48. Power #2
“Is that so?” Orion said. “And in the meantime, think of all the resources being wasted, just to fatten it up so it can fail in battle and fall at the first opportunity. What a waste. This won’t do, Master Ember.
I can’t believe such Aer-Kin, if you can even call it that, are allowed to draw breath on academy grounds.
This is just further proof of how low the academy’s standards have fallen.
How about I handle what you should have done when this monstrosity hatched. ”
“No, you can’t!” Desperation poured out of Lyric’s throat as Aeden rushed towards the gate to gain entry.
“I wouldn’t if I was you,” Rosheen said. “It won’t end well for you.”
Reluctantly, Aeden let go of the gate and took a step back. He was powerless to stop this, whatever this was. All he knew was that he did not have a good feeling about what was about to unfold.
Orion scoured the field until his attention landed on Midnight, who had barely paid any attention to Lyric and Orion since they entered the pen, unlike the vast majority of the others .
Orion stood perfectly still as he seemed to just stare at Midnight.
It took a few moments for anything to happen.
Then Midnight began to squirm, clawing at her head, something Aeden hadn’t seen before.
She shook her head over and over again, clawing that hard that she drew blood from one side of her face.
It was as if she was fighting some unseen presence, and it was clear it had something to do with Orion.
“Please, don’t,” Lyric pleaded. “Please don’t do this.” Lyric’s voice cracked as he desperately tried to change Orion’s mind. He seemed to know what was happening, he knew what was coming next, and looking at the fear on his face, Aeden’s concerns rose like a geyser.
Midnight continued to desperately fight against whatever the unseen was, her body jerking as she dropped to the ground, rolling around on the ground as if she was in agonising pain. All the while Orion’s intense gaze did not falter, he did not break his line of sight.
“Please, please, I beg of you.” Lyric was distraught.
When Midnight stopped squirming, there was something unnatural about her.
The twitching, the writhing around, it stopped very suddenly.
She rolled from her back onto her front and stood up, calmly, like nothing had happened, like nothing was affecting her.
The way she carried herself, her mannerisms, they all changed in an instant.
Her eyes were not as wide and wondrous as they had been. Now they were cold and calculating.
Midnight’s head snapped to the side, her attention suddenly on Bertha. She lowered herself down, not in a playful manner, but as if Bertha was prey rather than a fellow hatchling .
“No!” Lyric shot forward, but Orion quickly looked towards him, and Lyric stood rooted to the spot. “Not Bertha, you can’t.” The sobs, the desperation in Lyric’s voice were heart breaking for Aeden to hear. He hated how powerless he was to do anything.
Midnight crawled along the ground, poised, predatory. Bertha noticed something wasn’t right; she stood up and began walking backwards away from her sister.
She was defenceless as Midnight let out a slow grumble, which wasn’t her usual tone.
This was deeper and darker. Out of nowhere, she launched at Bertha, furiously clawing and snapping at her, the two of them turning into a blur of midnight blue and red.
Bertha didn’t stand a chance. She was slower, nowhere near as nimble, and unlike Midnight, her teeth were rounder. She wasn’t built for fighting.
Bertha let out a shriek of pain, anguish, fear, and everything in between. The noise was horrific as Aeden found his eyes filling with tears. This was barbaric.
Midnight continued to attack her, slashing at her as bleeding claw marks raked over Bertha’s body, leaving thick pink stripes of open flesh. Bertha continued to cry out, desperately. She needed help, but none was coming, not from the other Aer-Kin, not from Lyric, not from Aeden.
The fear and sorrow in her eyes was haunting as she looked around her, desperate and confused as Midnight continued her assault.
“Please, please stop,” Lyric pleaded, his voice broken, just like his spirit. “She’s only a hatchling, she doesn’t deserve this.”
“Very well.” Orion’s voice was cold .
Midnight stopped for a brief second, watching over the injured Aer-Kin. Bertha let out a pained, pleading cry before Midnight lashed out again, and this time she went for Bertha’s throat and clamped down like a vice.
A gargled grumble came from Bertha as she tried to fight until her body went limp.
“No!” Lyric roared.
“That’s better,” Orion said, turning around and clapping his hands together as if he was removing dust from his hands. “One less mouth to feed.” He started walking back towards Aeden and Rosheen.
Aeden didn’t know what to do, what to say, or how to react. He couldn’t contain his own sobs at what he had just witnessed. Bertha was sweet, innocent, harmless. There was no need for what they had just witnessed.
No sooner did Orion break his gaze from Midnight than the Aer-Kin shook her head.
Midnight looked over Bertha, tilting her head to one side, a gentle, playful sound coming from her.
Confused, she pushed a foot into Bertha as if she was trying to nudge her awake.
When Bertha didn’t move, she lowered herself to give her sister a gentle lick before chittering in confusion.
“Get away from her!” Lyric roared as he ran towards Bertha. He waved his arms around furiously. Aeden had never heard such anger in his voice. “You get away!”
Confused and startled, Midnight leaped backwards, her body dropping to the ground in submission.
Orion left the enclosure and smiled at Aeden before leaving without saying a word. Aeden didn’t watch them leave. He opened the pen and raced towards Lyric, who dropped to his knees next to Bertha .
Aeden moved to comfort Lyric as quickly as he could, entering the enclosure much against the advice that Lyric had given him previously. The rest of the Aer-Kin, one by one, lifted their heads into the sky to let out high-pitched cries.
Lyric placed his hands on Bertha’s side, then began stroking her head.
“It’s okay Bertha, there, there.” His voice was broken, his cheeks wet with tears. “I’m here.”
Midnight stepped slowly towards Lyric, who continued to cradle Bertha, her head low in submission, in shame at what had happened.
Lyric flailed an arm out at her. “I said get away from her! L-Look at what you’ve d-done!” he stammered, spittle leaving his mouth and landing on his thick beard. “I – I hate you!”
Aeden had never heard Lyric act so aggressively, nor seen him lash out at an Aer-Kin. He didn’t think he ever would.
Midnight jumped back again, lowering her head and chittering again. She spun around in a circle, scanning the field of her brothers and sisters, who all had eyes on her, before slowly retreating away.
Aeden couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. Whatever had just happened, it was clear that she hadn’t been in control of her actions. It had something to do with Orion.
For now though, Aeden needed to help Lyric. He needed to do whatever he could to comfort him and help with Bertha’s body.