Chapter 19

I was sleeping in bed then I woke up pushing away the snout nuzzling me, 'getaway Serafin' I say pushing away the snout. I open my eyes it was Ghost then I remembered my face fell, Ghost sat there head cocked to the side as if to say what's wrong, I smiled Ghost was adorable and just what I needed I patted my bed. 

'C'mon Ghost, up you get.' 

She barked agreeably and jumped up onto my bed, she was a fairly big dog with her black and white fur and her big ears and lolling tongue, I rubbed her back feeling her soft but shaggy fur and she rolled onto her back legs straight up in the air, I rubbed her belly Ghost made a happy dog noise eventually she just lay there on top of the covers. I put one arm around her I loved Ghost and was perfectly content to just lay there for the whole day, Ghost, however, did like being outside even in a military base it was not until night that I heard my mums voice she had come all the way from home just to see me.

'Farren' I heard my mums voice, 'what's going on you practically haven moved for the last four days.'

I was sitting in the chair in my designated civilian room, a five by five-meter room with a bed desk and chair I was thinking things over I had tried to reach out to Serafin, but she was cold and distant it was almost like she had blocked herself out from the world. I was worried, confused, sad angry all at the same time, sometimes I feel although my head was going to explode.

'I'm fine' I reply.

The door opens and she steps in, 'Farren, sweety, you are very clearly not, just tell me what's wrong.'

I sighed deeply my mum sat on my bed I swived my chair facing my mum.

She reached out and gently took one of my hands 'honey you have barely moved, barely eaten, I think the only time I have seen you outside your room is to feed Ghost.'

I sighed deeply every time mum had done this I had just not repealed until she left I had wanted to tell her but the words just wouldn't come out, I tried I did but I just couldn't do it, hey mum, you know Serafin? well she killed a bunch of people and destroyed an entire city it wasn't fair I knew it wasn't but it was just so much easier to stay quiet so I just sat there.

'Mum' I said, 'I just need-'

'What' Alex said from the doorway something close to anger in his voice, 'time you need time Serafin's not dead you know. You have had your time to be confused to think things over we need you out here and we need Serafin, so you to need to come to an arrangement because good people are dying while you and Serafin sulk, me and Runetide are you there looking for a portal and good people are dying so get up were going now.'

'What' I said my mind racing, 'now stop what how Alex what?'

'Now' Alex said, 'Runetide is going to find Serafin you two are going to kiss and make up or come to an arrangement, but we're not going to win this without our heaviest hitter on the field or at least Aborwrath will not show up.'

I breathed in, 'ok Alex I don't want you to drag me so let's go.'

My mum looked rather shocked, 'so you're just going to go now.'

I looked at my mum and hugged her, I held her tightly 'thanks for putting up with my bullshit and sticking with me, as much as kindness helps sometimes you just need a kick in the ass.'

'I love you too' my mum said.

I let her go. 

'Alright Alex' I said running through what I was going to say to Serafin for the one-hundredth time, and just one more time feeling for her, but she was still cold and distant.

Runetide was trying to find Serafin it was proving hard she first tried searching magically several times a day then digitally, she recreated sights of army camps that had been destroyed mysteriously. She waved her hand she was standing in the massive hanger that usually housed the troop carrier VTOL the 3D render zoomed in showing the dead bodies, sometimes the enemy soldiers were just found dismembered and there camp destroyed but there didn't seem to be a pattern apart from the fact that they were only on Archericon, over the past four days twenty camps had been discovered like this it was hard to tell how many had been killed due to the states of the body's and Runetide theorized because some of them were missing, this was concerning Serafin used to have no issues eating humans but after Anna, she had stopped and now… Runetide shook her head and pulled herself back to the present.

She got a message from Alex, got Farren you?

Got no fucking clew Runetide replied not annoyed just not happy at the lack of progress, this could take time lots of it you think it wouldn't be hard to find a thirty-meter-tall lizard but well, I'm stumped.

After only three days? Alex asked sarcastically, I have an expectant Farren here.

'Yes, well maybe the person in this world who is soul bonded with the dragon we are trying to find could try and help, maybe emphatically see if he can sense anything.'

He can't find her; he says she is cold and distant.

Runetide frowned, that's concerning.

It is Alex replied, we are walking over now.

Ok, Runetide said, see you soon.

As Farren walked through the base be could pick up faint traces of Serafin, he felt the flare of anger that went with the dint in the wall placed by Serafin's fist.

