Once Again

Chapter Twenty-Eight - Free My World

Dedicated to my new reader (and a new Wattpadder - is that a word?) coffeebreakhero for catching all the way up! (Psst! Are you enjoying it?)

Free My World

"And look who else decided to show up," She giggled. "My little baby Braken. I knew you'd come back to me. Just like I said."

Braken tried to move, tried to say something, but all that came out of his mouth was a little squeak. Echo watched his internal struggle, wishing for the power to read his mind like he could read his.

Tristam shifted to a more defensive position, but he kept his fire extinguished and stared calmly on. His shoulders were tense, like he was holding himself back. "You'll be fine," he murmured.

Her grip tightened around Echo's neck, and he winced. "I can explain, Luna."

"Alright. The explanation better be a good one or you'll regret calling these two."

"I didn't call them. Tristam came to steal me away. I tried to fight back and they went for my sister, so I followed them and then you showed up." She squeezed him tighter. "That's what happened, I swear!"

"He's telling the truth," Alyssa mumbled.

"Of course that's what you would say," She said, throwing Her free hand out. Her angry expression melted into a smile. "But you did bring me my baby Braken, so I suppose I can forgive you this one time."

"Don't touch me," Braken whispered, his voice faltering.

"Luna," Tristam said almost casually. "I'm sure we could work something out here. You take the Siphoner, I take the Vortex Shifter."

"They are both mine. I got them first." She released Echo's neck and took an aggressive step forward. Braken and Alyssa both flinched backward, but Tristam held his ground.

"No, I got the Shifter first. You can have the other one."

"Tristam, please," Braken breathed, starting to cry.

"I'm sorry, Solar. I need both of them, and you're in my Haven under my rules." She snapped Her fingers ceremoniously and three Destroyers surrounded the Raider. "And you're not leaving here at all."

The three Destroyers tackled him before he could respond. Braken shouted something unintelligible as they pinned the leader against the floor, cuffing his hands behind his back. Tristam didn't protest nearly as much as Echo thought he would have, and didn't even light his fists up. He resisted enough to show he was against Her, but that was all.

She watched the three drag him away and then turned back to the others. "And now for you ..." She smiled at the three of them. "Isaac, please take your sister back into her cell, and then meet me in the room next to yours." She stalked toward Braken like a cat and slowly backed him against the wall. "I have some ... unfinished business."

A dark feeling settled in Echo's heart, threatening to crush him. He gently took his sister's hand and started to lead her back into her cell. She hesitated, making him pause, and looked back at Braken.

The small Raider had backed himself up against the wall, pressed against it as if trying to vanish inside. His face was white and his eyes were more than terrified, tears falling down his cheeks. She suddenly lunged at him and he screamed as Her hands wrapped around his waist, lifting him off of the ground as he spun around and tried to run away.

Echo knew She was strong, but even She was struggling to keep Braken still as he thrashed, throwing his body around as She held him. He was screaming, letting out loud, childish sobs that broke Echo's heart. He may have hated the Raider, but he had enough humanity in him to feel horrible as he watched. No one should have to go through that.