Page 24 of A Love of Wrath and Rapture

“Stop!” I yell as he walks closer.

“Evangeline,” he whispers. “Come on, you and I should work together. You won’t make it out here alone.”

My heart pounds and threatens to burst from my chest.

There’s nowhere to run.

No one to help me.

10

XEROS

My eyes open slowly, taking in the morning light. I suck in a deep breath, trying to make sense of the intense feeling brewing within the deep confines of my soul.

“What is this?” I whisper, holding a clawed hand over my chest. My heart pounds. My jaw clenches, but there’s nothing around me. “What am I feeling this way?”

I haven’t felt like this in a very long time. The last time this emotion took hold of my senses, was when the dark elves overwhelmed my kind and annihilated us mercilessly. When I was forced to watch all of my loved ones die, one by one, until I was the last Astreldi remaining.

Rage. Pure rage.

As I look around, confusion starts to settle in. I have no reason to feel this way, but the emotion is as intense as the sun’s beams on my dark skin. It burns through my body, touching every inch of my soul with white hot flames.

Evangeline… where are you?

She’s not safe. She’s in danger somehow, in some way, and it pains me to stand here helplessly while she fights for her life. This isn’t fair. I must get to her.

In the past, the Astreldi never used to take to the skies during the day. It was far too risky. We would be seen quickly, making our incoming assault futile. But I don’t care if I’m seen or not. I don’t care if the dark elves figure out that they did not kill the last of my kind.

All that matters is Evangeline. I must get to her. Now.

Flapping my wings a few times, I conjure up the necessary strength to take to the skies. My wings start to ache from the sheer amount of force I’m using to whip through the raging wings, but I fight through the aching sensation.

“Evangeline,” I say, staring out towards the mountain peaks, covered in snow and ice. “Where are you?”

This helpless vulnerability makes my stomach turn in disgust. What kind of pathetic creature am I? While Evangeline is in trouble, I am here, flailing through the air with nowhere to go.

Of course, this would be much easier if I knew where she was and if I understood the connection between us, but excuses are excuses and I cannot tolerate any. Not when Evangeline’s life is on the line.

A sharp pang rages through my chest, crippling me for a moment. The intensity is strong enough to make my wings stop flapping, causing me to stumble through the air and nearly driving my body into the body of a massive tree.

Deep growls emerge within my chest. What was that?

No matter. My search for Evangeline continues. I fly through the mountain range, cutting across the deathly winds and the bone-chilling temperatures. As I traverse further into the snowy wasteland, I am reminded why the Astreldi never liked to hunt in the mountains.

The peaks are jagged and there are many trees that obscure the ground view. I find it difficult to maintain my position when I must make sure I am not flying into trees. Still, these are the only obstacles that stand in the way of Evangeline and me.

And I will not rest until she is by my side.

But as I continue to fly my way through the mountains, the chilling sense of urgency never leaves me. It seems like, if I waste any more time, I’m going to lose her. I’m going to lose Evangeline. The thought brings me a deep sense of mourning, one that I find difficult to fathom.

Why am I being allowed to live while Evangeline risks the chance of dying before I’m able to set my eyes on her? I must be allowed to see her once. Just once. Only then may I begin to understand how a creature like her was able to awaken me.

“Evangeline!” I call out into the mountain range, hearing as my voice bounces along the terrain until it disappears into the distance. “Evangeline, where are you? I am coming to save you!”

I hope she can understand me. Does she speak my tongue?

Sharp tree leaves cut into my wings as I continue to soar over their canopies. That’s when it suddenly dawns upon me that I’m searching for Evangeline in an inefficient manner. If I want to see the ground, I cannot remain above the canopies. I must go below.

---