Farren smiled sadly.

She had a temper but he had only ever seen it defensively so what, what had caused her it to feel so much rage that it had brought her to destroy a city? with millions of people in it, he thought back to it and again he tried to find it the brief moment, there had been something else there buried under the rage I just couldn't place it. Alex knocked on the massive sliding doors Serafin had to duck but Runetide only needed to avoid scraping her horns on the top of the doors Runetide seamlessly opened the doors that would have taken many people to a long time to do.

'Welcome to my dragon cave' she said as they walked in, she closed her hand and the 3D render winked off and the light turned back on.

'You know' Farren said, 'this just looks like an aircraft storage hanger.'

'Cracking jokes now are we' Runetide said, 'I thought you weren't talking.'

'Well look what some fresh air did to me' Farren said looking around 'where is Uriel?'

'She will not be coming with' Runetide said, 'she's helping theta team clear a small town.' 

'Indeed' Alex said raising his eyebrows, 'now let's find Serafin it's about time you had a heart to heart with her and talked about your feelings.'

I sighed I was doing that a lot today, 'so how do we find her?'

'That should be easy, I thought a lot about this, if we just put you in danger, she will come funning.'

'What? Why? No, I do not like this plan.'

Runetide signed 'she's hiding from us she's ashamed and afraid that you' she said indicating Farren, 'hate her with a burning passion she had been through a lot and it looks like this time she just shut herself away which admittedly is better than last time, but no less useful to us now so we need her to come out of hiding and she will only do that if you're in danger.'

'But I don't hate her and if Serafin thinks-'

'Yes, she thinks you hate her, but that doesn't mean she will not still try to protect you.'

'But why?"

'Because she would do anything for her little-' Alex was cut off.

'Alex' Runetide said flashing him a warning look Runetide pick, Alex, up, 'this is not the time ok this requires a more delicate hand k?'

'Ok,' Alex said, 'I will stay quiet.'

'Good' Runetide said, she hunkered down putting Alex down she then scooped me up.

'Look this is not going to be easy these things can be complicated, just tell the truth ok.'

Farren nodded, 'alright then time to put me in unnecessary danger.'

'I mean like I'm going to be there, and so will Alex but yes you will be in danger.'

I breathed in 'ok, ok, ok, ok, ok I can do this' I could feel the adrenaline 'ok for the earth I guess and Serafin.'

'Ok' Runetide said, 'let's go and do this, Alex any places currently under attack?'

'Yes,' Alex answered as if it was obvious 'would you like it to be in Archericon?'

'Yes,' Runetide said.

'Ok I have something' Alex said, 'Calsifer says that there's a suspected insertion funnily enough in another forest still in Archericon.'

'Ok let's go' Runetide said.

Alex jumped up onto Runetide's shoulder, 'time enact plan put Farren in danger so that we can find Serafin and them to be ok with each other so we can save the world.'  

Farren genuinely smiled for the first time in a while as Runetide using the hand not holding him to open and close the door to an aircraft hangar, Runetide waved to one of the very few humans left on base one before they set off on their journey.

'Oh, you might want this' Alex said from Runetide shoulder he out of nowhere produced the chest back and shoulder protection part of body armour 'strap it on and do try not to get hit.' 

'Wasn't that the plan?' 

'Well yes.'

'So, um' I said, and the forest blurred below us, 'how are we going to do this?'

'We were thinking we will just you know chuck you in there and hope Serafin shows up' Runetide said. 

'I'm beginning to regret this decision' I said, despite this, I smiled it was nice to be outside again feeling the wind in my hair. 

Serafin sat in the field one leg stretched out and one knee drawn into her chest, it was a mild evening she looked up the stairs, she could hear the crickets chirping. She had cut herself off from everything and everyone again she sat totally alone, without even Farren's thoughts to keep her company she heard the sound of a small animal she played it no heed.

'Hello' said a smooth silky voice behind her.

Serafin jumped she turned Aborwrath stood there 'you' Serafin said.

'Yes,' Aborwrath said 'me, again I am getting better at finding you know matter where you hide.'

'Why do you keep doing this? why don't you leave me alone Serafin?' said angrily.

'Because' Aborwrath said, 'seeing you in pain makes me happy, little sister.'

Serafin felt rage flow through her, 'don't call me that.'

'It was my nickname for you was it not?' Aborwrath said smiling.

Serafin shot to her feet and swiped at Aborwrath, but her hand passed right through her.

