LOST SHADOWS - A Broken Lie

Chapter 11

Blood.

Blood was the first thing Dawn saw when he opened his eyes.

However, he was shocked to find that it was not his own. The expected pain of the Nyx ripping him apart never came. As he looked up he saw Elaina standing in front of him, her right hand raised, her entire body and the area around her covered in blood. The Nyx was nowhere to be found. Dawn smelt an alarmingly strong scent of smoke engulfing the area.

Dawn's eyes were locked onto Elaina's back, as he tried to ground himself. His brain was trying to put together everything that had happened.

1. Nyx are real.
2. One attacked the building.
3. He was about to die.
4. He didn't die.

How?

Elaina's body was stiff as she turned to him. "You ok?" Her voice was dangerous and low, as it was the first time he heard her speak. It was an intimidating growl, but he felt safe the moment he heard her. Dawn met her eyes, they seemed so lifeless and cold. "Y-Yeah I think so...?" Truth be told he was far from ok, but being saved twice in one day was embarrassing enough, he didn't want her fussing over him.

"W-Where did the... that thing go?" He figured that changing the subject was the best thing he could do at the moment.

"Oh. It's dead." She wiped some of the blood off her face as she lowered her hand. "Made a big ol' mess of the place too! Thankfully no one got hurt." Her voice was slowly going back to normal, her body relaxing as the security moved in to secure the area. She offered Dawn her hand to help him up, to which he excepted and slowly stood.

"Well that's good... thanks again... for, you know... saving me... again." Dawn muttered his words while he looked down at his feet. Pitiful. Absolutely pitiful! His ego had been basically ran over today. He just wanted to go home a drink hot cocoa and huddle under a blanket.

"No problem!! I was worried about you! I'd give you a hug, but I'm covered in that things blood." Dawn turned to see a warm smile beaming at him. He thought it was incredible how calm she was, given that he had completely froze when he saw the monster. "You said everyone is ok, right?" His voice was still a bit shaky, fit he was calming down. "Oh yeah, Star-Hero was able to move them all before it attacked anyone. He even got your opponent to safety. Though... he said when he tried to snag you his 'talent' didn't work." She pressed her lips thin at this. A worker had handed her some paper towels to clean off a little, though it wasn't doing much. " You wouldn't happen to know why, would you?"

They met eyes, and Dawn could easily read the concern on her face. "No idea." He wasn't lying. He really didn't know. He had a healing talent, with a touch of prophecy, but that was it.

"Alright, I believe you." She sent him a small smile. " The old man is probably loosing his edge, you where right by that creature after all." Elaina began to walk away. "Welp! My work is done. Now it's shower time!"

Suddenly a thought came to Dawn's head. "Wait!!!"

She stopped and faced him. "How did the monster die?"

Elaina was silent a moment before she continued her exit.

"I killed it."

The smell of smoke wasn't leaving.