Touched By A Dragon

Chapter 34: Family

“…Home.” Stryker said, nodding.
He, his brother and his sister all grasped each others arms and again a black vail of smoke concealed them. Kelly squeezed her eyes closed, afraid of the darkness that dwelled within her. She felt her brothers gently squeeze her arm and she relaxed a little, still not opening her eyes. Stryker spoke.
“Kell, if you want to control the darkness you must first embrace it. You can not run from what lives in you, what lives in all of us. Don’t be afraid of yourself. If something goes wrong Mike and I can control it.” 
Mike nodded in agreement. Kelly opened her eyes, her pupils sharpened and stared at the twisting shadows that surrounded them. 
“I’m going to get Kells friend, we kinda forgot about her,” then he faced Kelly, “Is it ok if Stryker takes it from here?” 
Kelly nodded.
“I got this,” She said strongly. 
Then Mike vanished in a blinding light. Stryker turned to his sister and gave her half control. The dark dome that swirled around them separated and half of it was pulled towards Kelly then continued to swirl around them both. Stryker muttered instructions to Kelly and every now and then had to take control. It took longer to get home but it was worth it. 
When Stryker and Kelly got home they arrived at the door step of their house. Kelly collapsed from the amount of energy it took to control the darkness. Stryker was used to it so he picked up his sister a and carried her in. He didn’t think twice about entering the house. The last time he was here he was so small and so different. He didn’t know if he would be welcome back, he didn’t think so. He looked like a villain, dressed to kill with a cold heart and frightening deeds weighting on his shoulders. He shouldn’t have come but Kelly needed him. He had decided that he would take his sister and sneak her into her bed then return to the Dark realm. He snuck in through the window and lay Kelly on her bed, then he tucked her in but froze as he heard the smashing of glass behind them. 
“S-Stryker?” He heard the frail, broken voice of his mother whisper. “No, it’s probably just another dream. You’re never real. I keep hoping you’ll come back but as soon as I open my eyes again you’re gone.” She looked down at the broken glass. “Silly me, glass is expensive. I’m throwing money out of the window for ghosts of happiness and mutters or hope. You’re not real.” 
Stryker slowly turned around, his blue eyes starting to tear up. He walked over to his mother and picked up a price of glass. He took it and put it in his mother’s hand. On the verge of tears he opened his red lips and spoke in a broken voice.
“I’m really here, Mother.” 
“Am I dead?” She asked.
Stryker shook his head and hugged his frail mother. He realised how much his absence had killed his mother. 
“No, you’re alive and I’m really here. I’m never going to leave you again.” 
He cried as he held up his mother. He then sat her down and let her rest as he took care of the farm. 
When Mike turned up with Pearl, Mike put Pearl in the room with Kelly and Emerald ended up in the barn with Kelly’s dragon. Mike then helped his brother on the farm, just like when they were kids.