The Azealian Wars - Avon's Reign Begins

This book will contain:

- Blood

- Violence

- Death

- Romance

## Prologue

Elara screamed as the rocks on the cliff shattered beneath her feet. She began falling. She was going to die. A hand grabbed onto hers. It was rough with callouses and covered in dirt.

“Aveen?” Elara shouted over the rumbles.

“Elara! Hold on!” Aveen yelled back.

“I’m trying!” Elara grunted.

Her fingers slipped and she cried out. Aveen tightened his hold but Elara fell lower.

“You can’t hold on forever, Elara,” a voice whispered in her head.

Avon. Avon was the reason all of this had happened. It was Avon who had ruined her world. Avon, who had killed her parents.

“Aveen!” Elara screamed again. Her fingers slipped further. She was going to fall. Elara slipped and this time, Aveen couldn’t hold on.

“Elara!” Aveen shouted.

Elara felt the wind rush through her hair. It flew into the sky as she plummeted. She was on her back and could see Aveen’s figure. Her eyes widened when Aveen began to point at something below her. Elara flipped over and saw a girl with silver eyes.

“Vianna?” she screamed.

“Elara! Hold on!” Vianna shouted.

Elara resisted the urge to roll her eyes. That expression was becoming old. Elara began panicking as the ground grew nearer, only a few feet away. She screamed. She never stopped screaming. Even as Vianna narrowed her silver eyes and changed the pressure of the wind, she screamed. Even as the winds slowed to only a few miles per hour, she screamed. And even when Elara was touching the ground gently, Elara still screamed. Aveen ran down the enclosed stairs, searching for his sister and girlfriend. Elara wobbled from the rush in her head and she stood in the same position she had been in since she landed. Lights dotted her vision. A blurred image of her brother came into view. Aveen ran towards his sister. She looked pale and sick.

“Elara?” Aveen asked.

“Aveen?” Elara whispered. She swayed. Aveen lunged forward. Elara felt someone catch her. Then everything went black.

## Chapter One - The Place With No Beginning

Aveen paced. His sister had almost died. And it was all Avon’s fault. Only six months ago- though it felt like years- Avon Elxie had taken over the Erah World. The Erah World was an alternate dimension full of lush forests, beautiful waters, and luxurious homes. Erah was a world of Azealians. At least, that was what they called their kind. The Azealians each also had an elemental power besides the “Whistlers”.

Whistlers were the name for an Azealian with a non-elemental power. There were also all sorts of mythical creatures. Recently, a greedy man named Avon had taken over Erah for his hunger for power. A small band of powerful Azealians had formed a resistance to fight Avon and his army. They called themselves, “The Last Whistlers''. Three months ago, after Avon had killed Aveen and Elara’s parents, the two of them joined the resistance to fight back.

Aveen looked so similar to his father, most people in the resistance automatically knew that he was Egarri Viko’s son. Aveen had dark brown eyes, handsome features, white skin, and thick dark hair. Aveen was muscular and had the elemental power of water. Aveen had recently turned eighteen and Elara was sixteen. Elara had the similar striking features of her mother, Wendallia, but she looked different from Aveen or her parents. She had green eyes, brown hair, and pale skin. Elara was one of the few Whistlers. Her power wasn’t considered an element but it still had its uses. She had the partially elemental power of controlling darkness.

Elara’s friend and Aveen’s girlfriend was Vianna Oldore. Vianna had strong control over her elemental wind powers and was extremely beautiful. She had striking silver eyes, soft pink lips and cheeks, white skin, and shiny black hair. She was in the resistance since the beginning; her parents had helped begin the resistance and were two of the first members.

Aveen’s mind flashed helplessly to the moment just before Elara had fallen.

