LoS: Dark Love: Ch 10

Marks of the past


"If there is need for us then just say so, but until then please just leave us in peace" said Gairu tiredly and turned around to walk back into the cave, his tail dragging limply across the ground.

"How long are you two going too sob in your cave?! Go find Meltor and kick his ass or at the very least support purple mister and his mate! " yelled Jacira irritated at Gairu´s back.

"I hope things work out for Spyro and Cynder during these times, but we cannot support anyone when we cannot even support ourselves" said Tehanu with a similarly tired and sad note in her voice and also turned around and walked back into the cave.

"Don't just turn your back upon the world! You got to…" started Jacira again and looked at Vynin for support, but Vynin simply shook her head and the dragonfly fell silent mid sentence.

"It is no use, Jacira" said Vynin saddened at the outcome.

Vynin had decided to visit Gairu and Tehanu to bring them the news about Demetrius. She had hoped that the knowledge that a new threat was looming would rouse them at least some from their grief following their un hatched first child's death two months earlier.

But it had not worked. She had told them the story and she thought she had seen just a small flicker of interest and anger in their eyes, but in the end it had died as fast as it had appeared.

"I guess there is nothing short of bringing Meltor to their cave that will rouse them" said Vynin with a great sigh and turned around to walk away from the cave.

"Then let us do that, let's go kick that slimy red bastard right where it hurts the most" exclaimed Jacira enthusiastically as she flew after Vynin.

"Believe me I would break every bone in his body, one after the other if just I knew where he was" said Vynin feeling the hate towards Meltor burning in her chest. "But that is the problem, we don't know where he is."

Vynin was just about to take too the air when she looked up and saw a blue dragon descending towards her. Soon the dragon landed in front of her and immediately bowed its head in greeting.
"Hello Vynin and Jacira" said Sceranu with a smile.

"Sceranu?" asked Vynin surprised.

Before any of them had time to continue, Jacira flew forward and hovered in front of Sceranu´s head, staring him into the eyes. "Sceranu?" she said slowly brushing her chin as if trying to remember something. "Damn it, you dragons all look alike to me, except for the color" continued Jacira apparently thoughtful.

Sceranu opened his mouth to tell her who he was, but before a single word left his mouth Jacira flew forward and punched him between the eyes. It did not hurt much, but it still made Sceranu let out a small startled roar and draw backwards.

"That was all for now, but don't think it will be all. I never really got to give you back for almost killing me and Vynin so you better watch out!" exclaimed Jacira angrily.

Vynin smiled at Jacira, she also remembered the unfortunate first meeting between her and Sceranu and though it was some time ago now and many things had changed, she could not blame Jacira for still being a bit hot headed about it.

"What brings you here?" asked Vynin turning her attention back to the blue dragon.

"Meltor  has been spotted in the company of Demetrius near the black tower in the crystal fields. I am on my way to Warfang to report it and decided to also warn Spyro and Cynder as well as Gairu and Tehanu" told Sceranu quickly.

"He is with Demetrius? That is not good, not good at all" responded Vynin her face darkening.
"Who cares who he is with! We know where he is now let´s go kick his ass" said Jacira with enthusiasm and conjured up her armor and spear.

"We don't know where he is, only where he was spotted" said Vynin quickly before Jacira flew off in excitement.

"Oh yeah" said Jacira and relaxed, her armor and spear disappearing.

Vynin looked at Sceranu, who had watched the scene with a small smile, and said "This is grave news even if I don't quite know what it means for the future. I will tell it to Gairu and Tehanu so you can get to Warfang."

Vynin turned around to walk back to the cave, expecting to hear Sceranu fly off.

"Wait" said Sceranu.

Vynin turned around.

"I not only came to tell this too Gairu and Tehanu, I also came because I hoped to meet you. I never got to thank you" said Sceranu.

"Thank me?" Asked Vynin in confusion.

"You know for the things you told me while I was your prisoner, it was mostly your words that made me doubt the righteousness of the Council. Things happened too quickly though and I never really had a chance to thank you. So, thank you" said Sceranu with a smile.

"That was nothing, really. I should thank you for helping us and not the other way around" replied Vynin with a smile.

"I still felt it was important for me to say. But I must be off now" answered Sceranu and turned around and spread his wings to prepare to leap into the air.

