4. Elowen

4

ELOWEN

I plunge my hands into the soapy water, scrubbing the grime from another set of armor. The repetitive task soothes my restless mind, a small reprieve from the storm brewing inside me. The memory of my family's screams, the dark elves' laughter, it all haunts me. I work harder, faster, trying to outrun those ghosts.

A sudden commotion breaks through my thoughts. Raised voices and hurried footsteps echo through the base. I drop the armor, water splashing onto my boots as I wipe my hands on a cloth. Curiosity prickles at me.

I step out of the dimly lit storage room into the courtyard outside the main hall, catching sight of Selene's striking white-blonde hair. She stands beside Raziel, his dark wings folded tight against his back. But it's not them who hold everyone's attention.

Two strangers stand beside them.

The first is a man with long black hair cascading down his back, his skin pale as moonlight. His wings—massive and dark—flare out slightly as he surveys the room with intense amber eyes. Next to him is a woman with tan skin and curly dark hair braided down her back. She's muscular, with sharp features that lead me to believe she's a vrakken even without the wings.

"Who are they?" whispers dart around.

Raziel's voice cuts through the noise. "We have new allies."

Allies. That word excites me. We need all the help we can get if we're to stand against the dark elves.

I edge closer, wanting a better look at these newcomers. The man stands tall, exuding an air of authority that's impossible to ignore. The woman beside him mirrors his confidence but carries something more—determination etched into every line of her body.

Selene's honey-colored eyes catch mine briefly before she turns back to address everyone. "These two have valuable skills that will aid us in our fight."

The crowd murmurs in response, a mixture of relief and skepticism swirling in the air. I can't help but wonder what these strangers have endured to end up here, ready to join our cause.

The woman's gaze sweeps across the gathered vrakken and humans alike, landing on me for a heartbeat longer than comfortable. There's something familiar in her eyes—something fierce and unbroken.

Raziel gestures for everyone to disperse, but curiosity roots me in place. The two newcomers exchange a look before following Selene and Raziel deeper into the base.

Hours pass, and my curiosity gnaws at me like a starved beast. It's been a while since I've seen Selene and I wonder what the arrival of these two newcomers mean. We get new humans regularly, but this seemed different.

I make my way to the library, a place where Selene often retreats to strategize with Raziel. The winding corridors of the base feel more confining than usual, the air thick with unspoken tension.

When I enter the library, the scent of aged parchment and ink greets me, a comforting contrast to the chaos outside. Selene sits at a long table covered in maps and scrolls, her face illuminated by magical orbs floating overhead. Raziel stands beside her, his wings half-open in a stance that speaks of both protection and readiness.

The newcomers are there too. The man's imposing presence fills the room, his black wings almost touching the ceiling. the woman stands close to him, her posture mirroring his alertness but with an edge of something softer—resilience tempered by compassion.

"Selene," I call softly, not wanting to intrude but unable to keep my distance any longer.

Selene looks up, her eyes lighting up when she sees me. "Elowen, come in."

I approach the table, my gaze flickering to the other two. Up close, they're even more formidable. His amber eyes seem to pierce through me, assessing my worth in an instant. Her hazel eyes are kinder but no less intense.

"Elowen, meet Nikolai and his mate Jessa," Selene introduces me with a warm smile. "They come from another base."

"It's nice to meet you," I say, dipping my head slightly in respect.

Nikolai nods in acknowledgment. "And you. We've heard much about the very first base. We decided it was time to come see it for ourselves."

"I hope it impresses you," I reply with a hint of a smile, still trying to gauge these two.

Jessa steps forward, extending her hand. "It's good to meet you, Elowen."

I take her hand, noting the strength in her grip. "Likewise."

I glance at Jessa and Nikolai, curiosity burning in my chest. "What was your base like?"

"We were only there briefly," Nikolai says, his voice deep and resonant. "Our time was spent mostly in preparing the temple."

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "The temple?"

Nikolai's gaze intensifies, his wings shifting slightly as he speaks. "Yes. My past is rooted in the temple. I grew up there, surrounded by the teachings of the First and Akeldama."

His words carry a weight that commands attention. I find myself leaning in, eager to hear more.

"The temple is a sacred place," Nikolai continues. "It's where we honor our origins and remember the power that flows through our veins. But over time, I noticed a growing complacency among our people. They forgot what it means to be vrakken."

Jessa nods along, her expression reverent. The devotion in her eyes surprises me; it's rare to see such passion among vrakken.

Nikolai's voice grows firmer. "I came above ground to remind everyone of the First and Akeldama, who we should be honoring. Our strength comes from them, and we must never forget that."

His words strike a chord within me. The fervor in his voice is unlike anything I've heard from a vrakken before. Most of them are detached, almost apathetic about their history and purpose.

"Do you believe it will make a difference?" I ask, my voice softer than I intended.

Nikolai meets my gaze, unwavering. "I do. If we remember who we are and where we come from, we can harness our true potential."

Jessa places a hand on his arm, her touch gentle but supportive. "We've already seen changes," she adds quietly. "More are beginning to remember and honor the old ways."

I nod slowly, absorbing their words. It's clear they both believe deeply in their mission. For the first time in a long while, I feel a flicker of hope—a sense that maybe, just maybe, things can change.

I look at Selene, questions bubbling to the surface. "Were you at that base too?"

Selene nods, her expression softening. "Yes, it's the one we went to visit a few months ago. We helped restore order and sent some recruits to build the temple. But we went back for Nikolai and Jessa's mating ceremony."

Her words sink in slowly, and I find myself processing each piece of information. The idea of them all working together to build something sacred is foreign yet fascinating. But before I can delve deeper into that thought, something else she said catches my attention.

"That's not what brought us here, though," Jessa mutters, and something in her voice catches my attention. I turn to look at Selene, who is exchanging a look with Raziel.

It's not the first time I've felt like an outsider. I can still see a bit of a divide between the two. Raziel is a vrakken, and I can tell that while he loves Selene, he doesn't share her affinity for every human that is brought into this place.

But Selene tilts her head, giving her mate some look that must convey I'm worthy of whatever they were talking about. Because Raziel then gives a nearly imperceptible nod, and Selene turns back to face me.

"A few days ago, we heard rumors of an attack from the dark elves," Selene continues, her voice lowering. Jessa nods, looking tense. "But we haven't received any word from the other bases confirming a problem. We don't know where it was."

My heart skips a beat, dread pooling in my stomach. "An attack?" I whisper, barely able to form the words.

Selene nods again, her eyes serious. "Yes. That's why we came back here—to strategize and prepare."

The room seems to close in around me. The memories of my family's death, my time as a slave—it all rushes back with a vengeance. I thought I had escaped them, left that nightmare behind. But it seems the dark elves are never far away.

I clench my fists, trying to steady myself. "What do we do now?" I ask, my voice steadier than I feel.

"We plan," Raziel says firmly. "We fortify our defenses and prepare for whatever comes next."

Nikolai steps forward, his presence commanding attention. "We have strengths they underestimate. Our knowledge of magic and the wildsponts gives us an edge."

Jessa nods in agreement, her fierce eyes meeting mine. "We're not alone in this fight."

Their confidence is reassuring, but the fear gnaws at me nonetheless. The dark elves are relentless, and I know all too well what they're capable of.

But as I look around the room at these determined faces—Selene's warmth, Raziel's resolve, Nikolai's intensity, Jessa's quiet strength—I feel a spark of hope ignite within me.

And this time, I won't be running from the dark elves.

I'll be ready to fight back.