#nr 7

Reiken slowly made his way back to the mountains.  It was cold, freezing.  He wrapped his arms around himself.  For a moment he wanted to use his power to heat himself up, but his wrist throbbed from the bracelet warning him that he'd used too much power.  

He looked down at the ground as he slowly walked on the hunting trail.  It was going to take him a few hours before he'll be back to his cottage.  

Tired and exhausted, Reiken kept on walking.  His feet dragged slightly.  Half way back to the cottage, it started raining.  

Ignoring the rain, Reiken kept on moving.  He started shivering as he walked, the rain soaking him through and through.  His progress slowed down to a crawl.  

He was having trouble keeping his eyes open.  

As he stumbled, sinking down onto the ground.  He wrapped his arms around himself, just staying there on the ground, just gasping, staring down at the rain that fell on the ground.

As he just stayed there, he felt empty and alone and just ready to give up on everything.  

His head hurt so badly.

Home....  He wanted to go home.  The exhaustion made him feel even worse than before.  

His vision darkened around the edges.  

Clenching his jaw, he struggled to get back onto his feet.  The world turned and he stumbled, almost falling over.  He caught himself on one of the trees, gasping softly as he just stood there.

Reiken gasped for breath.  

He slowly pushed himself away from the tree and started stumbling down the hunting trail.  

It barely took a few minutes, before Reiken collapsed to the ground again.  He just lay there, exhausted, unable to force himself to get and keep moving.  The rain kept on falling around him.  

Slowly Reiken started to fade.  

As he started to come back, the darkness lifted.  He could hear the sounds of animals...

No, that was the sound of demons howling.  

He forced himself to open his eyes.  

It took him a moment before he realized that the rain has stopped.  A cold wind blew, making him shiver and shake.  

Slowly he pushed himself up.  His arms trembled as he got up.  The screams and howls of the demons were coming closer and closer.  This was bad.  He needed to get up.  If the demons found him there on the ground, they'd rip him apart.

With shaking legs he started moving again.  

The sound of the demons came closer.  

Reiken clenched his jaw as he drew his sai daggers.  His hands trembled as water dripped from his hair.  

It took a while before he managed to figure out where the demons were coming from.  He froze where he stood.  It sounded like they were making their way towards the village.  

He couldn't allow them to go there.  

Clenching his jaw, he started running towards the village.  He gasped as he ran, the edges of his vision going in and out of focus.  If he had to fight, he wasn't sure he'd be able to do it.  

But he'll be damned if he lets the demons attack the people.  

He reached for his power, allowing the wind to help him move faster.  

When he reached the edge of the village he stopped.  He gasped for breath, eyes searching for where the demons might be.

It took a while before he managed to find the demons.  There were already some of them in the village.  He felt his heart sinking.  Immediately he ran towards the village.  He could feel the bracelet around his wrist burning again.  

As he entered the village, the first thing he saw was one of the demons stalking one of the villagers.  

Reiken clenched his jaw against the pain in his wrist.  He reached for his power.  Fire leapt up around his hand.  With a shout, he launched at the demon.  

He grabbed the demon, the fires around his hands burning the creature.  A high pitched scream sounded from the demon as it was thrown away from the villager.  

Immediately his power flickered out and he sank to his knees wheezing, gasping for breath.  

"Run..." he whispered to the villagers, he did not recognize the person "...Go....  run away...."

The person stumbled, before turning and running away.  

Reiken took a deep breath, as he turned, looking around.  The rain started falling again, making him shiver.  

He bit his lip as he looked for the rest of the demons.  

It didn't take him very long before he managed to get rid of all of the demons coming down from the mountain.  It was strange that the demons were coming down.  They usually wouldn't do it so quickly or so suddenly. 

As he killed the last of the demons, he sank down to the ground, trying to catch his breath. 

This was bad. 

He did not have the energy left to move, but he wanted to go back home.  He wanted to go to the cottage. 

Slowly he got back onto his feet.  For a moment he swayed slightly.  Then he started stumbling forward, heading towards the trail up the mountain.  All he could focus on was putting one foot in front of the other.

The Priest's words echoed in his mind.  

He was an exile.  He shouldn't be at the village.  They don't need him.  He was just a...  an exile.  He didn't deserve all of the kindness they've shown him.

Slowly he started up the road.  

He barely made it two steps, before his knees buckled and crumbled to the ground.  

He just lay there on the ground, barely conscious.  He was barely aware of the rain that fell around him.  Slowly he started to fade, closing his eyes.  He did not have any strength left anymore.  

