Chapter 27
Brir
I saddled Dune after Nidra assured me he was fine. The beast had nudged away another Lepot she had been bringing to me, and the look he gave me told me if I tried to leave him behind, he would throw a fit. I patted his dark brown head.
"Determined creature, aren't you?" I murmured, stroking the rough texture of his scales. Dune emitted a sound that resembled a pleased grunt, his massive body rumbling under my touch. I laughed at that, the first genuine one since… since–
"Alright, Dune," I whispered into his ear. “Let's go get him back.”
I gave Dune a pat on his nose, accepting the silent conversation that passed between us. He was mine, and I was his. He cared just as much as I did for Artemis. I let out a sigh. Dune hated everyone except Artemis. It was almost like he knew I would love Artemis, and he needed to love him, too. There was no leaving Dune behind.
The beast loved Artemis just as much as I did. I had never seen a Lepot share its food before him. Hell, I had saved others before, and he had refused to let me mount them on his back and made me carry the injured human all by myself.
With a gentle nudge and an affectionate snort, Dune signaled his readiness. I hoisted myself onto his back, adjusting to his movements' familiar warmth and rhythm. A gust of wind blew across us, rustling the leaves in the nearby trees and carrying the smell of approaching rain with it.
Despite the ominous scent of rain, I felt a strange calm wash over me. For the first time in days, I felt like I could get Artemis back. The breeze rustled my hair, and my grip on Dune's reins tightened.
Merrick and Soren hugged their daughter goodbye and told her not to cause trouble for Arya. They looked so proud of their youngling as they stood next to Arya, Leotol next to her.
Soren turned to Roman and pressed his face to her forehead. “I need you to stay here and protect Emily. Please.”
Roman nodded, the seriousness of the request apparent in her eyes. She knew how much Soren cared for his daughter, and she wouldn't let anything happen to her. “Safe,” the Razuga kit said, sitting on her haunches.
I watched Soren smile. His eyes went watery as he turned to look at Merrick with a smile. Humans were so emotional.
“Merrick, did you hear her?” Soren asked him, beaming. Everyone in the little group looked very proud,
“I did,” Merrick said, reaching a hand out to Roman and rubbing her scaly black head. “Being around the pack is good for her. She has a lot of good role models with them. She will learn faster here." Then Merrick turned his head to Roman. “Yes, Roman. Protect Emily.”
“Safe,” she said again, nudging Soren's hand and looking back at him.
As I readied myself to leave, Arya stepped forward again, this time placing a small pouch in my hand. Despite its plain exterior, I immediately sensed the magic weaving in and out of the dense fabric.
"Elex said you would need this," she uttered, her voice just loud enough for me to hear. I opened the pouch to see a round vial of Arya’s purple blood. When I looked back up at her, the question was evident on my face.
“This is your blood.” I blinked at her, taken aback by the revelation. I held the vial up to the dim light, watching as the mysterious, deep purple hue danced around, casting strange shadows on my palm.
“It has some of my blood in it but mixed with other things. Elex said it would help Artemis heal until you guys got back. So, make Artemis drink it." The glimmer in her eyes was steely and resolute. It was not a request but a quiet command. I took her words in, their gravity sinking deep within me.
"I understand," I found myself replying, tucking the vial carefully into my pouch. "Thank you," I said, and I meant it. This final sentiment wasn't only for the magical pouch but for everything–her assistance, acceptance, and unwavering faith in me when I had little in myself.
Arya smiled, eyes shining with unshed tears. "You're welcome."
Before I could give it any more thought, Dune had grown impatient and started to move, turning us away from the others and moving toward the direction of the New Pharia border. We navigated through the remaining crowds and onto the open road. The feeling of the barrier passing over me made me shiver. The weather was starting to shift, and dark clouds were gathering at the horizon, but I barely noticed. My thoughts were on Artemis, my heart aching at his absence.
Merrick and Soren caught up with us, riding their respective mounts.
I was pushing Dune hard, and I knew it, but I couldn't wait any longer. I needed to get to Artemis.
