Chapter 50-Shattered

The days passed slowly for Nethial as she recovered from her wounds, both physical and emotional. A month later, her neck still stung to the touch after the brutal attack but most of the bruises had faded by then, the lingering sensitivity the only visible reminder of Tanui's attack, other than her scarred chest from his touch that had left burns on her skin. She hadn't been able to do much with the tender patches of flesh that continued to assure her that the clone wasn't mentally stable anymore. Cambre told her the wounds would heal in time but as she slipped into a light grey tunic her mind whispered of how the dragon might be wrong. Her hands brushed past the tightly bound white bandages that kept the inflamed skin protected from infection and she hastily yanked the flowing cloth down to cover her body. Not wanting to risk anyone asking questions, she grabbed a pair of black pants from the table she had become used to seeing a candle on and pulled them on as well, twisting to grab a leather belt that lay a little out of her reach . . .

A stretch that was too much for her and she screamed, her hands going to her tender chest as the wound pulsed angrily in protest at the movement. Cambre had warned her about what she could and could not do but she still was too stubborn to pay attention to him. Snarling under her breath at her stupidity, Nethial turned and bent over to grab what she had been after, securing it tightly over her waist before clipping her recovered sheath into its rightful place on her hip. The dragons had went back to the site of the fight and found it after Tanui had been brought in to be held under strict security, giving it to her only after she had recovered enough to not break down after seeing the distraught clone fight through one of his moments of insanity. It was still hard for her to watch him struggle against something she knew so well even after a solid month had passed since he had told her the truth about hiding it from all of them.

Shaking her head, Nethial sighed and sat down on the bed, flexing her metal feet carefully as she pondered how Ladetis was handling the separation from his master. Staying in the same room she had when she had first arrived here for as long as she had, she knew most of the dragons that worked to heal those that needed treatment, the only real reason she hadn't left the hidden recovery center yet besides Tanui having remained here for just as long. Unfortunately, his mind was breaking apart more rapidly, at least according to Cambre and Valur, and sane moments for him were very rare.

Pushing herself up from the small framed mattress, she paused briefly to grab the same weathered black cloak Cambre had given her on the first day of her stay at the location before leaving the room. Her eyes scanned the barren white hallway outside the door and she sighed before turning left and starting to walk down the lonely corridor towards where Tanui was held. It didn't take her long to get to the jailed section of the building and she stopped just inside the large rounded room to make mental contact with Ladetis. The dragonet hadn't taken kindly to being told his master was going insane and so the first few days following Tanui's reveal had been tense with a fear that the poison-welder would attack the secret cavern network to get to his rider.

Ladetis hadn't attacked them but he had grown quiet in the weeks following, a sense of depression lingering over his thoughts every time Nethial talked with him. She felt bad for him having to watch as the only one he cared for was being broken down before him and she tried her best to keep him informed on the daily life at the center since he couldn't be there to see with his own eyes. He had found a teacher in the short time since the attack, Satyr agreeing to work with him on his poisonous abilities and how to control them. Nethial was silently glad he was receiving training for his element, the painful memory of his attack on her washing over her every time she glanced at her metal legs.

Nethial sighed as she leaned against the wall right inside the room, watching as various dragons moved around in their cages, each held for some different crime that they had committed, although most were just retained for slaughtering a fellow scale-flier in cold blood. She wished Tanui's punishment was that simple but knew he was under his own nightmarish destruction from within his own mind. The thought of his mental state sent a chill up her spine and she wrapped the frayed black cloak tighter around her body, wishing the white fledgling would respond to her quickly so she could check on how the clone was doing for the day.

It has been a while since we talked, Ladetis hummed gently as Nethial closed her eyes, tilting her head back to lean against the white wall behind her, enjoying hearing the deep growl of the hatchling's mind once again touch her own.

It's been a few days, she replied softly, hearing the sound of metal scraping against metal as the captives were each given an evaluation to see how they were doing, a process done daily to ensure sickness remained a low concern. Anything new going on with your training?

Not really much of interest. Satyr told me that I am already surpassing the talent of many of the dragonets she has trained in previous years, but that doesn't surprise me given my lineage.

Nethial chuckled softly under her breath at his comment, sensing a much happier mind set for the dragon than in recent weeks. I'm glad for you, she admitted as she rubbed her neck absentmindedly.

Any word on Tanui? His use of his master's name surprised Nethial at first, having expected him to refer to the clone as 'master' as the dragon always did during their discussions.

None yet. I came early so we might not know for a few more hours. I hope it's a good day for him . . .