Voices reached him, but he couldn't make out what was being said.  

He ignored the voices, letting the darkness take him. There was no reason for him to keep on fighting to stay awake. 

***

Reiken slowly started opening his eyes.  

Surprisingly enough he stared up at the ceiling.  He wasn't sure where he was, since he did not recognize the place.  

Wincing, he slowly sat up.  

Immediately his body complained about the movement.  He pushed the pain to the back of his mind.  

Before he managed to make his way to the door, it opened.

Gruen peered into the room, his eyes widened slightly as he noticed Reiken on his feet. 

"Wow.... hold on there..." he said quickly, stepping into the room "What are you doing?"

Reiken flinched and stared at Gruen.

Behind Gruen, Hein also came into the room.  

For a moment Reiken just stared at the two, before his knees buckled and he crumbled to the ground.

Gruen cussed as he shot forward, trying to catch Reiken.  He managed to stop him from hitting his head.  Hein immediately came to help.  Carefully the two of them lifted Reiken onto the bed.  

Hein placed his hand against Reiken's forehead.  "Shit... his fever is back" he said.

Reiken whimpered softly, his eyes flickering open for a moment, looking confused.  

"Rei... It's alright... we're here....  You're not alone" Gruen said before nodding to Hein "Get the girls...  Tell them to bring the medicine and some cool water"

Hein nodded.  "I'll get some extra blankets as well," he said, before leaving the room.

Gruen turned back to Reiken.  "Rei....  We found you outside the village, bleeding and unconscious" he said "Just take it easy...  We'll take care of you.  So don't worry about it"

Reiken slowly turned his head towards Gruen, his vision slipped out of focus as he shivered.

"...Sorry..." he whispered.  

"It's alright..." Gruen said.

After a few more minutes, Hein, Leia and Saffron came into the room.  

"Hey...  You're awake" Leia said quickly walking over to the bed.  

Saffron and Hein carried the medicine and a bowl with water.  

Reiken jumped slightly, but did not have the energy to move.  He just stared at them, confused.  

Quickly Hein went through the medicine before mixing some in a cup.  "Here...  help him drink this.." he said "It should help with with the fever"

Leia took the cup, as Gruen helped Reiken to sit up.  

Reiken slowly drank the medicine, coughing softly before Gruen let him lay back down.  Immediately Leia placed the cool cloth on Reiken's forehead.  

Saffron gently took Reiken's hand as she started replacing the bandage around his wrist.  The burns looked terrible, but treatable.  The rest of his injuries were cuts and bruises and bites.  

All of them were from the demons.  

"You're going to be alright" Hein said "We're here...  We wouldn't let you be alone now..."

Reiken's eyes flickered open for a moment.  A slight smile formed on his face, before he fainted again.

Bell opened the door and walked over to where Kade sat on the bed.  There was still bandages over both his eyes.  

He was pale and barely said a word to anyone.  

“Key?” Bell said softly as she walked up to him, sitting down on the bed.  

He nodded, turning his head towards her.  “Bella?” he said quietly, wringing his hands together.

Bell smiled and brushed his hair back.  It’s grown longer than before, hiding his face slightly.  “How are you feeling today?” she asked softly, keeping her voice down, not to make him uncomfortable.  

“My head hurts” Kade said quietly.

“Did you tell the doctor?”

Kade shook his head slightly.  

“Why not?”

“They are to loud...” Kade muttered, flinching when the door opened.  

Bell looked over before turning her attention back to Kade, putting her hand against his cheek.  “It’s the doctor, Key” she said gently, “They are taking the bandages of today...  Remember?”

Kade nodded slightly.  “I remember” he said, before hesitating “Did... find Vynal again?”

“I’m sorry Kay” Bell said “But after he healed you, he was called away”

The doctor walked over and stopped next to the bed.  “How are you feeling today, Mister Delroy?” he asked as he started going through Kade’s file and checking his vitals.  

Kade just stayed motionless as the man worked. 

“Are you ready for the bandages to come off?” the doctor asked. 

“Yeah, whatever” Kade said.  

The doctor nodded and slowly started taking the bandages of.  Kade’s hands clenched into fists, but he did not stop.  As the bandages fell away, Kade just kept his eyes closed.  

There was a white scare going over his right eye.  It covered his entire eye, going slightly up towards his forehead and down to his cheek bone.  The eye was a pale barely noticeable green when it was open.  They’ve seen it before.  

“Open your eyes, Mister Delroy” the doctor said.  