Merrick's eyes were stone-cold, a fierce determination in his usually cheerful face. Soren was pensive, his gaze drifting towards the NewPharia barrier, which was gradually receding into the distance. Yet, beneath their hardened masks, I could see the same worry clawing at my insides.
???
We had just passed the Colorado border when Merrick called out.
I pulled Dune's reins back, signaling him to slow. Merrick’s Lepot trotted up to my side.
"We're heading into a storm," he warned, his voice carrying the severity of the situation over the howling winds. His eyes were on the darkening skies stretching endlessly before us.
"I see it, Merrick," I replied, my voice steady despite the dread pooling in my stomach. "But we can't stop. We don't have that luxury." I squinted into the distance as sheets of rain began to obscure the horizon.
“We should stop. We won't be able to see anything in that,” he said as I pulled Dune to slow down.
“We should go until dark,” I countered, wanting to get as much distance as we could. "Every mile matters right now," I added, looking at Merrick's worried expression. He seemed to struggle with the idea for a moment. I watched as his face turned firm.
“No. Soren can’t see in the dark, not like you and I. We need to stop. He's human, Brir.” The mention of the dark reminded me of Artemis's fear of the dark. The memories of how frantic he had become when the candles had burned down.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
He had a point, I admitted silently. Soren was still adjusting to our lifestyle.
"A few more miles. There is a small town just a little further," I told him, meeting his stern gaze with my own determined one. "We'll find a spot to rest then."
Merrick didn't look thrilled, but he nodded. His gaze shifted to something behind me, and his eyes softened. I turned in the saddle, following his gaze, and saw Soren.
“Of course.” Merrick nodded, relief washing over his face. He turned his Lepot around, making his way to Soren.
I nodded, my lips pressed tight from the strain. "We'll find a sheltered spot, something with a bit of cover," I agreed, scanning the surroundings. The Colorado landscape was raw and beautiful. “Let’s go,” I said, nudging Dune gently in the flanks.
We pushed the Lepots harder to make it to the town so Soren could rest.
The sky darkened, and storm clouds rumbled with menacing intensity. Lightning zigzagged across the canvas of our forthcoming path, accompanied by the distant roar of thunder.
“I've never seen lightning like that,” Soren yelled over the nose of the storm. The rain was still slightly off, but the wind was howling.
I watched the sky as blue and purple bolts struck the ground.
"It's the mountains," I called back to him, trying to keep my voice steady amidst the escalating tempest. "The altitude stirs up the storms, makes them wilder."
Through the gloom, I could faintly see the outlines of buildings ahead.
“No, I’m talking about the color.” Soren went on, “Lightning here is white or yellow. I've never seen it blue.” Another bold struck in the distance. It looked like the storms from our world. That wasn’t right.
I looked back at Merrick.
Something felt wrong, the tingling sensation scratching at the back of my mind.
"Yes, you're right," I concurred, my voice laced with slight apprehension.
The small abandoned town came into view, and I turned Dune to its entrance. We made our way off the highway and towards a hotel we could see from the road.
Nothing moved outside, but there, sitting in a chair, was a man I knew well. His deep purple skin and cat-like features always gave him away. The wind whipped around his dark purple hair, which lightened as it grew. The pink tips blew around him. He was holding a drink in his hand, watching the storm.
Leonovus raised a hand to wave at us as we approached the building. I could see his twin weapons hanging from a belt off his hips. Leonovus was a showy person. He was draped in fabric that blew around his legs. His shirt was open but pinned behind him in the chair. His fine clothes were draped around his body, showing his lithe frame.
His vibrant pink and feline eyes held a mischievous glint as he watched us approach. His lips curved upward into a knowing smirk.
"Brir. Merrick." Leonovus nodded towards each of us in turn. "Fancy meeting you here. Together no less, and with a human!” Leonovus's pink eyes studied us.
His feline ears twitched, and he stood up, stretching lazily, his claws pushing past his fingertips before he straightened to his full height. Standing at six-foot-five, Leonovus wasn't much taller than me but still a few inches shorter than Merrick.
