FORTITUDINE (COMPLETED)

16) When it Rains, Look for Alexa

Nearly one week after getting Riki:

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A dark chuckle rang into the thick fog that surrounded me.

I gasped for air as if I had been running and got into a defensive position.

"Who's there?" I call out into the unknown.

"Death." Said a deep voice from behind me.

I screamed and turned around only to see white fog.

"Where are you?" I gasp out as I steadily turn around in circles looking for the owner of the terrifying voice.

"Everywhere." Whispered  the voice as it echoed in all areas around me.

That's when Thanatos stepped out from the fog with a sword in hand. I fell back onto a hard wooden surface and looked around me.

I was no longer in a foggy forest. I was now in the center of King's Tomb surrounded by my clan.

I tried to sit up but ropes were tied around my limbs restricting my ability to move.

I was facing the sky when I saw Thanatos walking up to me with his sword raised above his head.

I screamed and shut my eyes as tight as I could. 'It's just a dream!' I scream to myself. 'It's just a dream!'

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"Alexa! Wake up love! It's just a dream. Shh. It's just a dream." Exclaimed Stephen as he shook my shoulders.

My eyes shot open and I sat up nearly hitting Stephen's head with my own.

My throat was sore from screaming and thunder was roaring outside my window as rain poured onto the glass.

"What...what happened?" I whisper to him.

Stephen hugged me and began to rock me back and forth in his arms. "You had a nightmare love." He whispers into my ear so I could hear him above the rain and thunder.

I shuddered and felt a wetness on my cheeks. I reached up to touch my face and realized that I had been crying. I wiped the tears away from my face and held onto Stephen as if he would disappear at any moment.

"The only reason I heard you screaming over the thunder was that my room is next to yours." He says as he begins to pet my head in a soothing manner.

I look up into his hazel eyes and he gives me a reassuring smile.

"It felt so real." I whisper, not dropping eye contact with him.

"I know princess. I know." He whispers.

Suddenly Riki meows breaking our stare and I reach down to pet him.

Immediately I feel better with both Stephen and Riki comforting me and even the weather decides to calm down to a light mist.

"What a weird storm." He mutters thankfully changing the subject.

I nod my head and smile weakly. "It seems to know how I feel." I whisper.

Stephen frowns and looks into my eyes. "How many powers can you guys get?" He asks suddenly.

My eyebrows furrow as I think about this question. "I think somewhere around five, maybe..." I trail off unsure at what he is getting at.