Mermaids are Menacing (Book 2) Complete

88.) Welcome to the Family

Other offspring?

His other offspring? The words had beens spoken but they didn't make since. I didn't think he had children. My thoughts were like mud, I could only nod. I had forgotten how to talk.

But i knew that this man didn't mean any harm to me. He held my head up gently while i drank, whatever was wrong with me was making me see things. His blood shimmered and glittered. The cut on his hand healed fast. He kept a clawed nail in the opening to prevent it from closing. It didn't seem gross. After I drank a little he let the cut heal but he didnt let go of my head.

"Untill the chaos dies down we should take them to my wing. It will be easier to defend all of them if they are together." Pyros said picking me up as if I was a small child.

"Uncle, did I.." Cerastes began.

"Carry the hatchlings." Pyros snapped and he made his way down the steps.

Cerastes did not argue and picked up the girls. The girls began to squirm and shreek.

"Vihar to me." He called to hurry him while he did his best to wrangle the little dragonesses. Vihar who had been guarding the room hesitated, he turned around and grabbed Jens hand behind him. Her expression seemed suprized. 

"Come on." He told her.

She wiped her face with her sleeve and nodded.

"You spoke to me." She said.

"Its not because i like you...Dàme would be sad without you." He said flicking his tail.

Jen squinted as she stared down at him.

"Hurry up or you'll be left behind!" He said turning away.

The way down was a blur. Everything was just one long hallway to me. The doors were blurry and the walls were without change. There must have been steps but i dont remember them. I do remember stopping. My stomach felt like it jumped into my throat.

"The nausa will clear up soon. Bere with it awhile longer." He assured me as he opened the heavy door.

The familiar sent hit me like an ice bath but was a hundred times stronger than what i remembered them to be. The rugs smelled rotten and I could feel the staleness in the air like a layer of skin.

He sat me down on one of the couches in the living space. A fire was lit but there was no one there. The furniture sunk in when he placed me on it. I almost felt to heavy for it.

"Ill be away for a moment, wait here for us." He said getting up.

Maybe I nodded. I dont know. My eyesatched on to the movement of the flames and i stared at it transfixed. Eyes wide and unblinking. Behind me i heard the grating of rock against rock but continued to stare forward. Excitment. Why was I so excited? Bouncing off the walls thrilled but i still sat motionless on the couch. My heart beat picked up. I heard heavy feet slapping on stone. More than one set.

Finally i turned my head my trans broken. Only to find a hallucination. It wasn't real but they were there. My family but different. They still wore the clothes I had last seen them in but more damaged. Some had horns, claws, scales in spots, and the younger ones tails.

It was them but not them. My siblings. Big brother Spruce, Laurel who i could never get along with, hawthorn looking ten years older with his daughter, Aspen, Banyon, my mother, Oak, and Elm and Cyprus. Many of my neices and nephewes. If this was a dream It would have been good to see my father and Ash. I turned to stand up and wobbled. Instead of hitting the floor i felt my body connect with flesh.

My head turned in slow motion. As if i was turning it against a feirce current. I blinked slowly. It was Laurel holding me up by the waist. She was shorter than me, even more than i remembered. I touched the top of her head. It felt solid.

"Are you real?" I asked her. It was difficult to start talking but easier once i pushed the words out the first time. I didnt expect a reply, convinced that she was something i had made up, or a convincing daydream or a welcome side effect of poisoning.

"Are you our Rowan?" She said to me with disbelief.

"I dont know anymore " I answered.

I felt the hot tears drip down my face. The version of myself I was before, I dont think I could recognize her anymore.

"Stupid." She said squeezing me tighter. I felt the others pile in around us, converging in a massive huddle of bodies. This was the most realistic dream I had ever had.

"I miss you guys. I miss you all the time." I told them. As if this was the goodbye I never got to have with them.

"I dont want you to leave." I told them.

"Were here."  Spruce said. "We wont be seperated again."

I laughed to myself. It seemed like i had really gone crazy this time. It even sounded like Spruce. Knowing i didnt have much time with them i just hugged them harder.

"Hello." A voice called out. We all turned to look and found Cerastes putting down the twins and a tired looking Jen. I felt an emotion surge in my chest when I looked at him.

Rage.

So much i could taste it.

Banyon and Spruce jumped out of the group hug and came out swinging at him. I caught a look of suprise on Cerasteses face and soon others quickly joined in.