"Leonovus?" Merrick asked, his voice steady as the thunder echoed in the distance again. His eyes, nearly as dark as the stormy sky overhead, studied the nonchalant Leonovus. “Why are you here?”
“Theo came and got me. She told me Arya was calling everyone home. I’m on my way back to New Pharia.” Leonovus shrugged, a slight smirk still adorning his face. "Which is where I would imagine you two should be.”
“It's a lot to explain right now,” I told him.
Leonovus only purred in response, a low rumble that echoed through the quiet street. He tilted his head to one side, studying us with a flicker of curiosity in his glowing eyes. "It's always 'a lot to explain' with you," he chided playfully.
“We need to get inside before the rain comes,” Soren said, watching the sky.
“That hotel is clear. I've got my things in the open room. Take any of the others." Leonovus said, pointing a thumb over his shoulder.
“Thank you, Leonovus,” I replied, inclining my head slightly in acknowledgment.
“No problem at all, Brir,” he responded, his smirk blossoming into a full grin. He then turned his gaze towards Merrick, who was still watching him intently. “Who is the pretty human? I would love to keep you warm tonight,” Leonovus said, giving Soren a once-over.
Merrick’s tail lasted as he climbed off the back of his Lepot. "Watch it," he growled, his hand on the hilt of his kitous. His fingers twitched on the handle, ready to cut down the Valeti. “That's my Keala.”
I watched Leonovus's features shift from interest to surprise as he backed away from the human.
Leonovus held up his hands in mock surrender, a feline grin on his lips. "Easy there, Meterous," he quipped, bending at his waist and bowing a little to the larger man. Leonovus tilted his head away, exposing his neck to Merrick, an animal-like sign of submission. "And my apologies to you too, lovely Keala." He nodded towards Soren.
"It's alright," I interjected, stepping forward to create a barrier between Leonovus and Merrick. There was no need for a fight, especially not now. “Merrick, you know he’s baiting you.”
I led Dune into the hotel. Leonovus followed me, leaving Merrick and Soren outside.
“So what's the story, Brir?” Leonovus asked
“New Pharia was attacked.” I watched as Leonovus started to look worried. “Arya held New Pharia. She’s okay.”
“Then where are you all going?” Leonovus questioned. His shoulder leaned against the wall as I started undoing the buckles of Dune’s harness. When free, he moved away to lie on the rug.
“I found my Savase,” I told him.
“That's amazing,” Leonovus said. I could see envy in his eyes. “Where is he?”
“The military took him, so we are on our way to get him back.” I watched as his feline-like eyes narrowed, his ears pressed back against his head in agitation, and his tail flicked angrily behind his legs.
Merrick and Soren walked in. Merrick had both of their bags. Soren was limping a little, trying to gingerly walk off the stiffness that had taken over his limbs from riding. If you weren't used to riding a beast like this, the stiffness was hard on the limbs, but the human did not complain. I could hear Merrick whispering soothingly in his ear. Soren winced and leaned down to stretch his legs out. We had pushed him hard today. He was used to walking. Riding was something else.
With a sigh, Merrick dropped the bags onto the plush couch and walked over behind Soren. He placed a calloused hand on the small of his back, steadying him and rubbing his man's lower back. Leonovus watched them for a moment, his agitation momentarily forgotten, replaced with curiosity. I watched as he raised an eyebrow, watching the two men in somewhat naughty poses.
"Lovely couple," he said. “I wouldn’t mind watching if you two want to put on a show.” Merrick moved in front of Soren as he stood up.
"Don't," Merrick interjected, a low growl rumbling from his chest. He stood protectively before Soren, his golden eyes glaring at Leonovus.
Leonovus rolled his eyes, his tail curling around his leg. "Oh, come now, Merrick. Where's your sense of fun?"
"About three miles back," he grunted. I turned my gaze back to the hotel. "We just need to rest now," I said, a little more forcefully than I meant to.
Leonovus held up his hands in mock surrender.
Leonovus followed me upstairs with feline grace. As we ascended to the second floor, the wooden stairs creaked under our combined weight. Leonovus flung open a door near the end of the hall, revealing a bare room with two unmade beds and a small bathroom.
