*Vienna's P.O.V.*
Waking up kind of void, I still prepared for the day. I can’t allow what happened yesterday to affect me that much. Although it does, I can’t and I won’t let it show. After dressing up, I strolled down the hall to check on my mom who’s still unconscious. I kissed her forehead and walked out of her room and into the kitchen. Marcos and Molly are sat on the dining table, having some sandwiches made by Divine, who’s busy preparing in the counter with a member of the Paranormal Council.
“Morning Vienna.” Molly greeted and I’m glad she skipped the ‘good’ because there’s nothing relatively that good about this morning. I just smiled and nodded at her.
Marcos looked up from his plate and acknowledged my presence. “Vienna, let’s wait for the others to come.” he said. Divine and the sheep shifter served more sandwiches and I grabbed one as I took my place around the considerably long table.
“Yes of course.” I agreed to his statement. As we conversed about yesterday, we’re going to discuss matters regarding our revolt against Voghn’s government in the royal coven. My brother Marcos, having a lot more logical and well, political reasons in doing so, compared to my emotion driven ones. Either way, it’s a win-win situation for the both of us.
The others started arriving and munching their own sandwiches, having small talks amongst each other and greeting everyone that’s in the area. Kitchen seems busy this morning. My nerves started pumping anxiously in me though, when I saw him enter the room and greeted a few individuals. He got his own food and choose to stand by the counter as the table was almost filled. He didn’t look at me and I scolded myself for even glancing his way. Get a grip of yourself Vienna, I breathed in and looked at Marcos, seeing as we’re complete when Noah arrived and sat on the other head of the table, across Marcos.
My brother cleared his throat, getting the attention of everyone in the room. “As you all know, my father would sought our heads for our action declares rebellion to his leadership, something he won’t take lightly.”
“Obviously, but then again why would you interfere on his trying to grill us? It’s not like the royal siblings aren’t here leading rebellion against their own father.” Diana pointed put sharply. Marcos looked at her seriously but it was Marissa who spoke up.
“Aren’t you supposed to be thankful we are here? You guys would probably be ashes by now.” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Hush now.” Marcos ordered and they both just shut up. “Our presence here is all about Vienna as you probably know by now. She is my sister as well.” he continued.
“An illegitimate royal we’ve known ever since she was born, we never thought she would be of utmost value to the royal coven as being the first born witch princess.” Noah stated. His statement corresponding to what Aurora showed me in that hologram.
“Exactly. Because she, you my dear, didn’t grow up knowing the royal ways and the extent of your ability is something that interests a lot, including the king, he thought he could use your power added by your innocence about the coven as an advantage during the war he probably would proclaim with the vampires.” Marcos said.
“Let me translate that. He gives no importance to me as his daughter or what, he only wants me to be a weapon. Which is kind of smart of him, I mean he would gain a lot if he could’ve done that and at the same time loose none because he never really raised me.” I said bitterly. How dare he! I don’t see him with value as well, I could care less about him.
“Yes.”
“You know this how?” Noah asked.
“When I was halfway through my own search for her, I noticed someone following me. He’s my father’s army and having my way with him, I figured he was sent to find their, ‘alas’ against the vampires just in case war break loose.” he explained. “Nonetheless, Vienna herself was the one who made his job easier by coming here in Ireland. They had their eyes on you, if it wasn’t for the fact that Ariella is a member of the Paranormal Council and you were doing something they didn’t really understand.”
“So what do we do about this? War isn’t breaking out just, yet right?” I asked referring to the war between witches and vampires.
“Thanks to what you did that night you abducted Marianne, father was able to eradicate the marksman king Tom, the vampire king, sent back there in the castle at Donegal. Their constant intrusion might mean something like they are up to something, they just want us witches to declare it. However as I said, that eradication caused Tom’s rage and it was reported to us how we should pay for it.” we all nodded in understanding.
“So you mean, the royal army has a bigger fish to fry than us. Maybe that’s why we haven’t heard from them since.” Gibson voiced out.
“After the failed attempt of burning down the paranormal council who they strongly believe would assist the vampires in the war,” Marcos said looking at Noah, seeing as he’s a vampire and the leader, it’s just reasonable to assume that, “I guess they’re now working on another way to win, having our turning against as an additional problem.”
“What exactly are we to do? Kill Voghn, make you king and what? Have a peace talk with the vampires, surely that will shed less blood and destruction.” Devon suggested.
“Not that, that could be something I would do, but yes. If we could perhaps stop the vampire from declaring war against the witches then I guess that plan would work.” Marcos said.
“Or what if, we attack the same time the vampires attack. Either way, they irritate us.” Amelle spoke up.
“That’s just difficult. Both of them have armies and we? We already loose in number even if we call out to every ally we have all around the world.” Mark countered.
“We may loose in number but surely not in tact.” Noah said, supporting his friend.
“Either way, we chop heads.” Diana said, munching on her sandwich.
“I’m sure though, they’ll want to have Vienna before that happens.” Molly pointed out.
“Is there a way we can tell them, I’m not interested in helping them?” I asked, irritated.
“You already showed such defiance way back on that dinner, surely they got the message. Which leaves them to use force to be able to have you.” Marcos answered.
“Or a twisted way such as, sending her own brothers and sisters to lure her into helping them.” Gibson countered.
“You did see that we’re doing anything but lure her into helping them.” Marcos retorted.
“Or maybe you’re the one who wants to use her in your own interests Marcos Fiel.” Gibson again, without missing a beat, threw at my brother. Surprisingly, Marcos wasn’t mad at him for saying that, in fact he laughed.
