Part II: Enter Zephyria, Original Fantasy Story (Chapter Six)

I wake suddenly, a pillow colliding with my head.

“Gah!” I jump up as Bella swings her fluffy weapon, just missing me.

“Mornin’, Sunshine!” she says, twiddling her fingers in a wave. She leaps at me, and the pillow smacks me on the head once more. With a shout, I am sent flying out of the tent. I land with a thud on my back, staring up at the startled looks of my travel companions. I seem to have landed at the feet of Dimitrio…

“Uh, morning!” I say with a nervous chuckle. The tent flaps burst open as the pillow flies out, which proceeds to land squarely on my face. I swipe it off and sit up as Bella hops out of the tent.

“G’morning, gents!” she chimes, leaping over me. She trots happily to the cooking fire, a broad smile beaming in my direction. Dimitrio offers me a hand, and I take it grumbling. I punt the pillow back through the canvas flaps, and walk to the fire with Dimitrio.

Breakfast is eaten in high spirits, and I manage to get a smile or two out of my melancholy friend.

Camp is packed up after the meal is done, and we are soon gliding in the skies. The wind is warm and the morning sun is bright, putting the company in a good mood.

In a few minutes, the dragons land in the golden fields. I look over to Stancileo as he climbs down the silvery dragon’s back. The knight starts talking to Disko, a confused expression on his face. I look to Cliff, who holds his head up, staring blankly alert. At Leo’s signal, we climb off the dragon. I stand by Cliff’s massive front paw, and look up at the dragon.

“What’s wrong, Cliff?” I ask him. His crimson eyes turn to me.

“The call is being issued. You human’s can’t hear it, but it’s as plain as day to Disko and I.” He turns his golden head to Stancileo. “I’m afraid we must leave you, now. There is something of importance that we must see to.” Leo nods in understanding.

“It’s okay. A few days on foot won’t kill us.”

Our gear is loaded off the dragons, and with quick farewells, they lift off into the sky.

“I wonder what that was about…” I think aloud, swinging my bag over my shoulder. I turn and trot to catch up to Dimitrio, who is already following Stancileo.

“Woah,” I breathe as I stop at his shoulder, eying the rather large battle-ax strung across his back. “Nice as.” He smirks in amusement at my awe.

“Thanks.”

“Where’d you get a weapon like that?” I ask, admiring the dark silver working. A distant look creeps into his violet eyes.

“My… father forged it.” Oop. Touchy subject. “So… your parents were Court Guard Knights?” he asks. I can take a hint, and go along with the subject change.

“Yeah,” I tell him, and Cassy skips from behind to take my hand.

“I was born in Zephyria. I found that out before I came here.”

“Am I Zephyrian?” Cassy interjects. I smile.

“No, Cass, you’re a legal American.” She furrows her dark brows and sticks out her bottom lip in disappointment.

“But I wanna be Zephyrian…” I choke down a snort. Ah, kids.

She gives a heavy sigh, and leans on my arm.

“I’m tired, Roar,” she whines.

“Already? Geez. Go bug Layo for a piggyback ride.” She likes the idea, and miraculously finds the energy to scamper up to where Stancileo and Bella are walking.

“Sorry,” I apologize, turning my head toward Dimitrio, “Siblings. God forbid you have any.” The smile slips from my face, as his expression becomes blank, cold. I have the sudden urge to take his hand, comfort his in some way. I don’t even know why. I resist the impulse, and give him a gentle smile.

“So how long have you been a Court Guard Knight?”

*******************************************************

My feet hurt. My legs hurt. By Jove, my everything hurts. Muscles I didn’t even knew I had hurt. But we’ve covered some good ground. Hoss has kept our spirits high, joking and being his clowny self. The sun is now tall in the sky, marking a bit past midday. It’s hot, but not excruciatingly so.

Dimitrio and I kept up good conversations at the beginning of the trip, but now I walk with Leo and Rozz. The shape shifter has his own rapier out, and is telling me key fighting knowledge of the slim blade. Most of it is advanced, confusing, and I just nod, trying to take it in.

“I’ve asked Rozz to teach you after we leave Maylone,” Leo tells me. I stand in the middle of the two, and I turn to Rozzio.

“Really?” I inquire. He nods, his auburn hair falling in front of his eyes.

“I’m not too good at teaching beginners. Gale’s better at that.” I nod, finally actually understanding something. I turn my head to look back at the rest of the group. Hoss is teasing Bella, to the amusement of Cassy, and Dimitrio is lagging behind them. He looks lonely. Then I notice him stumble, and my instincts tell me something’s wrong. Fatigue? Leo follows my gaze. His eyes widen. I look at him, confused, as he scans frantically around.

“Rozz, is their any ponds or streams nearby?” he asks with an undertone of urgency. Rozz doesn’t ask questions. His ears perk, and his nostrils flair.

“Yes. There’s a stream right next to us.”