"Home sweet home for the night," he said, his voice echoing slightly in the space. He sauntered to one of the beds and flopped onto it, stretching his lean body out with a satisfied sigh. His tail flicked lazily as he adjusted to get comfortable, much like a cat settling into its blankets.
Merrick carried Soren to the room across the hall. I watched as he placed Soren on the bed before closing the door to give them privacy.
“I'm presuming your partner is human too,” Leonovus questioned.
"Presuming correctly," I responded, my tone curt. I watched Leonovus sprawled lazily on one of the beds, seemingly at ease despite our precarious situation. His pink eyes shone in the dim light that filtered through the dirt-smeared window. I did not want to dive into the complexities of Soren and Merrick's relationship. I moved to unpack some of our belongings, my fingers tracing over the worn leather of our bags.
"I see," Leonovus said, his voice holding an unspoken question I had no intention of answering. “So the rumors are true. Humans can bond with us.”
“Is that a problem, Leonovus?” I glared back at him.
“You know I don't have one,” he answered. “You know it's all we have ever wanted.”
I unlatched the clasps on my bag. My thoughts were a whirlwind, a jumbled mess of fear and worry for Soren. He was stronger than most humans, but our kind… we were a different breed altogether. I’d usually be bothered by Soren’s human weakness, but traveling with him only made me reflective. He reminded me of Artemis.
The thought of Soren and his bond with Merrick stirred a mix of emotions within me. Jealousy, perhaps. Or maybe it was envy – the desire to experience that unique connection currently out of my reach. Things that I hadn’t said to Artemis. These are things that I should have explained the moment my threads lit up.
“You think your human is still alive?” Leonovus asked, studying my face. My tail bristled reflexively at his words, the needles on its end glinting dangerously in the dim light as they raised with my irritation. The thought of Artemis not surviving caused my heart to sink into my stomach. I needed him to be alive. I couldn't live without him. Leonovus didn't miss a beat, flickering to my tail before returning to meet my eyes.
“They went to a lot of trouble to capture him alive. I don't think that would have changed,” I snarled at him, trying to keep my temper.
Leonovus arched an eyebrow at that, his gaze penetrating. "And why would the human military want him alive?" he asked, his tone holding a note of genuine curiosity.
Something tugged at my chest, a feeling akin to rage and discontent.
“You will see when we get him back,” I told him.
Leonovus let out a low, rumbling chuckle, his whiskers twitching. "I do enjoy a good mystery." He sighed, stretching himself out to his full height.
Then, he was silent for a long moment, his gaze reflecting the flickering lights of the fading sun. I saw something akin to understanding in those feline orbs. He finally spoke again, his voice much softer than usual. "You will need all the help you can get, Brir. The human military isn't known for its hospitality. And if there are more than a dozen, you'll need an extra hand."
His words hung in the air, their weight looming large and dreadful as they echoed off the aged, peeling wallpaper. I grunted in response, my eyes never leaving his elongated form as he lazily lounged against the doorframe.
"I'm not sure what you're getting at, Leonovus," I stated, letting my bag fall to the floor with a thud.
His tail twitched as he observed me. "You might need me," he said simply. "Do you even have a plan, Brir?” His voice was casual, as if he were asking about the weather. But his tail twitched, betraying his feigned nonchalance.
"I suppose that means you will offer your services?" My voice was laced with a thin veneer of sarcasm, but underlying it was a genuine curiosity.
"Spoken like a true warrior," Leonovus replied, the corners of his mouth curling into a smirk. "Or a fool. Either way, I have no choice but to lend my claws to this cause."
I frowned at him, my mind racing as I considered his proposition. “You know I'm not a worrier,” I told him.
“No. You’re a builder, a strategist. You’re decent with a weapon. I can at least trust no one will get the jump on you. So that makes you a fool.” Leonovus chuckled, his pink eyes glittering with mischief. He uncurled himself from the door frame, padding over to where I was standing.
"I'll take that as a compliment," I shot back, trying not to let his barbed words sting. "But remember, Leonovus, I'm the fool leading this operation."
"A terrifying thought," Leonovus drawled, lazily stretching and flexing his claws.