“My only desire is peace. And if they’re going to use Vienna to disrupt it, as if she’s a thing, I’d rather keep her away from them.” he calmly answered.
“Why don’t we just let war happen sooner and reduce our enemies by you know, letting them kill themselves first. That way they won’t have time to sought for Vienna from us, if they’re already attacked.” Dark said.
“How do we do that?” Devon asked.
“Is there a way that does not involve a war in doing all this?” Divine, who was silent during the whole discussion spoke up. I do agree with her. Over the rage that’s burning within me, the longing for tranquility as well as justice calls out. But tranquility and justice would never be attained if leaders who wants chaos such as, Voghn and Tom are in power. Perhaps wishing for them to be eliminated would be too much to ask.
The kitchen became silent after that, everyone seemed to be thinking. Whether it be about the war or about another way for us to live in peace without doing it at all. I see now how hard it is, being in power and maintaining that power as well as good will while at it. I understood more now what Noah meant on his journal about both the leaders of the witches and the vampires. Power hungry and all. Why is the world not at all simple?
“Aren’t we deceivers?” I suddenly asked, leaning towards Marcos.
“Of course we are.” he said, his eyebrows raising in confusion as to why I would ask such thing right now.
“Isn’t there something we can do to, perhaps, mess with his mind?” I hinted.
“Have you forgotten he’s a deceiver witch too?”
“No but, you said I have a lot of potential. Why not unlock them and see what my powers can actually do. And you’re a wise deceiver yourself, surely we can do something about it.”
“As long as we keep you covered, maybe.”
“We should give it a shot.”
A few hours after, I sat on the chair that’s on the porch and just viewed the natural surroundings. I’m considerably a fighter but that doesn’t mean I want bloodshed. The thought of death doesn’t sit well with me. Would justice truly be given if the damage done upon revenge is greater than the reason why one seeks it? I don’t think so. When I decided to help Dark, I considered every option to protect someone from dying like stealing blood bags from the hospital while he was tied on Gibson’s basement. And Gibson himself, I didn’t want him to die that’s why we became what we are right now. It was never a mission of death, hence it has always been about stopping it if still possible. It’s about life, it’s continuity, hence I don’t want things to go down to bloodshed, it will never be worth it. Furthermore I am a deceiver and I’m Vienna, isn’t bending minds what I’m good at? Perhaps it’s time I bend a heart too, or if it’s too much to ask, at least I tried. I see now that we can never win war against the royal army as what I initially thought, let alone face another threat, the vampires. But surely we can try the battle of minds, or if not, memory or well, untrue perceptions. At least that would be less destructive. Hopefully.
The front door opened and Brooklyn Gibson stepped out in the mid-afternoon sun. He briefly looked my way and I looked away, pretending I didn’t see him. As you know, we are facing our own predicament and I just don’t know how to approach it. It’s ironic how I could discuss about other people’s problem or general circumstances and it’s very much challenging for me to acknowledge my own. Especially if we talk about romance alone. There’s no way I would consider it more than anything life related. And that’s exactly the problem right now. This is giving me a fucking headache. I just want to sleep and relax for awhile but I know my thoughts would just swim around my head, so I didn’t even try.
So I stood up from my seat and strolled my way around the house. Perhaps I should clear my mind. Maybe I’ve been too engaged to problems lately. Or maybe I choose to be. I kicked some pebbles that are seated in my path and decided to sit on a fallen log. I just surrounded myself with the calmness of the natural environment hoping that it would calm the twisted thoughts inside me. Absentmindedly, I gathered up the passing breeze with my power and made little air balls and shooting them in the distant trees. I just allowed myself to be playful for awhile and used my wind manipulation for leisure, perhaps I need that.
Then I remembered the privileges given to me. I remembered reading about the first born witches and what power they possess. I also recalled the special ability each of the royal siblings have. Witnessing Marcos with his air manipulation, like mine, Mark with fire, Marianne with plants, Marissa with I guess sand? Or land, and Molly with water. I contemplated on that little fire I was able to ignite on that tunnel when Marcos and I made our way to Aurora’s, perhaps I could do it again.  
I clasp my hands together and tried to concentrate on the feeling of heat as I started rubbing my palms. Closing my eyes, I imagined something burning, something red and hot. Flames, the same one that engulfed Noah’s building and the one’s that killed my namesake, came rushing in me and I instantly felt the anger surge inside me. Rage is sizzling hot as my blood boils, remembering that event.
“Stop it!” I heard somebody scream as I heard a splash of water surrounding me but not quite drenching me and that’s when I opened my eyes to see Molly, streams of water coming out from her palms. At first, I don’t understand what she did that for until the water disappeared and I saw a fairly large area of burnt plants and ashen tree trunks. I look down at my hands and noticed that my palms feel abit hot. I did this?
“Yeah, you’re gonna burn out the whole forest if I hadn’t seen you.” Molly said coolly. I guess I might’ve said my thoughts out loud.
“I’m sorry. And thank you for umm, what you did.” I said sincerely. I sighed at the mess I made and just sat on the ground, getting dirt on my jeans.
“What’s up? Anything you want to talk about?” she asked, sitting beside me.
“I don’t know, everything is just chaotic right now.” I admitted. All this being a gem in the coven or a weapon to be tossed to the vampires just doesn’t sit well with me.
“Yeah I get it, this royal thing could really be a pain in the head. And your situation’s not so well either. You know what? I can help you get off some steam. Practice match?” she offered. I smiled and I agreed.
……………