A Refuge Of Love

A cloak of darkness enveloped Visenya, rapidly plunging her into a disorienting abyss. She could still feel the rough dirt beneath her trembling knees but struggled to make sense of her new surroundings. Confusion gripped her, rendering her thoughts muddled and her bearings lost as she tried to understand how she ended up back in that desolate mountain range.

A faint shimmer flickered in the distance, capturing Visenya's attention. A surge of anger welled within her as her eyes locked on the familiar cave she now regretted ever stepping foot in. Pushing herself up from the dirt, she strode towards the cave, each step driven by an unseen impulse. Her fury intensified the moment Marienne came into sight, her face displaying a deviant smirk, as if she had been anticipating Visenya's arrival.

“You conniving bitch!” Visenya fumed. “You tricked me!”

A treacherous laugh erupted from Marienne, one that not only chilled Visenya to her core but fueled her outrage even more.

“What did you do to Lucian? Where did you send him?!”

“Where did I send him?” Marienne's tone oozed with amusement. “I didn’t send him anywhere. That was all you. But don’t worry, I’m sure he is just fine... I know how much you love him and all.”

“I hate him,” Visenya's voice mixed with resentment and pain.

“Yes, you do hate him,” Marienne agreed. “But you also love him... and you hate that you love him, don’t you?”

“This isn’t about me!” Visenya redirected the attention back to Marienne where it belonged. “You never wanted to help me! You only wanted to use me for your sick and twisted games!”

“Use you?” Marienne scoffed. “You should be thanking me! You're pathetic, Visenya! I'm the one who showed you your true potential! I was the backbone you were always afraid to rely on! The whole world would’ve treated you like a doormat if it weren't for me igniting that spark in you!”

“No… You don’t speak for me at all. Your motives don't align with mine. I never wanted to hurt anyone! That wasn't part of the plan! But now I see your true colors, and I won't let you hurt anyone again!”

“Shhhh…” Marienne hushed, pressing a finger to her lips, her eyes filled with a sinister presence. “You'll upset the children.”

Confusion crossed Visenya’s face. “Children? What are you talking about? What children?”

Marienne's gaze led Visenya to the end of the cave, while her feet guided her towards the dark edge. It was there that she stumbled upon a sight that gripped her with horror - hundreds of frightened children, imprisoned in small cages. These were no ordinary children; they were vampire children.

"How did you…" Visenya's voice trailed off, overwhelmed by the pitiful whimpers of the terrified young ones.

"This is what you've always wanted, isn't it?" Marienne insisted. "To rid the world of vampirism... you can start right here, with their spawn."

"Are you completely out of your mind?!" Visenya's voice laced with abhorrence at Marienne's proposition. "They're children for Goddess’ sake!"

"They're nothing more than little demons who will grow up to prey on humans."

"That's not true!" Visenya argued. "There is good and bad in every race. It doesn't mean they're all evil. And these are just children... they are innocent!"

"Innocent?!" Marienne mocked, her laughter dripping with scorn. "You didn't seem to think so when you starved them year after year."

“I never intentionally starved anyone…” Visenya's voice wavered.

“Oh, stop lying to yourself, Visenya! You've always hated them!”

Visenya shook her head, her disagreement palpable. “That's not true…”

“You hate them, just like your father did, and his father before him, and his father before him!” Marienne's conviction overwhelmed as she closed in on Visenya with a threatening glare.

“Take care of them, Visenya, or I will make you,” she said with an evil grin.

Visenya let out an aggravated scream as she charged towards Marienne, but she suddenly found herself frozen in place before she could even lay a finger on her. Her hands trembled as they lifted towards the children, their eyes widening with fear as flames began to ignite in her grasp. Visenya had no control over it, the fire growing more intense as Marienne looked on with a sick thrill in her eyes.

“No!” Visenya screamed, desperately fighting the mental grip that Marienne once again had on her.

She could feel energy building up in her palms, sensing Marienne's preparation to shoot blasts of fire at these innocent beings. Visenya closed her eyes, unable to bear witness to what was about to happen.