Merrick appeared over Leonovus’s shoulder. He eyed both of us wearily. “I'm going to go hunt for some food for Soren. Keep an eye on him, will you?”
“The human needs a keeper,” Leonovus said smugly over his shoulder to Merrick. “Is he not housebroken?”
Merrick growled low in his throat. He raised his hand and cuffed the back of Leonovus’s head. “Do not dare disrespect my Keala!” he warned the Valeti.
Leonovus laughed it off, rubbing the spot where Merrick hit him. He loved to push Merrick's buttons. His tail wagged lazily.
"I will watch him, Merrick," I promised.
Merrick's gaze softened as it landed on me, his chest rising and falling with a relieved sigh. His battle-hardened face relaxed into a faint smile —a rare sight that squeezed at my heart. He gave me a nod before disappearing from view to catch dinner.
“Do you have to piss him off?” I asked Leonovus once Merrick was out of earshot.
The Valeti shrugged, his grin never wavering. "There's no fun in easy prey, is there?" He stretched lazily on the bed again, rolling onto his back and curling his tail around himself.
The silence left in his wake was almost deafening. Shifting my attention back to Leonovus, I found him watching me with those piercing feline eyes as if he were reading my every thought, dissecting every morsel of emotion that flickered across my face. It was disconcerting.
"What?" I finally snapped, breaking the silence that seemed to stretch for eternity.
"Nothing," he replied with a shrug. I sighed and left the infuriating being. I moved to the room Merrick had just vacated and knocked on the door. Leonovus followed me down the hallway, keeping his eye on me.
Soren answered quickly. His eyes darted to my face and then over my shoulder, indicating, without a doubt, where Leonovus stood.
“Merrick is going to hunt for dinner.” I asked him, “Would you like to help me start the fire?” A fire would be needed before dark fell.
“I can do that,” Soren said. He turned around, grabbed his bow and quiver off the bed, and slung the quiver of arrows over his shoulder.
We moved down to the first floor, our steps echoing through the decrepit halls, the wallpaper peeling off like dead skin. Soren walked over to the fireplace in the room before checking the flue.
“Flue’s clear. We can use this,” Soren said, looking to the windows where the rain had started to come down.
“The Lepots must be hunting,” he said before moving over to pick up another chair we could turn into kindle.
"Must be," I murmured in response, scanning the horizon for any signs of the monstrous creatures. The Lepots were a deceptively captivating spectacle with their iridescent scales that rippled and shimmered in the dying light. True to their predatory nature, they were carnivorous beasts with an insatiable hunger for flesh, human or otherwise.
Soren went about helping me break down old wooden furniture for kindling.
As we stacked the wood and began to layer it in a careful teepee formation, Soren was quiet. His usual joyful demeanor had a slight dampness to it. I hesitated before asking, "Is everything okay? You seem… off."
He looked at me, his hazel eyes glinting with unresolved emotions.
“Can I ask you something?" Soren asked.
"I don't see why not,” I replied, moving to pick up a more significant chunk of wood.
“Why did you assume I blew that Raybex up the other day during the breach?” Soren asked me, turning to look at me. “It's been bothering me since. I've tried to do it again, but I can’t.”
"I..." I started, taken aback. I hadn't realized the depth of his distress. I looked at him, studying his face masked with uncertainty and frustration. "I suppose I assumed because..." I faltered, unsure whether to tell him the truth. He held my gaze, silently urging me to continue."Because you drank Arya’s blood–did no one explain what Arya's blood does?”
“They said that I might live longer,” he answered with a shrug. “That's about it.”
I studied Soren’s face to gauge if he was telling the truth.
“Wait,” Leonovus chuckled. “The human was given Arya’s blood? Arya did this willingly?”
“She did,” Soren said. “She saved my life.”
“Oh, it would have saved your life.” Leonovus stepped away from Soren like he now feared the much smaller man.
“They probably thought he wouldn't get the extras because he was human, " I told Leonovus. “Do you know about Arya's species? Our history?” I asked Soren.
“Yes, I know what happened to them,” he said, his eyes flashing with sorrow.
