CHAPTER 159: CHAPTER 159: THE AMBASSADOR’S FIRST STAND

The silver chains snapped like brittle twigs under pressure.

Elara sat up suddenly, her breath catching in her throat. The gleaming memory crown tumbled from her head and clattered to the cold, concrete floor. The room was cloaked in thick shadows, but through the darkness, she could make out a small figure standing in the doorway.

Her heart skipped a beat.

It was Sage.

But he wasn’t a baby anymore.

"Sage?" she whispered, barely daring to believe it.

"Hello, Mom," he replied. His voice was deeper now—resonant and steady. Older. He looked like a ten-year-old child, not the curious toddler she remembered. His once-chubby cheeks had sharpened into the features of a boy growing too fast under pressure.

"How did you—what happened to you?" Elara’s voice trembled with confusion and disbelief.

"Emergency growth," he said simply, his eyes glowing with quiet wisdom. "When supernatural children are in real danger, sometimes our bodies catch up to our minds."

A second figure stepped beside him—Blaze. Also older. Taller. Fierce golden eyes, just like hers, filled with concern.

"Are you okay, Mama?" he asked, his voice laced with worry and strength.

"I’m fine," she breathed, still stunned. "But how did you get here?"

"The other imprisoned children helped us," Sage said. "Turns out, the President lied. These kids still have their powers. They’ve just been pretending to be broken."

Suddenly, the harsh lights flickered back on, casting the sterile room in unforgiving brightness. The President stormed in, her tailored suit slightly disheveled, fury twisting her face. Armed soldiers followed her, their boots pounding against the tile like war drums.

"Impossible!" she gasped, eyes darting to the broken chains and the fallen crown. "The chains were silver! The crown should have—"

"Should have what?" Elara rose slowly to her feet, feeling raw power surge through her like a rushing river. "Erased my mind? Made me forget my children?"

Behind the President, dozens of figures emerged from the hallway—the supernatural children from the cells. Some limped, others leaned on each other for support. Their faces were pale and worn, but their eyes... their eyes burned with defiance and desperate hope.

"You can’t stop all of us," a teenage girl with hands glowing like molten light said softly, stepping forward.

"Watch me," the President snarled. She yanked out a sleek weapon, pulsing with silver energy and hatred. "Enhanced soldiers, eliminate the targets."

The room froze.

But the soldiers didn’t move.

"Sir?" one of them asked, uncertain. "These are children."

"I gave you an order!" the President screamed, spittle flying.

"Ma’am," another soldier said slowly, his voice heavy with emotion, "my daughter is eight years old. I can’t... I won’t..."

Marcus, the soldier who had helped Elara and her sons escape, stepped forward. His uniform was scorched, his hands trembling slightly, but his gaze was clear and steady.

"She’s been controlling us with fear and lies," he said. "But some things are stronger than mind control."

"Like what?" the President hissed, her knuckles white around the weapon.

"Love," baby Blaze said simply, his small voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Love for children. Love for family. Love for doing what’s right."

One by one, the enhanced soldiers lowered their weapons. The air shifted. The power balance shattered.

"You’re all making a terrible mistake," the President warned. "If the world finds out about supernatural beings, there will be chaos. War. Millions will die."

"Maybe," Elara replied, stepping forward with measured grace. "Or maybe people will surprise us."

"You’re willing to risk everything on ’maybe’?"

Elara turned to look at her children, at the freed prisoners, at the hardened soldiers who now chose protection over orders.

"Yes," she said firmly. "I choose revelation."

The President’s face twisted with rage, her lips curling into a snarl. "Then you’ve doomed us all."

She slammed a button on her weapon. Red alarms blared, filling the facility with shrill sirens. Overhead speakers crackled to life.

"Attention all units," her voice thundered, cold and ruthless. "Code Black is in effect. Kill all supernatural beings on sight."

"That won’t work," Sage said, his voice as calm and certain as stone.

"Why not?"

"Because you’re not the only one with a plan."

Suddenly, the wall exploded inward with a thunderous boom. Dust and debris rained down as the hole revealed seven figures stepping through like avenging gods.

Kane. Kael. Ronan. Darian. Phoenix. Luna. And behind them—dozens of other supernatural adults.

"Sorry we’re late," Kane said with a devilish grin. "Traffic was murder."

"How did you escape?" the President barked.

"We didn’t," Phoenix said coolly. "We surrendered. To the regular police—not your enhanced puppets. Turns out, normal humans don’t like it when their President kidnaps children."

"The entire world has been watching," Luna added, her silver hair shimmering. "Every news station, every platform. They saw you threaten babies on live television."

