Changed

Chapter Twenty-Three

I landed softly next to Amara's body. Her wheezing told me she was still alive, but barely. This was good. This is what Roman wanted. He would be proud. He came to me, and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Good work Hail. I appreciate what you've done."

Warmth spread throughout my veins as the man I looked up to complimented my actions. He turned around as the others followed, but something pulled me back to Amara. I looked at her. Her legs were awkwardly sprawled out, obviously broken. Her arm was noticeably out of it's socket and blood trickled from her head. Our enhanced strength was the only thing keeping her alive. Maybe I should make sure she dies completely. But it was as if guilt plagued me.

Why was I still watching her rough, slight breathing? Why was I so intrigued by her? She would be dead in a matter of seconds, and I wanted to talk to Roman.

"Hail."

I hardly noticed her raspy voice call my name as I began to walk away. My brain began to throb. Why did she keep luring me? Why did the sight of her make my heart ache?

I felt as if I was torn between two worlds. I knelt down next to her, curious.

Her hand twitched and she cried trying to move it. Her scream pierced through my body. I couldn't stand this. I reluctantly scooped her up, pushing Roman to the back of my mind. I had to save her. I didn't know why, but my heart went out to the dying being I just tried to kill. She was drenched in sweat and whimpered at the slightest movement as I shot towards the regenerative forest, my wings beating faster than her failing heart.

I set her down and she began to heal as the world became clear again. I did this to her. Her breathing became steady as her bones molded back together, as I blurted apologies. I was supposed to protect her.

"Amara, I'm so sorry. I had no idea what I was doing I --" She flew into my arms as the dislocated one snapped back in it's rightful socket. I returned the hug while she sobbed into my shoulder, coughing as she tried stopping herself.

"Thank god you're sane." She whispered, noticeably but adorably embarrassed by the tears streaming down her face as she wiped her under-eyes.

"Thank god you're alive." I muttered back. Without even thinking twice, I kissed her. I had done it before, but it was forced. This came naturally, and the warmth between us was comfortable, not rushed. Our mouths began clumsily colliding as she giggled, causing me to pull away and question her happiness.

"It's about time you did that while I was conscious," She smirked, getting up - grey wisps of smoke escaping her heated palms.

I rolled my eyes and allowed my wings to crawl back into my body. "I'll do it again," I offered, standing and pulling her closer to me, temporarily ignoring the fact that the rest of us were still trapped in Roman's Virtue.

Maybe it was the barely detectable dimple in her cheeks when she smiled, or the way she scrunched her nose every time she started laughing. Maybe it was how her right eye was imperceptibly grayer than her left, and how they widened slightly and lit up every time you called her name. Or how she would chew the side of her mouth when she was thinking, and would subtly squint her eyes when she concentrated. It could be her hair, invariably carefree and tangled, the slight wave of it and it's surprising softness. Maybe it was her sarcasm, and her unwavering attempts to challenge me with stubbornness. I didn't know what it was that made my heart lurch every time she touched me, but I was done fighting it. I didn't care how dangerous it was. I wanted her, and I would deal with the consequences.

A growl made us both turn to the noise, shattering the chemistry between us, and she let out a gasp as a Scaevus dragged itself closer.

"Amara kill it." I demanded, stepping back as she did the same.

She shook her head, and stepped towards the demon.

"What are you doing?" I hissed, concerned at her will to die again.

She slowly circled the creature.

"It's injured," She said softly, pointing at it's stomach and leg as she dropped to her knees before it.

"Good!" I cried in disbelief, confused as to why this mattered.

She slowly closed in on it as it collapsed, using all it's strength to snap at her nearing hand. It's black scales trembled as a continuous grumble escaped it's fanged mouth. It's purple eyes darted between Amara and I, as if deciding which one of us would be the better meal. It was smaller than most of Malus' creatures, about the size of a young Komodo dragon. The size didn't matter - it was still deadly.

She wasn't killing it, so I would. I launched myself at it; one arm pressed into its throat and another pinning it's chest and limbs as I flipped it onto it's back, ignoring it's screeches and flinching body.

"Burn it!" I yelled at her, moving my head away from the impending flames that never came.

**

He yelled at me to burn the Scaevus, but I was hesitant. It was injured, it was young and frankly it was kind of cute. Most importantly however, it could be useful.

"Hail get off," I urged as he presented me with a look of confusion. "Trust me. Get off!"

He warily let go of it and stumbled back cursing, as if it was going lunge at him. It was comical seeing brave Hail book it away from a defenseless creature and I desperately tried to conceal my smile.

"What the hell are you doing? That thing," He pointed at it accusingly. "Is trying to kill us."

"It's barely alive! And it's young and confused," I argued, protectively stepping in front of the lizard-like monster. "We can nurse it back to health and use it against Roman."

"I'm not letting Malus' creatures near you. This could be a trap and I vowed to protect you; to myself and our world. What I say goes."

"You don't own the rights to my life!?" I retorted, my hands moving to the anger in my voice. "I still get to make my own decisions."

"Not when those decisions have the ability to kill you."

"Hail you're being ridiculous. Just give me a day with it. Once it's healed it can shift into Oda and take out Roman. It may be our only chance. You can't swoop in and save them this time."

He narrowed his eyes at me, not even taking my suggestion into consideration. "I suggest you move."

"You're being such an ignorant douche bag, just listen to me." I exclaimed bitterly, frustrated that nothing was getting through to him.

I watched as he ignored me and slowly lifted a fallen log, his arm veins bulging under the wood's immense weight. My heart dropped as it dawned on me that he was planning to crush the Scaevus. It whimpered, realizing the same thing as it ineffectively tried pulling itself behind me. Flames and smoke suddenly tore out of my palms as a wall of heat circled Hail, separating him from the small demon. I could hear mumbles of his muffled voice as the log dropped - splintering in every direction - but I didn't listen. Ignoring the Scaevus nipping and clawing at my skin, I ran blindly with it clutched in my arms, leaving an angry and stubborn Hail behind a wall of fire. I had no idea what I was going to do, but Hail murdering it was not part of the plan. Maybe he had been the wrong person to save.

I held the creature tighter, it's rough scales pressing against my fragile skin as it involuntarily passed out, making my life a lot easier and my sprint a lot faster.