“NOOOO!!” she belted from the depths of her soul and was violently ripped from her reality and hurtled into a realm of chaos. Suddenly, she found herself spat out onto an icy ground, her body instantly overcome by a bone-chilling cold.

Opening her eyes, she found herself amidst a frozen wasteland. The air crackled with an intense cold that seeped into her very bones, causing uncontrollable trembles. Swirling snowflakes filled the air, whipped into a frenzy by a merciless blizzard. The howling wind deafened her ears, and each gust felt like a thousand icy needles piercing her skin.

A vast expanse of snow-covered mountains stretched out before her, their majestic peaks obscured by dark storm clouds. The landscape presented a stark contrast to anything she had ever seen, with jagged rocks jutting out from the frozen earth and towering pines hunched under the weight of snow.

Struggling to her feet, Visenya battled against the biting gusts, each breath a painful reminder of the inhospitable environment she now found herself in. Tiny clouds of vapor formed with each exhale, the air sharp like a blade as it invaded her lungs. She wrapped her arms around her body, trying to summon a warmth that proved to be unattainable. She was an intruder in this frozen domain, an unwanted guest in a realm ruled by winter's wrath.

With each step, the snow crunched beneath her sandals, sinking up to her knees. The wind relentlessly whipped at her clothing, biting through her layers and numbing her limbs. She struggled against the blizzard's assault, stumbling forward, her body weakened by the bitter cold, her muscles aching with fatigue.

She needed to escape this frozen hell, but she didn't have a strong enough grip on her powers yet, making it impossible for her to rely on herself. There was only one person in this world that she could turn to right now, so she pressed her hand against the marking on her chest and reopened her link to Lucian.
———

Lucian lay sprawled face down in the blistering hot desert sand, his body completely motionless under the scorching sun. The desert's unrelenting heat waves distorted the air, creating a shimmering haze that danced above the dunes.

A faint echo reverberated within Lucian's mind. It was a voice that resonated deep within his very being, a voice he recognized all too well. Visenya's voice pierced through the darkness, calling out his name with desperate urgency.

"Lucian!”

The sound of her voice cut through the fog of unconsciousness, stirring him from his deep slumber. His eyes slowly fluttered open, revealing a world filled with blinding sunlight and swirling desert sands. The glare assaulted his vision, causing him to squint and shield his face with his arm.

"Visenya?" He croaked, his voice hoarse from the dry desert air.

"Lucian!" Her voice rang in his head once again, and it was then that he realized she had opened her link to him.

"Visenya?! Where are you?!" His heart raced with deep concern, sensing her distress.

"I don't know, but I need your help... I need you to find me, Lucian."

"Close your eyes, Visenya," he instructed, placing his hand over his marking. He closed his own eyes, creating a sync between them.

A surge of energy coursed through his veins, his connection with Visenya growing stronger as he tapped into the bond they shared, using it as a compass to locate the other half of his soul.

His eyes shot open. "I know where you are. I'm coming for you... just hold on a little bit longer for me."

"Please, hurry," she begged.

Lucian struggled momentarily to morph into his dragon form, his body wracked with exhaustion. With a mighty thrust of his colossal wings, he managed to propel himself into the air, leaving behind a swirling trail of sand.

He flew as fast as his wings could carry him, soaring high above the clouds. Gradually, the temperature dropped, transforming his surroundings into a snowy expanse of towering mountains.

The air grew colder with each passing moment, and his breath formed misty plumes against the freezing climate. In the distance, a raging snowstorm loomed, casting an ominous veil over the towering peaks.

Undeterred by the approaching tempest, Lucian pressed on, his wings slicing through the frigid gusts with unwavering determination. But despite his formidable size and strength, even the Dragon Lord was not immune to the relentless fury of the storm.

As the blizzard intensified, the winds grew fiercer, lashing against Lucian’s wings with gale-force strength. He fought valiantly against the elements, beating his wings with all his might, but the gusts were unyielding. Lucian’s once smooth and effortless flight became a battle against the raging tempest.

