Page 115 of Rose and Shadows
“My actions were to fight my own subjugation, Hugh. My son is concerned with those beyond himself.”
Hugh eyed Ryker. “Your one mistake was saving the Guardian Movement that day. We could’ve been free of those elitist, apathetic fools who are no longer up to the task of safeguarding any of us. Draco’s rise and rampage proved that.” He gestured at Jaxon. “It’s why we went to Jaxon. He shared our vision. But putting our faith in him was foolish, as it turns out.”
“Thinking you can wield Immortal Descendant magic as your own is what’s foolish,” Gabriel said. “It’s toxic to other beings. It will first corrupt you, then burn you from the inside out.”
“The Orb can guard against that.”
“That’s only a rumor, not a fact,” Gabriel warned him.
Hugh’s eyes flashed. “Then what do you suggest we do? The current state of affairs is hurting the entire supernatural community! The Guardian Movement is—”
“Out of touch,” Ryker cut in, stepping forward.
He pulled his defensive magic back and his offensive, then folded his arms across his chest, indicating he was standing down.
They looked stunned by his actions, that he was risking himself, making himself vulnerable in front of an entire army.
He eyed Gabriel whose power was still flaming on either palm in full force. “Dad.”
He resisted for a moment, before he complied and pulled his magic back, albeit still tense with his eyes darting around on high alert.
And then Ryker went on, “The Guardian Movement is all the things you say.” He added pointedly, “All the things you now fear following the events months back. Cornelius is aware of this and measures are being taken to remedy the current situation. These steps require time, patience, and perseverance, all things your original plan didn’t have, didn’t want to entertain. That’s what Jaxon has been trying to convey to you.”
“What measures are you talking about? As I’m sure you know, the Guardian Movement isn’t exactly transparent or communicative with us lowers.”
“You aren’t lowers. We’re all a part of the same community. One such measure, one that will happen before all others, is Cornelius Martel stepping down as Guardian Head.”
Gasps and whispers erupted all around.
“I will become Head of the Guardian Movement,” Ryker revealed.
“Head, or Martel’s puppet, him intending to use your popularity and ambassador status to exert control over us through you?”
Gabriel scoffed. “My son is nobody’s puppet.”
“Pain in the ass to the Guardian elite is more like it,” Jaxon commented.
Ryker held out his hand to Gabriel and his father conjured a vial of shimmering silver magic.
He levitated a portion of it out of the container, then flicked it toward Ryker.
“This is the magic of Cornelius Martel. The Immortal. The Silver Ghost. The Almighty. The strongest being across all the realms,” Ryker told them all.
And then he flicked his right palm up, his green lightning erupting.
It swirled around the silver energy, then descended on it.
Within moments, it snuffed it out.
Hugh choked out a curse and his reaction was mirrored by the hundreds of onlookers.
Ryker pulled his magic back and closed his hand. “I cannot be subjugated.”
Hugh smiled. “Well, then. That’s certainly something.”
“There will be a Council I’ll answer to. Representatives throughout the supernatural world will be appointed through election. There will be no more elitist or autocratic approach. Decisions and policies will be made to benefit the supernatural world first and foremost, not to keep the already powerful in their revered positions. The status quo is undergoing a fundamental shift. For the benefit of you all. A new day is coming, one without fear, oppression, and devaluing. The supernatural world will become what it’s always had the potential to be—a close-knit community.”
“Under your rule,” Hugh mused.