“Thank you,” Layo says, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the back of the group. “Rozz, lead everyone on. We’ll catch up.” The shape shifter nods, and joins Bella, Hoss, and Cassy. “Aurora, take Dimitrio to the stream. Find a pool if you can,” he orders, and I nod. He pulls his bag from his shoulder and looks through it as I run to Dimitrio’s side. He looks horrible; clammy, disoriented, with beads of sweat streaming down his pale face. He trips, and I catch him by the arm.

“Dimitrio,” I whisper, concerned. The skin of his arm burns beneath the thin white sleeve. I put his arm over my shoulder and support him as I hobble in the direction Rozz had indicated. Sure enough, beyond the tall grasses was a swollen stream. Dimitrio leans heavily on me as I stumble toward the bank. The stream is wide, and hopefully deep. I lead him into the water until it laps at my waist. His breathing is labored. I hold him from behind, submerging him up to his chin. Layo crashes through the high wall of grass. He splashes to my side, and together we haul Dimitrio onto the grassy bank. I cradle his head on my lap as Layo pulls out a syringe-like vial.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, brushing his long damp hair out of his face. Dimitrio’s chest rises and falls quickly and unsteadily, and Layo doesn’t answer me.

“Stancileo?” I urge.

“Tilt his head back,” he tells me, with firm gentleness. I obey. Dimitrio’s eyes are dilated, with only a thin rim of violet surrounding his irises. Layo brings the syringe of golden liquid to his neck. The needle pierces his skin, and I gasp as he bares his teeth like a feral beast. Two long fangs glint from his top jaw.

“Now you know,” Lyo says as the golden liquid empties into Dimitrio’s bloodstream. His breathing slows, and his eyes gradually shift back to normal. I cradle his head closer.

“Is he…”

“A vampire, yes. He was born as one. Other than his family, you and I are the only one’s who know.” I look down at Dimitrio. He looks from Stancileo to me.

“Aurora, I’m sorry you had to see that,” he says softly.

“It’s okay,” I assure him as he dips out of consciousness. Layo places a bandage on his friend’s neck. I take a deep breath as I place my head in my hands, trying to calm myself after that fright.

“You okay?” Layo asks.

“I… was so confused,” I start, “I thought something horrible was going to happen to him. Then I find this out…” Layo places his arm around my shoulders in comfort.

“It’s the sun. Too much exposure can kill him, like a deadly poison. But we have an antidote. That liquid, it counteracts his vampiric nature. It calms his bloodlust and gives him resistance to the sun.” I stare at his pale, still face and his closed eyes.

“Now that you know, you can help me look out for him. Here,” he hands me a circular canister. I open it, to find small vials of glistening golden liquid arranged in a circle, surrounding a small syringe. I nod, and stow it in a bag on my sword belt.

“If you would wake him, please,” Layo asks. He stands, his arm sliding off of my shoulders.

“Okay,” I agree, and Layo treads beyond the grasses and beyond my sight. I give Dimitrio’s chest a gentle shake. His head falls back. His eyes are still closed, and his lips are slightly parted. The tips of his fangs poke out. How did I possible manage not to notice? I mean REALLY. I’ve always considered myself an observant person, too. So much for that.

I hesitantly rest my fingers on him smooth lips, drawing back the top one. His fangs are menacing. Each one is long, roughly and inch, I’d say, and extremely sharp. His warm breath tingles my hand as I touch one of the fangs.

And his eyes open.

I pull my hand back quickly, and I can feel my face flush.

“Sorry,” I hastily apologize as he lifts his head from my lap.

“It’s okay,” he says, his lavender eyes calm.

“I… was afraid something was going to happen to you…”

“Aurora, everything’s-“

“I had no idea what was going on with you!”

“Everything’s okay now-“

“I was so scared that-“

“Aurora,” Dimitrio interrupts, taking my face between his hands, “it’s okay. I’m fine now.” He brushes away the tears that had found their way down my cheeks. I sniffle, and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him close. He holds me.

“It’s okay,” Dimitrio whispers, “It’s okay.” Emotion overwhelms me at the sound of his calm voice, the way he holds me, the way he smoothes down my hair.

Am I… in love?

“Come on. We have to catch up with the others.” I nod in response as Dimitrio releases me. He helps me to my feet, and we set out to find Layo. Our redheaded friend is waiting for us. He hands me my bag that I had thrown out of the way.

“I’m sorry,” Stancileo starts, as we begin to follow the path of our company, “I wasn’t paying close enough attention. I should have know with all the exposure-”

“It’s fine. Don’t blame yourself, Stan,” Dimitrio assures him. Layo nods in understanding.

“Thanks, Aurora,” Stancileo says, “It would have been harder without you.”

“No problem,” I tell him, turning my head in his direction. “How far ahead do you think the others are?” I ask. Layo breathes in slowly through his nose, thinking.

“Not far. We didn’t take a terribly long time. We’ll meet up with them at Gale’s, actually. We’re not that far.”

“We might have to sleep under the stars for a night, though. We’re not that close, wither,” Dimitrio adds, glancing at the rapidly setting sun.

“You’re probably right. You wouldn’t mind, would you, Roar?” Layo asks me.

“Not at all. You have no idea how tired I am.”