'now, now, now' Aborwrath said in a patronizing tone, 'calm down Serafin.'

'You took everything from me' Serafin roared.

Suddenly Aborwrath was directly in front of Serafin, she leant in close whispering softly, 'And I will do it again and again until you are broken until there is nothing left for you. I will hunt you down and destroy everything, everything you hold dear until you are on your knees, just begging me for death and only then will I give you the sweet release so you desire.' Aborwrath seemed to relish those last words.

Serafin was breathing heavily now, the rage boiling deep down in her gut.

'Oh, and I do hope little Farren is alright' Aborwrath said seemingly out of no were.

Serafin stopped 'what have you done?'

'Who me' Aborwrath said, 'nothing but well you did cut yourself of and if they're going to try to contact you, well you are linked to a certain someone, and if he was well to be let's say put into a precarious situation you may' she paused, 'respond it his distress.'

'No' Serafin said 'Runetide would never be so stupid.'

'Desperate times' Aborwrath said, 'desperate measures' she shrugged and Serafin stood, right on cue she felt something in the back of her head Farren was hurt.

Serafin's hands curled into fists, 'not this time' she said to Aborwrath.

Aborwrath smiled 'we will see.' 

Alex ducked as a wave of energy flowed over him, it hit three soldiers and they were momentarily knocked back which gave Alex enough time to close the distance they were deep in a forest, there were some tents in a clearing with some large boulders.

'You got anything more lethal there Farren?' he asked as five more of the soldiers started closing in on them, Farren tried to raise a shield but was forced to take cover after only a few shots impacted it, Alex erected an earthen wall and crouched next to Farren 'you ok?'

'No' I answered without my connection to Serafin my reserves of willpower were much lower than normal, and I was beginning to feel the strain. And firefight had only just begun the loud cracks began again this time from a new angle, I raised shield almost instinctively stopping the rounds less than a few centimetres from Alex's face.

Alex and I were huddled in the shelter of a bolder and we were pinned down 'this when Serafin appears right' Alex said, having just almost had his head removed from his body.

I concentrated on the magic into my hand and saw and felt the glow, I stood the hurl the projectile and one of the solders but they here quicker. I could not even begin to describe the pain as one of the rounds penetrated the body armour I was wearing shattering my shoulder, I fell back crying out in pain 'Serafin' I said out loud but also to her mind I hit the ground and saw white stars. 

Then there was a second crash, my world tilted again I saw red and a bright light and then I was gone.

Alex almost fell over as Serafin seemingly fell out of the sky and hit the ground, the solders where taken aback Serafin stood she opened her jaws but instead of a roar there was a brilliant white flame Alex saw the soldiers engulfed in flame. He watched them scream and there armour melted and fused to their bodies and there blood boiled Serafin turned her attention to the other solders they started to fire back but Serafin was not in a merciful mood crushed them and tore them apart Alex had a hand over Farren's wound he heard growling from behind him

'Get away from him' Serafin said.

'it's just his shoulder- '

'Get. Away. From. Him' she growled low warningly baring her teeth.

Alex stood and let Serafin gently scoop Farren off the ground Alex had just watched Serafin burn five people to death and rip another fifteen to bloody shreds, and yet she handed Farren with such care no wonder he was in his room for four days after his little realisation, but he doubted that Aborwrath had told Farren the whole story anyway. 

'Serafin, why did you disappear?' Alex asked, 'I very much doubt that Aborwrath told Farren the whole story why didn't you?'

Runetide walked out of the forest.

'How about we have this conversation with Farren present' Runetide said, 'you have put this off for too long.' 

Serafin sighed, 'what's the point he already knows.'

'Serafin' Runetide said 'for someone so intelligent you're an idiot, he knows what Aborwrath either told or showed him wasn't the whole story.' 

'It's not just that' Serafin said I' may have said things I lashed out at him after he found out' her hand glowed a soft golden light Farren sat up he looked around then he looked up at Serafin.

He didn't say anything Alex and Runetide watched with trepidation.

I had a million things and thoughts running through my head, so I settled for one word 'why?'

Serafin seemed taken aback, 'why what?'

'You know what' I said I closed my eyes I felt Serafin's hand below me and her mind next to mine I thought of the glade where we first met and we were there me and Serafin standing there but for the first time we were the same Hight we didn't need to speak but we did Serafin's tail twitched.

'Why did you go? why did you say those things?' I asked.

Serafin looked uncomfortable 'I just well.'

