals".

Their mouths flew open and red flames emerged from inside their throats, burning, melting everything in their paths. They shrieked loudly as flames rose higher and higher, I could feel the heat as my shield defended my comrades.

"Attack, kill them," Artins Sensei yelled. Tens of 5-7 feet long golden arrows materialized in the air and impaled two of them. It was Kilamin, he conjured weapon after weapon, javelins, arrows, spears and pikes. He hurled them all at the creatures.

An intense battle ensued, Meliana laughed and barked orders, while I focused on maintaining my shield which was dwindling due to the massive attacks it had to endure.

"Hang in there, Serene," Zilvere yelled as he cut a seven feet tall creature in half. Lavaria Sensei in his werewolf form along with a few other werewolves was fighting a Guriakal.

The battle cries, death, and blood hung in the air and it was making me feel dizzy. My energy was depleting faster when I saw him. He stood a few feet from me and his eyes looked normal, they were no more black they had turned red. It was Arlo. There was so much pain in his eyes.

"Arlo," I yelled and he moved at lightning speed to come and stand near me. Zilver was on him, his sword rested on Arlo’s shoulder.

"Step away from Serene or I will be forced to cut you down," Zilver growled.

"I am not going to hurt her, I am myself right now." He finally spoke, his eyes not leaving mine.

"How?" I blurted out.

"She is distracted and using too much of her abilities on the creatures. So I go in and out of her mind control. I hardly try to push her out of my head so not fighting her makes it easier to survive, hence the reason I don’t faint when coming out of it." Arlo explained and Zilver removed his sword, I took Arlo under my shield so she wouldn’t be able to possess him again.

"Serene, I have a plan to defeat her. Hear me out." Arlo began to tell us the plan he had concocted while I focused my energy and listened to him.

"It’s a good plan, Arlo but we are here with a plan to so let’s make this a plan B in case our other plan fails." I confided in him and he awkwardly nodded.

Zilver got engaged in fighting vampires who constantly attacked my shield. I had my bow in my hand in case my shield fell because my energy was depleting fast.

"Serene, I am sorry for hurting you. I know this is not the right time and we are in the middle of a war for our existence but I might not get time to say this to you," his words were soft but filled with the guilt he must have been carrying for weeks. This hurt me, seeing him like that hurt me.

"You weren’t yourself. It’s alright, Arlo. Don’t worry." I gave him a half smile and he just stared at me with guilty eyes and a solemn expression.

The path to Meliana had been cleared to some extent and I was on the edge of my last energy, I gave one last push and my shield broke down. My breathing became raspy and my heartbeat accelerated.

"Now, Serene."

Kilamin shouted from the air above me and I focused whatever energy I had left and sent the rippling wave of destruction out, killing, slashing and wiping out every enemy that lay in our path.