Aftermath_The Armorian Chronicles

by Courtney Beals

  “As I told you before, you are both very special. You are the first twins in the history of Armoria. You must realize that these powers may not be as glamorous as they seem. They may be a hindrance and must be used with caution. Cautious as you will, we must find out what else you are capable of.”

  Lyla and Lilly didn’t think their powers could be dangerous. In what way could they be dangerous? Regardless of what they believed, they would take Arthur’s warning into consideration and proceed with the utmost care.

  Arthur turned the book around for them to see what he was reading. Each page had a different ability with the description of what it was and how to administer it underneath.

  “In the beginning of time, there was only one that had the ability to accomplish all that was in this book. Others had only select powers. As time went on and the bloodline continued, their powers dwindled as each generation passed. Now they are only left with the power to enhance energy and draw strength from it. Many people have come to me to see if they can do as the book said, but they all fail. All but one.”

  Lyla and Lilly turned to each other then back at Arthur as he continued.

  “The leader of the Armorians had acquired an abundance of power. He grew mad and became evil. That is when he had the idea to rule Armoria and was banished to Dresden. Years later, a Demorite known by the name of Damien who was just as powerful, followed in his footsteps and now rules in his stead.”

  Lyla felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She had no idea he had that kind of power. Maybe her dream was real.

  “Would he still have the same powers now?” Lyla asked.

  Arthur was intrigued by her question. “I suppose he would have the same abilities, but without drawing power from those around him, his power would be weak. Unless, he found a power source in the mountains that we are unaware of, but it is very unlikely.”

  “What if he did have all of that power and he was only getting stronger. How would anyone be able to stop him?”

  Arthur was pondering on her question, contemplating an answer.

  “Well, I wouldn’t know. I suppose one would have to match his powers and defeat him that way. Why do you ask child?”

  “No reason!” Lyla said nervously. “It just seems that he is up to something and no one knows what it is. We can’t rule that out as a possibility.”

  Arthur squinted his eyes and glared at her. He knew she was hiding something, but returned his attention to the book, and continued.

  The book contained information on telekinesis, clairvoyance, teleportation, and much more.

  One by one, the girls went through the book with Arthur to see what abilities that had. So far, they had not been able to achieve any. Arthur explained that everyone had the power inside of them, but not all could wield it. He told them to go deep within themselves to draw that power out.

  Arthur placed a wooden bowl in front of each of the girls. They all looked at the page and read what the book had to say.

  Telekinesis:

  Definition:

  The ability to move objects with your mind.

  How to Achieve This:

  Clear your mind, and visualize yourself moving the object. Feel your power within. It will then come to pass.

  “I don’t feel like this is very helpful,” Lilly said. She placed her elbows on the table and began rubbing her head.

  “How did you achieve telepathy? Because you wanted too, right? Because you believed you could. If you really want to do this, you can.”

  This got Lilly’s attention. Maybe that’s all it took. Could it be that simple?

  Lyla and Lilly prepared themselves to try it. They cleared their minds just as the book said and focused on what they wanted to do, move the bowls. After a few minutes, nothing had happened, not even a wobble. Lilly was about to give up when Lyla told her she couldn’t. They had the ability, she could feel it. They just had to keep trying.

  Lyla focused on the bowl and what she wanted it to do. She held her hand out toward the bowl and stared at it. She felt a cool sensation run from her stomach to her chest and the bowl moved. She didn’t move it to a different spot, but it wobbled. She gasped and her eyes lit up in surprise. Lilly noticed it out of the corner of her eye. If her sister could do it, then she could too. She focused on the bowl, and the next second, she got her bowl to move toward her an inch. Lyla and Lilly smiled and hugged each other.

  Arthur told them they would have to practice before they were good enough to control it. They tried a few other powers, but nothing seemed to happen. Either they did not have the ability or they were not able to unlock the full potential that lay inside them yet. If they found out they did not have other powers, they would not be upset. They were happy with what they had. Telepathy and telekinesis.

  Before they left, Arthur told them not to mention their powers to anyone else just yet. Lyla asked if they could borrow his book so they could learn of all the different powers. He didn’t refuse, but he wanted it kept in good condition, which they both promised to do, and then left.

  As they rode away Lyla thought it was a good time to mention a few things that had been on her mind.

  “Lil, I think it is best that we leave tomorrow morning.” Lilly stayed silent. “We have to go after grandfather. I know we have it good here, but he needs us. We can’t abandon him.”

  “I agree, we have stayed longer than expected, and it is time to go. We have to finish what we started.”

  Neither of them wanted to leave Armoria. It was such a great place, and even though they had only been there a few weeks, they fell in love with it.

  “Maybe grandfather can come here and live with us when this is all over.” Lilly smiled.

  “I’m not sure that will be possible.” Lilly frowned and looked at her sister, not understanding why. “If I remember correctly, only Armorian descendants can pass through the gateway.”

  Lilly didn’t want to lose hope. “Maybe there is a way. I will ask William.” They rode in silence the rest of the way, but they knew they were both thinking maybe, just maybe, he could come to Armoria.

