A deadly reaction

Aurelia

Kairios and I had spent the night together at the house with the beautiful back yard. Since finding it many nights ago, we have returned as often as possible. We cleaned up the inside of the house and removed any of the previous furniture that was left behind. The old run-down house was now turned into something new and special to us.

The nights were so warm that we stayed in the back yard enjoying the clear night skies. Kairios was still asleep on the blanket while I walked around the house imagining how it would look for us when it was finished. While I looked around, I relished in the feeling of his hands and kisses still lingered on my skin and lips. Our night had been full of such love and passion. I wished I was still asleep next to him, but my nightmares had gotten worse and worse. I couldn’t stand the doubt that they brought me. As we got closer to Lyanna’s dead line, they got deeply disturbing. Only five more days, I just had to make it till then.

I woke Kairios up and we ate a small breakfast together. We planned to spend the day relaxing and enjoying some much-needed alone time. There was nothing left for us to do but wait out the days now. Saira was established enough at the healing house and my mother had found ways to stay busy. We decided to spend the day walking around the city and I wanted to see if the slaves had been removed from the ship yard and finally set free. As we walked around, I noticed the sounds of building no longer filled the air. I had hope that Galorian kept his word.

As I had suspected that when we came to the gates, they were no longer guarded and the yard was empty. Not a single person or ship remained. Kairios and I looked at each other, it was somewhat odd that it was this cleared out so fast. I would need to find out more but I was happy that I didn’t have to hear those sounds any more. There was nothing left for us to do now but to continue on our day.

I wanted to check in at the house and get the horses and go for a ride. They had been cooped up so much since we got here that they had grown irritated. No one was home, I assumed they were all at the healing house again. We rode for a long time and enjoyed it so much that I didn’t want to return. It had grown late and we were all ready for some dinner. The house was quiet once more so we decided to sleep together in the same room.

Our lovemaking was loud and lasted long into the night. At some point in the middle of the night we laid there holding each other. His hand ran up and down my side leaving a small trail of goose bumps. My head rested on his strong chest and I had a leg thrown lazily across is legs. I was about to drift off to sleep when a loud banging on the door downstairs startled us both out of bed. I grabbed my sword and he his arrows and we bolted down stairs wearing nothing and weapons in hand.

The knocking was loud and urgent! Kairios ripped the door open so hard that it nearly ripped off the frame! An old woman stood there with wide eyes as she took in our naked bodies and weapons pointed at her.

“What is the meaning of this?” Kairios demanded.

“Apologies my lady, it is of the utmost importance that you come with me now!”

“Who are you?”

“My master Jaxson has sent me. One of your friends has been injured! She is at our master’s home.”

“What does she look like?” Please don’t say back hair and silver eyes!

“She looks like you, my lady. Please come with me.”

“Come inside we have to dress. How long has she been there?”

“She came late in the night yesterday, my master brought her from the dead part of the city. She had been beaten very badly.”

My mother was beaten? It could only be one person responsible. The Queen had found us out and sent her guards to end our threat. Our fears had been realized! And where was Saira? She was missing since last night? And the maids? How had they not sent word? Were they all dead too? How, how could this have happened? It was all my fault I should have been there to protect her!

“How far?”

“A few streets over. Try to keep up.”

She was fast for an old woman. I couldn’t believe the pace she kept. Though I was thankful for it. I had to know what happened last night. My thoughts were out of control. When we got to the door Jaxson was waiting and sad quite loudly for the early morning hours.

“Welcome my lady, I am delighted to have you over for such an early breakfast.”

He was acting strange so I decided to play along.

“Thank you for the invite.”

He turned and directed us inside before following behind and closing the door.

“Where is she?” I demanded, standing right in front of him, our faces almost touching.

“Your mother is upstairs sleeping.”

He was so calm in the face of my radiating anger. He moved to go to the stairs and motioned for me to follow. So, he knew, she had to have told him.

“What happened?” I tried to ask a little more calmly.

“I came across her while she was being attacked by a guard. She hit her head hard and was unconscious for a long time. That’s why it took so long to find out where you were.”

When he turned to look at me again, I could see a change in them as he took me in in a new light. For the first time since I met him, he no longer looked bored.

“You know who I am, don’t you?”

“Yes, she told me everything.”

“Why are you helping us?”

“I despise the Queen. She had my parents killed and my friends and family were run out of the city. I want revenge.”

“You will support me after I stop her?”

“I will support you in stopping her. I will decide after when you show me what type of Queen you intend to be.”

“I hope to be worthy then.”

“Your mother is in here, after we will talk more about the battle to come.”

When we were left alone, I turned to the door and my hand hovered over the handle. Why was I afraid to enter? This was no time to be weak and I forced myself to open the door and walk inside with my head held high, to many people were depending on me to be strong.

When I saw her laying there, something broke inside of me. I ran to her side and dropped hard to my knees beside her bed. Tears started to fall from my eyes as I took in her injuries. Her one eye was so swollen that she couldn’t even open it!

“A... Aurelia.” She said in a wispy voice that sounded painful.

“I’m so sorry! I have treated you so badly!”

All of my walls against her had broken down and I was like a little girl begging her mommy for forgiveness.

“Aurelia, it’s going to be alright. There is nothing to forgive. I love you, my daughter.”

She soothed my wild emotions by stroking my tangled hair and wet cheek. She continued to tell me it was going to be okay. It took some time but I finally calmed down. I needed to know what happened.

“Aurelia, I have to tell you something.” Her voice shook even more and she hesitated before continuing.

“They took her, they had to. Shes not here, is she? I told her to run but after we separated, I don’t know what happened. I think Massell is dead. There were so many guards, he tried to stop them. After I was attacked, they brought me here and no one has seen them.”

Saira was gone? I couldn’t think right, my thoughts spiraled on repeat. Saira was gone, she was taken. They took her and Adara has her! This couldn’t be happening. My skin started to burn and my vison started to burn red!

The change was unstoppable. I could hear my mother calling to me but her words passed right through me. Saira was gone and I was changing. My cloths ripped to shreds as my limbs grew and my skin turned to scales. Saira! Saira! Why? My wings burst free and my tail hit the floor hard enough to break through. It started to whip around wildly as I felt it connect with flesh!

The house started to fall apart as my soul was in agony. I tried to scream but no voice came and flames filled the room. I launched upwards breaking through the ceiling with my sharp horns. A few flaps of my wings and I climbed higher int the air, screaming blasts of flame.

They would all pay! Screams filled the air as I rained down my fury upon them all. They would all pay for this! I burned everything in my path. Nothing was safe from me. The tavern, gates and eventually the ship yard all felt the heat of my fury.

A strange sound behind me drew my attention just in time to see a large metal net wrap around my body. The chain it was attached to yanked hard and I fell from the skies. I tried to free myself with teeth and claw but it was unyielding to my savage attempts. My back hit the water and I was shocked into realization.

I was captured once again! The cold water started to change me back to my human form as the net was hauled in. I thought I was going to drown as they pulled and pulled. Was this really how I was going to die? After everything?

“Well, this is an unexpected surprise. Welcome back to my ship, my Lady.”