Page 42 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire (Order #4)

Chapter forty-one

Rowan

H is scream is the only thing I hear.

In all my life, nothing has ever sounded as painful as the cry that has allowed itself to slip free from Xavier's chest. Screaming and crying uncontrollably, Forest's lifeless body bleeds freely from her wounds, painting Xavier and the surrounding water in a bright red hue.

"Forest, baby, wake up!" Xavier cries, doing his best to drag her from the water.

Silent and keeping our distance, every single Official and Revolutionist that was once ready to tear into one another's throats is now staring at the sight in horror.

Floating in the water, facedown, Elyon's body begins to sink to the bottom of the water, embraced by the very waters that created him. Mangled and worn, the cold mask of silver that had once tormented the lands has now met its bitter end.

"Forest Flower," Xavier cries. "Wake up, baby." His cries turn his voice into a raspy gasp. Rocking on the ground at the edge of the water with her and his daughter in his arms, her blood covers the ground. "Wake up. Our girl needs her momma-"

Stopping, he stares at the child bundled in cloth in his arms. Slowly raising her to his ear, his eyes look blank and empty.

Taking a step back, I grip Elias's arm.

Neither of them have heartbeats.

"We have to go," I whisper.

Leaning his head on the ground, Xavier's vicious cry seems to shake the very earth we stand on.

"Let me through!" Kai yells as she shoves past the group of people surrounding the gruesome sight.

Holding Aaron back from comforting Kai, Valerie keeps her arms wrapped around her cousin.

Lingering in the tree line, the Shifters slowly begin to retreat.

Something is coming.

Something bad.

Still holding the bloodied blade, Fallan stares at Xavier with teary eyes.

"X-Xavier," Kai sobs.

Falling to his knees before Xavier, he grabs the man's face, doing his best to get him to look at him.

"Xavier, what's wrong?" Kai gasps. "What's-"

Looking down at his sister and niece's lifeless bodies, shock overcomes his expression. With a gaping mouth and soulless look in his eyes, Kai falls to the ground, seated at the feet of his fallen family. Covering his face with his hands, his screams are no match for the sobs tearing free from Xavier's throat.

Taking a step forward, Fallan clears his throat.

Oh.

God, no.

"X-Xavier?" Fallan whispers. "I-It will be alright."

Glaring at Mason, we lock eyes, both of us sharing a mutual look of understanding.

"We need to get our people to the Underground. Right fucking now."

Shifting the bodies in Kai's lap, Xavier places one light kiss on both of their foreheads. Taking yet another step back, I grip Elias tighter.

Standing up, the look Xavier wears is straight out of a nightmare.

I used to think the look of rage in Elyon's eyes was the worst I had seen.

Now? His look doesn't compare to what has taken residency in Xavier's eyes.

Holding his torso, Atticus lingers in the tree line, watching the exchange with a look of curiosity.

Fuck, I thought I had put him down.

Meeting my gaze, Atticus throws me a malicious grin, one that holds more weight than what meets the surface. Creeping back into the tree line, his cold look consumes me.

Looking at Xavier now, the vision I had shown Forest begins to finally register.

It wasn't Elyon I saw.

Filled to the brim with revenge, the monster that has been created has finally made its appearance.

The silver mask I saw was never Elyon... it was Xavier.

"Is that the blade?" Xavier whispers coldly. "Were you the one wielding the blade that... that killed my wife after she ripped our child from her womb to save her?"

Swallowing dryly, Fallan drops the blade.

"Xavier, I didn't-"

"Kill him!" Kai yells with no remorse. "Fucking kill him!"

Flinching at the sound of Kai's voice, Aaron holds himself back.

This isn't the Kai he had grown to love.

Kaiden Blackburn died with his sister.

"I will fucking rip his head off for you," Kai screams. "I will tear him apart limb by limb-"

"It's alright, Kai," Xavier whispers. "I will keep you safe," he hisses. "I will keep all of our people safe."

Taking yet another step back, my power festers within me, waiting to unleash on everyone around me.

Looking around, Xavier's eyes barely pass by mine. Focused on the Officials waiting for dictation, Xavier snaps his fingers.

"Take my wife and daughter back to the Precipice," Xavier hisses. "I want them in the medical unit immediately to be treated."

Moving without so much as a word, Fallan tries to speak up.

"Xavier-"

"Silence!" Xavier shouts, swiping his hand past the front of Fallan's face, he lets out a vicious scream.

Grabbing his eyes, blood pours from their sockets. Tightly gripping a blade with a white knuckle, a deep gash runs across Fallan's eyes, blinding the man almost instantly.

Unsure when I stopped breathing, everything seems hazy.

