The Among

Chapter 9

The abyss from within looked more alive than ever before. The dark and dismal forest from which Flamour had remembered now bustled with color and different variations of life. She kept a hand pressed softly on the red-crested dragon named Edgy as she looked around. Different unreal life forms bustled about as vibrant hues of greens and browns filled the once darkened estate. She smiled softly as she kept her pace next to the dragon who seemed to walk with a proud stance ushering the girl to make herself comfortable. She looked up to the tallest tree which was covered in burgundy bark and layered with a rich green moss.

"Everything looks so pretty down here," she sighed contently. The red crested dragon nodded in agreement.

Yes, but only for the remainder of your stay, I have spoken to Sniper who has agreed to carry on a message to one of the Higher Ups to grant this limited time event. The way Error hunts is not safe for a human to be around him when he gets into his predatory mode. That's why you are down here. As soon as Error has finished gather what he needs, you will be returned above the Rift. Flamour seemed to understand completely, as she walked around, feeling the soft grass with her feet which seemed to go right through her skin as a rich aura filled with a wonderful color scheme drifted off her skin.

"So why did you make the abyss light for me?" she asked a bit confused.

We didn't do anything except bring you down here and provide you with a temporary safe haven. When you bonded to Error through the bite mark, you became part of the abyss. All that dark aura that surrounds you is part of the abyss—it is a sustainable energy which Error thrives off of. When you become sad and filled with negative feelings that is the abyss trying to steal your life force. Error feeds on that dark energy; it's why he grows stronger when you are around. But this, my dear is your doing. Something inside of you opened up and as a result making it beautiful. But it will not last, I will assure you...once you witness what your uncles are up to, it will all go away, but that's why I am here, my aura has enough energy to keep certain areas lit flourishing with color.

"You still believe my uncles are corrupt?" Flamour asked slowly.

Aye, that I do, but don't take my word for it, I will show you. Edgy walked over to a bright blue and white pond and sat next to the water's edge. He opened his maw, and breathed on top of the water creating a semi-transparent mist, as swirls of memories began to bubble and fester within the pond.

Welcome to your memories he said softly. Everything from past, to present will be revealed here just as have witnessed them. Humans are such interesting creatures. They are the only beings that can live a symbiotic relationship with both time and memories. Sometimes both clash into each other causing one to believe that they have lived in a time period which they have not been born into. Flamour gazed into the mist and watched it with amaze and wonderment, and the scene from the dinner with her uncles began to play with such clarity, it was almost her memories were playing in high-definition. Flamour watched herself excuse herself from the dining hall and as the oak doors closed behind with an echoing bang. Uncle Syd leaned over and spoke to Chad, their voices amplified from a whisper to moderate tone.

"Have you disposed of the bodies?" Syd asked. Chad did not look at Syd, but rather slowly sipped from his crystal chalice as a clear white liquid ran from the bottom of the glass into his pale, parched lips.

"The best I could, what do you think we are dining on?" he asked. Syd gave a soft chuckle. 

"Good, cause butchering those pigs can be a nasty chore. Do you think the girl suspects anything?" 

"I doubt it, she is too dense and full of her own thoughts to be worried about what we have scheming and if you continue to play your part she will be dead before sundown. The one we should be worried about is that Native boy....what was his name Shilah? If he ever finds out he is a part of an ancient heritage of well renowned assassins, we won't live long enough to collect our fortune. Think about it, all of this....can be taken away and I worked too damn hard to get Oasis in the hands of governments all around the world—with my prototype we can change history to play out in our favor. It's a master plot that I will not let be tampered with by some insolent brat."

"You mean brats" Syd corrected with a sly smirk.

"Aye, touche my friend," Chad grinned as the clinked the their wine glasses in a toast of accomplishment.  

 Flamour gasped as she took a step back, feeling as if she had been shot through the chest as she gulped slowly.

"They aren't my real family, that means...they must of used that corrupted machine to manipulate me to believe that I was always welcome in their home if things didn't work out with my parents....which means that they also must have somehow used The Oasis to create a false sense of insecurity between my parents and myself....we were nothing more than lab rats for a diabolical scheme to get rich. Tears welled in her eyes as she remembered just how poorly she treated her mother before she made the departure to be away from her. Flamour's throat tightened as she felt a sudden sense of hopelessness and despair. A single tear rolled down her cheek and landed on the lush green grass. In the distance she could hear a rumble of thunder as steady drops of grey pelts dropped from the atmosphere washing away the color from the abyss. Edgy, gently nuzzled the saddened girl and draped a wing above her, sheltering her from the storm that was within.

Thunder rumbled in the distance as a soft gale began to blow. The barn creaked and groaned as the gentle wind rattled the rotten wood. Shilah watched with complete interest as the large bear-dog and the massive feral white beast with the angelic wings circled each other, the feral beast flicking its tail menacingly, as the bear-dog snapped its jaws, rich and foamy spit spewing from its aggressive maw. Although Shilah wanted to know where he came from, he was more interested in how this fight would play out. It was clear to the young Native that watching this feral white beast was a wonder to behold. Never has he seen anything so remarkable agile, now has he seen anything with such a strong taste for vengeance. The dog stopped pacing and growled as ran towards the feral white beast with angelic wings. The dog leaped through the air with a heavy spring in their paw and landing a bone shattering crunch on top of the agile beast growled in pain, unable to push the heavy dog off its sleek and slender body. Ferociously the white beast snapped at the neck of the dog as the bear-dog aggressively ripped at the white beasts wings, ripping out its flight feathers, to give the feral beast a disadvantage.
The gale wind that was swirling outside was now churning something more sinister. Cracks of lighting light up the sky as thunder rumbled loudly throughout the atmosphere. Just as the lighting lit up the sky, Shilah's eyes widened as the room illuminated with a bright light. The feral beast which was ferociously battling for its life, desperately pleading for mercy as the heavy mass of bone and muscle continued to crush its long and slender body. Shilah grunted with disapproval as he had finally had enough of the injustice. He quickly got to his feet making quick and silent strides across the horizontal support beams, taking ample strides, keeping close eye on the white beast. The feral dragon manage to push the bear-dog off with the remaining energy it had left. Shilah took that opportunity, to make his descent. With precision and grace, he leapt without fear. Everything that Shilah did seemed to run in slow motion as he clenched he curled his fingers revealing the hidden blade. He landed on the soft, and dirty coat of the Caucasian shepherd. The dog let out a yelp of excitement and discomfort as Shilah unconsciously thrust the blade into the spinal cord of the large and dangerous animal. The dog yelped as the sound of hard metal thrust against soft skin ended the life of the white dragon's assailant. Shilah sighed as he muttered a phrase in his Native tongue as he got of the large bear-dog, wiping the blood off on the inside of his cloak before sheathing the hidden blade. The large feral beast looked at him, then at dog with a passive aggressive stare. Snarling the large feral beast, put one foot forward, and carefully sniffing the creature that had just saved them from a certain death. The white feral beast stopped growling, and tilted his head, sniffing the cloak which Shilah was wearing. The white beast then rumbled a purr from deep within its chest as it nuzzled its head under the young Native's arm, resting a weary head on its lap, this beast was finally at peace for once in its life.