Still Here

Assassins and Dragonguards

~* A few weeks later *~

Rayla woke up in a cold sweat. She had been having these nightmares for some time now. She hadn’t told anyone about it. They were nightmares like, what if Callum never woke up after doing dark magic? What if Ez never resurfaced with the egg? What if Manus Pluma Volantis hadn’t worked? They were terrifying. The people she loved being hurt. It was... horrifying to watch. Yet throughout all of these nightmares, she could never move. Never turn her back on the sight. She had to watch. Burden her eyes with the pain of her family.

She groaned as she sat up. Callum was still asleep on the floor next to her. Sleeping peacefully. Snoring quietly. She smiled. Again she looked at her ring. She glanced the large gem. Of course, she thought. It couldn't have been a normal gem, no, no. It has to be magic. That's Callum for ya.

She looked at him again. She imagined him in a suit. He would look so nice. The thought of herself in a wedding dress, however, seemed like torture. Maybe I should just wear fancy clothes. I'm not gonna wear a dress. You cannot, I repeat cannot force me into a dress if you tried.

Callum opened his eyes. He was lying on his side, cuddled up close to the mattress beside him. It's cold down here. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. Rayla was sitting on the floor next to him, reading. Callum thought that was kinda strange. There were several chairs, and a mattress. "Morning," she mumbled, still entranced by the words in her book. "Good morning."

"What, uh... What are you reading about?" She sighed, ashamed of the truth. It was a while before she responded. "Dark magic. I just want to... I don't know. It's kind of an interesting concept." Callum arched an eyebrow. "Okay. You don't have to be ashamed. It is interesting. You know I'll never touch it again," he promised.

She smiled. "Yeah, I know. It's just..." Her voice trailed off. Callum could tell there was something bothering her. He bent down beside her. "What's wrong?" "What happened to them? My parents. Runaan. Where are they? They didn't run away, and I know they aren't dead. Viren said, "I have just the fate in mind." What does that mean? He couldn't have meant death." It was a few moments before she continued. "Did he? And... And that's just for my parents!"

Callum thought for a moment. "Do you think Soren might know what happened to Runaan? Maybe Claudia?" Rayla glared at him when he mentioned Claudia, but... maybe he had a point. "I've already asked Soren. The only thing he got to see was Runaan's capture. God only knows what Viren did to him." Rayla had her head in her hands, so she didn't get to see the way Callum's face light up. The way it always did when he had a great idea.

"You killed Viren, correct?" Rayla nodded. "Claudia brought him back, right?" She nodded again, looking up in curiosity. "Do you think Claudia will know?" Rayla glowered at him. "Rayla, look at me. You hate Claudia. For a good reason. But she is your last hope to find out. You need to know what happened to Runaan for your health. She could know. She's not all bad." Rayla glared at Callum again. "Okay, she's pretty bad. But you have to ask. Seeing you in pain tears my heart apart."

She sighed. "Alright. Okay, I'll ask." Callum's face lit up in a bright smile. "Okay. Thanks, Ray." She faked a smile as he stood and walked away.