The Immortal | Prequel Story |

Chapter 53 ~ Revisiting the Land

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~ Planet Verdamnt ~

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Long braided blonde hair rested over Romena's shoulder as she stood in the predawn sky, the aurora casting soft yellow hues on her mauve pink dress. She never thought she would be in her homeland again, much less see it in the daytime.

Yet here I am.

Romena remained standing just outside the entranceway, a small balcony alcove that allowed her to see the view while still on the ship. Her eyes were red in the sunlight, a vampy tint over her dark brown eyes. Her skin remained fair, not the only allude to her former vampiric appearance. Her dress had intricate brown lace detailing that matched her brown boots.

Romena wanted to visit her home planet in hopes of restoring what was once lost. Vampires and humans had evacuated once the dragons proved too great a threat to both kinds, yet Romena assumed that after all this time, there could be a chance to reintroduce humanity on the planet.

Her heart sank when she saw multiple dragons flying below, like fish in an ocean. They mingled amongst clouds, moving slowly and at an unhurried pace. Romena shuddered, remembering the last time she saw dragons. They moved at record speed, a little slower than vampire speed, though they were able to catch up to vampires, if their fire didn't reach them first.

Romena heard Stellan stand beside her, felt his hands on her hips. Romena thought he looked hot in a white sleeveless top that showed off his muscles. In addition to his white sleeveless top, Stellan wore black pants with leather detailing and black leather boots. His long gold-highlighted hair lifted in the wind, a waist length detail of Viking glory.

"There's so many of them," Stellan murmured in a shocked tone as he stared down at the dragons, who seemed unthreatened by the shadowing ship slowly sailing a few distances above them. "They've overtaken the land now that we've left. They're the dominant species now."

Stellan turned to Romena, cupping her face with his hand while gazing directly into her eyes. "Romena, I know what you hoped to accomplish, but there is nothing further we can do. There is no possible way humans can safely inhabit the land again. We have to move on from it. I know you miss our homeland as dearly as you miss your memories of Ardai, but you must focus on the here and now."

A tear slid from Romena's eye, her jaw shaking. Stellan held Romena close, softly petting her hair. Romena cried silently as a Csa named Euan came up to them, asking whether they wished to disembark. Romena knew there was no way they would ever disembark on this planet.

Stellan told Euan, "Prepare to leave the planet."

"Wait," said Romena. "There's a library."

"Set it on fire," Stellan ordered.

Euan nodded, heading back inside to ready the weapons. Romena watched as the ship's cannons aimed towards the library in the north, the secret library Mallen hid from the others, the library that held all their books of origin.

Four blasts rang from the cannons, one after the other. They landed exactly on target, bursting into flames. Romena was unable to look away, mesmerized by the sight of the burning library. She knew the reason for the burning: to prevent the past from happening again.

Verdamnt vanished from view a few moments later, the galaxy welcoming them to space exploration once again. Romena looked out the window in her room, watching the endless black space stretch out into the unknown. It was then that she decided what she wanted to do with the present.