Needless to say, Onyx didn't utter much to Rheynoak throughout the day.

The anger burning throughout her body was too much to handle, too consuming and hot for her brain to properly function on the cruel words she wanted to curse at him. Instead, she just ducked her head when his presence was near, choosing to not fall under his hard gazes.

Although his words were not to be taken lightly. When he had told her that she was not permitted to train, he meant it, casting spells on all of the training grounds and rooms that only isolated her from entering.

It was quite nerve wracking, not being able to release her anger in a sword fighting match or punch the leather bags with violence.

So instead, the Mind Siphon spent the rest of the day riding on top of Aithne through the vast desert lands within the brass gates, sharpening her mighty sword with a dagger she kept in her cloak.

The ruby centered in the middle glittered under the bright sunlight, seeming more of a rose hue rather than a bloody color. The crafted blade winked under the light like diamonds, sharpened at the tip by the rugged dagger that scraped along the sides and down the middle.

Aithne whined softly, her hooves clapping against the soft sand, her gold chains whistling against her mane as she trudged along the desert. Her golden eyes pooled with fire, her midnight blue mane disappearing under shades.

Ordering the horse back to the stables, the siphon traced the edge of the sword with her thumb, humming quietly to herself as Aithne secured herself in her own spot in the stables, neighing sadly as her master retrieved off of her, sword in hand.

"Don't worry, darling" Onyx whispered, petting the bridge of her nose lightly. "I'll be back for you soon." And with that, she placed a kiss on the horse's head before walking away, letting go of the golden reins. With a little bit of daylight sun still burning on the horizon, the Mind Siphon resorted to something more thoughtful.

Something she had pushed away into the darkness since she was assigned her mission to go to Serius. Personally, the guilt has been eating her up ever since she had settled back into her regular pace around the desert and she desperately wanted to find answers to the questions she had put on hold.

Breathing out an icy sigh, the Mind Siphon made her way over to her hut and swung the door open. The strong aroma of burning wax met her nose, engulfing the whole room in its powerful scent as the door swung closed.

Collapsing on her bed, Onyx reached under the mattress to retrieve the numerous books and papers she kept under there, laying them out on the soft sheets before flipping them open. Candlelight wavered slightly on the paper, dying slowly as she flipped through the pages.

Running her fingers through her hair once again, Onyx took a deep breath and dived into the notes about the war on Gwanchu lake. The same place her faceless parents had left her to die while a war was raging on.

She had previously retrieved books from the Kingdom of Jeredia and Aysein to uncover more about her blurry pasts. Yet as she scanned through the notes filled with ancient symbols and long sentences on a war she should not have survived, the Siphon began to doubt her origin place.

Still, not wanting to give up when the truth seemed too close, the Mind Siphon managed to silence the voices that drifted around in her head to complete silence, her focus zeroing in on the words and symbols in front of her.

Seconds passed by, followed by minutes and soon an hour was slowly crawling its way up. The sky, once brilliant with gorgeous rays now dulled to nothing but grays and lilac. Outside, fellow followers busied themselves preparing for Solyerian. Some were stringing the campgrounds with decorations while others took their needed talents to the kitchen.

Laughter and happiness suffocated the atmosphere, the feeling unfamiliar to a majority of the followers that dedicated their lives to Rheynoak. It seemed too real, almost overwhelming.

As if it was a short mirage that would burst into flames and disappear within minutes.

Yet Onyx didn't share in that excitement, snuggling deeper into the blanket that she draped over herself. The book of Aysein was in her hand, tired eyes trailing over the useless words. Her eyelids fluttered, growing heavier as sleep dawned upon her.

"This is a waste of time" the Siphon whispered, groaning to herself as a massive headache manifested in her head. Groaning, she forcefully shut the book closed and threw it on the floor along with all the other notes that littered her bed.

They fluttered to the bare floor, abandoned and cold as the Siphon snuggled deep in her blanket, resting her pounding head on the pillow, her eyes fluttering close in hopes of getting some sort of sleep before she was startled again.

A few minutes passed and the Siphon found herself drifting into a peaceful sleep, curling her fingers around the material of her blanket and finding her mind conjuring up dreams within the darkness that lurked around.

Dreams that were comforting for once. Dreams that didn't bother her.

But just as peace and quiet settled within her sanctuary, a surprisingly loud knock on her door jolted her awake, scaring away any last bits of serenity that lingered. Grumbling, she knocked off her blanket and got up to open the door.

