Chapter 8

            Stanton felt along the darkness for Serena. There were so many bodies on the ground that it was hard to tell which one was hers and the only thing he knew was of her general direction. Nearly everyone had been knocked unconscious from the blast, but he decided to take the chance that she was awake.

            "Serena?" He called softly.

            "Stanton? Where are you?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

            "Hang on, I'm coming." He said, now certain he knew her location. He stretched out his mind and was immediately met by hers. As he normally did he took hers into his own.

            Finally he found her. He untied her and then held her in his arms for several long moments, just enjoying the feeling of her in his arms again. He breathed in the smell of her hair, enjoying it while it lasted. It wouldn't be long before the followers awakened. She clutched him tightly against her, trembling from fear and exhaustion.

            "Was that you who let out that blast of energy?" He asked.

            "Yes." She said softly, then admitted, "I was scared that they were going to hurt you. Then I felt the power growing inside me, and I couldn't control it."

            He stared down at her in surprise, though she couldn't see it. He had no idea that the key could be so powerful. It gave him all the more the reason to protect her from his kind. No, he corrected, they are not my kind, they betrayed the Atrox.

            As much as he loved Serena, he knew that he could never bring himself to betray the Atrox. The Atrox had taken the place of his father the day his father denied him. That day still burned inside his memory although it had been so long ago and he had returned to the Atrox willingly. That was the day had given up most of his soul and had fully understood his dark destiny, it was something he could never admit to Serena.

            "We have to get out of here." He said finally.

            Using his mind he led her around the fallen followers. He led her to the car and helped her into the front seat. "Wait here until I come back with your friends. Lock the doors until I get back."

            Serena locked the doors and waited impatiently for him to get back. She heard a noise and turned swiftly to see a black shadow forming in the drivers seat, suddenly Tymmie was sitting next to her. He looked at her and grinned in triumph.

            "Hello, Serena, ready to ride?" He asked, turning the key in the ignition that in his haste Stanton had forgotten.