I’d failed at that.
“You left a position of privilege for a half-blood strumpet?”My mother shouted, the dam keeping her fury in check finally breaking. “You betrayed the empire and ruined us for a pretty face, is that what I’m hearing?”
Nope, not at all what I’d said, but there was no use arguing.
I sighed. If they wouldn’t listen, there was no reason to stay here and have them yell at me. I had but one more thing to say. “Saldrea may seek you out in retribution for what I’ve done. For that I’m sorry. You should probably leave here and lay low for a while.” Then, done with my obligations, I turned and headed for the door.
One might think I would miss this house, having grown up here. They’d be wrong.
I had a few pleasant memories of times within these walls, but they’d been alongtime ago, as a small child. Most of my memories were of my mother’s general displeasure, or abuse at the hands of my father and brother, which they’d called training for my eventual military service. There was nothing here for me.
Not anymore.
I’d returned to say my piece, tell my family the truth about Saldrea and Izzy and see their reaction, which had been everything I’d feared. They hadn’t changed. They probably never would. Which meant I could release myself from the burden they’d placed on me and live my life without them, free and unhindered.
I felt… lighter than I had in a long time.
“Don’t you dare turn your back on your mother while she’s talking to you!” my father roared.
I laughed as I continued to the door.
I knew what would come next, my father and brother would resort to violence. Both my father and brother had served in Elysial’s armed forces, fighting the nephilim, butthey’d been away from the front lines for some time. Once I’d been elevated and my mother had obtained a position of power, she’d ensured her husband and son were safe, working desk jobs. I, on the other hand, had been Saldrea’s bully for the past six years and endured her constant punishment. So, when my father and brother came at me — cowards attacking from behind — I was ready. I sensed their spirits moving and before they reached me, I spun and lashed out.
I cracked my father across his face with a back-handed fist and kicked my brother to one side. I was a lot stronger now than when they’d “trained” me as a boy, my spirit enhancing me, my body toughened by the rigors of Saldrea’s service.
Before either could get up — too slow, by far — I delivered another hard blow to keep them down.
“I amnotthe boy you beat up all those years ago!” I hissed at them. Then I turned to my mother who gaped. “And if you will not accept me and the truth which I speak, then I am no son of this house any longer!”
“How dare you!” my mother sputtered.
I shook my head in disgust. The woman before me had never loved me. I’d only ever been a pawn to her. She saw no wrong in what she’d done. Just like she couldn’t see the truth now.
“You were never my mother,” I said, voice deathly calm. “You never deserved me as a son, and now you’ve lost me. I can only hope one day you realize what you’ve done.”
I walked out.
The day blazed with light, a pale blue sky above me, and I smiled up at it, feeling true joy in my soul. I had Izzy, the light of my life, a beacon to my spirit. She was my family now.
I’d create a new life with Izzy and Myel and those around her. People who saw me and appreciated me for who I was, not how I could benefit them.
I spread my wings and soared through the skies. Elysial was a wondrous realm. There was no ground here, simply open air. Long ago, the first angels — led by Anchiel himself — had imbued the very clouds with a solid permanence, weaving them into floating islands on which the angels had settled and built their cities. Every building was made of cloud-stuff, infused with light and magic to make it a structure which would last the ages. The sky was filled with fields of white and cities of shining silver.
The denizens of this realm needed no farms, nor livestock. Sylphim fed on air itself and seraphim on light. We enjoyed the food of other realms but did not require it. Thus, our realm remained a pristine place, one which would always hold a special place in my heart… even if I’d probably not return for some time.
A giant shape flew over me, its shadow enveloping me.
Vyns, I have returned. Izzy needs your help, Koar’s voice spoke into my mind as I glanced up at the massive form of his dragon above me.
Izzy should have been training with her grandmother. Why would she need me so soon?
I landed on a cloud nearby and Koar descended to me.
“What happened?” I asked as he transformed, then quickly dressed. He carried a special pack with him, which slipped around one of his “wrists” in dragon form, but would loop around his torso as a man. He’d been carrying clothes in that.
“Saldrea,” Koar said, as he slipped on pants. “She’s challenged Izzy to a game of dominion. It’s clearly a trap, ameans to kill Izzy in a semi-legal fashion, but Izzy intends to face her and needs a team.”
I blinked.