As he spread his wings Vynin saw several burn marks in his flanks. She had not seen it before because his wings had hidden them and because they were quite light, blending in with the scales and becoming almost invisible when not viewed from close range.

Vynin knew Sceranu had gotten the marks from his confrontation with Meltor when he had tried to retrieve Gairu and Tehanu´s egg and now they served as a grim reminder of the atrocities Meltor had committed.

"You quite the beautiful dragoness Vynin" said Sceranu just before he took.

Vynin who had been distracted by the burn marks, only just barely registered this last comment and she blushed slightly when she finally registered it. By then Sceranu was too far away for her to reply however.

"Hey snap out of it" exclaimed Jacira suddenly next to her. "We need to tell Gairu and Tehanu what has happened."

"Yeah right, I was just lost in my own thoughts" said Vynin quickly and walked towards Gairu and Tehanu´s cave with Jacira hovering near her.

Back on the plateau, Spyro and Cynder were taking an afternoon nap. But Cynder was not sleeping peacefully. Returning memories plagued her dreams and made her trash about and cry out in her sleep.

Spyro was woken by her movement and drowsily opened his eyes. But his drowsiness only lasted until he registered Cynder´s movements and sounds. At that moment he became wide awake and quickly began shaking her to wake her up.

"Cynder wake up!" he yelled, but Cynder did not wake up and her cries were becoming louder. Spyro felt a sting of desperation, but quickly calmed himself, panicking would do him no good. Drawing in his breath, he breathed an icy cold wind into Cynder´s face.

Cynder´s eyes flung open and she stopped moving. For several seconds she lay on the plateau breathing heavily.

"Cynder are you okay?" asked Spyro nervously.

Cynder did not answer and instead started crying.

Spyro lay down beside her, put his wing across her back and began nuzzling her gently. "Everything is okay, I am here my love" he said reassuring.

Slowly Cynder stopped crying and pressed herself against Spyro.

"What happened?" asked Spyro gently, but also fearful.

"I…I…I saw Demetrius. He was wounded…I had wounded him. He…he was lying on the floor in front of me and he was trying to get back on his feet to defend our egg. He…he asked me why I was attacking him, his eyes…he was confused, afraid, but mostly sad. But I felt no pity on him, not even the slightest feeling, I was…I was my evil self through and through" told Cynder staggering at first, but with greater control as she continued "But even in all my darkness and evil I could not kill him or destroy our egg, I still felt something for him. Instead I…I did something with a dark crystal. Placing it against Demetrius scales I surrounded him with dark energy and I did the same too the egg and then…then nothing…I remember nothing more. What did I do to him Spyro?!"

"I do not know my dear and it does not matter. You are not your evil self anymore, you cannot be held responsible for what you did" said Spyro.

"I know, but it still weighs on my mind and heart like a rock. I cannot forget what I once did, just as I can't forget Demetrius or the child I had with him. The look on his face as I fought him, the way he called my name trying to get through to me, it is all clear in my mind" exclaimed Cynder in desperation and sadness.

She looked like she was about to cry again and Spyro gently kissed her cheek. It made Cynder calm down some and they just huddled together for a moment.

Suddenly Cynder spoke again, completely calm this time. "Spyro, I want to talk to Demetrius again, I want to apologize to him, to tell him that I still love him, but that I love you more. He has to understand I will never again be with him or he might never leave us in peace. Also I need to know what happened, what I did and most of all I want to know what happened to our child."

Spyro looked at her questionably. "Even if you tell him that there is every chance he will try to take over the world without you. We might still have to fight him" he said slowly.

"If he threatens our family, our friends or our world then I will fight him without mercy, but until then I don't think I have it in me to hurt him" said Cynder and Spyro could see the determination shinning in her eyes.

"Are you certain this is what you want?" asked Spyro despite already knowing what she would answer.

"I won't be able to find peace until I talk to him at least one more time" said Cynder.

Spyro turned his head away. She had made her choice even if he was scared at what might happen if she went to see Demetrius alone. Suddenly however he felt he lips against his cheek and turned his head towards her in surprise.

"I am not so stupid as to go alone to him alone, I want you by my side in this my love" said Cynder with a small smile.

Spyro instantly gave a great sigh of relief and also smiled. Slowly they kissed each other, before going back to sleep. When and where they were going to meet Demetrius could wait, it did not matter, yet.