"Draco?" Onyx whispered, her brows raising when she saw the handsome emperor standing in front of her, a smug smile on his face while his ruby ringed eyes traced the curves of her face. "And good evening to you, Onyx" he replied back, slightly bowing his head. "I didn't have the time to check up on you when you awoke" he explained, smiling down at her.

"Well, you definitely didn't have to go out of your way now to visit me. Especially now. It's nearly dark" she replied back, stepping back to let him inside. He stepped inside, his black cloak fluttering past her bare feet.

The Siphon cleared her throat, curling her toes as she kicked the door close. The Emperor shrugged, his eyes lurking around her room. "Oh please, Onyx. Don't flatter yourself. I was simply feeling kind today. Generous even."

The Siphon frowned, folding her arms over her chest. "So sorry my sudden death interrupted your bitching schedule" she scowled, rolling her eyes. The emperor laughed, deep and husky as it rang through the small room, bouncing off the walls and settling deep within the depths of her stomach where it stirred a surprisingly warm feeling that slithered uncomfortable in her veins.

"Pardon my sudden attitude, dear Onyx" Draco apologized between light-hearted chuckles. "Something about your presence always seems to awaken the tiger within me." There was a hint of humor in his voice, light and teasing as he made himself comfortable and sat at the edge of her bed. This was made more clear when his eyes met hers once again, seeing the laughter light up his blue-grey eyes.

"I don't know why I even bother with you anymore" Onyx hissed, stooping down by the edge of her bed to pick up the papers and books she had abandoned not too long ago. "Maybe my charming wits have finally captured your heart" he suggested, his smile growing wider. "Or is it my devilishly handsome looks that have you flustered and speechless every time?"

And despite her crappy mood, the Siphon couldn't help the smile that itched the edge of her lips. "Keep on dreaming" she uttered, standing back up with a pile of paper and books in her hand. The Siphon sat down next to the emperor, cradling the mess in her hands.

"And what do we have here?" Draco purred, reaching for the book she had retrieved from Jeredia. His fingers traced the hardcover, flipping the book open as the rest of the papers in the Mind Siphon's grasp tumbled down on the bed.

"What I thought would hold the answers to my past" Onyx answered, opening the book of Aysein in her lap. "But turns out the King of Jeredia perished for no reason." A hum escaped her lips, her golden eyes tracing the familiar words over again, looking but never finding what she needed.

"And what exactly is your past?" the emperor asked, raising his brow. "Because as far as I can see, this book is entangled with nothing but lies and darkness the mortals have conjured up in order to cover their own tracks." A look of disgust crossed his face, dropping the book on to the bed like it was poisonous.

Confused, the Mind Siphon casted her gaze to the book that was in her lap over to the book that was abandoned. The other papers scattered around it, filled with ancient symbols and legends she had spent hours analyzing.

"That can't be" she insisted, picking up the book of Jeredia and flipping through its pages. "This book has specific details about the war near Gwanchu lake. It's where my parents abandoned me when I was little. The only real connection I have to my past. It can't be lies."

Flustered between her words and the cloudiness that blurred her vision, the Siphon raised her gaze to meet the emperor's lingering stare, candlelight flickering against the gold jewels that were her eyes. Silence sizzled between the two of them, the tension so thick, it was suffocating.

Draco held her gaze, letting himself get completely lost in those golden eyes. The same eyes that descended from the most powerful bloodline, gifted with magic in her veins even she wasn't even aware of. The same eyes that wandered around paintings and sculptures, taking them in with each flicker of her gaze.

The same ones even someone as wicked as Rheynoak found himself falling in love with. The emperor knew that the Mind Siphon was destined for greater things besides being a slave to an incompetent man.

He knew and yet he couldn't tell her everything. She had to find out for herself.

"The war at Gwanchu lake was a real, historic event. Don't doubt that" Draco said, breaking his gaze from the Siphon and clearing his throat. He tunneled his fingers through his hair, distracting himself with the book in front of him. "But the lake doesn't exist in any mortal kingdom."

Onyx herself shook her head, sweeping her hand through her brown locks. She kept her gaze locked on his tattooed fingers, refusing to meet his gaze. "I'm lost" she uttered, furrowing her brows together. "These books state that it was an abandoned lake near the Aysein, Jeredia, and Crojesian Kingdoms."