Slowly Kade opened his eyes.  Immediately he noticed the difference in his sight.  

“Follow the light” the doctor said.

Kade barely reacted, he could notice the light out of the corner of his eye, but that was it.  The moment the doctor shone his pen light into Kade’s other eye, his hissed and pulled away.  His shadows surged.  

Bell quickly got up and pulled the curtains closed.  

Kade pressed his hands over his eyes.  “Don’t!” he snapped.

The doctor pulled back and nodded.  “We will do an examination later today” he said “To make sure that everything is alright, before releasing you”

bell frowned at the man.  “You are going to release him?” she asked shocked “It’s only been a day!  How can you know that he’s alright?”

“We don’t have to time to take care of patients that don’t belong in the hospital” the man said before turning and leaving the room.

Bell clenched her hands into fists.  “Those bastards...” she snapped.

Kade closed his eyes for a moment.  “It’s alright” he said “I’m used to it”

“Well you should have to be” Bell said “Come on...  Do you want to go back to the dorms?”

“Why not...” Kade muttered “It’s not like anyone will be of help here”

Bell sighed.

Kade slowly got to his feet.  For a moment he swayed slightly, before catching the bed, so until his balance returned.  

“Kay...” Bell said softly “Are you sure?”

“I’m not staying here” he said stubbornly.

Bell sighed and nodded.  “Alright” she said gently “Let’s go home”

Before they could start moving, the door opened again and Killian walked into the room.  The other guy blinked at Kade and Bell before he sighed.  

“What are you doing?” he asked as he walked over.

“Going back to the dorms” Bell said with an annoyed expression “The doctors are being assholes again”

Killian sighed and nodded.  “Alright, let’s go then” he said.

Kade slowly walked over to Killian, he almost looked slightly off balance.  Killian placed a hand on his shoulder. 

“Are you sure about this?” he asked.  

Kade just nodded, looking down at the ground.  “I don’t want to be here, Kill” he said “They make the lights to bright and there’s to much noise...”

Killian sighed and nodded.  “Alright... Let’s go then”

They left the room.  Killian stayed next to Kade, to make sure his friend didn’t walk into anything, since it didn’t look like he was paying much attention to anything around him. 

And twice he walked into something that he did not see on his right side.  

“I can feel them staring...” Kade muttered, lifting his head, narrowing his eyes at the next group of people that stared at him.

Killian sighed and shook his head.  “You are a terror” he said “They are staring, because you are walking around in PJ’s.  That’s why”

Kade grumbled under his breath.  “If I want to walk around like that, it’s none of their business” he said “They should just go away”

“You’re an idiot”

“And you are annoying”

“Dumbass”

“That’s enough you two” Bell said, putting a hand on each of their shoulders “Cut it out...  Kay, we need to stop at the pharmacy to get your medicine”

Kade cussed.  “I don’t like the medicine....  It makes me feel numb” he said.

“You have to drink it, Kay” Bell said gently.

“I know...” Kade said.

They slowly made their way to the pharmacy, got the medicine and started to head back to the dorms.  

As they walked Kade’s breathing started to speed up, his started blinking rapidly at the bright lights of the hospital, the sound bombarded his mind, making the pain in his head even worse than before.

“Kade?” Bell asked gently when Kade flinched at a trolley being pushed, his shoulder slamming into the wall next to him.

Killian caught Kade’s shoulders, holding him steady.  “Easy now....” he muttered “Just hold on a little longer then we’ll be out of here”

Kade nodded.  “Sorry...” he muttered.

“Is everything alright, here?” a new voice asked and Kade went motionless.  

For a moment he just stared ground before he looked up.

Ray stood in front of them.  There was a worried look on the man’s face as he watched them.  

Kade just stared at him.  “..dad...” he muttered before flinching at the pain in his head “... what are you... doing here?”

Ray frowned.  “I was called when you were brought in” he said.

An alarm went of in the hall.  The sound tore through Kade’s head.  With a yell, he sank to his knees, hands going to his ears.  Pain made his vision go white.  he could hear Killian and Bell’s voices.  

Killian caught Kade’s shoulders, before he could collapse to the ground.  His friend hard gone completely pale, shaking as he pressed his hands over his ears.  

Bell quickly knelt next to Kade, pulling him into her arms, holding her hands over his ears as well.  

“What’s going on?” Ray asked as he also knelt next to the young man.  

