Chapter Thirty-Six
Serafina
A maniacal laughter bounced off the cell walls. Through the bars Morana’s crimson eyes burned with a playful malice as she stepped forward, a long black cloak trailing behind her. Despair gripped my heart as I felt it sink. Had I not been saved?
“Wake up little angel, it’s time to put you to work.” Her voice rang.
The cell walls melted away, only to have the familiar walls of Elek’s room form in their place. Mild relief came, watching the location change. It was just a nightmare.
I repeated the thought again and again as she continued to laugh. I just had to wake up.
The room shimmered, with the walls becoming cracked and toppling out of their formation.
“Good job princess.” Morana said softly, her laughter having subsided.
“What?” I said in confusion. Good job for what?
Stepping away, Morana’s cloak revealed numerous bodies that were hidden beneath it. Screaming in terror, I dropped to my knees covering my eyes to try and erase the images of all of them lying there broken.
Elek, my guards, my father and brother were all dead at her feet displaying deep slash marks across their bodies. Iron flooded my throat, coating my mouth until I retched. Blood poured freely from my lips as I looked down to find a dagger plunged into my heart.
Looking back towards the bodies I found that they had vanished. All except for Elek, who was now standing above me. His beautiful eyes were dull and cloudy. He reached for the dagger still buried in my chest.
I couldn’t stop him. And as he held the blood soaked dagger above my head I began to plead.
“Wake up! Wake up!”
“Wake up!” That wasn’t me. I looked around as the walls melted away again.
“Sera, wake up!”
A jolt ran through me as I felt my physical form being thrashed about from the outside.
Opening my eyes, I was met by Elek’s - clear and frantic. He let out a long raspy breath and pulled back, his hands still gripping my shoulders.
Darting around my room, I searched for any signs that I was still dreaming before acknowledging him.
“I’m sorry. I had a nightmare.” I explained, bowing my head. I was stronger than this.
He pulled me into his chest, stroking my hair as I still tried to correct my breathing.
“It’s okay,” he said softly. “It’s almost over.”
Yes, it was almost over. After having to return to Regnum, Oberron’s trial was finally going to start after a month of waiting - a month of nightmares. Moonlight shone brightly from the window. The sun hadn’t even begun to creep up. Yet I know I wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep.
As I pulled away, I could see that Elek also knew that sleep was an impossibility.
“Is there something you want to do to pass the time?”
At first I wondered if he was trying to be coy, but the gleam in his eyes said otherwise. I looked out the window where I could make out the sea-line. So much had happened since that night I had tried to run away. I was so determined that night, and yet, if I had run away my life could have taken a different turn. Then the thoughts of my grandfather came forth.
It will lead you to him regardless of where you are…
“I’d like to see Cato.” I answered after a long pause.
Without giving an answer, Elek climbed out of bed and pulled on a black tunic. He looked back at me, extending a hand.
“If we sneak out the window and fly over it’ll take us no time at all.” He said.
Wrapping a night robe around myself, I accepted his hand knowing it would take less energy for him to fly than it would for me to transform. As he cradled me in his arms, his wings unfurled and with a leap from the window sill we shot into the sky.
As promised, we reached the cliff of the temple within minutes. The full moon illuminated the waves below, threatening to swallow someone whole if they misstep. The sea breeze singed my nose with its saltiness. I was going to miss it when the trial was over.
Kneeling on the edge of the cliff, behind the temple, I clasped my hands together throwing a silent wish into the sea. As soon as the thought had finished, the water below began to ripple. Then the small ripples formed into harsh waves, their sea foam climbing higher up the cliff with each passing. Once the spray was high enough to brush my cheek, the form of the serpent came to tower over us to then shrink down into the form of an old man in worn out green robes.
“Hello, blessed one.” He smiled down at me, ushering for me to rise.
“Hi.” It felt awkward as it was the first time I went to him for advice.
He seemed to have an understanding, though, of my hesitance as he gave me a knowing nod.
“You know, I’ve been around for many, many years. In that time I have picked up new abilities along the way. One of those is a very vague form of the Sight, though, it’s not nearly as clear as it was for Belinha. But I know enough to tell you that trauma can cause all sorts of nasty memories to linger and leave a person with dreams that bend how things could have gone.” He said, inhaling deeply from the pipe.
“So they aren’t actual visions?” I thought aloud.
An aged hand came up to rest on my head. I looked up to see his gaze grow soft. Perhaps it was pity. Then he let out a sigh.
“No, they’re not. You are just in the midst of healing. One day it’ll be easier to distinguish between vivid dreams and prophetic visions, but for now take all your dreams with a pinch of salt. Focus on what you have been able to gain and enjoy this small bliss of happiness.” He said, turning his sight to Elek with a smile.
“After all, my young goddess, you have waited for this opportunity for over five-thousand years - you both have.”
Warmth brushed my arm as Elek took his place beside me and wrapped an arm around my waist. Something stirred within my chest, something ancient. It wasn’t the usual pull of the chain, as that dulled when the bond fell into place. It was a sense of relief that didn’t feel like it belonged to me, yet it didn’t belong to him either.
A new life for the both of you. A whisper came from within, causing my lips to curve up slightly.
“I’ll try to make it count.” I murmured, both to Cato and the ancient soul that seemed to hum contently.
“We both will.” Elek added, his grip tightening on my waist.
With my mind finally at ease about the dream, I hugged my grandfather, hoping that it wouldn’t be a forever farewell. Then Elek took me into the sky, circling the sleeping city.
“Why didn’t you tell me about how these dreams were effecting you?” Elek broke through the silence, landing on the plain of grass beside the old hidden cave.
“I didn’t want to worry you.” I admitted, sitting on my favorite rock.
Elek knelt before me, holding both of my hands in his own. I didn’t look at him - didn’t dare to. He had enough responsibility, which I got to witness first-hand in the last month. His desk was always littered with papers and some of his nights ran long. How could I burden him further?
“You worry me regardless. You’re naive and impulsive, not to mention I thought you were going to fly into a tree the other day when you refused to listen to me.”
“You didn’t tell me we were going to be flying into a forest.” I defended, letting out a half-chuckle.
He raised a hand to cup my cheek.
“You weren’t going to pay attention anyways. Which is why I offered to carry you back to Regnum. But you’re too head-strong and refused. And you think that telling me about your dreams is what’s going to tip the scale?” He asked.
“No, but you do enough…” I said before being cut off by his lips meeting mine.
The kiss was soft, sweet, and made my heart flutter. It was the sort of kiss that I wish could last forever. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against my own.
“If I couldn’t juggle my duty to my country and keeping up with your antics, I would make for a pretty pathetic king one day. Don’t worry about me.” He said, kissing the top of my head.
I would have protested further but it felt like a wasted effort. Although he called me head-strong, I knew he was just as stubborn.
“Besides,” he began again, a smirk tugging at his lips. “If you are that worried about being a burden, you can always make it up to me.”
Catching on, I wrapped my arms around his neck, keeping him close.
“I suppose it would make me feel a little better knowing you were being rewarded for having to deal with me.” I said against his lips and giving a quiet chuckle.
When we returned to the room I made sure to put a dent into the debt that was quickly accumulating between us.
