She didn’t care that he knew because she saw him doing the same.
“I want to get to know you.”
Cain’s mask slipped at Scarlett’s blurted question. His eyebrows rose as he ticked his jaw.
“There is nothing to know.”
Scarlett wasn’t going to be nice, if he wasn’t going to tell her what she originally wanted to know, she would ask about something else. Memories from when she first discovered her powers filled her mind.
“There’s plenty to know.” Scarlett commenced as she inched closer. “What are you hiding under that mask?”
Another inch.
“What happened to us when I first used my powers? It was because of our partner bond, wasn’t it?”
Another inch.
“What was Cain like before becoming the Cain he is now?”
Another inch.
“Why do you hide things?”
They stood toe to toe. Scarlett’s heart pounded while the pull raged and twisted inside. Cain’s fists clenched and that was a sign enough that she’d gotten to him.
“So yes, there is plenty to know about you, Cain. It’s a matter of you opening up.”
Scarlett maintained eye contact as she cocked a brow. The energy that surged through Scarlett made her feel powerful and she wasn’t backing down.
Cain’s jaw twitched as Scarlett pushed. “You wouldn’t know what you’re asking for.” He smoothly said as he regained control of himself. Scarlett wasn’t letting him go easy.
“Then let me know.” She softly whispered.
She placed her powered hand on Cain’s chest and a jolt zapped at the contact. The pull that’d been restless inside her chest released a euphoric wave that radiated throughout her body and flowed into Cain’s. She filled with shivers and not from pain. Scarlett removed her hand from Cain’s armor and it weighed down as if it were a magnet to him. She hugged her hand to her chest while suppressing her power.
Cain hastily backed away and turned his back to Scarlett as his power retreated into his hands.
“What was –?”
“CAIN!” Scarlett got cut off by a shout and she spotted Jayden, Trevor, and Liam running towards them. They wore grim faces and weapons lined their bulked armor.
“They’re here, Cain.” Trevor gravely informed.
Cain went rigid and tensed his shoulders as grey light ignited from his palms.
Before Scarlett could ask who, shrieks and growls ripped through the air and pierced everyone’s ears.
She recognized them all too well.
Nightmares.
Twenty-Two
Fear twisted in Scarlett’s gut as the gray ring surrounding Dreammare Refuge rose into a solid wall. The noises, although viciously loud, were not near The Refuge.
“Cain, they’re not here for us.” Jayden paused. “They’re going for the front lines.”
Cain turned towards Scarlett as she registered the words. Her father worked the front lines.
“Dad.” She confirmed under her breath. Scarlett glanced at Cain as the realization dawned on them both.
He knew what she was going to do before she even had a chance. Cain shot his power at Scarlett and coiled her with his grey tendrils. Her arms were stuck to her sides and she couldn’t walk.
“CAIN! NO!” Scarlett struggled against his power and tried pushing out for it to release as he strode towards her.
The desperation filled her voice clear as day. “Please, please don’t do this.”
“You aren’t ready and you’d get yourself killed.” Cain’s jaw set as Scarlett’s eyes glossed over. Wave after wave of despair collided against the walls of her mind.
“This isn’t fair! Cain, let me go.” Scarlett yelled as frustration knotted in her chest. She tried to wriggle free but his power held her in place.
Cain ignored her and turned to face the rest. “Trevor and Liam with me. Jayden, watch her.”
His eyes bore into Jayden who didn’t confirm his order. She opened her mouth to argue but she faltered as Cain narrowed his eyes. She glanced at Scarlett with pained eyes and mouthed ‘I’m sorry’ before bowing her head to Cain.
“Cain! STOP!”
Trevor and Liam avoided Scarlett’s eyes as she shouted for them to help. They couldn’t disobey their leader. Cain walked away from a struggling Scarlett and they followed suit.
“CAIN!” Her shouts fell on unhearing ears as the three Dreammares jumped and flew towards the commencing battle.
Scarlett groaned in pain as Cain’s power tightened around her. ‘The bastard.’
“Jayden, please.” She pleaded and the pressure behind her eyes grew. “My dad is out there.”
Jayden stared at where the three left from and back to Scarlett. Her eyes shone with internal conflict as she fidgeted with her hands. “I can’t disobey him, Scarlett. He is my leader and doing so, would bring pain to myself.”
“Jayden, please. I’ll make sure that you’ll be okay, just get me out of this!”
Jayden shook her head as her eyes glossed over. “I wouldn’t be able to do anything! His power is the strongest of us all. Once you’re in that, there’s no getting out. Many have tried.”
Scarlett refused to believe that was it. She wasn’t going to be held back while her family fought in the battle. She grasped onto her anger towards Cain and every muscle tensed. Flames of rage rolled through her chest and she pulled on her strings. The power that unleashed from her hands grew like wildfire and wrapped on top of Cain’s. The ball in her chest rumbled with satisfaction.
Jayden’s eyes widened as Scarlett disappeared behind the wrap of blackness. “Scarlett, what are you –.”
Her words faded as a bright light erupted from Scarlett. Cain’s power no longer wrapped around her. Scarlett’s black hair floated and buzzed with energy as her eyes shone vividly. Her power surrounded her like a raging storm and Jayden stumbled back from the force that radiated from it.
Scarlett lifted off the ground and stared down at Jayden. “You won’t have to worry about Cain. I’ll deal with him myself. Lead me to them.”
Jayden snapped her jaw shut and quickly nodded. She jumped into the air and flew into the darkness with Scarlett following closely.
Time ticked by and Scarlett’s stomach twisted as the blasts and gruesome growling grew closer. She didn’t have time to think of what she did at the Refuge. Whatever it was, it was most likely part of the reason the battle occurred.
The Dark Realm gave way to glittering stars and the girls froze at the sight that came before them.
The border between Ever Realm and the Dark Realm was in chaos. Nightmares poured from the Dark Realm like a wave. They were trying to overtake the army of Dreamers that held them back. The wall that bordered Ever Realm from this area was no longer standing, it was crumpled beneath. Dreamers piled in from Ever Realm and fought back the nightmares as best they could. Scarlett was sure almost every Dreamer was there in the battle and their odds were not looking well.
Left and right, Nightmares exploded into bursts of light, either turning to dust or exploding with muck. Scarlett scanned the field for anyone recognizable and spotted Jasper near the front of the battle.