“It’s a sensory overload” Killian said with a cuss “It’s never been this bad before...  The injury must have effected him”

Ray frowned slightly before patting his pocket and pulled out a pair of earphones.  “Will these help?” he asked, holding them out to Killian “I’ve been carrying these with me, not sure why...”

Killian’s eyes widened.  “Perfect” he said, recognizing the earphones in the man’s hand.  It was the same kind that Kade kept in him room, the noise cancelling type.  Just what they needed right now.  

He pulled out his phone, took the earphones from Ray and pressed play before handing them over to Bell.

The girl quickly took it from Killian, gently pulling Kade’s hands away a bit, before putting the earbuds in his ears.  Immediately he put his hands back over his ears, eyes shut tightly.  

Bell just hugged him to her, gently rubbing his back.  Her long curly deep red hair fell over her shoulder.  

“Does this happen often?” Ray asked, gently.  

Killian sighed and shook his head.  “No...  He mostly has it under control” he said “But if he gets to much light and sounds gets to loud, it can trigger him”

“As I understand things, he just woke up” Ray said, sounding slightly angry.

“Yes he did” Killian said, clenching his jaw “The doctors here doesn’t like him...  So they want him out of here”

Ray frowned dangerously.  “So they are just...  letting him go?” he asked “Without making sure he’s alright and ready to leave?”

Killian nodded.  “He has to go come in again for and examination later today” he said quietly “Not that I think they will do much except tell us what we already know”

Bell just glanced at the two, rocking Kade as his breathing slowly calmed down.  He was still trembling.  She put a gentle hand against his face, checking to make sure he did not have a fever.  

“Kill” she said softly “It’s to bright here for him...  The light is hurting him”

Ray shrugged of the coat he was wearing.  He knelt next to Kade and Bell, throwing it over Kade’s shoulders and head.

Immediately Kade’s body relaxed slightly and his breathing calmed down.  He leaned slightly against Bell, still shaking.

“Let’s get him back to your dorms” Ray said.

Killian sighed.  “He’s not going to move until the attack calms down” he said.

Ray shook his head.  “I’ll carry him” he said, “We cannot let him stay like this”

The other two nodded.  Carefully Ray picked Kade up.  The teen was all but unconscious in his arms.  His face was pale, almost blending with the scar over his eye.

When they reached Kade’s dorm room, Bell pulled all the curtains closed.  The room was immediately plunged into darkness.  

Carefully Ray placed Kade on the bed before turning to Killian.  “Is there anything else he needs?” he asked.

“Time” Killian said “We’re all helpless when this happens”

Ray looked back at the young man on the bed.  This was the first time he saw him after taking the boy to Grain’s place.  He still could not remember the boy, but he knew that he was right.

“I’ve encountered a new ability” Lucas said as the two brother stopped in front of him “Let’s see how the two of you handle this”

Before they could say a word, Gale was assaulted with illusions of his worst nightmares.  Nova let out a soft gasp, his eyes going wide, hands trembling.  

Lucas watched them a slight worried look in his eyes, but his quickly pushed it back.  If he didn’t get these kids ready to fight, they wouldn’t be able to defend themselves against Merico.  

Gale clenched his jaw, flinching at another illusion that looked so real, it made his heart skip a beat in fright.  

Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed Nova standing motionless, an expression of pure terror on his face.  He wanted to go to him, to make sure that he was alright, but the illusions kept on getting in his way.  

And it started to hurt fighting of his images.  

He was sure this was not the final training, there was something much, much worse waiting for them.  Especially for Nova, since he went against their father for Max.  

Without warning the illusions disappeared.  

Nova gasped, falling down to his knees, one hand clutching his chest.  His jaw clenched against the pain that tore through his body.  

He should have known this would happen.  He just didn’t think that his father would go this far to punish him.  Slowly he looked up at Lucas and nodded.  This was better than having Max going through all of this.  

Lucas studied him for a moment before lifted one hand.  

Gale stepped forward to stop, what ever attack his father had planned, but then a scream filled the room.  His head snapped towards Nova.  

Nova was holding his head.  Again his expression was twisted, this time into one of pain and terror.  He sank to his knees, eye shut tightly.

“What are you doing?” Gale snapped.

“He needs to learn” Lucas said quietly.  

“Let him go!”

“No”

Gale felt the fury rushing through him.  His power burned in him.  “Let him go” he said slowly, through clenched teeth.  

“Gale...” Lucas said “Do not interfere in this”

“Then let my brother go!” Gale snarled, his hands clenched into fists as he slowly walked towards Lucas.  

