You pat your pocket, glad to find the familiar shape of the sword, now tiny again, in its equally tiny sheath.
It feels like just moments ago that you were fighting a skaddler here, a tornado threatening to tear you apart.
Will they really be okay here after you leave?
Despite being kidnapped, you don’t wish them any ill-will.
Maybe her grandson’s powers will awaken, and he can take care of the town.
That’d be nice.
Then they won’t need you. And you won’t have to feel bad for leaving them.
Finally, at the edge of town, Elena stops.
“Now then,” she says, glancing around like she’s making sure no one is nearby to overhear.
And you can’t help but think she’s about to say something very scandalous.
Maybe she is.
Because she leans in and whispers, “Listen closely, Chosen One. This is what you’re going to do—”
Ziros
As soon as I hear the front door shut, I collapse to the floor, every damn muscle in my body burning.
I could have gone on forever in that damn void.
So why is ithere, in the regular world, I can’t?
The air was so much more oppressive there, so much heavier. Every movement felt like lifting a thousand tons.
But here, where things should be easy—I’m weak.
Is it because I nearly died? Or is it because I’m tied toher. To my human.
The longer we’re linked, the less powerful I feel.
I’m sure I just need blood. Now that I’ve tasted her blood, I’ll never be able to get enough.
Maybe that’s it.
That’s gotta be it.
Or what if…
What if I’mbecominghuman?
Ha!
Nah.
No way.
That can’t be.
Can it?