I could feel her emotions around me 'it's ok Serafin' said, 'you can trust me with the truth.'

She stopped and collet herself, 'ok look I thought you hated me after Aborwrath showed you and I don't know I just lashed out.'

'Why' I asked again.

Serafin took a step closer and placed both of her hands on my shoulders 'I just need to understand I was afraid and I, I' she seemed unable to finish her sentence.

I took a step back; I could feel the anxiety and worry radiation of her I breathed in 'show me' I said.

'Farren I don't.'

'Show me' I said almost pleadingly 'please I need to know why.'

Serafin was hesitant 'Farren.'

'I know it's complicated' I said.

'I just don't know.'

Suddenly the scene changed again they were still in the glade but this time Serafin and I were there and back to our normal sizes with me on Serafin's chest it was a cloudless starry night.

I felt is though I was there, warmth from Serafin's scales it was a shared-memory, after all, I looked over to Serafin, she was perhaps unconsciously touching her chest I watched myself look up at the starry night sky.

I sighed but it wasn't a sad sigh I knew I was content 'you know' my memory self said, 'sometimes I look up feel so small.'

I watched as the memory Serafin sat up a little catching the other me in her hand, 'it doesn't matter how small or big you are, true strength comes from inside.'

Then they were back in the glade, 'what does that mean to you Serafin' I asked.

'Farren' Serafin said, 'that wasn't a lie' Serafin paused 'that night what I said.'

I could feel the conflict inside Serafin the pain.

'Then show me' I said, 'I'm sick of these secrets Serafin what are you still hiding from me' again there was that pleading note in my voice.

Serafin looked away.

'Please Serafin, you can trust me.' 

Serafin closed her eyes, 'I know I can trust you' she sighed 'I'll show you everything.'

And then we were in a cave it was a large, large enough to hold several dragons comfortably and as I looked around, I saw several tunnels branching off.

Then I heard a good-natured roar, 'I'm going to get you'

Then there was a squeal and a small dragon came running into the central chamber It was very, very small for a dragon only five meters tall, with an overly large head with green eyes and grey scales I stopped.

Serafin's had was on my shoulder, 'that's a hatchling Aborwrath' I said then I pointed to the tunnel that leads to the hatchery, 'was this your house?' I asked.

Serafin nodded the information flowing through me.

Then a second red-scaled fully grown dragon entered the room.

'Your dad' I said.

'Yep that's my dad' Serafin said sadly.

A warm embrace a feeling of safety. 

'Where are you then?' I asked.

'I just hatched' Serafin said, 'Aborwrath is my older adopted sister' she said with ill-disguised hatred. 

The scene changed again this time they were outside, there was a splash that came from the stream that boarded the field.

'This was when we all started to note that something was off about Aborwrath, we were just past our winglets when she almost drowned me, she said she just wanted to know what it felt like.'

All I could hear was splashing noise, I didn't ask Serafin if we could go closer.

'That was a week before she stabbed dad in the throat, she killed him then she ran away.'

They watched as a young Serafin woke up they could hear the gurgling sounds she stood and walked into the kitchen and saw Aborwrath as she took out the knife buried in her dad's throat and pulled it out and stabbed him again and again as there dad struggled eyes wide then he saw Serafin and tried to raise a hand and Aborwrath turned and looked at little Serafin she was a head taller than Serafin they were older now maybe seven meters tall Aborwrath raised the knife dripping in blood smiling.

I felt cold inside 'So then she ran.' 

'Yes' Serafin said 'then came the spark, magic and then Aborwrath showed her true colours she decided that dragons should rule and subjugate everything and everyone. She started a war just so she could see what pain and suffering on a mass scale looked like, and when she got bord the destroyed the planet she separated and killed most of our species and now she's hunting down everyone that is left, killing those who don't join her. but for me she just wants me to feel pain I'm her side project when she's not busy committing genocide and destroying worlds and also when she is.'

We were standing on the battlefield after battlefield people fought and died there were massacres and victories, the plants and stars changed one thing remained constant, Aborwrath she was always there, the number of dragons under her beck and call increased so did the scale of the battles and sometimes there would be humans there to fighting for Aborwrath, and there were other strange bird-like bipeds but always Aborwrath, was there killing and destroying and in the end, always there was that bright light, the crust of the planet breaking apart and the deep sadness on leaving knowing that everything and everyone on that planet is dead except the dragons and those lucky enough to be on Aborwrath's side for they alone can survive without a portal.