"At least these foolish immortals got one part right" he hissed, shaking his head. "The lake is located in the Kingdom of Crojesian but Crojesian wasn't ruled by mortals. It was one of the eight kingdoms in the inner circle and was the home of the Mind Siphons. It was ruled by a powerful demi hybrid couple. Queen Eshara Aneymi Kaslibieth and King Aries Talgran. Legend says the lake was formed with the tears of all their victims.

"Anyway, the mortals tried to take over the inner circle kingdoms, attacking Lybrias first. The war raged on for a week, spreading from Lybrias to the other remaining kingdoms. While there were ruins left everywhere, the final battle took place in Crojesian when all the kingdoms combined their army together to defeat the mortals. The mortal army stood on one side of the river while the immortals stood on the other side. Needless to say, it was a bloody fight that ended up with the immortals winning but Eshara and Aries perishing as a result along with their child."

Onyx listened attentively, taking in a deep breath as the emperor finished his tale. So many possible answers floated within her mind, seeming to lose their logic the more she over thought it. So many questions swam in her head, loud and soft as they screamed to escape out of her mind and through her lips. But with so many, she only asked one.

"You were in the war?"

This time the emperor chuckled, nodding his head. "Indeed. I lost so many warriors that day. Scarring in all honesty." Hearing his answer made the Siphon smile, looking down at her fingers. "I knew you were old but I never realized you were ancient" she joked, a laugh following her words.

"I am ancient indeed" Draco confirmed, tilting his head. "But what are you implying?" The Siphon immediately replied, "Well the war was over a hundred years ago. All the books I read stated so. So I'm guessing it's just so. Which makes me think I am much older than what I say."

"The war hasn't even passed two decades, my dear" the emperor informed her, peaking her attention. "I told you. These books are filled with nothing but filthy lies to cover up the mortal kingdoms' vicious past. The war at Gwanchu lake was about seventeen and a half years ago which would make you exactly seventeen and a half years old if your parents really did abandon you at birth during the war."

Enlightened with this new information, Onyx frowned, reflecting on everything she has been told about her past. Specifically, everything Rheynoak had told her about her past All of a sudden, little things about herself he had informed her with became questioning.

Everything from her parents, her birthday, her past. Even her name. It all became nothing but lies to her that clouded her mind and blurred every sound around her into nothing but white noise. Everything, every wall, every word that seemed to have made up her whole entire existence now seemed like smoke and mirrors.

And it was a feeling that not only blinded her senselessly, but numbed her entirely.

Fingers shaking and completely lost in the deepest abyss of her mind, it wasn't until Draco cradled her face in his warm touch and drew her frozen body closer until they were chest to chest did she snap out of her gaze. His cold, minty breath hit her bare cheek, those enchanting eyes of his dancing in her gaze. He had one arm around her shoulder, the other cradling her face.

"Onyx, what's going on? Is there something particular in your past you want to talk about?" he asked in a gentle tone, his thumb stroking her cheek and jaw. The Siphon shivered under his touch, distancing herself enough from his body so that there was space between them.

But his fingers never left her cheek.

"I don't know where to start, Draco" she replied back in a choked voice. "Everything seems like a gigantic white lie now."

"So start by telling me the first lie that hurt you" he replied back.

And she wanted to. More than anything, Onyx finally wanted to tell someone what has been going through her mind besides her close companions. Even someone as distant as a stranger or Draco was more than enough.

And yet, she couldn't find the words to say so.

So instead, she just shook her head, taking in deep, laboring breaths. "There's too many" she simply replied back, biting her lips. "There's simply too many."

Sitting in the silence, surrounded by only her thoughts and the quiet sound of their breathing, the Siphon felt herself curl up inside, becoming numb once again. Only Draco's touch seemed to be the most comprehensible thing around her.

Minutes passed by - although it seemed like hours - before another knock on the door cut through the silence. Being sucked back into reality, Onyx quickly jumped up to answer it, startling Draco in the process as he quickly withdrew his hand.

She answered the door with puffy, red cheeks and wide eyes to reveal Venix, Lucien, and Alesandria. The noise of the festivities and decorating going on around the tribal grounds hit her all around as if she now just realized she wasn't the only one trapped in the desert.

"What are you guys doing here?" she asked, rubbing her arms at the sudden cold that bit her arm. "We need to show you something in private" Venix said, letting her gaze travel over her friend's shoulder to the sitting emperor on her bed. "Or are we disrupting something?"

