War of Hearts

18 - Fragrance of incense

The temple was deserted. A diffuse bluish light was beaming through the pillared alley, which made an eerie contrast with the white halo beaming from the brass sculpture on the central altar. The fragrance of incense was heavy and the sound of chimes could be heard in the distance.

The atmosphere was becoming dense and heavy and Ever moved on and stepped inside the sacred building. She kneeled on the first step and kissed the white marble floor and whispered, "God Zeus, thy daughter is here. Grant me the access into your holiness."

Ever stood up. She heard footsteps coming toward from the temple. Her palms glowed with fire; she waited for the footsteps to reach her. There was a shadow, step by step the shadow grew huge and finally it relieved itself.

The dragon was the color of the night, not a coincidence, but merely a function of his multi-chromatic skin. Its eyes were lamp-like. It walked forward, head bowed submissively until it was in striking distance. It let out a rich, low, warning growl. Ever fixed her ominous golden gaze on it. The dragon stood across from Ever, its tail quivering and bristled. The temple was silent for a short instant before he lets out a loud snarl and takes a slow, threatening, step forward, lunging for Ever without warning. It opened its mouth and exhaled a wave of fire. Ever leaped into it, stretching her hands toward it and creating a water wall, destroying the wave of fire. Before the dragon Ever took her next step, she held out both her hands and began to pressure the air around the dragon, it struggled to free itself and sent another wave of fire from its fiery mouth. Ever had to give up on pressuring the air around it and create another water wall to defend the dragon fire.

The dragon took a step backward and shook its head in several directions. I stopped its motion and sent another fire wave to Ever, this time instead of the water wall Ever too sent fire to the dragon, she settled herself in a balanced positioned and sent fire waves from her palms. At first Ever felt the confidence of defeating the dragon but eventually the dragon began to dominate, she put her maximum strength on her palms but she became hopeless once she began to feel the unbearable warm of the dragon's fire. She backed and the dragon became stronger. Ever tried to concentrate and collect her shattered strength but she felt and then suddenly she felt as if the weight on her was loosening, she felt that the dragon was backing, she felt her strength growing. She turned her head and caught Cael next to her, supporting her. He winked and smiled at her. She gave relieved smile and both of them sent a final wave burning down the dragon. With a shriek of pain, the dragon flew up into the sky with a groan of defeat.

"Thank you," she muttered, panting.

He cupped her face with his left hand, "Are you alright?"

She looked around and no sign of Julian. She got alarmed. "Where's Julian?"

Cael bit his lower lip and replied, 'He's fighting with the blood drinkers."

"Cael, how could you?" Ever roared.

He couldn't will his lips to move. He stared into her fire red eyes. He remembered what Julian told, 'Her eyes turn fire red when she's terribly angry.'

"How can he fight the blood drinkers? Have you lost your nuts? How could you, Cael?" She demanded and ran toward the direction of noise of pain and death.

Cael's mind was blank and his eyes wide as he stared at Ever in horror. "I wanted help you!" Cael shouted and followed Ever.

Ever ignored him and ran as fast as she could. Cael gripped her arm and stopped, her palm lighted up with fire.

"Ev, listen." He pulled Ever into him. "I'll go to Julian, you go for the tree of life."

She sighed in pain and anger. After all she was the queen of Angelic, she had more responsibilities, her wrong move will result the death of thousands. She weakly nodded and kissed Cael's cheek. "Save Julian," she said and the Angel wings appeared on her back, it was quick than the last time, Ever felt no pain, she felt strength. With one last glimpse at Cael, she flew toward the temple.