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Avianna stood behind me, her robes fluttering in the wind of the black portal. Twisting her gorgeous hair into a side bun. Tying Dackworth to my back, her elbow hooked around mine. Tommy leapt onto my shoulder, Sir Acorn taking the day off because of a cold. Luna bounced up to my side, Darwin choosing to stay behind to watch Mishal with his father.
“I guess it is a girl’s day today.” I joked with a bright smile, Luna hooking her elbow around my other arm. “If I tell you to run to safety, you need to go." Nodding simply, confusion dawned in her eyes the moment as I pressed a worn hunting knife into her palm.
“This is just in case.” I informed her briskly, watching her tuck it into the belt of her lilac cotton dress. Marching forward, both of them yelped at the portal sealing shut. A black and white scene greeted us, cherry blossoms danced across the sky. A chill ran up my spine, storm clouds rumbled over my head. A white tiger bounded towards us, ruby eyes glittered with malice. Leaping into the air, my quaking hands untied Dackworth. Stepping in front of them, the tiger skidded to a halt. His massive body slid into my legs, his energy screamed of a familiar aura.
“My master has been trapped by a monster with a black heart.” A deep male voice thundered, the ground shaking with each word. “I need your help. His reputation has been tainted. Oh forgive me. I am Matsy. My master is Amastsu, the Japanese god of destruction and chaos. Don’t worry, he has retired from destroying things.” Patting his head, a low purr rumbled from his throat. Tommy rolled his eyes, his tail twitching with a bit of jealousy.
“I have no problem rescuing him.” I assured him, his head snuggled into my palm. “Where is your body of water?” Confusion dawned on his face, his fangs hanging over his lips. Jumping on me, his large head was inches from mine. His handsomeness stole my breath away, his black stripes fluttering in the breeze.
“We don’t have water but a midnight black marble castle that appeared out of nowhere.” He explained urgently, his paws smashing against my chest. “Help me!” My breath was knocked out of me, a coughing fit wracked my body. Cupping his face, his thick whiskers poked out from in between my fingers.
“I said that I would help, please let me.” I sighed, kissing the top of his head. “Do you mind leading the way? I believe that he turned over a new leaf if everyone else had refused to help you. I look forward to making a new friend.” His rough tongue licked my face, my ears flattening. Wiping his spit off of my face, Tommy hissed in my ear. Shooting him a death glare, he shrank back. Setting Matsy down, his tail wagged. Petting Tommy’s head, his head rubbed up against my face. Now he was claiming his stake on me, a loud purr echoing in my ear. Silence hung between us as our feet crunched down a hidden path, his white paw held us back. Muddy sludge creatures crept forward, his paws lowering us underneath the bench.
“Those creatures are everywhere.” He exhaled with narrowed eyes, a pensiveness resting in his features. “Maybe you can figure it out.” Ribbons of water swirled around my arms, a simple flick of my wrist creating a wave Snapping my fingers, it crashed into the creatures. Melting into puddles, protests erupted behind me as I leapt over the bench. Dread bubbled in my gut at the creatures rising from the ground, my scythe spinning over my head. Water can freeze, Dackworth getting the message. Ice spread underneath my boots, Luna stepping back. Cracking echoed in the still air, icy roses bloomed around them. Spinning my scythe over my head, my left palm halted it. The petals closed up, a single swing shattering them into tiny pieces. Clammy sweat soaked my skin, my nose beginning to bleed. Wiping the blood away, my tail twitched irritably. Watching the pieces of ice fall, another batch of creatures sprinted towards us.
“Avianna, can you combine your metal feathers with a bit of my ice?” I asked with a bright smile, Matsy choosing to sit in front of Luna for me. Leaping into the air, she brandished her blade. Raising it above her head, metal feathers glinted in the white sunlight. Lowering my scythe to my side, Avianna watched on with curiosity at my raised left hand. Ice devoured her feathers, our hands lowering at the same time. A hellish rain of icy metal feathers pierced the creatures, more ice shards flying our way. Shooting me a thumbs up, her smile made it all worth it. Chuckling lightly to myself, her excited embrace ripped me off the dark pathway. Spinning me around, an opportunity for us to move ahead presented itself. Whistling for our friends to come, my breath hitched as Matsy leapt over us with Luna on his back, his fur fluttering in the breeze. Landing gracefully in front of us, Avianna and I kept our feathers up in case another batch of creatures popped up. Running next to each other, the feathers cleared a pathway to the castle, Matsy stepped back. Curling into a ball, tears swam in his eyes. Crouching down to his level, a sigh escaped his lips. Tommy slapped the back of my head, horror widening my eyes. Rows of the mud creatures blocked the entrance, a plan forming in my head.
“I understand you want to comfort him but we have to move now.” He warned me, his tail twitching. Rolling my eyes, my finger lifted up Matsy’s chin. Wiping away his tears, I needed him to protect Luna. Ruffling his fur, he needed to hear the right words.
