They are the Helwyr

Chapter 4

Running to him, then embracing and kissing him under the stars is what I want to do, except life isn't a Hollywood movie. That would be too easy. Instead, I stare at him, open mouthed. Looking like a goldfish is far more romantic than any Hollywood movie anyway.

Our staring at each other is short lived as he vanishes in an instant only to reappear right next to me, making me fall over in surprise.

"Showing off are we?" I ask, smiling up to him. He flops down next to me, resting his head against mine. Our fingers slowly find each other and gently interlock.  

"I couldn't cope staying at the house, the others are looking to me to fill my father's boots and I'm not ready... I want to come and see Thorne with you. Things are about to get deadly and we are going to need to be a team and right now I don't know what to think. Do you want to explain?" I grip his hand tighter, worried about what he will say and worse, think.

"Damari and I had a disagreement..." He nudges his head against mine. "He thought that...He kissed me..."

I wish I could have said something better to say but my mind has blanked. He drops my hand and stands up, staring ahead into the darkness.

"Did you...Did you kiss him back?" His voice is shaking as he asks me. Is he going to cry? I couldn't deal with that again, especially

"No. I never would." My words hang in the air between us, cold and unsure. Radley suddenly beings marching towards the car. Shit this is not going to be pretty.

Running to catch up with him, I am calling his name but he won't stop. He swings the door open and pulls a sleeping Damari's out, throwing him to the ground.

"You bastard. We are supposed to be family. Why would you do that to me?" His voice is cracking even more now and I am sure I can see a tear shimmering in the moonlight.

He drags Damari to his feet, his hands trembling. Damari looks terrified, as if he thinks Radley would hurt him. I don't know if he will.

"After everything we have been through Radley... You know how bad things were for me. You know what I did. Why would you try and take her away from me? When you know she is the only reason..."

I know I am intruding by being here but if I walk away I think a fight will break out.  Hearing Radley talk that way hurts me. People relying on me so much terrifies me, I fear not being there for them when they need me most.

"Just tell me why... Was it because you were jealous? Or maybe just because you thought you had a chance? Did she look lonely? Did she look pretty?... TELL ME WHY!" He roars, resulting Damari and I taking a step away from him.

"I...I don't know..." Damari stammers.

"DONT BULLSHIT ME, YOU COWARD!" I want to step in and stop it but they need to do this. They need to yell at each other before things can progress.

"I regretted that I'd missed my chance and tried to change it. You know I've always loved her."

Radely flies at him, his clenched fist colliding with Damari's jaw with a sickening crunch. Damari sinks to his knees, groaning in pain.

Radley turns his back to him, walking to me. He kisses my cheek and rests his head on my shoulder.

"Forgive me? Please... Will you heal him for me?" He whispers in my ear.

"Of course." I brush my fingers against his cheek and gently kiss his lips. He walks towards the tent and I run to Damari.

His face is already swollen but he turns it away from me when I kneel next to him. I place both my hands on his cheeks causing him to cry out in pain.

"I know. I'm sorry but it needs to be done." I tell him, trying to keep calm. I focus my energy in my hands and then channel it into his face.

I can feel the break in his jaw heal and the swelling disperse.

"Thank you Aerona. I am really sorry about everything. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Will you tell him I am really sorry?" I nod and wish him goodnight.

When I get to the tent, I see Radley inside, with Mystica running in circles around him in the dim torch-light. She has lost her mind.

"Can you please control it?" She runs to me and rubs around my legs, purring.

"Her. Mystica." I state, sitting down next to him and wriggle under the pile of blankets.

"I'm sorry you had to see that. I didn't mean to hit him. I just lost control for a second."

Shuffling closer to him, I cover him with the blankets too and curl up against his chest.

"I think I understand. I cannot apologise enough for everything. I hate myself for coming between you." I whisper to him as he strokes my face.

"I need you. Thats all I care about. Your madness turned my life around. You made everything better. I love you Aerona."

Curiosity it biting at me and I give in again, asking him what was so bad before.

"I forgot I never told you. After I killed Emma, I became very depressed and began self harming but because I was already a  Dewin, nobody ever saw the scars as I healed quickly. Then things got even worse after my mother and Xaria.... One day, a few years ago, Damari caught me. He made me get help and the demons left me alone for a while but they always come back. Then you showed up and I haven't seen them since."

Radley's fingers start twitching, I didn't notice that I had adopted a vice-like grip on them while he spoke. I wish I could tell him I feel his pain and understand but before America, my life was unbelievebly ordinary.

"I love you Radley. Whatever happens, I will always be right beside you, I promise." He kisses me gently, putting his arm around my shoulders and we lay there in silence till we both fall asleep.