'Oh, wow' I said, 'ok that's wow and what about Anna?'

There was a brief flash a small child huddled in a destroyed building, it was shivering it was cold Serafin reaching a hand out to the child it was cold, snowing.

'Me, Runetide Anna fought and failed together.' 

Runetide and Serafin fighting against what seemed like a wave of dragons, being forced to translocate and watching from another world as the explosion lit up the sky, 'there goes the plant Runetide' said.

'We lost again' Serafin said bitterly, 'I will not lose this planet.'

Anna appeared on Serafin's shoulder a determined look on her face, her bright red hair seemed so glow of the sun and she had adorable freckles. 

'No, we won't lose this time, you may have lost before but now you have me and I won't lose my planet.'

'That we do' Runetide said, ruffling Anna's hair. 

'But Anna' I said, 'she didn't.'

'No' Serafin said and I felt the sadness welling up around her.

I heard the echoing words. 

'You took everything from me'

'And I will do it again, and again until you are broken until there is nothing left for you, I will hunt you down and destroy everything you hold dear until you are just begging me for death. And only then will I give you the sweet release so you desirer'

Then the scene changed again, Memory Serafin stood at her normal height and she was facing Aborwrath but Serafin didn't attack Aborwrath, who was holding something I realized it was a human in one clenched fist.

Serafin and I looked on hopelessly, 'this is how it happened this is the first time I went berserk.'

'You like this one, don't you' Aborwrath said.

'Leave her be' memory Serafin said, through gritted teeth.

'Serafin' the human, Anna said, 'help me I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough, I thought I could-'

'Hush' Aborwrath said to Anna.

'I found her, and I raised her' memory Serafin was on the verge of tears.

And then we were in the snow again, Serafin held the child and Runetide inspected it 'it's kinda cute.

'Yes,' memory Serafin said, 'but it won't stop making that horrendous noise can you make it stop?'

'What should we call it?' Runetide asked. 

'Shouldn't her mother have named her?'

'Yes, but her mum's dead now.' 

The human child's wailing increased in volume.

'Oh, my god' memory Serafin said 'if it doesn't shut up, I'm going to eat it.'

Then we were back Aborwrath holding Anna.

Serafin couldn't even bring herself to watch I put a hand on her shoulder.

Anna screamed as her flesh was stripped of her, the memory Serafin shed I single tear then she roared in pain and fury.

'And that's my cue to go' Aborwrath said and she faded into a shadow, drooping the still alive body of Anna to the ground.

Then we were in the glade again.

'And now you know' Serafin said 'now you understand why I just didn't want-'

I hugged Serafin I just wrapped my arms around her and after a few seconds, she returned the hug. Her scales where warm but she emanated sadness and regret, I closed my eyes and leaned my head against hers, Serafin made a strange but contained noise and we both opened our eyes and we just stood there and then again I hugged her muzzle I felt Serafin smile.

'I'm sorry about what I said I was angry but not at you and I just lashed out-'

'It's good to have you back' I said almost choking on the lump in my throat 'a-and I forgive you for being an idiot, I could never heat you you know that.'

Serafin chuckled gently nuzzled me back 'it's good to be back human.'

'Did I miss something' Alex said shattering the moment, 'you guys had your eyes closed for like ten seconds why are you hugging each other?'

'Yes,' Runetide said, 'I thought this was supposed to be a group conversation.'

Serafin was still gently nuzzling Farren, and Farren had his eyes closed gently stroking Serafin's muzzle.

'Fuck me' Alex said, 'all they did was spend five days apart brooding then have a heart to heart about don't even know and now this.'

'Shush' Runetide said, 'after Anna, I didn't think that she would ever even have another friend like Farren, even our relationship lessened to a degree we still fought together, but well.'

'Man, I'm having flashbacks' Alex said, leaping up onto Runetide's shoulder.

Runetide looked over at Serafin ignoring Alex, 'you two will have plenty of time to snuggle later well on second thought probs not, but anyway we need to get moving there are insertions we need to push back and a portal to find.

Serafin seemed to be relishing her renewed friendship with Farren, but Runetide couldn't help wondering if there was something more going on as Serafin cradled Farren, and they all set off Alex having found a few particularly difficult to remove enemy insertions.

'Well then' Serafin said, 'have fun.'

'You not coming with?' Runetide asked.

'We will catch up' Serafin said, 'me and Farren need to talk in private.'

'With each other's tongs in mouth, I would assume' Alex said.