*Aveen and Elara searched the area for clues of life. They were trying to find clues for the secret base that Avon stayed at. They had recently seen a few members of his army around here and the resistance had asked Aveen and Elara to scout the area. Just as Elara picked up a curious-looking leaf, a low rumble sounded. Elara dropped the leaf and looked up. She and Aveen turned to their defensive positions and looked around. A tall man with hard features stepped in front of them.*

*“Hello,” he said, a malicious grin curling his lips. “What do we have here?”*

*Elara scowled. Her fists clenched. “Ooh, a feisty one! Let’s see how we can make you two pay for resisting Lord Avon,” the man said and he laughed.*

*He stretched out his hands and roots began shattering the ground. Aveen watched his sister back towards the edge of the cliff. The man laughed and disappeared with a cracking sound. Aveen looked back to his sister. The cliff was breaking. He had to save his sister.*

*“Elara!” he screamed and Elara looked up.*

*Just as she went to run to safer ground, the ground beneath her broke. And inside, Aveen broke too. His parents were already lost. He wouldn’t- he couldn’t lose Elara too. He ran to the edge and grabbed Elara. It was excruciating to hold onto her arm, but Aveen held on tightly. And yet, all he could do was watch as Elara slipped from his grasp and plummeted towards the ground. If Vianna hadn’t been there-*

A voice cut off Aveen’s worries. “Aveen,” said Vianna. “It wasn’t your fault.

“I know I just-” Aveen started.

“We will win against Avon,” Vianna promised.

And that was all Aveen needed. *No wonder Vianna made such a good girlfriend,* Aveen thought. It would be okay. Elara would be okay. Everything would be okay.

↜↞↟↠↝

Elara opened her eyes. Everything was blindingly bright. She looked around and knew exactly where she was. Elara had been in this hospital before. She had gone here two months ago after she had broken her ankle. The resistance called it “The Place With No Beginning”. One day, someone had created the building, most likely a Whistler, and then disappeared. The resistance had used the place as an area to heal members that had been injured.

Elara looked around the room. There she lay in a hospital bed with a soft white nightgown on. People always assumed that “Elemental People” -or whatever humans called their myths- used magic potions to heal. The Azealians' way of healing was almost no different than humans. Elara scooched up in the bed a little more and winced. She looked down and saw an IV bag on her wrist. Elara had been to the hospital twice before. Once a few months ago, and once when she was seven.

Meanwhile, outside, Vianna and Aveen sat in two chairs, half asleep. Vianna sat up straight as the winds in Elara’s room shifted. She’d been monitoring Elara’s room with wind subconsciously all night.

“Aveen,” Vianna whispered. She shook his shoulders and he looked around groggily.

“Vee? Wha-?” Aveen began.

“I think Elara’s awake,” said Vianna.

Aveen and Vianna ran into Elara’s room and Vianna looked at Elara. She looked as adorable as always and her big green eyes were darting around. She noticed Aveen and Vianna at the doorway and tried to get up. Straps held down her legs and ankles so she wouldn’t run off to find Aveen and Vianna. Also, Elara was well-known to walk in her sleep. Elara kicked and struggled. Vianna thought back to the time when Elara had gone to the hospital when she was seven. She had done the same thing that time. Aveen walked over to her as she continued wearing herself out.

“Hey,” he said. “It’s okay. I’m here,”

Those last two words were the only words Elara needed. She stopped struggling and her brother hugged her. Vianna joined in, squeezing Elara from behind. Elara couldn’t have been happier to see her best friend. Vianna pulled away, still smiling. When she turned around and saw who was in the doorway, her smile faded.

“Vee? What’s wrong-” Aveen began. His expression of concern turned to pure hatred when he saw who was walking into the room.

“Well, well, well. Looks like Little Miss Elara survived the fall,”

## Chapter Two - Fallen and Broken

“You,” Aveen snarled.

The man before him smiled. How could this man smile when he had almost killed his sister? Aveen looked back at his sister. She was staring at the man they had battled yesterday, with a mixed expression of hate, anger, and fear. Her face was pale as she looked him up and down.

“Looks like I’ll need to do a little more damage,” the man said and his brown eyes flicked over to Elara.

“You’re not going anywhere near my sister,” Aveen retorted. He sucked the water out of a nearby pitcher and bounced it between his palms.

“Oh, not just her. I can have more fun taking down all three of you,” the man said gleefully.