  Chapter 17

  Lyla and Lilly arrived at the courtyard, and tied their horses to a post behind one of the buildings. Lyla was going to the training arena to meet with Thomas, and Lilly was going to meet with Giselle.

  As they were about to turn from behind the building and onto the concrete path of the courtyard, Lyla fell to the ground. She was holding her stomach and trying not to scream out from the pain. A burning sensation was now running through her entire body. Lilly crouched down next to her and asked what was happening. She was about to run for help when the pain stopped. Lyla got up, and it was as if it never happened. Lilly insisted she go home and lie down. Maybe it was from the bite on her arm, but Lyla refused, saying she was all right and felt fine.

  After minutes of convincing, Lilly finally allowed her to go to the arena. She told her to go straight home if it happened again. Lyla promised her she would and disappeared.

  Lilly reminded Lyla of a concerned parent who didn’t want their child to go back outside after coming in with skinned knees and elbows. That had happened once when they were young. Lilly had dared Lyla to jump out of a tree, and, never backing down from a challenge, she did it. She was young then and not as coordinated as she was now, so she fell to the ground. Her feet hit the ground and she lost her balance resulting in all-over scratches. Lilly had felt terrible and walked her all the way home.

  Lyla wasn’t sure if she wanted to tell Thomas what had happened, but she decided to tell him anyway. She didn’t want there to be secrets between them.

  The arena was crowded as usual. Lyla spotted Thomas by the sword fighting circle, where two young men were fighting each other. From where she was standing they both looked exhausted, and she wondered how long they had been fighting, but their symbols allowed them to continue. She was walking toward Thomas, when she saw Morgan approach him, and Lyla stopped in her tracks.

  Morgan smiled at
him, saying a few words, while Thomas stood and crossed his arms, listening to whatever she had to say. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close to her before he could pull back in retaliation. Lyla stood horrified as she watched Morgan kiss Thomas. She had expected him to push her away, but his hands met her waist. Morgan finally pulled away and turned her head toward Lyla with a large grin on her face. Thomas followed her gaze and saw Lyla staring at the both of them. She turned and walked out of the arena with Thomas running after her.

  Morgan was at the top of the ranks of people she despised most in the world, right alongside Damien. Lyla had saved Morgan’s life from the Demorite during the challenge on earth, and this is how Morgan repaid her. She wished she hadn’t saved her life because then none of this would have happened. She’d thought maybe one day Morgan would finally get over Thomas and that they could coexist, but that would never happen. Morgan would never change and would forever be a thorn in her side.

  “Lyla, wait,” said Thomas when he caught up to her.

  “What?” she said as she spun around to face him. She wasn’t upset, but frustrated and angry.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I had nothing to do with that.”

  “No, but you certainly had no problem kissing her back.”

  “That was a mistake, it was…nothing.”

  “It was more than nothing to me,” said Lyla. Even though her relationship with Thomas was still fresh, she felt betrayed. She wanted to scream to the world and hit something as hard as she could. “She’s never going to stop, is she?” Thomas said nothing, but looked down at the ground. “It’s time to end this.”

  Lyla walked back into the arena and spotted Morgan on the opposite side of the circle. They made eye contact, and Morgan looked angry as she saw Lyla and Thomas together. When Lyla approached her, Morgan had a very smug look on her face, her arms were crossed, and she was not happy. Her plan to break them apart had failed.

  “I see you have chosen the emotional child,” she snarled, looking at Thomas. Lyla thought it was absolutely ridiculous being called a child. Morgan had to be a few years younger than her.

  “He doesn’t love you,” said Lyla. “He never has and he never will.”

  “We will see about that,” Morgan snapped.

  “No,” said Lyla. “This ends today. You and I will step into circle and battle it out like adults.”

  “The victor wins Thomas’s heart,” said Morgan. “The loser walks away and never speaks to him again.”

  Lyla cracked a smile. “I’ve already won his heart, but I’ll agree to your terms.”

  “Lyla you’ve just suffered from a horrific injury; do you really think this is the best time?” Thomas protested. Lyla knew he was referring to the bite on her arm, but she had to do this. She would fight Morgan and be rid of her once and for all for Thomas’s sake.

  “Injury or not, I have already accepted the challenge and we are in agreement,” Morgan said, not taking her eyes off of Lyla. “I’ll meet you in the circle in five minutes. Be there or you automatically forfeit.” She spun on her heels and stomped away.

  Lyla walked to the weapons closet. She still carried her sword in her weapons belt, but she wanted to fight Armorian blade with Armorian blade. Thomas rushed after her, telling her how bad of an idea it was.

  “You believe in me, don’t you?” Lyla said. She was scanning through all the available swords. She picked up a few, feeling their weight and checking their length. She chose one that she felt could move well with her.

  “Of course, I do!” he exclaimed. “But…”

  Lyla interrupted before he could finish. “I’m doing this for you, for us. If this is the only way she will leave you alone and let you make your own choices, then so be it. If you regret your decision about us, then now is the time to say so.”