Kael stepped forward, his Alpha presence rolling off him in waves. "The human governments are demanding answers. The United Nations just called an emergency meeting. You’re finished."

The President laughed bitterly, eyes flashing. "Even if I’m finished, the damage is done. The secret is out. Humans will never accept you."

"Let’s find out," Elara said quietly.

She walked toward a nearby computer terminal, her fingers dancing across the keyboard with supernatural speed. In moments, she hacked into every major news network on Earth.

"What are you doing?" the President asked, suddenly looking small.

"Talking to the world," Elara replied.

Her face appeared on billions of screens—phones, tablets, televisions. The entire world paused, watching breathlessly.

"Hello," she said softly. "My name is Elara Moon. I’m a mother. A wife. And... I’m supernatural."

Gasps rippled across cities, towns, and villages.

"For centuries, we’ve lived among you. We’ve been your neighbors, your friends, your doctors, your builders, your soldiers. And we’ve kept our powers hidden to protect you—and ourselves."

She stepped aside, revealing Sage and Blaze.

"These are my sons. One sees truth. The other controls fire. And they’ve risked their lives to save yours."

The camera panned to show the rescued supernatural children, bruised and broken but alive.

"These are not monsters. They are children. Children your government imprisoned. Tortured. Lied about."

Tears streamed down viewers’ faces around the world—tears of anger, heartbreak, and awakening.

"I understand your fear," Elara continued, her voice strengthening. "But fear does not justify cruelty. We are not your enemies. We never were."

She took a deep breath, her heart thudding.

"Today, I volunteer to be your first supernatural ambassador. I will answer your questions. I will hear your fears. I will help build bridges between our worlds."

"This is insanity!" the President screamed. "You’re starting a war!"

"No," Elara said quietly. "I’m trying to stop one."

She turned back to the camera. "Judge us by our actions. Not our abilities. We want the same things you do—safety, love, peace."

Almost instantly, social media erupted with hashtags: #SupernaturalAmbassador, #ProtectTheChildren, #BridgeNotWalls.

But not all were positive. #MagicThreat. #DestroyTheMonsters. #HumanFirst.

"See?" the President spat. "They’re already turning on you."

"Some are," Elara admitted. "But look at the numbers."

Polls flashed across the screen. Sixty-seven percent supported peaceful relations. Only twenty-eight wanted war.

"The majority want peace," baby Sage said, eyes glowing.

"For now," the President snapped. "Wait until someone gets hurt. Wait until—"

"Excuse me."

A new voice cut in. A reporter had slipped into the chaos.

"I’m Sarah Chen from Global News Network. Can I ask a few questions?"

"Of course," Elara said, nodding.

"Do you plan to take over human governments?"

"No. We want to work with them."

"Will you hurt humans?"

"Only to protect innocent lives."

"What do you want most?"

Tears welled in Elara’s eyes. "A safe world. For all children."

The reporter nodded solemnly. "Thank you. This has been Sarah Chen, reporting from the most important moment in human history."

More reporters came. Then government envoys. Then curious humans hoping for a glimpse of magic.

"It’s happening," Luna whispered in awe. "They’re not running."

"Some are," Phoenix warned. In the distance, angry protesters clashed with supporters.

"Change is never easy," Elara said. "But it’s necessary."

The President backed away slowly. "This isn’t over. Others like me will rise. Humans who will never accept you."

"I know," Elara said. "But more will."

"You’re making the biggest mistake in supernatural history."

"Maybe. But it’s mine to make."

She vanished into the shadows.

"Should we stop her?" Ronan asked.

"No," Elara said. "She’s not wrong. Accidents will happen. People will die. But hiding wasn’t saving anyone."

"Then why?" Kael asked.

"Because now, we can try. We can fight for better."

Blaze tugged her hand. "Mama, look."

On the screen, thousands of messages poured in. Human and supernatural. Messages of hope. Offers of peace. Children asking to be friends.

"See?" Sage said, wise beyond his years. "Most people are good. They just need a chance."

Elara smiled through her tears.

But then the screen went black.

Blood-red letters flashed:

SUPERNATURAL AMBASSADOR: YOUR FIRST TEST BEGINS NOW. SAVE THE HUMANS IN THE SCHOOL, OR WATCH THEM DIE. YOU HAVE ONE HOUR. — THE SHADOW COUNCIL

A live feed appeared. A school. Children crying. Dark figures circling like wolves.

"Oh no," Elara whispered, her heart clenching.

"What’s the Shadow Council?" Phoenix asked.

Sage turned pale. "The ones who

want humans to fear us. They’re going to make us look like monsters."

The timer began ticking.

59:47... 59:46... 59:45...

"Mom," Blaze whispered, eyes wide, "I think someone just declared war on your peace plan."