Vendetta's Rise (The Dragon Realms Saga: Book 1)

Chapter 30

Wiccer groggily woke up. His surroundings were alien to him, but he recognized that he was in an infirmary. His brother lay in an adjacent bed across from him. Elisa sat sleeping in a chair at Avren's bedside. Wiccer slipped out of the sheets and jumped out of bed. It cost him dearly, as his head spurted with a burst of pain and his leg buckled underneath him. He crashed resoundingly to the floor.

Wiccer gingerly inspected a heavy wool bandage wrapped around his head and grasped his throbbing leg. Reaching for a crutch leaning against the wall, Wiccer hobbled to his brother's bedside.

"Avren, what did they do to you?" Wiccer quaked with heartache as he looked down at his brother. A deep, crimson red seeped through the bandages on his chest. His once ebony features were now deathly pale, his breathing a weak wheezing. Avren slowly motioned his hand up. Wiccer shivered as he grabbed it with both hands. "Avren, you're going to be okay. I'm going to make those Rabbits pay for this!"

Elisa awoke to find Wiccer collapsed in depression and shock. "I'm sorry Wiccer, I truly am."

It was clear that she had been up all night and day by Avren and Wiccer's side.

Wiccer burst out in a depressing chorus of tears, "How can you say that! You're one of them! You've always been one of them!"

Elisa shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. She just wanted to be there with Avren. "I am not one of them! I never could convince you..."

"Then why did you protect them! As far as I'm concerned you did this to Avren. If my brother dies, it will be on your hands!"

Elisa's lips quivered with anguish. "Wiccer please, Avren is...is.."

"What? What is he to you other than someone to lay with?"

Elisa burst into tears, "He is all that I have!" she turned to Avren, gently caressing his face, "...All that I want," she sobbed.

"Wic-Wiccer" Avren's voice was a shriveled husk of what it once was. "Enough. Do-Do not be blinded by your hate."

Wiccer shivered in rage, "Do you not hear yourself, Avren?"

Avren attempted to tighten his grip, weakly pulling Wiccer close to him, "E-Elisa is one of us. Y-you need to gr-grow as a leader. K-Keep a clear mind." Avren's grip fell loose, his breathing began to slow.

"Avren, please. Don't leave me, not you too!" Wiccer tightly squeezed Avren's limp hand. He bawled into his brother's chest. Elisa did her best to comfort him.

"I-I love you little..." Avren's rasped with his final words to his younger brother.