“Then you know that people would consume them to get special abilities. It is said that every race with a longer-than-normal lifespan has somehow consumed a world eater. That's why Ellids are called world eaters. Because we ate them. Altering the genetics that were then passed down to the offspring,” I told him. “It was normal behavior thousands of years ago. Some species even developed special abilities because of it.”
“That’s barbaric…” Soren murmured. His eyes were wide in shock as he took a step back.
I nodded grimly. “Yes, it is. And it's also why the Ellids are almost extinct now.” I sighed.
“It is considered a great honor and against our laws to consume Ellid blood,” Leonovus added.
"But why would Arya willingly give her blood to me?" Soren asked. His brows knitted, trying to comprehend the gravity of what he had received. “If it was against your laws. It doesn’t make sense.”
“That, only she knows,” I told him. “I can not speak for her.”
“But...,” began Soren, his hand reaching to rub the back of his neck subtly. “I don't feel different. Just a bit stronger, maybe, but...”
“Arya’s abilities come from her body. It speaks to her blood,” I tried to explain.
“I don’t get it.”
I walked over to Soren and reached for his hand. He pulled it away from me. “Let me show you,” I said, holding my hand for his. He looked at me for a long moment before he placed his hand in mine. I gripped his wrist securely, raised my tail, and sliced his palm open with one of the spikes at the end.
Soren hissed in pain and pulled his hand out of mine. His red blood dripped down his hand.
“Okay, now I'm bleeding,” Soren said. “What am I looking for?”
“Come here,” I told him calmly. Walking over to the front door. I pushed it open and stood off to the side of the door frame. “Nock an arrow and shoot it at the building across the street.”
Still holding his bleeding hand, Soren moved towards the bow he had left leaning against the wall.
“Just do it,” I said to him, folding my arms over my chest, my tail swishing back and forth in agitation. “And come here.”
I watched as Soren wiped his bloody hand on his pants and loaded an arrow into the bow before he let it fly. Nothing happened.
He looked back at me, his hand raised in a gesture that said, “See.”
I nodded, a wry smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth.
“Let the blood touch the arrow,” Leonovus told him, rolling his eyes. I gave Leonovus a stern look. He was being annoying on purpose. “If you're anything like Arya when she was younger, you’ll need your blood to touch the object. It took her a long time to move the blood to the object. Focus your thoughts. Think about what you want. I bet you were focused on that Raybex that you just spoke of. Your mind would have been focused on killing it. Think of the light, how you want it to form, what you want to happen. Think of something blowing up,” he explained to Soren. He wasn’t wrong. Leonovus had worked for years with Arya. Honing her skills. “Now, do it again.”
Soren just stood there looking at me.
“Do it.” I gestured for him to get a move on with it.
Soren huffed and grabbed the arrow. This time, he smeared his blood over it, looking at me in arrogant disbelief. He loaded it into the bow, then took a deep breath and closed his eyes. I could see his mind settling. Slowly, his eyes opened, and he pulled the string back. I felt the air start to shift.
When Soren released the string, the arrow gathered light and slammed into the building with a bang, blowing a wide hole into the wall.
Soren just stood there, staring wide-eyed at the gaping crater. His bloodied hand dropped to his side, the bow slipping from his grasp and hitting the ground with a muted thud. His breaths were coming out in sharp, ragged gasps, as though he'd been running hard and was struggling to catch his breath.
“Fantastic job,” I told him.
His head whipped around to look at me so fast I was surprised it didn't snap off his neck. "How…" he began, swallowing hard before continuing. "How did you know?"
I shrugged nonchalantly, though inwardly, I was all too aware of the implications of this discovery. "Arya's blood doesn't just lengthen your lifespan,” I explained with a tinge of weariness seeping into my voice, “It enhances whatever innate abilities you might have."
“Why would no one tell me this?” Soren’s voice became softer now, mingling with disbelief and a touch of betrayal.
“Arya is young, and so is Merrick. Much younger than us.” Leonovus shrugged his shoulders. “It is likely they do not know. Arya is the last of her kind. There’s no one to teach her what her species was. She has had to find all that out on her own or from people like Brir and me who come from older races like hers. But we only know what we do from stories.”
