'This place...'
In the darkest hours of the night, Ethan was silently admiring the purple moon that was softly shining in the black ink sky, devoid of stars. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, enjoying the gentle night breeze on his skin.
It wasn't reality, Ethan knew it. The purple moon and the black ink sky without stars have always been his principal way to separate dreams from reality as his dreams have always been quite realistic. To the feeling of the wind on his skin, to the smell of the forest or the coldness of the night.
But other than the sky, the coldness of the fire near him was another indicator that it wasn't real, merely his brain replaying that cruel scene from ten years ago.
The same forest, the same fire, the same corpse, the same moon and sky.
Only one thing differed.
"It's beautiful."
Reopening his eyes, Ethan lowered his head, looking past the raging flames towards the boy who was admiring the fire with a smug smile.
His brown hair were tied back in a elegant ponytail, and his blood red eyes shined with cruelty as he watched the bodies burn. The moon was softly caressing his pale skin, as the fire reflected in his eyes in almost an ethereal way.
Ethan couldn't help but think he looks so real. And yet so fake.
The boy seemed to be around sixteen year old and older at the same time.
It was like there was fog on his face, making it hard to distinguish any other facial trait than his eyes and smile.
But Ethan didn't need to see his full face to know who it was.
And yet, he felt a twinge of sorrow as he watched the boy's facial traits become more and more of a blur.
'Am I forgetting what Azin looks like...?'
The thought broke his heart. The perspective of forgetting what his own brother looks like sadden him.
Ethan kept his expression neutral as he glanced down at the grasses to avoid looking at the fire and the one standing near it.
"Don't you think it's beautiful, Ethan ?"
Azin's voice was distorted, close yet distant, warm and cold, young yet old. It was vibrating through the place, echoing in Ethan's ears causing him to hold his breath.
"..."
Ethan raised his head, looking at the purple moon again.
'Yes... The moon is beautiful...'
"Talking of beautiful, aren't I just lovely tonight ?"
Azin elegantly spinned, his black fur cape brushing against the fire. He was dressed in a black blouse, vest, pants and boots. The only touch of colors were his white gloves and the red ribbon tying his hair back.
After admiring himself, he glanced at the burning corpses with a twisted smile before reaching a hand towards Ethan.
"Come on, it's my big night. The one everyone is waiting, wishing for."
His smile became smugly inviting. Ethan didn't say anything, mindlessly reaching his hand too. He felt as if he didn't have any control over his body at the moment, simply doing as the dream wants him to.
He moved slowly, his hand coming at an abrupt stop just above the flames. Azin's smile dropped as he narrowed his eyes, a dangerous light shining in his irises.
"The one I won't let you steal away."
A carbonized hand suddenly emerged from the fire, grabbing Ethan's wrist, causing him to flinch. He doesn't have time to react as he is brusquely pulled in the flames.
As the fire enveloped him, he felt himself fall into the darkness and let out a gasp, immediately straightening up, his back hitting the back of his chair.
He looked around, his heart pounding in his chest, realizing that he was back in his room. No fire, no forest, no Azin. He has come back to his reality, to the coldness of his bedroom.
The room was quite simple, with a bed, a small desk and a old wooden wardrobe.
Feeling his heart slowing down a little, he could see through the window that the moon was a bact to normal, shining in the sky surrounded by stars.
He took a deep breath and rubbed his face, feeling exhausted.
'I need water..'
Ethan softly rubbed his wrist, feeling the softness of the unharmed skin, before getting up and leaving the room.
He was currently in the manor situated at the border between Earth and Elyon's Lands.
As the name implied, Elyon's Lands were the lands that the God Elyon created Himself and where He resided, along with five Clans : the Angels, Demons, Succubus, Wolfs and Vampires.
However, the relations between the Clans was really tense, to the point where a law was written to forbid any interaction with any one who doesn't belong to the same Clan.
They are all living revering the same God and yet they hate each other to the point there almost was a war centuries ago.