Before the Siphon could even answer, Draco interrupted her, clearing his throat. "Don't mind me. I was just leaving" he said, closing the book in his lap and throwing it on her bed. He rose up, pulling his cloak over his shoulder so that it enveloped his entire body. "I was was just checking to make sure Onyx was alright" he reassured, nodding his head as she approached the door.

They all parted a path for him, watching with wary eyes as he took one step out of the hut. "It was nice seeing you happy and alive again, Onyx" he uttered to her, turning around so that she could only see the mischievous yet curious gleam in his eyes. "Take care."

And just like that, he was gone, vanished into thin air and leaving nothing but a plume of sand in his path. Everything seemed to go back to normal speed, the laughter of those setting up for Solyerian returning to her senses.

There were no footprints in the sand to indicate that he had been in her room, no scent of him to attract others.

Simply just the howling wind and the starry sky. With six three pairs of eyes all turning around to meet her own eyes, waiting for answers even she didn't know.

The door to Rheynoak's office open, creaking slightly as footsteps shuffled on the carpet.

The howls of the wind sang through the window, blowing through the thick curtains that draped over the glass structure. Shadows danced upon the dark walls, four of them as the door shut close.

"Rheynoak is in the conference hall, tying some loose ends with some local tribes so he won't be back in his office for at least an hour" Lucien informed them, flickering his bright blue eyes around the office.

"And how did you escape so swiftly from such a strict meeting? I would expect Rheynoak to have you chained and bound to his side" Venix asked, raising a suspicious brow at him. The Hell Siphon darted a spectacle gaze at her, shrugging his shoulders.

"Things are a bit different between us now. The dynamic in our friendship has changed" he explained. "Trust isn't in the equation anymore."

"I'm sorry to hear that" Alesandria crooned, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder. The Hell Siphon offered her a smile, patting her hand lightly. "Don't be. It was inevitable anyway."

"I hate to break up this tender moment but I believe you all said you had something to show me" Onyx stated, raising her brows towards the dark walls and leaping shadows that danced around. "Please, before I drop dead again."

Lucien directed the three magical beings to the golden ornament that stood perched on the walls, the back seemingly nailed into the interior of the walls. Two swords crossed over it, clicking against each other as a form of unity. "How did you fix it?" the Bloodbone asked him as they approached it, his pale fingers caressing the curves of the ornament.

"I know a few spells, Venix. I decided to put them into good use" he said, smirking under the locks of white hair that fell across his face. "Now the ornament opens at the presence of my magic, not Rheynoak's" he explained, tracing a specific, intriguing pattern in the middle of the golden ornament.

It burned bright, glistening rays of yellow and golden before it finally dulled and cracked open, revealing the same small hiding spot him and Venix had uncovered not so long ago. "I never knew he had a hiding spot" Onyx whispered, golden eyes tracing the contents of the dark holding space. "At least never one in his office."

"I guess everyone has their own secrets disguised in tiny white lies" Alesandria whispered, brushing a wave of dark hair over her shoulder. Cautiously, Lucien reached into the small, hiding spot and pulled out Alesandria's dagger, motioning over to her.

"Did you ever give Rheynoak your dagger?" he asked, handing back the weapon towards the lost queen. Her blue-green eyes seemed to frown, her lips pulled into a questioning scowl as her fingers tightened around the blade of the sharpened dagger. "No. I left it during sword training a few weeks back and I haven't found it since" she said, turning the dagger over in her hand, her thumb stroking the ruby in the middle.

"I guess he decided to keep it as a novelty item."

Moving forward, the BloodBone reached inside the hiding spot and pulled out the four pictures, handing each of them over to Onyx. "Do any of these look familiar to you?" she asked, her bloody violet eyes darting upwards to her friend's gaze. "Even one."

Finger shaking, the Mind Siphon gently lifted the first two pictures in her hands, staring at the tiny princesses babies swaddled in their blankets, eyes shut from the rest of the world, dreaming of things far beyond the horizon and deeper than the sea.

Tiny fragments of memories flashed in her mind, like a quick blinding light or a strike of thunder. He golden eyes lit up, signaling a memory she had abandoned as soon as it was over. Before she was assigned to capture Alesandria, the Mind Siphon specifically remembered the moment when she had King Ferdin by the throat, threatening him with little life and most likely death.

He had plunged through her stomach with a dagger, cursed at her for being alive, and proceeded to attempt to escape. Little did he know who he was trying to dance the dangerous ballad with. The Siphon had tackled him and forced her way through his mind after he had refused her ultimatum. And that is when she remembered it.