Leonovus’s species had gifts from people consuming a world eater. So did mine. We knew the legends, but out of the group, I was the only one who knew what Arya had done and why she was the last of her kind.
Despite the sting of Leonovus's words, I knew he spoke from doubt and concerned caution. The implications were unsettling—this was power previously reserved only for the likes of Arya’s species, unfathomable power Soren now possessed.
Soren said nothing as he looked back at me, his face pale under the dimming sky. He blinked rapidly before dropping his gaze.
Merrick popped out from between two houses at a run. “What the fuck was that!” he yelled, a dead deer slung over his shoulder, his kitous in his hand.
“I have some cool new powers,” Soren said to Merrick when he got closer. His face and tone were confused. Merricks eyes were wild as they looked at Soren's bleeding hand.
Merrick blinked, glancing between Soren's bloodied hand, the hole in the wall, and then back to Soren again. His face remained impassive, save for a flicker of confusion that flashed across his features.
“Soren, you're hurt,” Merrick said, reaching for him.
“Did you know that I could do that?” Soren asked. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or happy about the new developments. He took a step back, his bleeding hand pointing to the wall with the hole in it.
With a look of shock etched on his face, Merrick peered at the house, his gaze shifting quickly to Soren and then back to the house again. "You did that?" he finally managed to ask, his words sounding thin and shaky in the evening air. He looked at Soren with wonder. “Show me.”
We watched as Soren grabbed a third arrow and let his blood soak into it before loading the bow and pulling the string back. Soren closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he opened them and let the arrow fly.
Light pulled around the arrow and slammed into the wall; another melon-sized hole punched into the building. Leonovus pulled his ears back at the sound of the blast.
“How is this possible?” Merrick asked, looking around at all of us.
Our group fell silent. Merrick’s eyes went wide with surprise as they locked onto mine. He didn't say a word, but the message was clear: He was demanding an explanation.
"Well...” I started, already feeling regret for not revealing this sooner. “It seems that Soren has inherited some of Arya’s powers," I finally admitted.
Merrick looked at me incredulously. "Inherited?" he asked, and I could hear the confusion in his voice.
“Not inherited, more like absorbed through her blood," I clarified.
Merrick turned back to Soren, who was equally bewildered and slightly terrified by his capabilities. "Soren,” Merrick put a hand on his shoulder, his expression softening as he spoke, “We were never aware of this… this particular development. It wasn't something we anticipated."
"I have… fucking… superpowers. I… I don't even know what to say." Soren still looked amazed at the house across the way, his breathing heavy and uneven, his eyes wide with fear and exhilaration.
“Are you happy about this?” Leonovus asked, looking at him.
“I kind of am.” Soren’s eyes were still wide. “Who doesn’t want superpowers?”
“You sure you’re okay with this?” Merrick interjected, his voice filled with concern.
“I have to be,” Soren said, wrapping his arms around Merrick. “It’s not like I can't change it. And honestly, I don't know if I would want to. That was pretty amazing.”
Merrick hugged him back tightly, his face softening as he looked over Soren's shoulder at me.
Leonovus gave a slow nod, the barest hint of a smile pulling at his lips. “Well, I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m starving, and that looks like a deer.” Leonovus pointed to the dead animal that Merrick had dropped to the ground before pulling out a knife from god knows where inside his flowing fabric attire. “Let's eat.”
“That deer gets cooked first, Leonovus. Soren can’t eat it raw,” Merrick said, glaring at Leonovus.
Leonovus laughed, his deep baritone echoing through the chilly air. "Noted," he replied, a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he skillfully tossed the knife in his hand. He approached the deer casually and began to skin it with practiced ease skillfully.
Soren sat in Merrick’s lap after he had bandaged Soren's hand. I knew it would heal probably in the next twenty-four hours.
He would be just fine. Arya would be able to train him and teach him how to control it. And his having gifts like hers meant it would be just that much easier to get Artemis back.
I’m coming, my butterfly. Hold on.