that I'd actually created a wall to barricade them or I was positive they would be stampeding towards us.
Deep down, I didn't like the devastation that was flooding Mother's expression as the guards who stood to protect her began to grow wary.
I sensed Omarion looking my way, and I let my quiet thought run through our bond.
How pathetic humans are. To think I was once one who surely would be manipulated to this degree.
"Even as a human, I doubt you would have been this easily manipulated," Omarion responded. "However, there's something in the air."
I'm aware. Any moment no-
The sound of clapping seemed to pierce through the chaos, forcing all of us to freeze as if we couldn't believe the repetitive sound as our attention returned to the platform.
Mother turned around, shock flooding her face as she moved to the side to make enough space between herself and the approaching man in traditional royal attire.
"Fellow humans, supernaturals, beings alike. Do not believe such lies!"
My eyes narrowed at the amused, thickened voice as Wilfried walked boldly to the podium. I expected people around to quiver, but instead, they were cheering.
"This isn't good," Quil-Zu announced, and I could feel her concern as my own began to build within me.
How is he manipulating this many individuals?
"Magic is a possibility, but he'd need a second source," Quil-Zu suggested.
I frowned while my eyes lowered to the candles that were specifically placed around the platform with the various flowers, their movement flickering due to the slight breeze that was rolling in that carried the scent of the flowers and burning aroma.
"Why are they cheering?" Omarion seethed, his body tensed as if he were ready to fight Wilfried here and now. I reached for his arm to calm him, and I looked over to Marigold, who I was sure had been listening in to my thoughts with Quil-Zu.
"The candles and flowers," she calmly announced. "They weren't brought by us. They were given."
"The whole thing was a set up from the get-go," I quietly affirmed while my eyes landed on Wilfried, who was grinning from ear to ear as he placed his hands up to calm the masses.
All the attention was on him now as he bowed his head slightly, the golden crown twinkling lavishly even with the lack of light as the clouds continued to darken the sky.
"Be calm, humans and supernaturals. I've decided to bless you all with my appearance to clear the lies this fake hologram is spewing at you!" All cameras were on Wilfried as he reached the podium and gave Mother a sly grin in greeting.
The way he stood there with boldness was beginning to tick me off, and from Omarion's glaring expression, he too was getting nagged by the oozing superiority coming off this man who thought he could continue to play whatever game he was conducting with these innocent individuals.
As easy as it was to blame these humans for being so easily influenced, Wilfried was taking the perfect opportunity to manipulate them further thanks to their mourning states.
Hologram?
She's not real?
No way. She looks real.
Wow. Are we literally being tricked?
She couldn't even travel down to our realms to speak?
Intruder! Betrayer!
"Wilfried!" Mother harshly stated as she looked in his direction. "How dare you? You shouldn't be here!"
"Why is that, Faith?" he inquired with an innocent look as he stroked his chin. "Ah. Surely, you've yet to hear the news."
"News?" Mother was seething with anger, and I could tell she was fighting hard for it not leak out of her and affect our actual kingdom.
"You fae surely have to speed up your way of communication. It really hinders you all when things suddenly change. Seeing as you're such a superior race, I'm sure you belittle this world." His comments began to rile up the crowd, and they began to boo and spout words of hate towards my mother.
Their bickering began to irritate me and only confirmed what was obvious.
Without leadership, humans are far too easily manipulated.
"You speak truth, but there's more to this. He's not controlling this mass of individuals on his own accord. It's not another individual, but an object in question. Concentrate on his aura. Tell me what you see."
Quil-Zu's words encouraged me to do exactly that, my eyes concentrating on the aura Wilfried was easily hiding from the rest of the world. It took far more concentration than I expected, but with the growing insults happening around me, this was the prime moment to see what was being hidden.
Wilfried's aura was massive,