Chapter 2 You Need to Survive!

Devin's Point of View

The distant noise unsettled me, breaking through my attempts to sleep. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't drift off. Tossing and turning, I felt frustration creeping in. Why couldn't I just enjoy one peaceful night without interruption?

I pressed my hands over my ears, trying to block out the incessant sounds, but it was futile. My attempts at mastering i-sensys, the technique to filter unwanted noise, had been a complete failure so far. My mom always said I needed to be more patient and focused, but right now, all I wanted was to sleep.

Determined to complain to her about this later, I rolled over again. The noise, however, was growing louder and more erratic. It wasn't just the usual hum of the night-it was sharper, like an echo of something unnatural. My instincts prickled, and I couldn't ignore them any longer. I reluctantly sat up, blinking away the haze of sleep.

A knock sounded on my door just as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. James entered, his expression stern and his posture rigid. He wasn't one to visit unannounced unless it was important.

"You can't go out," James said, his voice firm.

"Why?" I asked, frowning.

"It's dangerous. Your mom's kind are here," he replied, his tone sharp and urgent.

"Werewolves?" I repeated, my heart skipping a beat. Excitement bubbled in my chest. This was it-the moment I'd been waiting for. Mom always refused to take me to her colony, always shielding me from her world. But now, werewolves were here, close enough for me to see them.

"Yes," James answered, but there was no joy in his voice.

"Then I need to go," I said, my excitement growing.

"You can't. Like I said, it's dangerous. Your mom's kind are here, but your kind isn't welcome among them," he explained, his words loaded with tension.

"My kind?" I asked, confused.

"Well, you're a two-in-one creature-both a mystic and a wolf. Unlike them, you're something they see as unnatural. They're bitter about it," James said, his gaze serious.

"That's ridiculous!" I snapped. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that nonsense?" I challenged, folding my arms.

"My prince, you must believe me. The situation is serious, and I've been ordered by both your Lord and Lady to keep you in this room," James said, almost pleading now.

"Wow, they really said that?" I asked, my tone dripping with skepticism.

"Yes, they did. They-" James was cut off mid-sentence, his voice cracking as he let out a sharp cry of pain. He stared at me, shocked.

"Then let me out!" I demanded, anger boiling inside me.

"No! Even if I have to endure more pain, I won't let you go," he said resolutely, though I could see the strain in his expression.

"Really?" I smirked and activated my mystic power, silencing his voice mid-sentence. His words choked into gasps as I watched him struggle against the invisible force.

"I guess we'll see about that," I said, holding the power over him.

James clawed at his throat, his face twisted in agony. "You...can't..." he stammered weakly, his voice barely audible.

"This is pointless!" I yelled in frustration, slamming my fist against the wall. With a huff, I released him from my power.

James doubled over, gasping for breath. "Thank you...for listening to reason," he managed to say between labored breaths.

"Listening to you? Don't flatter yourself. I've never been less interested in taking orders," I snapped, pacing the room.

The noises outside continued, a haunting melody of chaos. They swelled and receded in waves, like a cruel game of tension and release. My instincts screamed that something was horribly wrong.

"What if the danger comes to us here? What then? We're just supposed to sit and wait for death?" I argued, glaring at James.

"There are guards stationed all around. If anything happens, we'll know," he replied, his confidence unwavering.

"And what's the plan when danger gets here? To 'cross the bridge' when we're already dead?" I shot back, my frustration mounting.

James said nothing, his silence speaking volumes.

"I won't sit here and wait for the worst. I'll cross my own bridge now and take control of my fate!" I declared.

Before James could react, I bolted toward the window. His protests fell on deaf ears as I threw it open and leapt out, the cool night air rushing past me. I landed smoothly on my feet, crouching low behind a cluster of shrubs.

Looking back, I saw James at the window, gesturing wildly and yelling something I couldn't hear. I waved at him, a smug grin on my face, before creeping toward the front of the building.

The sight that greeted me made my blood run cold. Guards-our guards-lay motionless, their bodies lifeless and drenched in crimson. Among them were others, unfamiliar figures dressed in matching uniforms but bearing a different royal crest.

James wasn't lying-danger was everywhere.

I moved cautiously, keeping to the shadows as I approached the main entrance. Inside, the tension was suffocating. The hallway was littered with more bodies, and strange guards patrolled with grim efficiency.

A faint noise caught my attention-a voice. No, two voices. My parents' voices. I strained to hear them over the chaos, following the sound to a room further down the hall.

"If this isn't about the prophecy, then what is it about?" Dad's voice was firm but tinged with desperation.

"Like I said, it's not just about the prophecy, but it plays a part," an unfamiliar male voice replied coldly.

"Please, we have nothing to do with your colony. There hasn't been trouble between us in years," Mom said, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and anger.

"You should have thought of that before marrying into this colony," the man sneered.

"I'm not the first, and I won't be the last," Mom retorted, her defiance cutting through her fear.

"Perhaps," the man said with a cruel laugh, "but I'll decide that."

My stomach twisted as I crept closer, peeking into the room. My parents stood surrounded by strangers, their faces pale but determined. A sharp noise made me turn-a young woman bolted from a nearby room, only to be caught and mercilessly beaten by the guards. Their laughter echoed in my ears as they struck her down.

I clenched my fists, anger and helplessness surging through me. But I forced myself to stay hidden. I couldn't afford to act recklessly-not now.

Suddenly, the doors to the room burst open, and two figures stepped out. A man and a boy, both wearing matching smirks. The boy couldn't have been older than me.