Chapter 176

David

David’s emotions were all over the place. He was angry, and hurt. His heart throbbed that he had just suffered yet another loss. This quest had already cost him so much, he didn’t know if he even had it in him to lose anything else. Dean, Damian and Drew had been his best friends in the entire world, and just like that, they were gone. They had abandoned him, and taken his mate with them.

He was trying to make sense of it all when he heard the smallest whisper in the back of his mind. It was so quiet he wasn’t sure he heard it all. “To return the years, face your fears.”

David turned and scanned the horizon wondering if Stormy had suddenly started to play silly head games at the behest of the others. He turned to check the path behind him, hoping maybe one of the others had changed their mind and was now following him. He originally hoped Stormy would be the voice of reason and bring the Kindred back to the cause. But David found himself alone and his heart sank even more.

As he walked, he pondered on whether or not there was any point in finishing the search for the casting for Stormy’s pendant. The prophecy talked like it was some great weapon but what good would it do if she had abandoned him. He certainly couldn’t fight this war on his own, no matter what the glowing blue stone did.

David loved Stormy. He had already given up so much to be with her. He had even turned his back on his brother, when he had betrayed her. David had stopped holding court and basically abandoned his people to help her fight this battle against a foe he knew nothing about. David had blindly turned over every part of his life and heart to her.

He had given her everything and she had just walked away after a silly argument, that meant absolutely nothing. Part of him wondered if he ever meant as much to her and she meant to him. Her sudden indifference seemed almost out of character. He wondered if he should try talking to her, before he let the weight of his circumstances completely crush him.

Indecision weighed on him till he finally spun on his heels, and began to walk back in the direction he had come from. He just wasn’t ready to give up on his mate that easily. He accepted that she might still choose to join her other mates, but at least she would have given her a clear choice.

As he walked, he noticed a silhouette in the distance. As he got closer, he realized it was her. He broke into a run, eager to have her in his arms. He began to call her name excitedly.

As soon as he reached her, David scooped her up into her arms and kissed her forehead. “I’m so sorry Sweetness. I don’t know why I got so angry. Please forgive me.” David placed Stormy back onto her feet and hugged her to him.

Stormy frowned and looked up at him. I forgive you, but the others don’t. They are all leaving. Stormy signed.

“What do you mean they are leaving? We have a war to win and a weapon to find. How can they just walk away?” David said with a voice of panic.

Stormy shrugged. They went back through the mirror. We are alone here.

David was crestfallen. Without his friends, he had no chance of fulfilling the prophecy. He felt like such a failure, their quest had completely failed.

Let’s just go home. Stormy signed. David’s shoulders slumped. He said nothing. His shoulders slumped forward and he nodded his head.

Stormy remained quiet as they walked, leaving David to his thoughts and disappointments. With each step he took away from their original purpose, the heavier his feet felt. He couldn’t help but be concerned with what his failure would mean for the world.

When they reached the mirror, Stormy ushered them through. “Shouldn’t we at least try to find the rest of the pendant? We have already come this far.” David said as he stalled near the gateway home.

Stormy just shook her head and looked sad. There’s no reason. The Kindred have left us and our quest has failed. It’s time we let go of this cockamamie scheme. We will have to find another way, Stormy discouraged him.

David couldn’t really argue with her. The prophecy has been clear that it would take all of them. But something just felt off about what she was saying. It seemed strange that she had sacrificed so much just to give up at the end.

David ground his teeth but he closed his eyes and stepped through the mirror. When he feet found solid ground again he realized he was standing in his palace but at the same time it wasn’t. The entire keep was in ruins.

David ran through the rubble calling out for his people. Bodies lay everywhere. Finally David managed to locate Argus who was struggling for air. “Shadow army,” the Green dragon whispered before he breathed his last. David roared as he held the man who had been a father to him in his arms.

He jumped to his feet and ran out into the courtyard and the gardens where he and Stormy had spent so many hours walking and spending time together. The grass had already begun to wither and the flowers had started to die. The grounds reminded him of how dead the world was while they were training. David fell to his knees. It was his greatest fear. He had failed and the world was dying. David began to sob.

He turned back to look at Stormy as she tiptoed up behind him. “We need to go back. I have to see them. I have to stop them from walking away. We must work together. The Kindred must hold and we must finish the quest.

In the back of his head, he heard that same small voice. It was the one he had easily dismissed earlier. “You may proceed.” He heard clearly.

The space around David disappeared and he was surrounded by nothing but plain white light.