“I don't have the time for these fucking antics.” Scarlett ground her teeth as she glared at Cain. Her wrist warmed at his touch and she tried yanking it back. “I do not need to explain myself to you, only a day old Dreamer, nor will I. If your childish mind still can’t comprehend it, then I suggest you speak to your parents."
She spat at him in her mind. ‘Dick.’
Scarlett couldn’t see the man she first met. It must've all been a façade because Cain was an ass.
He’d gotten closer as he spoke and his lips were near her ear making her heart pound while the rest of her flamed. She wanted to cringe at his words but an overwhelming heat blinded her mind. Cain had been pressing a needle to an overfilled balloon and he applied the final amount of pressure it could take. A black tendril emerged from Scarlett’s grasped hand and spread to thousands more. She bared her teeth as she pressed her palm against Cain’s body, sending him soaring backward. As if time slowed, Scarlett saw Cain’s expression get caught off guard before he got a grip of himself. He landed crouched on one knee with a fist to the ground.
Slowly rising, Cain’s grey tendrils swam from his fingertips until they surrounded him like wings. Scarlett’s jaw dropped as she realized what she’d done.
She loved it.
Throwing her hands out to her sides, her black tendrils merged and brightened like lightning. They smoothed and mimicked Cain’s. Both their powers illuminated the darkness and allowed them to see each other.
Cain sent a whip of lightning straight down the middle towards Scarlett. Seeing his movement, she did the same. They met with a powerful jolt that sent a shiver down Scarlett’s spine. It didn’t stop there; the shivers grew stronger and began to pulse inside her body. Bliss radiated throughout Scarlett but the blackening edges of her vision gave her unease.
“What’s happening to me?” Her question snapped Cain out of the trance he’d been in. His shoulders rolled as his grey lightning grew around him. Scarlett’s temperature rose and something at her center was building and bursting to break free. She couldn’t see it, but Cain saw that her skin was brightening. Much like a nightmares did before bursting from the foreign power in its body. The smirk that graced his face dropped and Cain reeled his powers back.
They disappeared as if they'd never been there and Cain faded into the darkness. Scarlett kept her power burning bright, relishing in the blanket of comfort it gave her. Cain’s grey lighting shot from in front of Scarlett and circled the ground around her feet. From the same direction, he entered the circle and stood a few feet away. While he was composed, Scarlett’s chest rose heavily as her mouth stayed parted with each breath. Her eyes crazed with bewilderment and excitement as her unruly black hair stood in all directions still matted with the purple muck.
“Scarlett, lower your hands,” Cain lightly ordered.
He stepped towards Scarlett and reached for her hands. They were raised out to her sides and flowing with her newfound power. Scarlett felt a longing to keep the euphoric feeling coursing through her. She didn't want it to stop. She'd kept her eyes closed until a soft touch covered her hands.
“Reel it in.” Cain’s voice washed over her like a command and her shoulders slowly sagged as her sparks retreated to the depths of her body. With every trace gone, Scarlett’s knees buckled and she leaned against Cain for support. He gripped her forearms and held her upright.
“What was that?” She breathlessly asked as she tried to stand on her own. Scarlett’s body was drained of all energy and wanted to collapse.
“Ask your parents,” he blankly answered.
Scarlett opened her mouth to retort when a growl reached their ears. Her eyes widened and the hairs on her arms and back of her neck stood up. She inched herself closer to Cain as he widened the shield surrounding them. It thickened and rose. Cain stepped ahead and Scarlett backed away so they were no longer touching.
She wanted to use her power and spread her fingers out to her sides.
“Don’t.”
“Why? And how did you know I was even doing that?” Scarlett questioned as she scowled. He hadn’t been looking at her and no power emerged from her hands yet.
Cain ignored her question and continued walking in an unknown direction. The growls continued and Scarlett made sure to stay close to him despite the huge shield they had. Grunts, bangs, and shrieks quickly filled the air.
The commotion was nonstop and they were headed right towards it. “Cain, where are we going?”
Suprise, suprise! - Ignored once again. Scarlett shook her head when a flash of white light emerged from in front of them. Cain walked calmly while Scarlett jerkily glanced around.
“We’re nearing one of the borders separating the Dark Realm and Ever Realm. The lone nightmares that are stupid enough to try and cross are met by Ever Realm's Guards.” Cain faced forward and Scarlett didn’t want to say anything else. As they continued, more flashes of light and Dreamers began to appear. Small white guns were strapped to their waist belts that weren’t being touched. The main weapon they used was attached to their wrist. They all shot out the same white power that moved as they wished.
“Dreamers don’t have what we have; their bracelets are all the same. Without them, they have to use their guns and other weapons that aren’t as effective.”
Cain guided Scarlett straight down the middle of the ongoing fight. They were perpendicular to the front line of guards. The Dreamers moved backward as they noticed them approaching. Their widespread out defense line became small as they clinched together and aimed their hands towards Cain and Scarlett.
The few nightmares that were in the area noticed and retreated into the darkness as bright lights appeared high behind the line of Dreamers. Their armor was thick and they had helmets that covered their entire faces.
“State your business, Dreammares,” one of the Dreamers spat as they stood defensively.
‘Dreammares?’
Unfazed, Cain looked down at them and didn’t bat an eye at their threatening position. There were close to thirty Dreamers with their bracelets ready for use against the two of them.
“Call for your leader. Tell him I have his daughter.”
Scarlett stiffened as the tension between Cain and the Dreamers intensified. He knew exactly who she was. Scarlett wrung her fingers and clasped her hands behind her back. The Dreamers kept their weapons raised while time edged on. Scarlett leaned towards Cain and was about to ask what they were waiting for when a Dreamer in dark green armor landed a few feet away from them. He rose and kept his back to the line of Dreamers. The man’s face was covered by a helmet that was heavily scarred and had X’s marked throughout it. The Dreamer reached up and removed his helmet.
Scarlett was staring at a face she knew all too well.
“Dad,” she whispered as she took a small step forward. Roger’s warm yet worried eyes scanned her for injuries and exhaled when he didn’t see any. Scarlett took another step towards her father when a hand wrapped around her upper arm.
Her father’s eyes snapped towards the person beside her and hardened. “Cain.”
“Roger.” Cain followed, using the same clipped tone. There was nothing friendly about their exchange.
“I thank you for bringing my daughter to me safely. Now if you’ll release her and let her come to me.” Roger’s piercing eyes stayed on Cain and the threat was clear with his every word. Cain was doing the same and gave no sign of his next move.