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“Humans cling to their technology like it is their savior. Anytime there is even a blip in the power, an hour without running water, or fifteen minutes without the precious world wide web, they simply fall apart. Like a toddler left with an empty cone when her ice cream has fallen to the ground, they wail and whine. Now that I’m thinking about it, perhaps I should kill the humans first, then take out the technology.

There would be so much less wailing then. Decisions, decisions.” ~ Celise

T he portal shimmered behind her as Celise stepped into the heart of London, her dark eyes scanning the sprawling city of lights, steel, and concrete.

She inhaled deeply, savoring the biting chill of the night air, though her lips curled in disdain.

Beneath the glittering skyline and the mechanical hum of the city, she could feel it—a parasitic energy radiating from the human technology that dominated this world.

It wasn’t just noise or light; it was a leech, choking the magic that once flowed freely through the earth, leaving the supernatural realms starved and withered.

Her sisters followed one by one, stepping from the portal with varying degrees of hesitation. Crestia was the first, her sharp-green eyes narrowing as she surveyed the city with a smirk. “Humans and their steel jungles.” Her voice dripped with derision. “They’re so proud of this mess, aren’t they?”

Limaria came next, her luminous presence dimmed by the oppressive weight of the city’s energy. Her pale-silver hair shimmered faintly under the streetlights as she folded her arms, her gaze calm but thoughtful. “I don’t like it,” she murmured softly. “The Balance feels … off.”

Thraya stepped through after her, her golden hair framing her cautious expression.

She paused just beyond the portal, her light-brown eyes scanning their surroundings with quiet wariness.

“Are you sure about this, Celise?” Thraya’s voice was steady but tinged with unease.

“Humans may be fragile, but they’re clever. They’ll fight back.”

Celise didn’t bother to turn around as she spoke. “Let them try,” she said coldly. “It won’t make a difference.”

Finally, Hishta emerged, her dark curls falling over her shoulders as she stepped lightly onto the pavement.

She stayed close to Thraya, her amber eyes darting from shadow to shadow.

Quiet as ever, Hishta said nothing, but the tension in her posture betrayed her unease.

She clutched her hands together, her fingers twisting nervously as she followed her sisters.

Celise gestured toward the glowing city ahead of them, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Behold, the pinnacle of human arrogance. Steel towers, endless lights, machines that hum with stolen energy. They’ve drained magic from the earth and replaced it with this …

blight. And they think it makes them invincible. ”

Crestia snorted, her lip curling in a grin. “They’re not invincible. They’re just ants pretending to be giants. Let’s see how they fare without their toys.”

Limaria frowned, and her brow furrowed slightly. “Destroying one power plant won’t undo the damage they’ve done, Celise. It won’t bring the magic back.”

“No. But it’s a start. And more importantly, it will send a message.”

Thraya hesitated and narrowed her eyes. “A message to whom? The humans? Or the supernaturals that oppose what you plan?”

Celise’s smile faltered for half a second before she recovered, her tone sharp. “To everyone. Now, if you’re done questioning me, we have work to do.”

Apparently she wasn’t done asking her questions. “What about Shade?” Thraya’s brow rose. “Do you really think we should write him off so easily? You honestly think whatever agenda he has isn’t going to interfere with yours?”

Celise’s ire rose as she glared at her sister. Perhaps she should have left this one in the afterlife. “I’ll deal with Shade when it’s necessary. For now, whatever he’s planning, it’s not affecting what we’re doing. And who knows, maybe it will be us who screws up his plans.”

Thraya fell silent, though the tension in her jaw didn’t go unnoticed.

Hishta remained quiet, her gaze flicking toward Thraya as if seeking reassurance.

But it was Crestia who stepped forward, her grin widening as she cracked her knuckles.

“I say we get started. The humans have had their time. Now it’s ours. ”

Celise smirked, pleased by her sister’s enthusiasm. “Exactly.”

The power plant, a hulking mass of steel and concrete belching smoke into the night sky, loomed ahead.

Its chimneys rose like skeletal fingers clawing at the heavens, and the air around it buzzed with the raw, unnatural energy it generated.

The machinery hummed beneath Celise’s feet—a constant, grating reminder of humanity’s parasitic existence. She wanted it gone. All of it.