“Take Luna away from here. You got us here, my dear friend.” I comforted him serenely, Tommy tapping my shoulder. “If you don’t cut the crap, I am going to feed you to the monsters. Don’t you agree, Dackworth?” His wicked laughter rumbled in the air, Tommy hissing in my ear. Struggling to his feet, his forehead pressed against the worn pathway.
“I will do my best, your majesty.” He purred with a wide grin. “Are you ready, wolf child?” Hopping onto his back, Luna kissed the top of his head. They leapt into the treeline, her curls were the last thing I saw. Turning back to Avianna, her wings burst from her back.
“Climb on, Lottie!” She sang, yanking me on before I could answer. “Hang on tight, you are about to taste the freedom of flying. Tucking Tommy into the front of my silver silk dress, his head popped out. His fur tickled my skin, the sweetheart neckline gave him plenty of room to breathe. Kicking off of the pathway, a bright smile oozed freedom. My ears and tail fluttered in the wind, my fingers tracing her wings. Flying higher into the dimension, panic coursed through my mind at the sight of the army hunting down Matsy, and Luna. Aiming my scythe in that direction, a blast of ice demolished them in seconds. Circling the tallest tower, a blast of energy knocked me off her. Musty air lashed at my skin, a dome of energy deflecting Avianna. Catching the nearest flagpole, she attempted to get to me with a look of desperation.
“Go protect Luna and Matsy!” I boldly ordered her, a single tear streaming down her cheek. Truth was that I didn’t have this, the world not allowing me to have one simple solace. Watching her tail flutter away woke up my fears again. Shaking it off, now wasn’t the time for my PTSD to make its glorious return. Swinging my body towards the open window, a wave of relief washed over me the moment I landed clumsily onto the sleek ivory marble floor. A trap door swung open, a steady stream of curse words flooded from my lips with each passing second. Crashing onto a stone floor, my body rolled into a black iron cage. A shadowy humanoid figure leaned out of the bars, his ruby eyes gazing upon me with a head tilt. Groaning to myself, Dackworth began to chastise me for not moving my aching body. He wasn’t the one who fell down god knows how many floors, Tommy stretching over my face. My assistants could be so annoying at times, my eyebrow twitching with agitation.
“I am Amatsu, the god you are attempting to rescue.” He teased lightly, a row of white fangs unsettling me. “The key is over there.” Pointing to the wall, a shrill shriek shook us both to the core. Rushing over to the wall, my hand tossed him the key. Unlocking the door himself, a curious glint caught my eyes. Circling me three times, his shape shifted to a shadowy version of mine before reverting back to his original form. Tapping on his chin, a large pile of mud slid down the stairs. A flick of his wrists sent large pieces of marble tumbling from the the ceiling
“Why can’t I copy you?” He growled, lifting up the bell sleeve of my dress. “The tattoo makes sense. I see you have met one of my daughters.” Quivering in place, my body refused to move. Shaking my head, my breathing grew labored. None of this was okay, the tears streaming from my eyes.
“You need to snap out of it if you want to beat this heart.” He continued desperately, shaking my shoulders. “What happened to you to bring you to this moment?” Unable to talk, the words refused to come to my lips. Clammy sweat dripped off the corner of my brow, my hand clutching my aching chest. Dropping to my knees, the busted face of Scarlet flashed in my eyes. The last look of disappointment from Mina haunted me, my world crashing down around me. Ice spread like the sea underneath me, the creature’s screams torturing my ears.
“Stop it!” I cried out, clutching the sides of my head. “Everything is too loud!” Another image of the dead Scarlet brought my face to the ice, my tears turning to icicles. Words faded in and out of my ears, the door clattering to the floor. The mud creature was seconds from devouring him, time stopping. Thump! My heart couldn’t beat any harder, the drumming getting louder by the second. Pressing my palms to the ice, blue flames devoured the creature. Unable to look away, the flames illuminated the shadows of my nightmare. Scarlet’s face kept appearing in the flames, thousands of screams echoing in my ears. Blood poured from my eyes and ears, the heart rolling to my palm. Holding the still beating heart in my palm, Amatsu crawled over to me. Curling his hand around mine, tears welled up in his eyes as he closed my quaking hand. The flames burnt it to ash, his head resting against my shoulder. Matsy jumped down the trap door, his courage enough to stun anyone. Luna slammed into my body, the tiger covering us all with his body as the castle crumbled around us. A dome protected us from the chaos, Amatsu’s tears soaking my dress. Embracing him , Luna squirmed her way into my arms. Unable to shake the anxiety away, the feeling of her curls snapped me back to reality. I needed help. Glancing around, the sea of light pink cherry blossoms calmed my fraying nerves. Amatsu glanced over my shoulder, a smile dimming his features. Matsy knocked him to the ground, his tongue licking his master’s face. Tommy twirled his tail around my neck, his voice unsettling me.
