These Hidden Burns

~ Chapter 13 ~

{ Notice:Laurence and Garroth traded places for the purpose of this book.Laurence is in the Irene Dimension,and Garoth is with the others. }

Aphmau's POV

The idea that we had missed fifteen years in our world hit me hard.Levin....Malachi.I worried for them,even though I knew Zoey had taken good care of them.

Everyone was exhausted and confused,maybe even hurt,like I am.Garroth was taking this the worst,since Laurence had decided to stay behind,even though Garroth was the causer of all of this.However,he was forgiven by all of us the moment we stepped out of that portal.

Zoey spoke up again."I don't know if this will make things better...but Angela is here."She stated and I suddenly remembered the woman who had stayed behind because of a wound."She won't be here for long."Zoey continued and I spoke up."Garroth and Katelyn.Do you want to go with me to go see her?"I asked.

Garroth instantly nodded his head and Katelyn hesitantly nodded.Zoey went ahead of us,leading us towards where everyone was staying.The sights I saw along the way were sad.It pained to see how everything that was once so bright,beautiful,and full of life had became vacant and destroyed.The Irene statue remained in tack...along with my house.

Kiki,Lucinda,Dale,Molly,Corey,and Emma seemed to have all left,along with their children I bet.We moved towards the back of the village.Malachi's and Levin's treehouse was expanded,the tree even larger than before.However,I was welcomed by someone I didn't recognize for a split second.

It was Levin.Levin,had grown to be a lovely man.After a small,but tearful reunion,he led us towards the docks.

I'm pretty sure all of our jaws dropped at the person who stood maybe two feet away from us.It was a beautiful woman,with long dark brown hair that reached her mid back.The tips of her hair were in gentle curls.Her ears were pointed,just like how Angela's were.

I never got the chance to know why.

She turned around and a surprised,but happy expression was on her face.Two guards stood behind her,seeming to have a confused expression on their faces.

"Aphmau....Garroth...Katelyn."She spoke softly,naming each of us before she moved towards us and pulled us into a big hug.Tears were in her grey eyes.Garroth was hugging Angela tightly and I wouldn't judge him for that.

He knew her better than the rest of us.

Angela slowly let us go before she wiped her eyes."If I would have known you were coming,I would have thrown on my armor to where you would recognize me,but today was the one day I decided not to wear it."She spoke softly,chuckling a bit."Aphmau,I know you have people to go see,so begone.Don't let my presence here hold you back from seeing your sons or the others here."She continued,I nodding my head and hugging her again before I walked away from the docks.

~ Garroth's POV ~

After a few hours had passed and I had walked around the village chatting with Angela,after reuniting with the group here.Angela seemed more mature,but she still had that distant gaze like she had fifteen years ago.However,I wouldn't blame her.

She had lost too much over the past fifteen years.

However,while I was talking with her,she said nothing about herself,rather she asked me questions about where I had went and seemed to understand more than anyone here.Once Aphmau returned,she led us over towards the old guard tower that over looked the docks and such.

The two guards that had been following Angela stood outside of the tower in silence,while we stood on the top level.

"It's...amazing how your group managed to go to Irene's realm and back.Though,I don't believe I would wish to see it in person,since it would mean I would...have to see some things fall and crumble like you all had to."Angela spoke softly,sitting down next to a large window in the guard tower.

"What have you been doing all these years?"Aphmau asked,stepping over to the female who smiled at her."Well.....when Zoey left with the boys,I went with her.Dante knew what I intended to do so he didn't mind me leaving for those years.I protected them,watched them grow up and learned about myself.I'm part elven,which explains as to why it looks like I haven't aged,"She began,glancing over at Aphmau and me.

"Thank you.So much,for doing that for my sons and for Zoey."Aphmau spoke with true gratitude."Don't thank me.I didn't help raised them as much as Zoey did.But,after we came back,I had went on a small mission back to where I came from.The village of Hetra.I buried those I could a mile away from where they had passed in a beautiful forest.I don't know who burned my village to ashes after all these years.Who killed my family.But,now instead of ashes stands a village as big as Scaleswind."Angela cracked a smile as she spoke her last sentence.

"Who is the lord?"I asked,Aphmau looking between Angela and myself as she was silent,listening to us speak.

"Heh,I'm the lord.I rebuilt Hetra by hand alone for awhile until a few villagers wandered in and gave a helping hand.Those who helped are now permanent members of the village,at their own will.There are now 136 villagers in Hetra and we have an army of 53,that are also villagers which brings me to a total of 189 people staying in Hetra.It's small compared to Scaleswind but,I love all of the people there."Angela smiled softly as she spoke,looking over at Aphmau and then back at me.

Aphmau chuckled a bit."Wow,Hetra sounds a lot bigger than Phoenix Drop or Meteli."She replied and Angela shrugged her shoulders."Though,if you don't mind me asking...do you have a family of your own now?"Aphmau continued and Angela nodded.

"I adopted a little girl I named Willow.She's a year old now,but I raise her single handedly,though I do have a few people in my village that take care of her while I'm away."Angela replied and I smiled as I slipped a few fingers through my hair."It sounds like a wonderful village."I spoke softly and Angela beamed at me as she locked eyes with me.

"Well....would you like to go see it for yourself?"