Still coated in Forest's blood, my stomach rolls as we all watch in horror. Grabbing Forest and the baby with gentle motions, the Officials work together to keep them both secure. Sobbing as he watches his sister and niece be carried away, Kai staggers toward Xavier, gripping his cloak for support.

Stepping on Fallan's back to move past him, Xavier creeps toward the silver mask lingering on the ground at our feet. Grabbing it, he turns it in his hands.

"Xavier, you don't have to do this," Mason hisses. "It's over. It's all over. Elyon's reign-"

"The Marked still roam among us," Xavier whispers. "Infiltrating society, creating chaos in every part of the world they infest. Forest knew this. Forest knew that the Marked could not continue on-"

"That was not her will," I yell, finally taking a stand. Snapping his focus to me, Xavier's tear-clouded eyes narrow.

"Rowan, don't," Mason snaps.

Ignoring him, I glare at Fallan's mutilated face.

This is not the way.

"Forest wanted to protect you. To protect all of us from Elyon. She knew the cost. Killing off the Marked won't bring her back-"

"Her blood," Xavier hisses. "You are covered in her blood."

Looking down, I swallow dryly.

"I tried to save your daughter," I plea. "I tried to save Forest-"

"All the Marked have ever done is ruin my life and the lives of those around me," Xavier hisses. "Their kind is the reason Forest is gone. Their kind is the reason my daughter is gone," he warns. Looking around he shakes his head. "There will be no peace so long as the Marked exist. There is no way other than mine-"

"Xavier. Listen to yourself. What the fuck has gotten in your head?" Aaron snaps. "You are talking just like Elyon-"

"Mind your tongue!" Kai yells, flicking his wrist with precision.

Hearing the crack well before Aaron's scream, his leg bends inward, broken in an instant. Covering my mouth, the lack of remorse Kai presents is haunting.

What the hell is happening?

What is coming for all of us?

Supporting her cousin, Valerie covers him with her body.

"I won't let you exterminate our kind," Mason yells. "I won't let you become the very thing you hated so deeply-"

"There is no other way," I whisper.

Taking into account every single thing my mind has shown me over the past several months, the window in my mind to see what has yet to come finally has full clarity.

It was never the Prophet I had seen.

It was always Xavier.

The very future I thought I was stopping, I helped create.

The worst has yet to come.

Finally giving me his full attention, Xavier Winnows in front of me. Grabbing my chin to get me to look at him, I don't let him see the fear I carry.

"You don't have to be my prey," he hisses. "You can do your duty to Forest and bring down the Marked. I would hate to waste so much potential by ending it with the edge of my finest blade."

Shoving his hand away, I glare at him.

"Forest would be disgusted to hear what you are saying right now."

Grabbing my throat, he moves too quickly for anyone to react. Holding me by my neck, he lifts me off the ground, smiling at the sight of my struggle.

"I guess we will never know, will we, Rowan?" he hisses. "Because our kind killed her, so I am going to kill all of them."

Tossing me aside, I collide with Elias, both of us skidding across the ground. Taking staggered breaths, our group huddles closer, all of us filled to the brim with fear.

"A new empire is coming," Xavier warns. " My new empire."

Grabbing the broken silver mask, chills run down my spine once he places it on his face, only covering half.

As if it was pulled straight from nightmares, the true terror that has been unleashed in this world stands before me.

We were never stopping the Prophet.

We were creating his prodigy.

"You all have two days," Xavier warns. "Two days to run, two days to hide. Anyone who stays behind will have the luxury of joining me and my cause," Xavier smiles. "Anyone who leaves these grounds today will not live to see their next year."

Extending his hand out, he waits for one of us to accept his offer.

"Any takers?"

Passing glances to our group, no one pipes up.

"Fallan?" Xavier sighs, "Do you wish to stay with them?"

Crying like a child, he shakes his head no.

"I figured as much," Xavier laughs. "You are much more useful without those baby blues."

"Mason," I mutter.

Sharing a mutual look of acknowledgment with all of those around us, it becomes clear what needs to happen.

"I know," he says coldly. "Run."

"Go," I yell. "Go!"

Like animals in a forest fire, our group all make a break for the tree line, running and Winnowing as we help one another move. Watching as the group dissipates into nothing, Aaron gives Kai one last look before disappearing in the tree line with his cousin. Grabbing my hand, Mason tugs me and Elias with him, urging us as far away from Xavier as he can.

"Run," Xavier yells. "Run as far as you can, Rowan Eros."

Turning my head, his gaze latches to mine as the world goes silent.

"Because once you start, you will never stop."

Nothing could have prepared me for how true that statement really was.

End book 4.

End The Order Series prequels.