The wind howled and whipped around him, causing his wings to falter. He struggled to maintain his altitude, his body buffeted in all directions. Then, a fierce gust of wind struck his wings with devastating force. His body was thrown off balance, and his wings buckled under the pressure. With a desperate roar, Lucian lost control, spiraling uncontrollably towards the ground.

The snowy landscape rushed towards him, threatening to swallow him whole. In a final effort to regain control, Lucian flapped his wings with all his remaining strength, but it was too late. The force of the wind sent him crashing into the ground, his massive frame plowing through the snow with a resounding thud.

He shifted back to his natural form and pushed himself up, shaking off the snow that clung to his body. The blizzard may have brought him down, but it would not hinder his search for Visenya.

Lucian pressed forward, his footsteps leaving deep imprints in the freshly fallen snow, which quickly filled in behind him. Visibility was limited, with the world reduced to a swirling haze of white. With each step, he called out Visenya's name, but his voice was carried away by the howling wind.

In the distance, he spotted a figure huddled amidst the swirling snow. It was Visenya, her delicate frame encased in a thick coat of frost, struggling to shield herself from the storm's fury. Lucian's heart ached at the sight, fueling his determination to reach her.

He rushed towards her, his steps quick and determined, until he was finally by her side. With urgency, he encircled her trembling form with his strong arms, lifting her into his embrace and pressing her firmly against the warmth of his chest. She was on the brink of unconsciousness, her face pallid and lips tinged with blue, succumbing to the merciless grip of hypothermia. But as their touch connected, a surge of heat emanated from him, infusing her with a glimmer of life.

Their eyes locked in a profound way, a wave of relief washing over her as she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, seeking more of his comforting warmth.

“You found me,” she whispered through their mind link, fully aware that her voice would be swallowed by the relentless wind.

"I'll always find you… in this world and the next," he vowed. "We have to get out of here, but I can't fly in this storm. You'll need to teleport us."

"Teleport?" She questioned, a mix of surprise and uncertainty in her voice.

"Yes, Visenya, you can teleport. You teleported me to a desert on the other side of the world, and I'm assuming that's how you ended up here. You can teleport us back home or anywhere else..."

"I can't..." she interjected. "I… I don't know how I did it. I'm sorry..."

As she spoke, he could see a blend of shame and guilt in her eyes. "Hey, it's alright. We'll just wait it out until the storm passes."

With one swift shift, Lucian transformed back into his dragon form and carefully wrapped his massive wings around her, creating a sanctuary from the raging blizzard. His wings formed a fortress of warmth and security, shielding her from the blistering winds.

Within the shelter of his wings, Visenya found respite from the harsh elements. She curled up against Lucian's body, her exhaustion taking hold as the storm raged on outside. The rhythmic beat of his heart beneath her cheek lulled her into a deep slumber.

Lucian's breath, tinged with the cold air, transformed the snow he had collected into a gentle mist. He blew it out through his flaring nostrils, creating a warm, ethereal cloud that enveloped them both. The steamy mist wrapped around Visenya like a comforting blanket, chasing away the remnants of the biting cold.

Its soothing touch caressed her skin, imbuing her with a sense of tranquility and serenity. Lucian's breath, infused with his fiery essence, provided her with gentle warmth that seeped into her very core.

As the storm raged on, Lucian's eyes never left his slumbering beauty. His wings remained steadfast, shielding her from the fury of the blizzard. He marveled at the delicate features of her face; her vulnerability and trust in him filled his heart with a profound sense of purpose.

Time seemed to stand still within their sheltered embrace, the storm's relentless assault unable to reach them. Lucian's love for Visenya was stronger than the fiercest of storms, providing a sanctuary where she could find solace and rest.

He hoped that in his arms, she felt safe, protected, and loved; and that when this storm passed, she would trust him enough to let him help her in whatever personal battle she was facing.