Chapter 56: 56-Center of it
Sseraphis picked up his sister-in-law into his arms and immediately activated the portal. His face was full of worry, the density of which was strong enough to suffocate any beast that came close to him.
Growing up abandoned, he had not always known the love of family until he got married. As much as he acted like he was stone-hearted and did not care about much, with those he considered family he was willing to cross any length, and when they were wounded he felt their pain in his heart as though doubled.
To him, Aenyra’s health was more important because she was one of his own.
"The two of you are coming with me. When my sister-in-law wakes up and tells me that you had nothing to do with her falling ill, I’ll let you go. But if she says that you are responsible for what is happening to her, I swear to the heavens and hell that you will suffer horrendous fates by my hands," He threatened.
Sheana immediately agreed to go along with him. It wasn’t that she was scared of him but because she was very worried about Aenyra.
The cold dragoness, the love of her life... that was the person he was holding in his arms while threatening her. Her safety meant more to her than her own life, so she did not think twice before going with him.
Liodnir followed along for survival. He mostly wanted to stick to Sheana, but he also knew that turning away from the vengeful looking serpent wasn’t going to be a good idea.
All three went through the shadow portal and quickly arrived at the bathing house in the underwater palace.
Nytherael got out of the pool immediately when he noticed Sseraphis arrive with Aenyra, laying unconscious on his hands with her arm bleeding golden blood.
"What the hell happened to her?" He asked, his voice shaking with worry.
"It has nothing to do with you. Do me a favour and make sure these two find proper arrangements as I look into her treatment."
"Sheana?" Nytherael was surprised to see her there.
He remembered leaving her at the inn. The Phoenix princess had promised to stay put, and yet here she was in the Abyssal coil, far away from home and in enemy territory.
"Nytherael?" It was now Sheana’s turned to be surprised.
As far as she knew, Nytherael was sleeping in his room back at the Inn. Yet to her amazement, he was standing there, in Sseraphis’ Home Like they had made up And she wasn’t Brought up to date with the development.
"You have a lot of explaining to do," Sheana said. " But not right now. I am very worried about Aenyra, so your explanation will have to wait until she is better."
"I understand that, but what happened?"
"I think it’s because she used that devilish hourglass?"
"What?"
"Do reverse time and save everyone in Ocov."
Nytherael was astounded. That piece of knowledge wasn’t in his memory, He had no idea that Ocov was ever in danger, let alone that it needed saving from a devilish artefact.
"What are you talking about?"
"You don’t remember because time was reversed, but you lost control at the arena, and your powers went out of control nearly destroying the town and us. She did it to save everyone from you."
Sseraphis stopped at the doors. He snapped his head back over his shoulder, "You are responsible for this?" His eyes darkened as he looked at Nytherael.
He put Aenyra down. He’s slowly turned around, his movements are going with malice, and venom. His shadow twisted into nine heads, all of whom looked extremely pissed off.
"Why is it that every time I turn around and something is wrong, you are at the centre of it?"
"Okay, this is not on me. I accept full responsibility for everything else that I’ve done, but I am not going to go down for something that I don’t even know happened."
"Hmm," Sseraphis Hummed. He wasn’t buying the innocent act Nytherael was putting forward.
However, He understood that at present, there were more pressing matters than confronting Nytherael.
"Tell me more about this Hourglass?" He turned to Sheana.
Princess Sheana went ahead to describe the hourglass vividly. Everything from the black energy it gave out to the warnings that Aenyra told her concerning it. She left to nothing out.
Sseraphis listened keenly. He didn’t want to miss a single detail. Because the hourglass could explain his sister-in-law’s condition and be the solution to saving her.
"Are you sure that this is how everything played out?"
"Yes, I was there."
"Alright, for now I will take a word for it. That is until my sister-in-law got up and told me exactly what happened. If I were you, I’d pray to the heavens that when she does Her story will match yours. If not..."
He left the unspoken thread hunging in the air. Picked up his sister-in-law once more and walked out. He tapped to the link that he shared with all the serpents in the underwater palace and called for help.
"Jura," He called out. " Whatever it is that you’re doing, I need you to stop immediately and come to me!" He ordered.
"Do I look like one of your serpent servants?" Jura asked as he appeared next to him. " How dare you command me?"
"I need your help."
"Don’t you always?"
"Now he’s not the time for your games."
"When is the time..."
"Why are you both bickering?" Aeltharion stepped out from a room and into the hallway. He raised his head and froze from head to toe as he saw his sister hurt and unconscious. "What happened to her?" His voice, a growl, echoed and shook the palace. It came out louder and more beastly than he intended.
"She blew the whistle I gave her. I hurried over, and I found her like this," Sseraphis explained, his frame softening as he faced Aeltharion.
"Ho.. how is she?" He stammered.
"Jura and I will after her. I won’t let anything happen to her, Okay," he assured and sped up. Jura shook off his playfulness and followed along.
"I trust you. I know you’ll do your best."
Sseraphis arrived at the infirmary and laid her down on the bed. Jura went ahead to examine her.
"I won’t do ny best. I will give it my all," he took a minute to assure Aeltharion again.