To avoid this, Elyon created the Pillars, a group of three, now five, members, each representing a Clan and tasked with making sure that the tensions stay as low as possible.
The manor Ethan was currently staying in was built by the God to house the Pillars, forcing them to cohabit.
But Ethan doubt that Elyon actually wants to keep peace as He would often go years without choosing a new team.
This time it took Him fifty years to choose new Pillars. And before that, it took Him two hundred years.
But now, a new generation is here.
And Ethan was one of those who was selected.
Walking down the pitch black hallway, he ignored the portraits on the walls. They were all ancient leaders of the Pillars. The painted people following him with their gazes, quietly judging him.
But he was used to being judged, so he kept walking, his steps steady, silently pondering.
'Why did I have to dream of him now ? After all these years, I should have moved on... Right ?'
He sighed and slowed down slightly, deciding to finally spare a glance to the paintings as a way to distract himself. He read every rusty yellow plaque under the portraits, trying his best to register all of them in his memory. He also counted each eyes color to determine the pourcentage of leaders for each Clans.
"Ethan ?"
The demon blinked, looking at the young woman in front.
Approximately five days ago, a rumors started spreading. Apparently, a wolf knocked on the door of the Angel's castle. That on itself was a surprise as the said wolf wasn't a Pillar and therefore shouldn't have even left his Clan's part of the Lands.
Something else that was quite strange is the fact that, by the time the guard ran to woke up the queen and returned with her, the aforementioned wolf had already vanished.
Furthermore, when asked to described him, the guard couldn't remember anything else but his eyes color. Not really helpful as all the wolfs have the same eyes color.
But what was more shocking was the fact that the wolf apparently was carrying a unconscious human on his back.
And that human was Ambassador Alyssa Williams : a white-skined nineteen years old human girl with shoulder length raven hair, ocean blue eyes and purple framed glasses.
She was wearing a knee length night blue dress with stars sewn on it, with tights of the same color and the same pattern. Moon-shaped earrings gently brushed against her cheeks whenever she moved.
As he wasn't used to this kind of outfit, Ethan couldn't help but analyze it everytime he saw her.
"Ambassador Williams." Ethan politely bowed.
She closed the door of her bedroom and took a step in hallway.
"Didn't I already told you to call me by my name ?"
Ethan froze, taking a few seconds to analyze her tone. Playful, teasing. He relaxed and raised his head.
"Ah... I apologize..."
Alyssa shook her head with an amused smile. Ethan glanced at the door behind her and then at the weird rectangular object in her hand.
"Is the get-together already over ?"
To share with the other Pillars the wonder of Earth's gastronomy, Alyssa had organized a little get-together where she would make everyone taste different types of the food.
Ethan managed to politely decline the invitation, preferring studying instead.
"No, why ? Oh !"
Alyssa's eyes widened, as if she had a revelation.
"You decided to join us !"
The demon faltered a little, wondering how did she came to that conclusion.
"It's not-"
"I wanted just to grab my phone. We're all in the kitchen ! Come on !"
"I-"
But she had already turned her back, walked away, the heels of her black boots resonate against the ground with each of her steps. Ethan was left completely dumbfounded by the turn of events.
'Well, I was already going to the kitchen anyway..."
Resigned, he followed behind her in silence through the black and red halls of the mansion. All the bedrooms were on the first floor so they had to go down the main stairs of the manor. They then turned right, walking down another hallway.
After a few more seconds, they arrived in front of a black door behind which Ethan could faintly hear noises.
He advanced to open the door for Alyssa but she was faster and opened it first, a pleased smile on her face.
"Look who decided to join us-"
"Give me that, you crippled freak !"
"Get your own bag !"
"Guys, calm down, I'm sure there is enough for everyone..."
Alyssa raised her eyebrows while Ethan had to held back a sigh at the scene playing before them. He had just arrived and yet...
'I want to go back to my room...'