The dragon snorted, appalled. You know those are rare. Cambre and Valur both told you to not get your hopes up.

Ladetis's brutality shocked her but then she understood why he had seemed in such a better mood at the start of their talk. He must have known she didn't like sensing his depressed state over his master's decline and tried to make himself seem happy to get her distracted so she wouldn't feel his usual weariness as the topic turned to Tanui.

I know, she muttered, disappointed in the white fledgling for trying to deceive her. I still have hope that maybe things can turn around, that we can get him back . . .

I wish I had your enthusiasm, Ladetis growled before leaving her alone in the room as he had to cut off their mental communication short because of something Satyr wanted him to get to work on concerning his training.

Nethial shook her head sadly as she opened her eyes, glancing toward the direction of Tanui's cell, the farthest back and also the most secluded due to his violent outbursts and fits of rage. She waited a couple of minutes before making her way over to the isolated area, hoping he had already been seen for the day and that she could go in and try to talk to him. As she neared, she saw two dragons exit the room, one of them Cambre and the other a pale blue dragon who she knew to be the main individual in charge of keeping a check on Tanui. Her pace doubled at seeing both of them standing together, possibly talking between themselves about the man she was starting to hold out hope for and wishing there was any sign of recovery.

"I'm sorry I arrived late," she apologized as she stopped before them and Cambre's gaze flickered to meet her own, a low snarl rising from his jaws at her interruption of them.

It is not a problem, the lighter colored dragon growled as Cambre relaxed, his eyes still fixated on her despite her admittance of being behind schedule for getting to see Tanui first thing in the morning. I was just going over with Cambre the status of the clone this morning. Would you like to know?

"Yes, if it doesn't cause any trouble," Nethial muttered as her gaze dropped to the ground, ashamed to even be asked if she wanted to know how Ladetis's rider was doing.

It never has been inconvenient, Nethial.

Get to the point, Aldi, Cambre grumbled, tapping the floor with the end of his tail.

The dragon snorted, swinging his head over to Nethial for her to see his green irises in full glory. Fine, fine. He hasn't improved much but he hasn't declined anymore for the moment. Psychosis still remains a big part of his lack of communication but he seemed to register my presence this morning during my evaluation of him.

Despite herself, Nethial grinned, finding hope in Aldi's words that the man she wanted to come back to them was trying his hardest to find a way to return. "So I can go on in and see him?"

I don't see why not.

Slipping past the two dragons, thanking them for allowing her to see him as she did so, Nethial pulled open the door to his cage and stepped inside, shutting it behind her as she listened for any sign of Tanui. She didn't have to wait long to hear him, his voice low but terribly grating as she found him crouched in a corner, his eyes wide and unfocused.

"No . . . I wouldn't . . . You can't . . . Leave me alone."

Removing her cloak, Nethial gently lowered the fabric to the ground before she took a step towards him, only to bring out a snarl from the clone as he pressed harder into the metal bars behind him. He shook slightly, his shrunken pupils nearly lost under the blaze of his red irises.

"I should kill you."

Nethial hesitated at hearing the venom in his tone, his voice becoming steadier as his eyes closed, his head tilting back to rest against the thick shafts of steel used to make the cell escape-proof. She shook off the remark, going over to him and stroking his hair as he jerked under her touch, grimacing as visions plagued him from within his tortured mind. Having been mad for a time, she understood his plight to an extent, wishing she could do something to take away his pain.

Master, Ladetis growled softly from within Nethial's mind, Tanui's condition leaving the dragon unable to have direct mental contact with him. We care about you, even in your darkest hours. Come back to us, we need you.

Tanui thrashed violently, slapping away Nethial's hand and curling up on the floor, trembling severely. Nethial sighed, moving away as she watched him twitch and grasp at his head, moaning occasionally in distress. She wanted to help him and knew Ladetis was in agreement with her on that subject but she hadn't figured out a way to be of any use. It was clear he was spiraling out of control, his mental state deteriorating each day by some degree. Having held himself so rigidly for so long, she wasn't very surprised at how quickly things had fallen apart once he attacked her and revealed he knew about his decaying condition.

A scream tore from his lips and Nethial blinked, finding his eyes open once more and fixated on her. His chest heaved as if he was trying to catch his breath, but he seemed calmer as he pulled himself up by using the metal bars right next to him. One hand still clutched at his head but his eyes looked more normal than they had in weeks, the black of his pupils able to be distinguished from the unnatural red of his irises.