The screams from Nova did not stop.  They echoed in his head, he would never be able to get his brother’s scream out of his head.  It would haunt him for the rest of his life.  

When Lucas shook his head again, Gale lost it.  

He shot forward.  Power exploded through him.  His fist connected with Lucas’ jaw, throwing the man back.  

Lucas crashed into the wall behind him, small cracks appearing in the plaster.  

Gale stood there, gasping for breath.  It took him a moment before he realized that the screaming stopped.  

For a moment he just stood there, watching his father before he quickly turned around, searching for Nova.

He just froze.  

Nova had scrambled back, his back against the wall, knees pulled up against his chest, head in his hands.  The teen was trembling, sobs ripping through his chest.  

Gale clenched his jaw and walked over to Nova, kneeling in front of his power.  

“Nova?” he asked softly, not touching his brother yet.  

A shiver ran through Nova and he slowly lifted his head.  He was shaking, trying to calm his breathing.

Gale relaxed his shoulders slightly and managed a slight smile for his brother.  “Hey...” he said softly “It’s alright, kiddo”

“I...   I’m....” Nova shook his head and hugged his knees to his chest.  

“It’s alright.  It’s over now” Gale said, putting a hand on Nova dark blond hair.  

Another sob ripped through Nova’s chest, his hands clenching into fists.  

Gale took a deep breath before looking at Lucas, who was getting to his feet.  “If you ever do anything like this to him again” he said voice low and dangerous “I will never forgive you and rip you to pieces”

Lucas nodded, but Gale could have sworn that there was a slight smile on his face.  

With that Gale turned back to his brother.  “Come on, Dami” he said softly “We’re done here”

Nova just shook his head refusing to move.  

Gale sighed, just gently stroking Nova’s hair until his brother’s breathing became more even as calmed down slightly.  

A shiver ran through Nova’s body.  

Shaking his head, Gale gently scooped up Nova.  His brother felt light.  It wasn’t that Nova was big, but he’s been growing taller.  Gale was 1.7 and Nova was quickly catching up to him, already at 1.68 at 16.  

“Sorry...” Nova muttered, his eyes slowly flickering close.  

***

Gale clenched his jaw as he carried Nova back to his room.  He gently placed Nova on the bed.  

Knocking sounded from the door.  

“Nova?  Gale?” a small voice asked.  

Gale flinched slightly, turning towards the door.  “Max?” he asked “Do you want to come in?”

The door creaked open and the same dark blond hair as Nova, peered into the room, followed by big dark blue eyes.  The eleven year old boy, slipping into the room.  

“Hey, buddy” Gale said “You alright?”

Max nodded, his eyes flickering towards Nova.  

“He’s alright” Gale said “Just tired.  That’s all”

“This is my fault” Max said “I should have just gone with Dad”

“It is not your fault, Max” Gale said sternly “Nova wanted to do this, no one made him do anything he didn’t want to”

Max clenched his jaw.  “Can I stay here?” he asked slowly.

Gale smiled slightly and nodded.  He motioned Max to come over and picked up his brother.  “Don’t wake him up, you hear me?” he said.

“I know” Max said, slightly annoyed “Now put me down.  I’m not a baby anymore”

Gale snorted.  “Sorry buddy, you are still the baby of the family” he said, putting Max on the bed “Dumbass”

Max scrambled over the bed towards Nova.  “Douchebag” he snap back at Gale, sticking out his tongue. 

“Ricky...” Nova muttered.

“I didn’t wake him up” Max said quickly.  

Gale rolled his eyes.  “Don’t worry about it” he said “Nova, get some sleep”

Nova’s eyes flickered open and he just curled up on his side.  Max grabbed the blanket that lay at the foot of the bed before pulling over his brother.  

When Nova woke up again, he just slowly sat up, blinking at everything around him.  He pressed a hand against his head as he remembered what happened.  That was not one of his best moments and he did not want to experience that again.  

As he pushed the memories back, he got up.  

Before he could take two steps the bedroom door opened and Max came in, softly closing the door behind him.  

“Max?” he asked.

The boy jumped and spun around, his eyes going wide.  

“Dami!” he called out and ran over, hugging Nova tightly “You’re awake”

Nova frowned slightly, but petted the blond hair.  “You alright?” he asked before receiving a glare from Max “What did I do?”

“You are a bloody asshole” the boy said, pulling away from Nova “I can take care of myself, you and Gale don’t have to protect me”

Nova snorted and shook his head.  “We’ll stop the day you can beat us in a fair fight” he said.

“You two never fight fair, so no”