They slipped inside through a side door, the low rumbling of the plant filling the air.

The acrid scent of oil and metal clung to the walls, and the heat was stifling.

Celise led the way, her steps confident and deliberate, while her sisters followed in uneasy silence.

Crestia walked closest to her, and her sharp, green eyes scanned the machinery with a mixture of disdain and anticipation.

Limaria trailed behind her, calm but watchful, while Thraya and Hishta lingered at the back, their unease palpable and annoying as hell to Celise.

As they moved deeper into the plant, Celise spotted two engineers standing near a control panel, their backs turned as they studied the glowing screens in front of them. A slow, predatory smile spread across her lips.

“Well, isn’t this quaint.” Her voice cut through the hum of machinery.

The men spun around, their eyes widening as they took in the sight of the five women. The younger of the two, wiry and pale, stepped forward, his hand hovering near the radio clipped to his belt. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice trembling slightly.

Celise tilted her head. “Oh, just a concerned citizen.” Her tone mocked him. “You see, I couldn’t help but notice how much energy this little operation of yours consumes. It’s … offensive.”

The older engineer frowned, and his graying eyebrows knitted together. “I don’t know who you are, but you’re not supposed to be here. This is a restricted area.”

Crestia snorted, her lip curling. “Humans and their rules. They think a locked door will keep us out.”

Limaria glanced at Celise, her calm demeanor cracking slightly. “Celise, maybe we should?—”

“Quiet,” Celise snapped. She raised her hand, and shadows began to writhe around her fingers, dark tendrils coiling like living things.

The engineers froze. Their faces paled as the darkness slithered toward them. “What… What is this?” the younger man stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Celise’s smile widened. “This,” she said softly, “is the end of your little empire.”

She flicked her wrist, and the shadows lashed out. But before they could strike, Crestia stumbled back, clutching her head with a gasp. “Something’s wrong.” Her voice trembled. “I can’t feel my magic. It was there, a low pulse beneath my skin, and now it’s gone.”

Limaria’s eyes widened. “What? That’s not possible.”

Hishta raised her hands, her amber eyes wide with confusion. She tried to summon fire, but nothing came. “It’s not working,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Thraya stepped forward, her hands glowing faintly as she attempted to summon her healing magic. The glow flickered and died, leaving her trembling. “Celise, what did you do?” Her voice was tight with fear.

Celise turned to them, her shadows dissipating as anger flared in her dark eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“You brought us back.” Limaria’s voice shook. “You must have done something, screwed up the spell, or missed something. This isn’t right. How can our powers be gone?”

“That’s impossible,” Celise snapped. How dare they challenge her. She had done everything, risked everything, in order to fix what Peri had screwed up. “I brought you back stronger. You owe me.”

Thraya’s eyes narrowed, her voice calm but cutting. “You didn’t bring us back stronger. You brought us back broken.”

“Enough!” Celise snarled, her shadows flaring around her. “You’re alive because of me. And if you can’t appreciate that, then stay out of my way.”

Her sisters fell silent, their anxiety thick in the air as they watched her turn back to the engineers. The men, frozen in terror, barely had time to react before the shadows surged forward again, silencing them forever.

Celise didn’t look at her sisters as she moved to the control panel, unleashing her magic into the machinery. Sparks flew, and the hum of the plant grew frantic before the entire system collapsed. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves rippling beneath their feet.

As the flames consumed the plant, Celise turned, her lips curling into a smile. “Let them feel what it’s like to lose everything,” she said softly.

Her sisters followed her out of the ruins, their expressions a mix of fear, anger, and confusion. Celise ignored them. The world was hers to destroy, and she wouldn’t let their doubts—or their broken powers—stand in her way.

As they exited what was left of the building, the night air had changed.

Celise stepped out of the ruined power plant, her boots crunching over shattered glass and debris.

The acrid stench of smoke hit her first, sharp and cloying, clinging to her nostrils and throat like a parasite.

Half of London lay in darkness, the city’s pulse dimmed to a faint, flickering heartbeat.

The skyline that had once glowed with human arrogance was now fractured with pockets of light scattered like the last embers of a dying fire.