Ruins of the War of Gwanchu lake still flaked in his memory, the soft cry of a child ringing in her mind and the slightest sliver of bright eyes and dark hair pooling into a vision.

The vision didn't manifest into a big picture. In fact, it died as quickly as it started. But the Mind Siphon couldn't help but wonder if that poor girl was one of these princesses in the photo.

"Let me look at the other one" she whispered, tearing her gaze from the sketches of the sleeping princesses to the ice wolf lurking in what looked like a tundra.Its fur was ghostly white, its eyes beady and lurking but no familiarity struck her.

"Nothing seems familiar about any of these photos" the Mind Siphon uttered, shaking her head. "Let me see the other one," she said, reaching out her hand. Venix hesitated, clutching the photo close to her chest. She darted her gaze over to Lucien, questioning him with a glare.

"Is it okay?" she asked, curling her fingers around the photo. The Hell Siphon hesitated for a second, nibbling on his bottom teeth. But eventually, he took a deep breath and nodded. "Show her."

The Bloodbone passed the photo to her friend to gaze at. The Mind Siphon stroked the photo, taking a good look at Rheynoak with longer hair and the girl standing between him and Lucien. She was a beauty, a rare species and by the looks of the way their eyes smiled at each other, it was easy to tell there was love between them.

"That was my sister Esmeralda. She was Rheynoak's last true lover before you came along." Onyx looked up, only for a second to nod but her mind was way past his words. She didn't seem to pay attention at what the Siphon told her, her eyes lingering on the girl in the picture.

"I never even heard her name escape his lips" she finally uttered, handing the picture back to her friend who gave it back to the Hell Siphon. A bundle of nerves and pain throbbed in her heart, seeping through her body until it ached with her soul.

Why hadn't he told her about any previous true lovers? Did he not trust her as much as he had led her to believe otherwise?

"Okay, so Rheynoak has been keeping secrets, big ones it seems like but we still don't know what to do"Alesandria uttered, capturing everyone's attention from the murk their minds were wandering through. Her light eyes glimmered in the dark, two orbs that glowed in the midst of the confusion and pain they were clouded in.

"There is nothing we can do. We just have to wait and see. Keep our guards up" she said, tucking her dagger in her pocket. "If he knows we have been lurking around, trying to expose him, he'll cave in again. And this time, we won't find any more clues or secrets to hold him against."

"She's right," Onyx said, nodding in agreement. The first day of Solyerian is coming up tomorrow. Tribes from every kingdom will be coming here. There is no need to rush. Everything will be revealed when it's time."

Everyone nodded in agreement despite the suspicious glares they passed on to each other. The wind howled again, sending a chill down their spines.

Lucien sighed, running his fingers through his long hair as he casted another gaze towards the small space in the wall. Nothing. He saw nothing else at first. Until he truly peered closer.

A small, withered piece of paper concealed itself in the shadows of the dark hiding space, its own shadow the only clue to its existence.

He reached inside, his fingers curling around the paper and pulling it out. It was a small note, dusty and ancient. But the handwriting suggested it was written only yesterday. "What does it say?" Alesandria asked, peeking over his shoulder.

"All will be revealed in due time. All will be broken in due time. All will be lost soon enough. And there will be nothing more" the Hell Siphon read out loud.

He crumpled the paper in his large hands, smearing the ink of the words on the wilting paper. He frowned, casting his icy stare to everyone else. Waiting, praying for someone to say something.

But no one uttered a word, knowing that what was written on the note would soon flourish into real life, causing more destruction and more hurt than they could imagine. So instead, they stayed silent, waiting for the impending danger.

A/N: And that is the end of Chapter Ten!

So Close to revealing truths and secrets! So close yet so far!

Solyerian will come to play in the next two to three chapters. And that is when things get really crazy and a lot of secrets get revealed and trusts get broken. 

Because while the holiday celebrates tribe leaders, it also exposes them along with it. And that is what we are here for! The exposing secrets! 

And the drama, violence, romance too...But also secrets!

So tell me what you guys thought of this chapter. Any specific scenes you liked! Any conspiracies? I would love to hear them!

Thank you guys for all your constant support. It means so much to me that you enjoy this book. I enjoy writing it and to hear your feedback always makes my day!

So tell me what your thoughts are on this chapter and don't forget to comment down below and vote if you liked it.

Until next time Lovelies!

With love, May