Betrayal

I am running amidst the trees, a sense of dread fills me and I am running as fast as my body will allow me. The smell of smoke permeates the air and the flames turn the dark moonless sky into a disgusting shade of purple.

No... Please tell me they are ok, surely they have to be.

I turn into wolf form and run in all four, my whole body aches but I cannot stop I need to reach the hut by the lagoon. I can see the clearing now, in front of me and the smell of smoke becomes almost unbearable. As I clear the trees I am met with what I feared the most, the hut is in flames. I rush to the door and smash it open, the flames lick at my fur but I don’t pay any attention to that.

Please, let them still be alive, please Gods.

Even in their burned state, I can still make out that the furniture in the living room had been overturned and slashed by blades as if a fight had taken place in there. The door to our room is closed shut and I am unable to open it no matter how much strength I use to try and break it down.

Locked by magic! Bastards... I’ll open this door even if it’s the last thing I do.

I punch and claw the door but it won’t bulge so I decide to try the walls without any more success. My knuckles are bleeding and my head is spinning now, the fire and smoke are taking it’s toll on me and I can’t think straight anymore. I lose my senses and everything goes dark.

Next thing I know I’m on my human form lying on the wet grass next to the lagoon. The burns and the wounds on my fists have somehow been treated and are bandaged. It’s still night but the break of dawn is almost upon as the light from the sun can be faintly seen in the distance.

'You’re finally awake brother.' A familiar voice calls.

I stand up in a jump and immediately start turning but I’m almost out of energy and I cannot complete the transformation, my vision changes to that of the wolf and my nails grow larger but that’s all I can do.

'What are you doing here Gabriel?'

'Now, there’s no need to be wasting what little energy you have left brother. I’m actually the one that patched you up.' Gabriel steps out from the shadows, he’s wearing his bright white battle armour and his golden hair shines in the faint light of the dawn.

'I am no brother of yours, not anymore. Came to finish your dirty work have you? You filthy Archangels just couldn’t leave us alone could you?' I lunge at him, but my body is way too weak and the attack comes out clumsily and I trip on my own feet. Gabriel grabs me by the chest and lays me on the grass again.

'Calm down Michael!'

'Do not call me that, I have abandoned that name the day I chose to fall. My name is Sepheron.'

'I wouldn’t cling to that name either once you stop for a minute and let me speak. I had no part in this! I was on a different mission when I got the news of the attack and came as fast as I could. I was greeted to a half-dead werewolf lying amidst the flames, I was too late... I am sorry.' To my amazement his bright blue eyes fill up with tears, which he shrugs away. 'Our father ordered for the child to be killed but he was not alone. The elves brother, they gave you and your hiding place away and then joined forces to destroy the “Calamity that walks” as they call her.'

'The elves? I cannot believe your words, they always been supportive of us ever since we came here and treated us as if we were their own kind.'

'The child, Layla, was considered a menace for them and they decided you could be considered acceptable casualties. They found that you were away, but Selene...'

Selene! I remember suddenly and getting up I run to the ashes of what used to be the hut where we lived. I claw at the ashes I have to find her Please, oh Gods please let her be alive.

'Michael... She’s not there. After I saved you I managed to break down the walls to your room using some of my magic. I found her lying lifeless on the floor, there was an elvish sword on her chest. I buried her over there.” He pointed towards a spot in the middle of the trees where a makeshift cross stood “I am sorry brother, I rushed here as fast as I could but...'

I let out a howl while I fall to my knees and the tears stream down my face. I lost everything...'What about Layla? Is she dead too?'

'I could not find the child’s body. But there was a large burned down place next to Selene. Burned by a strange magic spell I couldn’t identify.'

'So maybe Layla is still alive, maybe Selene used her magic to teleport her somewhere. Please help me look for her!'

'You should recover your strength before you even moved! Please rest first and we will look for her after.'

'No... I cannot rest. I need to find her before they do.'

 

I wake up suddenly, I’m drenched in sweat and tears stream down my face. Next to me Mirkalla sleeps soundly and unaware of my sudden waking. I get up trying not to wake her up and walk outside.  I stand next to the window on my living room, outside the rain falls heavily upon the world beating hard against the window and making a loud noise that somehow seems to sooth my mind.