Destiny: Chosen For Battle

"And they will pay," Yung said, stepping into my room.

Startled, I turned to him. His calm yet resolute expression held a strange sense of reassurance.

"I will teach you and your friends how to fight, Destiny," he added.

"Really?" I asked, a glimmer of hope breaking through my despair.

"Come on, the food is ready," he said, turning to leave. I followed him, my stomach rumbling in anticipation.

The dining room was grand, with a long table surrounded by twelve chairs. I took a seat beside Kelvin, who sat silently, his face dark with fury. None of us could smile, the weight of June's and Nixton's deaths too heavy. Kelvin looked ready to kill, while Camila sat with her head down, her sorrow evident.

Camila had loved Nixton, though their feelings had gone unspoken. The grief in her eyes made my chest ache. I felt pity for her—and for myself.

Yung's wife entered, carrying a large tray with a steaming piece of meat. We greeted her politely, and she smiled warmly, telling us to eat and rest.

I ate ravenously, savoring the delicious meal. It had been days since I'd had real food—three or maybe four. For a fleeting moment, I entertained the thought of staying here forever, forgetting the mission, and leaving the pain behind.

Twenty minutes later, the table was cleared, and we sat discussing trivial things, trying to distract ourselves. I discovered Matthew was seventeen—closer to our age than I'd thought.

"You children aren't trained," Yung said abruptly, his tone serious.

We fell silent, our attention focused on him.

"I will train you," he declared.

"We need training," Lex agreed firmly. "Those demons need to be taught a lesson."

"Is it just me," Gold interjected, looking around, "or is someone missing?"

We all froze before exclaiming in unison, "Sofie!"

I had remembered her earlier but chose to stay silent. A strange feeling told me Sofie was trouble.

"By tomorrow, I'll go look for her," Kelvin muttered, his voice heavy with determination.

I rolled my eyes, annoyed by his protectiveness. "Why is he acting like her knight in shining armor?" I thought, fiddling with my fork.

"Thank you, Sir Yung, and Mrs., for the meal," I said, rising from my seat. "I'll be heading to my room now."

They both nodded, and I left, making my way upstairs. The week had been grueling, and I needed sleep. As soon as I hit the bed, I was out cold.

"Destiny. Destiny," a voice called softly.

I stirred, blinking groggily to see Camila standing beside my bed.

"Hi," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.

"Get up. You've been sleeping for nine hours," she said, exasperated.

"Why'd you wake me?" I grumbled, pulling the blanket over my head.

"Just get ready and come downstairs," she said, rolling her eyes.

Grumbling, I got up and took a quick shower. Camila waited at the edge of the bed, her impatience evident.

"Are you Flash or something?" she teased as I finished in record time.

I rolled my eyes and dressed quickly, opting for comfortable trousers and a white top I found in the closet.

"Isn't it odd that Yung already has clothes in here for us, like he was expecting us?" I mused aloud.

"Exactly what I thought," Camila said, her expression mirroring my unease.

"Do you think we should trust them?" she asked.

"I think we should," I replied. "They saved us when no one else could. If they wanted to harm us, we'd already be dead."

Camila nodded hesitantly and took my hand, leading me outside to the garden. Her grip was firm, a reminder of how June used to hold my hand. Tears pricked my eyes, and I quickly wiped them away, missing my best friend more than ever.

The garden was peaceful, filled with vibrant flowers and a calming breeze. The others were already there, meditating with Yung, who sat cross-legged at the front. His eyes were closed, his face serene.

"Destiny," Yung said, startling me. His eyes remained closed, yet he somehow knew I was there.

"Sit," he instructed.

Camila and I joined the circle, mimicking the others.

"Open your mind," Yung said softly. "And you will see."

I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths, trying to clear my thoughts. At first, there was nothing but a vast, empty void.

"Look deeper," Yung's voice urged. "See the truth."

Suddenly, a strange sensation overtook me, as if my consciousness was being pulled from my body. When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the garden.

I gasped, finding myself in a vast, dark expanse. A towering castle loomed in the distance, its spires piercing the stormy sky. "Where am I?" I whispered, my voice echoing.

Compelled by curiosity, I walked toward the castle. Demons roamed the grounds, their grotesque forms terrifying, yet none of them noticed me. I seemed invisible, even intangible, as I passed right through them.

The castle was enormous, its walls illuminated by eerie flames. I ascended a seemingly endless staircase, drawn by faint voices.

"Do not worry, Lucifer. They won't survive the week," a voice said, cold and confident.

I followed the sound to a door, pressing my ear against it.

"I want Destiny dead," a deep, unfamiliar voice growled.

"She doesn't even know how to control her powers," another voice sneered.

"And the others?"

"They're expendable," the first voice said. "I sent them to kill you, knowing they'd fail. They were never meant to succeed."

My heart pounded as realization dawned. The voice was familiar, too familiar. With trembling hands, I pushed the door open.

The blood drained from my face as my worst fear was confirmed.

"Ma...Master?" I stammered, my voice barely a whisper.