Vianna glared and reached for some nearby winds. The man smirked before lunging forward. Vines shot out of the ground and wrapped around Aveen and Vianna’s ankles. Elara struggled weakly to pull off the straps on her legs. Aveen screamed as the man advanced on Elara. The man flicked his wrist and vines wrapped around Aveen and Vianna’s mouths.

Elara twisted free and frantically jumped out of bed. She immediately fell to the ground. She looked up and saw the man upon her. He smiled before flicking his wrists again. Two large vines shot out of the ground and the first one tied itself around Elara’s body. The man clenched a fist and the vines started squeezing her. She screamed in pain. Aveen watched his sister. She screamed louder and Aveen tried to lunge forward but the vines held him tightly.

“Aveen!” Elara sobbed. Aveen wanted to help her. He wanted to tell her she would be okay. But he was still trapped.

“I can’t!” Elara sobbed. “I can’t! Please, stop!”

The vines tightened around her and a loud crack came from around her rib. Aveen could feel tears streaming down his cheeks. The vines squeezing her loosened slightly and Aveen looked up. The man whistled and instead of the vines retreating, something else pushed out of the ground. A large log rolled onto Elara’s chest. She screamed as the vines began squeezing again.

“That should hold her,” the man said, still smiling. Then, he turned on Vianna.

Her eyes widened and she looked at Aveen fearfully. Aveen’s eyes were filled with sadness, anger, and concern. The vines on Vianna unraveled and the man grabbed her arm. He made a hissing noise and vines snaked up her legs and towards her throat. Aveen knew what he was going to do. Aveen screamed into his gag as the vines closed around Vianna’s neck. Her face turned paler and paler until her eyes became empty and her lifeless body collapsed. Aveen’s eyes blurred with more tears as he looked at Vianna and Elara.

He twisted until he was close enough to summon some water. Then, he flicked his wrist and a funnel of water shot the man in the face. The man lost his concentration on the vines holding Aveen and they slithered away. In his anger, the man tightened the vines around Elara and Vianna. Aveen pulled the water back and pushed as hard as he could. The small ball of water turned into a raging wave.

“Hold on, Elara! I’ve got you!” Aveen shouted.

Then, he let go and the wave came crashing down upon everyone. The man’s concentration ceased and all of the vines disappeared as everyone went crashing through the doorway and into the waiting room. The man seemed to be unconscious and Aveen pulled all of the water back to him. In a damp corner of the room, was Elara. She was shaking and tears streamed down her face. There were indents in her arms and legs where the vines had been squeezing her. Aveen picked her up and hugged her. Elara winced from her broken rib but she held him tightly.

Aveen set her down and ran over to Vianna who was out cold. Her body was freezing and her face was pale. Aveen waited for the rise and fall of her chest. But it never came. Fear coursed through his veins and he looked at her completely still figure. Aveen started performing CPR which he had learned to do in a training program with the Last Whistlers. After a minute, Vianna’s chest began to rise and fall, but her eyes didn’t open. She groaned slightly and Aveen kissed her forehead before walking back over to Elara.

“Looks like this whole ‘almost dying thing’ is becoming a normal,” Elara said.

“Let’s hope not. How do we get help?” Aveen asked.

“What about calling Vianna’s parents through her bracelet communicator thing?” Elara suggested.

“Good idea,” Aveen said.

He took Vianna’s bracelet and pressed a button. “Hello?” asked Vianna’s mother.

“Hi, uh-”

“Aveen? Is that you? What’s wrong?” Mrs. Oldore interrupted.

“Yes. Well, you know how we were at The Place With No Beginning because Elara and I got attacked? Well, the guy who attacked us earlier came back and injured us. I took him down a few minutes ago. I think Elara has a broken rib, and Vianna is unconscious, but breathing.” Aveen explained.

“We’ll be there with an ambulance right away.” Mrs. Oldore said.

“Great. Thanks.”

Aveen stood there, waiting for three minutes until the ambulance arrived. Mr. and Mrs. Oldore watched as Elara and Vianna were pulled into the ambulance. Aveen followed, sitting in the small space, holding Elara’s hand.

“It’ll be okay,” He told Elara. He also told that to himself. The whole ride.

*It’ll be okay. It’ll be okay. It’ll be okay.*