  “I regret nothing, other than allowing Morgan to come between us. I shouldn’t have let her…”

  “Do not enter the circle under any circumstances or the battle will be lost.” She took a step forward and tightly embraced him, before pulling away and starting for the circle. Thomas remained standing in the weapons room running both hands through his hair. He knew Lyla was a great fighter and was more than capable of winning this battle, but this was not her fight to win. He should be the one fighting because this was his life and his decision. If Morgan wanted to take it from him then she should fight for it and she was, but she was fighting the wrong person.

  He ran after Lyla, but she was already in the circle. He pushed his way to the front of the screaming crowd that was encouraging the fight.

  Lyla stood tall and strong as Morgan entered the circle. She could see the slight muscles in Morgan’s arms as she firmly grasped her sword. They both looked equally confident in themselves.

  The fight began and Morgan made the first move. She ran toward Lyla and swung her sword toward Lyla’s midsection. It would have made a deep cut had Lyla not jumped back to avoid it. Lyla swung over her head down at Morgan, who quickly pulled her sword up and blocked it. They held their gaze for a moment before Lyla swung her sword to the right toward Morgan’s ankles. Morgan did the same and met her sword at the bottom.

  The crowd watched in amazement as the girls battled back and forth. Their swords clashed over and over as they blocked each other’s strikes.

  After a while, Morgan began to get violent and physical. She was angered that Lyla was as good a fighter as she was, if not better. Every move she made Lyla counteracted and she began to worry that she might not win, as every blow became more aggressive than the last. She was letting her emotions get in the way, and Lyla knew she could use that to her advantage.

  Morgan waited until their swords were out of the way, and pulled her fist back before she launched it forward and hit Lyla in the face near her temple. Lyla stumbled back and fell to the floor as her vision blurred Lyla counter acted and sng Morgan to come between us. I shouldn;t sh she felt betrayed.ery nerve of her body.. Her sword loosened from her grip and slid behind her. She reached her hand to her head, trying to fight back the pain. Her gaze met Thomas’s as her vision cleared and she gestured that she was all right. If this is how Morgan wanted to play, she could do the same.

  Lyla stood up and noticed Morgan running toward her again. She looked around for her sword and noticed it was behind her. She turned and rolled to her sword. She grabbed the hilt and she swung it up just in time to block Morgan’s sword from coming down on her. Lyla saw the look in her eyes and realized that she was trying to kill her. Had this been her intention all along, or had she been enraged by the fight?

  She was the type of person that was spoiled and would not take lightly to possibly losing or not getting everything she had ever wanted. In this case, it was Thomas. Lyla understood her adoration for him, but she wasn’t just in love, she was obsessed with him. All these years she had tried to win his affection, but he never once felt that way about her. Now that Lyla was in his life, he never would, and Morgan was willing to kill her because of it.

  Lyla rose to her feet, pushing Morgan back. She was trying to get her at every angle she could. Lyla clenched her fist and drove it into Morgan’s stomach as hard as possible. Morgan collapsed and tried to regain her breath. It didn’t take long and she was back on her feet, but Morgan threw her sword on the ground. She was done sword fighting and wanted to continue without. Lyla was not against the idea and threw her sword down as well. Their audience, which had grown to twice the size since they started, gasped.

  Lyla and Morgan circled each other.

  Morgan came in first with another blow to Lyla’s head. She came in for a second hit, but Lyla blocked it with her forearm and kicked Morgan’s feet out from under her. She rolled to the side, avoiding any hit that Lyla might have planned next, and stood up. As Morgan came in with another hit, Lyla blocked her fist with her hand, and punched Morgan in the face to return the favor. Lyla slightly smiled, and Morgan held her head down and yelled through her clenched teeth. She looked
up at Lyla with a look that could have killed her if possible.

  Morgan ran toward Lyla and grabbed her hair, pulling her head back. Lyla yelled out, putting her hand over Morgan’s as if it would stop the pain. Morgan pulled a knife from her waist and cut Lyla over her bandages where she had been bitten. She screamed as blood began to flow down her arm.

  She felt an uncontrollable rush of heat flow through her body. It was taking over all her senses and all her control. Her hands fell to her sides, fingers stretching to the floor. A burst of energy came from her body like a wave, knocking everyone down to the ground.

  Thomas looked around unaware of what had just happened. Everyone was lying on the floor except Lyla. She was standing as still as a statue with her head back and her arms dangling down. He slowly got up and called her name, but she did not respond. Walking up to her with extreme caution, avoiding all the groaning and complaining people that were beginning to move, he saw that her eyes were dark and cold. It was as if she had escaped her body. All of a sudden, she gasped for air, and collapsed to the ground unconscious.

  Morgan was enraged about what had happened in the arena. Her arm had been broken when she was blasted to the ground, and she now had to have it in a sling. Lyla had cheated. She was possessed or something that Morgan could not explain. Whatever it was, something had to be done about it. She would make sure Lyla wasn’t around for it to happen again.

  She walked down a large hall with glossy floor and pillars on either side. She went up a set of stairs and came to a corridor that led to her father’s office. Morgan slammed the doors open, intruding without consulting Monroe’s assistant, who just so happened to be her mother. Her mother sat motionless in the chair that was set in the corner of the room, and her father had not even looked up from the papers he was shuffling through. He knew when someone barged into his office without warning it was always his daughter.