Dawn of Vengeance

Chapter 25 - Aeria

Jake's POV:

Jake just had to stop for a moment and bent over putting his hands on his knees trying desperately to get air in his lungs but it seemed like no matter how hard he tried he just couldn't do it. The air here was so much thinner than what he was used to, it felt as if he were being smothered by a pillow, and that was just from walking around the domed building that he'd seen when they were transported here. He didn't want to think about how hard it must be to train in a place like this in fact the very thought nearly made Jake want puke, But that could've just been the altitude of the place taking effect.

Turning his head Jake found nearly the whole of his party doing the exact same thing that he was doing in that they were huddled over and trying to catch their breath. The only two exceptions to this were Issac who didn't necessarily need to breath in order to live, and Garrett who as anyone would guess was right beside Jake rubbing his back and trying to coach him through breathing. Had he had all of his strength Jake was sure he would've hit the red-head but that just wasn't the case and he was sure that Garrett knew it and was going to take full advantage.

Dominick on the other hand dressed in those heavy looking black cloths stood a few feet ahead of the group waiting patiently for them to get their breath back and didn't even say a word. The elf just nodded to anyone who walked by and as they did Jake couldn't help but notice a slight grin on all of their faces as if this wasn't something new to them at all. How people could even live in a place like this that crippled their most basic ability to breath was beyond any form of comprehension that he had within him. And to think that Andrew grew up in a place like this, Jake thought as he tried shrugging Garrett off. The witch looked faintly hurt but he didn't say anything about it he just remained close to Jake's side in case he keeled over again.

Jake turned fully around to check on Eve who he knew was probably having the hardest time adjusting to this lack of oxygen having not been brought up the same way as Jake and Lance were, and sure enough she wasn't doubled over but actually on her knees with her hands over her chest. Jake got on his knees as well and put his arm around her shoulders and gave her the same general tip that he was given for when he'd make his first trip to Aeria when he turned 18.

"In through your nose, and out through your mouth." Jake said feeling dumb for saying it because it was such a common technique for breathing control that he felt like an idiot for telling her.

Eve simply nodded and went from the rapid and uneasy gasping breaths of someone who'd just sprinted a mile to deep and slightly more controlled breaths. Behind him Jake heard Lance saying the same thing to Pierce who Jake had completely forgotten about and right away he heard the other werewolf doing the same thing. After his failed attempt to swallow Jake tried gathering enough spit to make it possible to talk again, but in the meantime he took ahold of Eve's hand as if to reassure her that she was going to be fine. The young witch gave Jake's hand an affirmative squeeze before she took a deep breath and straightened up her back, fixing him with those alluring eyes of hers.

"Thanks for that." Jake felt his face begin to get a little hot when she spoke like that with such a soft voice and a small smile, but he knew he was blushing when Eve let her head fall onto his shoulder while she tried to control her breathing. "What're you wearing it smells weird..."

"Sweat." Jake said flatly making Eve pull away in such a hurry that it was almost comical. "Well what do you expect, I've been running all over Los Angeles for the past two days I'm not going to smell like a basket of flowers."

"I for one happen to like the way you smell." Garrett said almost right in Jake's ear and also reminding him of the several other people that were around them. Jake bit his lip and got to his feet nice and slowly so as to adjust to the change and helped Eve to her feet as well. It was all going well until Garrett had to butt in again with his usual jealousy of Eve getting Jake's attention. "I think it makes you more of a man if you ask me."