Elika smiled as the band continued to play, the sound of music filling her ears with sweet bliss. She was sat beside her oldest brother Peter, his smile seeming to brighten the whole room.
Peter was exactly a foot taller than Elika, with combat cut black hair. His night black suit giving compliments to his emerald green eyes. Elika giggled before looking around the grand throne room, her eyes landing on Timmy.
As usual he was stood beside other soldiers, his black mullet like hair glued to his head with sweat. He stood shorter than most other guards, reaching only 6 foot 1. His navy green suit matching his mossy green eyes, his semi-automatic machine gun by his side.
Elika's eyes scanned the room once more, her eyes landing on her other brothers, Jake and Percy. They stood along the back of the room, Jake standing at a towering 6 foot 7 while Percy was a mere 5 foot 11.
Jake was the tallest of all her brothers, his shoulder length brown hair all but covering his deep black eyes. His bulky mass noticeable under his blue/black suit, barely able to conceal the weapon tucked into his waistband.
While Percy was taller than Elika, he was the shortest of the brothers, his blood-red suit baggy and uncomplimentary. His sleek black hair in waves down his back, his hazel eyes seemingly black in the dim light. Although no weapon could be seen, Elika knew all too well that Percy concealed throwing knifes in his army boots, ready for any attack that may come.
"Happy birthday my sweet daughter." Atnya said, her voice mimicking that of a gentle bird.
Elika smiled up at her mother, all her happiness radiating from the simple gesture. Her mother was both graceful and deadly, her grassy green eyes pure and yet full of knowledge and hatred. Her mother was only slightly taller than Elika reaching a short 5 foot 6, her raven black hair cascading in waves down her back.
Atnya stood tall and graceful as a queen should, her elegantly weaved peach dress hugging and complementing her hourglass figure. Her features free of any aging although the trace of many battles appeared in the simple scar, along her delicately small nose.
To finish of her gentle appearance was a golden tiara moulded in the shape of leaves that sat gently on her head; her disguise was a good one. Most unknowing souls falling into her trap as a fly does a spider's web, when once there you are doomed to die most painfully. No mercy has ever been shown to those who fall at her mother's feet, as had always been the case. Mercy was a weakness in their family a weakness that Elika had learned to hide for the sake of her own safety, but at the loss of her soul.
"Thank you, mother." Elika purred, remembering all too well the pain of not upholding her mother's training.
Atnya nodded to her daughter before retreating to her place beside the king, leaving Elika to her own devices.
Elika smiled once her mother was beside her father, it gave her the freedom to relax, even slightly. Though the celebration of her birthday was large and more than she could have hoped for, her mind wandered.
Troubling her with questions of what came next know she was of age, of course her training would come in handy. But the thought of going into battle shook her to the bone; could she handle taking another's life? Perhaps she did, though even if her heart became as black as those who surrounded her, her choices were still slim.
Elika sighed inwardly, her fear of becoming a being much like those of her family more evident this night.
When an immortal within their family reached the turning age of 16 their abilities will come to pass more evidently, their power reaching its peak.
She would most certainly receive them tonight, the darkness of the moon dragging them towards the surface. But which abilities would she receive? Her father's ability to consume souls? Or her mother's to manipulate innocents and heal the wounded? Elika new that her power to connect with the earth was unusual; it had not been heard of since before her father's time.
Deciding it was best to keep it to herself she pleaded with the creator that she would receive something that could help the people rather than destroy and consume them.
Elika hoped to avoid abilities like Hades' mind breaking power, or Darkous' power to manipulate the fires of hell. What she did hope for was something useful and good like Peter's ability to mould fresh springs and oceans to do as he pleased, or Jake's ability to control the four primary elements.
Elika forced her mind away from any thought of power, there was no sense in dwelling on things she had no control over. Elika smiled when she noticed that Timmy was fooling around with the other guards, it was rare to see fun in the palace. Especially with her father present, but this night was different.
Tonight her father actually smiled at the foolish games and childish behaviour that took place all around him, causing Elika to relax more into the comfort of her birthday. Elika quickly finished her first ever glass of champagne, giving herself the courage she needed to approach her father without an invitation. Elika rose from her seat situated in the centre of the room and slowly approached her father, taking deep and steady breaths.
"Father." Elika bowed deeply, standing just below the steps that lead to her father's throne.
"Yes, daughter." he replied, almost cheerfully.
"I was wondering, if I ... I mean if you would like to dance. With me that is." Elika said, her attempt at confidence crashing down to the ground along with her father's smile.
"Perhaps if you ask again, without sounding like a babbling fool." Atlas snapped, tapping his forefinger on the arm of the throne.
Elika cleared her throat, attempting to regain what composure she had. The whole room becoming eerie silent as her father's voice echoed from the walls. "Father, I was wondering if you would like to dance with me" Elika blurted, sighing with relief when her voice came out confident and in control.
"Yes." was the only answer Atlas gave as he stood from his seat and began heading towards the dance floor, leaving Elika to catch up of her own accord.
The room sprang back to life and Atlas took Elika's arm and began to dance, his smile genuine, but unnerving her to the bone.
Elika's smile grew after the second song; she had no idea why her father was being sweet and loving all of a sudden. But she couldn't say that she didn't like the fact that she was dancing with her father, enjoying her birthday.
"Have you received any insights into your power as of yet?" Atlas asked, looking down at Elika.
Elika's heart blackened slightly with the question, she scolded herself for believing that he said yes purely to dance with his daughter. No, she told herself sternly, he only wanted to know if you would be of any use to him in battle. Although Elika felt a tug of pain spread through her body, her smile remained.
"No father, not as yet. Though I do hope it is something that will be of use to you and the people." She replied, sweetly.
Her father sighed, though he too held his smile. After all, their whole life was about appearances, couldn't have the people knowing the truth now could they?
The dance continued on, with others soon joining in all around them. The sound of happiness spreading through the halls, though Elika felt none. Elika found herself lost in her own thoughts again, but this time was different.
They weren't her own thoughts, but someone else's; the thoughts dark and sinister, each sound unsettling and frightening for the princess. What is happening? Elika asked herself, seconds before realising the truth. She had not just gained a power from her mother, or her father. She had received Darkous' ability to reach into others minds, she had become telekinetic.
Elika gasped suddenly, letting go of her father. The shock hitting her system like a knife to the gut, no, the thoughts weren't her own at all. They were his, the one her people called the dark lord behind closed doors.
She was in his mind, the mind of the immortal so feared that his name was only spoken in whispers. Darkous ... She was reading the mind of her uncle.
Elika gasped again as her brothers rushed to her side, he was there. She could feel and now sense him, his blackened soul taunting at her mind. Daring her to scream.