Silent tears ran down her cheeks as the unfairness of the moment filled her.
Damn it.
Damn it!
Damn—
Found You
ALEK
Alek watched the lights that flew above the human city. The veil shuddered once, then twice as something exploded over head. A magical wave swept through the human city as the strong magical force clashed with the barrier of the Veil.
Lights flickered as the power shut off and the silence was immediate as the steady audible buzz of electricity had been cut. He looked over the land that was silent and with little change in his expression he stepped off the side of the building he’d been standing on.
He’d felt the powerful surge and recognized the power flow of the Surrem. He’d gotten accustomed to their vile magic. They were disgusting creatures; their single focus was pleasure, and they had little care for others. Moments like these gave him insight from the human perspective. The reward of the hunt and the killing became a ritual of contrition.
His sons concern increased each time he returned; they seemed to be braced for his loss of control. They silently waited for him to show up with wounds that could not be easily reversed.
Landing lightly, he reached up and caught the wallet that had slipped from his pocket. Placing it back, he continued out of the alley way he had landed in, and into the dark city. He could hear the voices of the humans during the blackout proving their existences by shouting to their neighbors. The loud sirens of the cop cars mingled with the sound of firetruck alarms.
For humans a bit of darkness stirred up panic.
Something shattered in the distance. He paused and glanced right in time to see a few robbers break into a pawn shop. He amusedly shook his head, noting the stench of their sweat denoted them as teens.
Children would be children.
Continuing along, he reached the Batman building in little time. He sniffed the air before abruptly covering his mouth and nose. The stench of Surrem magic was so thick he could barely breathe.
Magic had never bothered him but on his hunt for the enemy, he’d learned that Surrem magic was thicker, heavier and carried more impact. Clicking his tongue, he reached for his sword and pulled it from its sheath. The sound of metal scraping against the scabbard always soothed him. Walking over to what looked like a crater in front of the entrance he spotted the steam still rising from it.
Cautiously he approached it. He could barely see through the bright white light that covered whatever lay in the center. Lowering his hand from his nose, he squinted down at the illuminating magic whipping back and forth. It suddenly expanded, forcing him to bring his arm up to shield his eyes.
“Shit.”
A burning heat brushed over his arms. He retreated a step, cursing again when he found himself left with a slightly singed jacket. Irritated, he looked down into the crater.
His irritation vanished.
The world narrowed to the shape lying at its center.
“Lanias?”
He whispered her name as if speaking too loudly might break whatever fragile illusion stood before him.
She didn’t move.
Lanias was curled up like a child on the ground. Her hair was short now, cut to chin length. She lay there as if she had simply fallen asleep in her room, as if the world had not declared her dead.
“Lanias.”
The second time her name left him it was rougher.
Forgetting his sword, forgetting everything, he jumped down and landed beside her. He stared at her without blinking, afraid that if he did she would disappear the way she had in his dreams.
His hand hovered above her face before he dared to touch her.
He pressed his lips together and brushed his fingers lightly against her cheek.
