The Dragon's Scale [COMPLETE]

14.2 || The Past's Hold

Josh met Boomer near the heart of the Sanctum. A large tree shot up into the sky, and a few of its gigantic roots protruded from the ground. Boomer enjoyed curling up beneath them.

Now he sat in front of the tree, his head tilted as he watched Josh's approach.

If you scream into my side, it may muffle it enough, Boomer offered, a false nonchalance in his tone.

Josh patted him on the shoulder and grinned. "Thanks for the offer, but I think I've done enough screaming tonight."

As much as he would have loved to lie against Boomer and take the weight off his feet, too much energy kept Josh standing. A quick search of the area revealed a decent sized stick. He scooped it up and tested its weight. Nothing like a sword, but it could work. It would be like when he was a kid and found sticks to use as weapons against imaginary monsters.

Except that when he got into a stance and prepared for a mock battle, he didn't see giant snakes or hulking beasts. In his mind's eye, he saw Peter's sneering figure.

Baring his teeth, Josh lunged and slashed with the stick. Over and over again, he swung it, ignoring the heaviness in his arms and sweat trickling down his neck. Uncontrolled strikes, uncontrolled strength, uncontrolled breathing.

And for now, after almost an hour of shoving it down, uncontrolled frustration and pain.

You'll get him back, Boomer whispered. He'd been watching Josh's snap, channeling his presence while he remained quiet.

Josh paused, panting for breath. He rolled the stick in his hand. Sweat coated where he gripped. That doesn't change that maybe I could have stopped it, he said. His throat burned too much to voice the words aloud. We shouldn't have to get him back.

He dragged his forearm across his face. It came back wet, but he couldn't tell if from perspiration or from tears.

He stared at his arm for a heartbeat, then clenched his jaw and started his mock battle again. He's probably terrified. My parents are hurting. Ioana is hurting. And it's all my fault because I didn't—

Joshua.

The stick flew from his grasp. Maybe from surprise at Boomer's serious tone or his own sweat. He couldn't tell. He didn't care. The weight of everyone's fear and frustration and hurt bore down on his shoulders, heavier than before. Crushing. His lungs constricted.

I was right there. I should have done something. Anything. Instead, I just...

Energy rushed to Josh's hands. He looked down at them. At the useless hands that hadn't even been able to get a single light blast out.

Blackness sparked to life in his hands. It jumped between his fingers, moving in the frantic movements of an unpredictable zigzag. He watched, mesmerized, as the dark light moved like...

The sour taste of realization filled his mouth as the truth crashed down on him. He shouted and waved his hands, willing the dark lightning to dispel. He had summoned lightning for the first time, and it had been tainted.

Joshua, Boomer repeated, firmer this time. He stepped in front of Josh, lowering his head until his electric blue eyes stared straight into his.

"I'm sorry," Josh breathed. "I just used the bond to create..."

We've been over this. Ioana agreed. Something wasn't right about tonight. And I know you're hurting, Boomer said. And you're allowed to hurt. But beating yourself up about it... That doesn't fix anything. What did Akachi say? Learn from it? Learning and then doing something? That fixes it. Some things...