The Last Theiro

39

Tessa
•••

Runaway. It's a powerful instinct, one that I have gotten used to throughout the years. But danger never felt so tempting before.

I tilted my head upwards at the barren, red sky, and felt something ignite within me. Familiar red lines ran down my arms, and, unconsciously, I stood up and began walking away from Eden.

"Tessa," he called out to me. I turned around and met his gentle brown eyes, a difference to their usual red colour. "Where are you going?" He raised an eyebrow.

Where was I going? Honestly, I didn't care about the fact that I didn't know where I was going. But what I did know was that I had to find it.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Eden furrowed his brows. "You're glowing." His fingers grazed my shoulder, then he flinched away, holding his fingers between his hands. He cursed and screwed his eyes shut.

I was breathing but the air just wouldn't go in, like my lungs were surrounded by metal bands. Next came the rising panic, the dizzy feeling, and the need to get low to the ground. My legs swayed and, just before I could hit the ground, familiar arms wrapped themselves around me.

"Sacha," I breathed and pressed my head against his chest.

Sacha cupped my cheek, a look of worry passing over his face. His cold hands were a relief against my clammy skin.

"Is she okay?" Eden asked, letting his hand drop to his side despite the blisters forming on his fingers. He inched closer but Sacha stopped him.

"Get away from her," Sacha growled as his grip on me tightened.

I wanted to tell them to stop, but time was running out. There was something I had to do. Someone I had to meet. The attraction was getting stronger by the second.

Eden narrowed his eyes and his gaze shifted to the side to focus on Reign. "What are you doing to her?"

The same lines that covered my body ran across Reign's pale skin. Her mouth was stretched into a smug smile, her hands clasped in front of her. "I did nothing. This is the work of Erebus. He's calling us. He's calling all the Theiros." Her laugh echoed throughout the forest.

I clutched onto Sacha's arm as pain surged through my head. I pressed my free hand to the gash on my forehead and gasped when it returned covered in a black liquid.

Sacha glared at Reign. "Make it stop!" He yelled. "She's hurting."

Reign shrugged. "I can't. Only Erebus can stop it." She pursed her lips. "We have to go to him."

"Hell no!" Sacha's face twitched in irritation.

I placed my hands on Sacha's cheek and turned his head so that his piercing white eyes met mine. "It's okay, Sacha. I have to go." I paused and chewed on the inside of my cheek. "I want to go there."

I couldn't describe the attraction towards Erebus. His calling was more than just that, it was an invitation to find myself.

Sacha held my hand in his and gave it a squeeze. He pressed his forehead to mine. "If I sense any danger, I'm pulling you out of there." He leaned down and pressed his lips against mine.

"Come with me," I whispered against his lips. "Please." He turned to Reign, raising his eyebrow.

She nodded her head curtly. "As long as you're wearing your personality inhibitors, you should be fine."

I smiled, knowing that with Sacha I would be safe.

Eden cleared his throat. "What about me?"

Reign clicked her tongue and glanced at Eden with an annoyed expression. "You won't make it in the Further."