“I don’t know what you went through but I have never met somebody in that much pain. You need help.” He sighed brokenly, snuggling his head into the nape of my neck. He wasn’t wrong, a small gasp of wonder pouring from my quivering lips. Avianna skipped up to us, her hair hanging like a curtain around her face.
“I want you all to see something.” She announced, spinning around. “Come along.” Helping me up, Tommy curled his body around my neck. Luna took my shaking hand, her lips brushing against the top. Following her to an empty circle, a golden egg twitched in the center of the circle. A small crack appeared along the smooth surface, a scarlet claw bursting through. Squeals rang out, the rest of the shell clattered to the dirt. Covering my mouth, a baby scarlet dragon sat on its behind. Golden eyes fell upon me, the next words shattering my heart while healing it.
“Momma!” A high pitched voice cried out, its arms reaching for me. Falling to my knees, the dragon crawled over to me. Cupping my face, the golden nubs tickled my cheeks. Unsure of what to do, Amatsu grabbed my shoulder.
“I may be the God of Chaos but I know how to help a friend when they need it. He isn’t Scarlet but the egg he asked me to guard. His mother had died, so the egg couldn’t hatch. The other dragons attempted to eat it.” He explained calmly, the dragon reaching for me. “He said one day a queen would come and wake him up. Are you going to pick him up?” Nodding with a shaking smile, my arms scooped him up. Unable to control my emotions, teardrops soaked his scales. Scarlet had left his son to me, my duty to him was to raise his son to be the best he could be.
“How does the name Helios sound?” I sobbed violently, kissing his forehead. “That is the god of Sun because you brought the sunlight back into my life. I promise with my life to take care of you for your father, the most wonderful king. Golden wings unfolded from his back, the golden spikes lining his back poking my hands. Unable to let go, this was the gift I needed. Mouthing thank you to the sky, his warmth bathed me one last time.
“Helios?” His voice repeated, my genuine smile brightening my features. “Momma wants to call me Helios?” Kissing his forehead feverishly, the guilt I felt had faded a bit. This was my chance to make it up to his father. A deep blush colored his cheeks, time slowing to a stop. An invisible bond formed between us, his claw pressing against my palm. An inky dragon flew up my arm, settling down around the rose tattoo. Smiling warmly to myself, our bond was secure.
“That’s right.” I cooed softly, rocking him back and forth. “Helios is your name.” Snuggling his head into my chest, Tommy gazed lovingly down at the two of us. Tucking him into my hood, he played with my hair. Shaking Amatsu's hand, confusion dawned on his face.
“I can’t thank you enough for this gift. I have been tortured for so long with the memory of his death.” I blubbered, his arms pulling me in for a warm embrace. How dare people judge this guy when he gave me something most people couldn’t. Struggling to my feet, nothing needed to be said between us.
“I am always here if you need me, your majesty.” He assured me with a wink. “I can hear your train coming.” A train whistle echoed in the distance, my hand shifting around my boot. Wrapping my hands around an emerald compact mirror, he stepped back as I dropped it into his palm. Attempting to return it, I cupped his hands around it.
“You can call me anytime. How about when this is over I will come by once a month.” I urged, wiping away my tears with my free hand. “I want you to know that you have a friend with me. I am sorry for your partial loss.” Hugging him one last time, Emmy’s train pulled into the dimension. Zora yanked us onto the train, Luna and Avianna jumping onto the bed. Throwing the blanket over their bodies, sweet slumber stole them away. Bouncing away, Emmy and her chatted away. Laying down on the floor, Helios climbed onto my chest. Curling into a ball, Tommy laid down on top of him. A bond of friendship has formed between them as they passed out on my chest. Petting their bodies, a sense of euphoria washed over me. Zora laid down next to me, her pure features melted my heart. Leaning on her arm, she patted both of my familiars.
“I have seen that smile in a long time.” She chirped cheerfully, poking my nose. “Whose the little flame thrower?” Chuckling softly to myself, her ability to read me knew no bounds. Parting my lips to speak, Emmy stood over me. Waving at me, he offered me a bag of cookies. Accepting them graciously, he knelt down to ruffle my hair.
“I have to run the train but your new pets are adorable.” He teased blithely, skipping off. Zora clasped my hand, a secret brewing on the tip of her tongue. Moving closer, she cupped my ear.
“I think I like Emmy.” She admitted sheepishly, her squeal nearly bursting my eardrums. Poking her nose, she rolled onto her back. True bliss showed in her features, my fingers snapping. An emerald rose with a golden stem rested in my palm, curiosity glinting in her eyes.
“Give him this.” I suggested with a wink, exhaustion weighing on my eyelids about as heavily as my new familiars were at the moment. “I am going to take a nap. It’s been a while since I have slept.” Jumping to her feet, she spun around. Mouthing thank you, she skipped out of the room. Rolling to my side, they barely moved as I wrapped my body around theirs. Sweet slumber stole me away, good dreams blessing me with their gentle kiss.
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