"Nethial," he whispered as a slight tremble racked his frame. "You came."

She reached for him, patting his leg as she realized just how much he knew of daily events. He probably didn't remember much since his initial revelation of his mental state but it only made her ache for him more.

"I won't leave you," she assured him as Tanui rested his head against the walls of his prison.

"I can't promise you the same."

"I know." Her admittance of that fact made her think back to Ladetis and how he had given up hope when she still fought for the man she loved. Loyalties were easy broken in the wake of medical concerns, something she knew all too well from her own experience.

Enjoying their time together despite the shape he was in, Nethial flinched when Tanui hissed suddenly, grasping his head as he closed his eyes. "Go!" He commanded raspily, visibly shaking as he pressed his back harder against the steel bars behind him.

Her hesitation must have shown because a low growl rattled his frame before he screamed, begging her to get away before he fully lost it and went after her again. The message stuck in her head as Nethial whirled around, pausing for only a few seconds to grab her cloak and glance back at him before she hurried out of the cell.

Aldi and Cambre were waiting for her right outside the door and she took a few minutes to collect herself before she looked up at them. The one who had rebuilt her was struggling to control his rage, she noticed as the tip of his tail twitched rapidly, a low growl rising from his throat.

You could have been killed, Cambre snapped, locking one grey iris on her as Nethial tossed her cloak on, holding her ground against the fierce stare. I told you to not get your hopes up but you still go in there every day like you want a death wish. Get it through your head that he's insane!

Cambre, maybe you're a little harsh on the girl-

The ice dragon snarled in protest, cutting off Aldi. I am not. She needs to get it through her thick skull that the man that saved her isn't here anymore. He's been fading for weeks, losing more of himself as time passes.

"You're wrong," Nethial whispered, curling one hand tightly into a fist as she tried to not shake with rage. "I will find a way to bring him back . . ."

He can't be brought back. There's nothing to recover!

Aldi's green eyes narrowed, his gaze shifting from Cambre to Nethial. It is worth a try. Maybe there isn't anything we can do but it will buy us some time to help him. Nethial, you may go and search for answers on how to slow the progression of his madness.

This is crazy! You're letting her do this, Cambre snarled, his eyes gleaming with hidden fury.

I have the right to let her, Cambre. The clone's dragon and her are free to do what they want, within reason, Aldi hummed, inclining his head toward Nethial and nudging her gently with his snout. Go and see what you can find out.

"Of course, Aldi," Nethial muttered as he took a step back, raising his head back up as she nodded and then walked past, glaring at Cambre as she passed him.

I will let Satyr know to have the dragon ready for you, Aldi called out after her and a smile broke out on Nethial's face before she left the chamber, a plan forming in her mind of how to find out information.

Ladetis met her outside the facility, a deep rumble resounding from his throat as Nethial filled him in on everything that had happened since the morning. The hatchling was concerned over Cambre's reaction to her plan to go find information and he voiced his uncertainty as she climbed up on him and relaxed, finding the motion natural to her body even after losing most of her legs.

The white hatchling growled as he flared his wings, rushing off the ground in a burst of wind the next minute. Nethial found herself clinging to the spine before her from the force of his lunge into the air as they left the island behind and set a course back to the mainland, per her instructions.

What is the plan? He asked as they settled into a long flight over crystal clear water, white clouds drifting high above them as the dragon hung close to the liquid below to gain more speed.

We return to the Corruption-controlled cavern where you found me. That clone Tanui nearly strangled should be able to give us information, one way or another.

You plan to endanger him? Ladetis questioned, his wingtips skimming and occasionally dipping into the clear water under them.

Not unless I have to, Nethial whispered, thinking back to how Tanui had seemed during her meeting with him. I'd rather not have innocent blood on my hands if I can help it, at least not his . . .

Ladetis snorted, pulling upward to settle into an air current. Gregal isn't Tanui, Nethial. He may look the same, may be a clone of Tamli just as my master is, but he's not the one we know and love.

A sigh escaped her as Nethial closed her eyes, shaking her head slightly. She wondered just how Ladetis could see the difference between the clones, between identical versions of the most powerful dragon-human hybrid to exist. It wasn't so easy for her to think of another fellow clone of her former love as someone who wasn't Tanui. With his memory impaired and the mental separation of identity from the original steadily growing worse, there had to be others like him who were going through the same thing.

I never truly knew something was wrong until it was too late, she muttered softly as Ladetis hummed gently, comforting her mentally as the open sea before them stretched on for miles, meeting the very edge of the horizon . . .