The Gray Area (1/2) - A Viggo Love Story (HTTYD/RTTE)

13. The Truth

Shaking her head, Sessa only became more confused. Images of her past flashed in her mind. She remembered the storm, the dragons that saved her, the village she resided in until Nightshade was grown enough to leave with her. But that was all.

The titan wing hummed as she listened to Sessa's thoughts and dug through her mind. You don't remember...you were not always scorched by the sun, she whispered.

Sessa's eyes widened, "..what?"

You made up parts of your life, in attempts of understanding them, the dragon went on slowly, you are not allergic to the sunlight. It burns you because what should filter it's holy light is missing from your being.

Realizing that Sessa was in a state fluster, Nightshade rushed over to her. She comforted her rider with a gentle nuzzle.

I only saved you that night, because you'd already tied yourself to my baby, she dragon told Sessa, watching in irritation as her child comforted the human, and the only reason you can walk today is because she's fed you life ever since you wandered into my nest, broken and weak.

Sessa squeezed her eyes shut, trying to quiet the loud words of the wise dragon, increasing in power with every word. But with them bouncing off of the walls of her head, that was impossible. "Stop," Sessa ordered with a growl.

The titan wing lifted her head high into the sky, peering down at Sessa with a brutal stare, isn't this what you wanted? You came to the only one who knew the truth, her voice boomed in Sessa's head, now you will listen to the facts.

Viggo watched the dragon raise her huge wings in emphasis. Shade fell over half of the entire island as her scales blocked out the moon and stars. Lilith looked up, sensing a storm coming in. She hissed at the sky and took off upward, catching a bolt of lightning before it could strike the ground.

Do you know why you can hear my voice? The mother asked Sessa as she covered her ears at the volume in her own head. But the dragon didn't care, because a titan wing as old as I can communicate telepathically with all dragons of their species.

Sessa's breathing became heavy, a headache pounding at her skull. You hear me now, because you took something from my child that night, the devilish dervish snarled, you took a piece of my daughter's soul, as a place holder for the one you lost.

Thunder crackled above, causing Sessa to look up. But all she saw were the eyes of the titan wing. The dragon that had taken her in, that suddenly seemed much more terrifying than in memory. Nightshade whimpered, putting a wing around Sessa protectively. The mother began to settle down, and the ringing in Sessa's head lessened.

"..I didn't know..I didn't mean to...." Sessa croaked.

The titan wing spoke in a gentler voice again, a quiet whispering hiss, but you did. What's done, is done. Now you know. The dragon backed back into the cave as rain started to drip. Now, leave me in peace.

Sessa widened her eyes. "Wait!" She shouted in a pleading tone, something that sounded foreign to herself, "how? How did I..?"

...You were too strong, she whispered, your heart refused to stop beating. The monstrous dragon looked toward the tree line, sensing Viggo's lifeform. The soul of a dragon, is not one a human can live off of for long. Soon, your strength will run out..and you will take my child with you.

Sessa felt her heart begin to pound; she didn't want to die, and she didn't want to be the reason for Nightshade's death. She looking into her dragon's eyes, the same crimson color of her mother's. The dervish looked calm and at peace, as if she'd already accepted what was bound to happen.

The titan wing sunk back into her cave, You think you save lives to make up for those you didn't. But you are only hungry for a soul that will finally fill your void. You tried to live off of Heather years ago, and now this man. But you will never be fully alive again. Caught in the gray area, between life and death, you are no more than a walking corpse.

Sessa walked a bit wobbily away from Nightshade, feeling her emotions dissipate the further she got. And she now understood why. Because without Nightshade, she had no soul and no means to feel. Once able to think clearly again, Sessa recalled how Viggo had made her feel as well. Was it possible to be alive again after all? The other human had made her feel things stronger than her dragon ever had.

She didn't want to be stuck between life and death forever. Meeting Viggo's nervous gaze from across the clearing, the world seemed to stop. The falling raindrops slowed, and memories that Sessa had lost began to return. Things from before her soul was lost to the hurricane. She moved her gaze up to where Lilith tried desperately to keep the lightning from Sessa. Viggo's voice yelled through the night, but her hearing was faded. And soon, Sessa found her vision darkening into nothing.

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Lots of character development right now for Sessa, but I promise some good romance is coming soon! ♡