HER KIND

Broken Seal

'Chapter 37'

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Nestled in the heart of the small, weather-worn cottage, the group sat in tense silence, their thoughts a swirling tempest of worry. The fireplace roared, casting flickering shadows across the room as they waited—anxiously, desperately—for any sign of the boys' return to reality. The storm outside rumbled in the distance, each thunderclap mirroring the unease that hung heavy in the air.

Nathaniel sat closest to the fire, cradling a sleeping Seraphine in his arms. His hand moved rhythmically over her back, offering a steady comfort as her breathing remained shallow, her rest uneasy.

Across from them, Dria watched the movement with quiet curiosity, her sharp gaze flitting between the pair. She sat on the opposite couch, leaning softly against Price for warmth and reassurance. Kane had claimed her lap, his head resting there as he succumbed to exhaustion, his body heavy with the toll of their earlier ordeal.

Jarred sprawled on the floor by the fire, his eyes closed but unmistakably awake, his thoughts locked away behind a furrowed brow. Jeremiah, seated on the two-seater couch, held his wife close to his side. Her head rested against his shoulder, their silent connection a rare calm amidst the tension.

On the floor at Jeremiah's feet, Edrick leaned against the couch, his mother, Katrina, gently combing her fingers through his dark hair—a futile attempt to soothe both their nerves.

"The fire's fading," Jarred muttered, his voice low and distant.

Nathaniel raised his palm, summoning Dria's attention. She marveled as a wave of heat shimmered in the air, giving birth to glowing sparks that coalesced into a ball of flame. With practiced ease, he hurled it toward the fireplace, reigniting the flames with a fierce roar. The wood cracked and splintered under the renewed heat, the sound sharp and echoing in the confined space. Thunder rumbled above, accompanied by the soft patter of rain beginning to strike the roof and windows.

Dria shifted closer to Price, seeking comfort in his steady presence. He sighed, wrapping an arm around her while keeping careful not to disturb Kane, whose face twisted faintly in discomfort. Dria's hand instinctively moved to smooth the crease in his brow, her fingers tracing gentle lines over his skin.

Her thoughts wandered, drifting from Kane to her father and Seraphine. Questions bubbled in her mind, refusing to be silenced. How long have they known each other? Was there something between them? Was it before my mother? The image of her father rushing to Seraphine's side when she fell replayed over and over, his expression filled with something she couldn't quite place—concern? Love? Regret?

Her musings were interrupted as Kane groaned, his face contorting again in what appeared to be pain. Dria watched him closely, her unease growing. I hope the twins wake up soon, she thought, her heart heavy. The waiting is unbearable, but I can't even imagine what Kane endured to help them.

Her mind flitted to the mysterious man she had seen earlier. His black, stark hair and piercing eyes lingered in her memory, along with his cryptic words: We will meet soon. His presence had been unnervingly familiar, his gaze expectant, as though he knew her—or thought she should know him.

Dria's eyes darted to her father. The resemblance between the two men was faint but undeniable: the similar shape of their eyes, the faint curve of their jawlines. But where her father's features were softened by age and experience, the stranger's had been sharper, more commanding. And his words... they hadn't seemed malicious. If anything, there had been a hint of a smile, almost gentle.

Her thoughts shattered as Wrex's low growl pierced the air. The German Shepherd, previously sprawled on the floor beside Jarred, was suddenly alert, his ears perked and his body tense. He rose to his feet, his sharp eyes fixed on the window, the muscles beneath his coat rippling as he moved. His nails clicked against the wooden floor as he shifted closer to the glass, his growls deepening with every passing second.

Dria tensed, her gaze snapping to the dog. Wrex rarely growled without reason—it was always a warning. She watched as his head tilted slightly, his ears twitching as though picking up something the rest of them couldn't hear. Though he didn't leap up to peer through the window, his posture screamed vigilance, every fiber of his being on edge.

Price moved quickly to Wrex's side, crouching low and placing a steady hand on the dog's back. "What is it, boy?" he murmured, his voice low and calm but threaded with concern.

Wrex's growl rumbled deeper, his lips curling slightly to expose sharp teeth. It was longer this time, more insistent. Price turned back toward the others, urgency lighting his expression as he locked eyes with Nathaniel. "Wake Seraphine. Now."

As if summoned by the tension, Seraphine's eyes fluttered open. She blinked rapidly, her gaze darting around the room before settling on Nathaniel's worried face. Her voice was a soft whisper, but the weight of her words struck like a thunderclap.

"They broke my seal."

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

𝐼𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑒𝓃𝒿𝑜𝓎𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇, 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓋𝑜𝓉𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇'𝓈 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓀. 𝒮𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓈𝓊𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉!