Guys this is a warning this chapter contains darker topics and may cause a trigger, I was vague with the description, but there is cannibalism mention, children death, among other things. Also I apologize for taking so long but I prefer to take my time and organize the events that will happen in the story than rush into writing and not analyze things. And my main language is Spanish not English so forgive me for any mistake I make.
Taking Vicious words to heart Adam experiments with his semblance, working hard with time he develops new uses to his semblance and aura. Two of the developments that makes him feel proud is that he can fire his semblance with Blush and when he runs out of bullets he can shape his aura and place it inside the rifle's chamber and magazine to fire it as he would a bullet. As long as he has enough aura he will never run out of ammo. Rosso has been of great help during the process of trial and error.
His lung capacity has improved as well, he rarely reaches a point of feeling short of breath. It helps that some nights he has been taken out for patrol, always in the company of Vicious or one of his children. He wears a mask or some kind of disguise when outside the castle walls, the general population still doesn't know that he is in Haruna, more less that he lives. They are still planning how to handle revealing the information to the public. Xiang and Vicious as well as Yamato have assured him he won't be imprisoned.
Adam tries not to dwell on darker thoughts on how the situation could turn out for him. How would the people that wanted him dead and made several attempts on his life, react to learning that he was still alive and kicking? What if Salem and her minions find out that he lives? Will she try to take him under her control again? What if Blake, Ghira, Khali and the rest of his former friends and family decide to hunt him down? What if it comes to blows if they find him?
He takes a deep breath to clear his thoughts and focus on the task at hand. Tonight he is patrolling together with Vicious and Mizer.
He stays walking by Vicious' side as Mizer patrols the sky near the tree canopy, he is in his humanoid form and has simply sprouted his wings. He had been curious how clothes didn't get ripped to pieces when they transformed or sprouted a sudden body part. The explanation had been quite simple magic. Enchantments are placed in all the clothing fabricated in the kingdom to prevent it from getting destroyed easily. Otherwise people would be walking around naked, unless they used a partial transformation to cover their modesty, which apparently is what some people preferred.
The topic at least took his mind of the darker thought he had plagued his mind earlier. He is about to ask more questions when a sharp cry from Mizer made him look up as the dragon hybrid swoops down into the trees followed by another one and then a couple of roars and thuds. Adam is about to sprint and help when Vicious' heavy hand on his shoulder stops him. The wolf ears turned forward catching all the sounds, he sniffs the air, then he shakes his head in an amused manner, despite his face showing no emotion, Adam had gotten better at reading the king's moods.
"There is no danger, we have a visitor", he explains taking his hand from Adam's shoulder, "just stay by my side, she doesn't take that well to unknown males", he adds. Adam obeys, curious to who this visitor might be as the roars and thuds continue.
The pair come up to a clearing and find Mizer that has a woman almost as tall as himself trapped in a headlock with some difficulty, a purple and black tail that ends up in three sharp points is wrapped around his neck. Both Mizer and the woman have some scratches and bruises on their faces and bodies. The woman lets out a pissed roar showing a double row of teeth that looks very similar to that of Vicious.
Names being called in a stern manner "Mizer, Mortemia" from the king makes the dragons stop and reluctantly let go of each other while acknowledging their names being called by saying "father".
So that answers the question Adam had on the tip of his tongue. He takes a better look at the newcomer now that she isn't busy wrestling her brother.
Her hair looks very soft, feather-like, a color combination of purple and black, she has two spiral silver horns over her head, buried under the wild feathers of her "hair", he can barely spot what looks like wolf ears and her body is very muscular, a little less than her father and brother. Purple and black feathers cover her chest and she is wearing a red miniskirt with two belts, a black choker with a red stone, black wristbands, open toed ankle boots, revealing sharp claws. She has a few scars here and there, the most prominent one across her nose, a beauty mark on her left cheek and her eyes are silver in color, she is a silver eyed warrior!
Adam had not been expecting that one. It never crossed his mind that someone here would have silver eyes, if Salem knew. Guilt eats him away as he remembers the times he had been forced to kill or capture silver eyed warriors for the witch.
When he looks at the woman again he notices that she is booking at him warily. Vicious places a hand on his shoulder again. "This is Adam Taurus a friend", Adam feels incredibly humbled by the introduction, he feels like he doesn't deserve to be called a friend.
And then she approaches him, fangs poking slightly from her lips, her eyes narrowed as she examines him and he sees her like Mizer did when taking his scent, she tastes the air with a forked tongue. Adam remains still heading Vicious warning that she is not a fan of strange males, he wonders why but doesn't voice his question. "A pleasure to meet you, miss Mortemia", he says in greeting. The woman doesn't say anything back, just observes him before giving him a small nod.
Vicious approaches his daughter before wrapping his arms around her hugging her close. She doesn't hesitate to return his hug, burying her face in his neck. "Papa", she says in a whisper. "I missed you", says the king, placing a kiss on the top of her head.
Adam feels like he is intruding on something private and thinks of turning around when Mizer clears his throat looking at him. "Let's keep patrolling while they go home", he says. Adam looks back at Vicious, who nods at him before turning his attention back to Mortemia.
Adam and Mizer turn into the other direction. Once they are at a distance Adam thinks on how to ask why they were fighting but Mizer beats him to it. "She should have stayed and not left her kid alone like a coward, visiting every now and then it's not the same!", he says, swiping his claws against a tree angrily, startling Adam.
"What happened?", asks Adam.
"Mortemia couldn't stand being around unknown males and she decided to leave us and her only surviving child behind, we could have helped, she doesn't understand how lucky she is to at least have a living child!", explains Mizer angrily, another tree suffering to his wrath.
Sensing that there is more to the story Adam places a hand on Mizer's arm to stop him. "Mizer, I know I don't have the right to ask, it's not my business, but you and your family have helped me a lot and I want to return the favor even if the only thing I can do is listen".
The dragon lets out a low growl, spending time with him, Adam knows it's not one of aggression, he takes his hand away from Mizer arm and waits for him to decide. Mizer looks at him with a haunted look and begins to speak. "Mortemia whenever she gave birth, the children got killed by male soldiers because they weren't what that man wanted, Mortemia developed an intense hate and phobia to unrelated adult males, it didn't help that the conception was against her will".
Adam is horrified by the tale he is hearing and goes pale as a sheet.
"She became extremely aggressive whenever she gave birth trying to protect the pups, but it wasn't enough… when we managed to escape, the damage to her mind was already done and she attacked any unknown male that approached her, almost killing several… back when we were captive and Mortemia had to go out in missions she earned the name "The devourer of men", she would kill men and many times devour their remains… now you have to understand that while we were trapped there was barely any food and we had to resort to cannibalism of the guard and soldiers we killed and more", Mizer looks at Adam with tired eyes.
Adam starts feeling sick but he fights against it, he nods rigidly for Mizer to continue.
"To avoid any of our own being raised from death by necromancy we either had to burn the body to ashes or devour their remains…father always tried to made sure that his dead children would get eternal rest, sometimes he failed", Mizer says looking at the ground in torment, tears filling the corner of his eyes, Adam has to take hold of a tree because of his trembling legs.
"I… I had to devour my own ch… children and my mate's bodies… I failed them", he finally confesses allowing the tears to run free. "Mortemia doesn't realize how lucky she was, her lil son is still alive, she can still hug him, while I lost my own and.. and.. sob… she left because her behavior was rubbing off on Raijin". Staggering Adam makes his way to Mizer and hugs his friend fiercely, only reaching his chest, Mizer is almost 8 feet of height as his father is. "I'm so sorry, you didn't deserve that hell, none of you did", Adam says barely holding his own tears back.
Mizer takes comfort into Adam's hug, but the pain still remains, it still feels raw. His knees are slowly buckling, but before he can fall and bury Adam under his weight a pair of strong arms hook under his armpits supporting him. Both turn to look at Vicious, Mortemia is nowhere to be seen.
Adam let's go of Mizer and Vicious wastes no time in wrapping his arms tightly against his son. Mizer buries his face in his father's neck sobbing.
Sinner arrives and places a hand on Adam's shoulder giving him a sad smile, beckoning him to follow. "Thank you Adam", says Vicious as Sinner and Adam leave them alone.
Adam follows Sinner feeling his heart shatter, these people that referred to him as his friend had such terrible experiences. He feels that what he suffered is such a little thing compared to these people, most of them have hundreds of years worth of it, his suffering is insignificant in comparison. Despite that fact Sinner keeps his hand over his shoulder in an attempt to deliver comfort.
Hesitantly Adam asks, "Sinner did… did something happen to you too? Is that why you don't speak?", he says looking at the other man.
Sinner stops walking before looking down at him and smiling sadly nodding. Gently he reaches for the bandana he always wears around his neck and takes it down. He exposed his heavily scarred neck to Adam. Adam's eyes widen in horror, before he can ask what happened, Sinner shakes his head and very slowly signs with his hands that Adam has learned enough horror for one day, the story will be told another day. Adam is still not fluent enough in Mythos sign language to follow all the gestures and their meaning at normal speed.
Adam looks at the ground feeling ashamed. "I am sorry I am so useless, you guys had it worse than me and yet...".
Another hand on his shoulder stops his self-deprecating speech before it could gain strength and for the first time ever Sinner gives him a serious look, shaking his head. He opens his mouth to argue but a wheezy, raspy and broken ceases with his effort. "No… Adam...", the voice had been so low it might have been confused with a whisper. Adam stares dumbfound at Sinner as long as he knew the man he never made a sound.
Sinner massages his throat with a hand for a moment to alleviate some discomfort before placing the bandana again where it belongs. He gives Adam another look shaking his head before he tugs him back in the direction of the castle, back to their home.
/ Author's notes:
This how Mortemia looks like, I added some of her beast features on this drawing ookamigirl00/art/Mortemia-873873363 , my anatomy is not perfect
Before anyone complains that Adam wouldn't behave this way, remember that my take in this fanfic is that Adam had been under the control of Salem and his real personality didn't have the chance to show, also he is still dealing with his own traumas.
Some people when they encounter others that might have suffered for a longer time or have a bigger trauma they can think that they are overreacting with their own. Which of course is not true, people react differently.
