It was dark and grey clouds drifted along the night sky as Emmett walked down the porch steps. Anala stood on the lawn, the glow of the house falling on her softly. Her deep red lips were smiling softly and her eyes were bright and endless. She was excited for this. Emmett had only been to that place, to the Contiguous plane, a handful of times. Searching for her. He didn't meet other Layame or see any creatures. He saw very little of it and wasn't exactly in the mood to really explore at the time. But to her, it was home. She and Nolan had been born there, lived their lives until they were brought here by less than ideal circumstances. Emmett's heart ached with love that she wanted to share it with him. He still found himself making sure she was real on occasion, that he wasn't in the midst of a psychotic break. But she was here.

And she loved him.

Of all the men. Of all the monsters.

The dress and high socks teased him, accentuating her hourglass frame and brushing teasingly against the soft caramel skin of her thighs7. And she was naked under it. Iliana had explained Temple law to him briefly before she left. Emmett admittedly had a rebellious streak but he knew that he had to follow these laws. He was given permission to be there at all. He wouldn't risk not being with his mate.

"Law one: you must attend the Prayers." Emmett didn't know who they prayed to. He had heard mentions of a Goddess. What was she goddess of? Did they pray to other gods? What were the prayers? Emmett had been born in a Catholic household but he wasn't particularly religious. Becoming a blood hungry immortal made one question such subjects. He believed there were forces much bigger than anything he could understand and Emmett was fine calling it God since that was the only title he knew it as. He was interested.

"Law two: you will not shed blood on temple ground." Iliana had said violence was not accepted. The temple was a place of peace. Easy enough.

"Law three: "you will not taint the Oracle during your residence inside the temple.

The Outland temple was sacred and was to be treated as such. As a man from the outside world, he was strictly forbidden from having sex with Anala. She was the Oracle. They were Mates, surely he was not tainting her. But that was law and Anala was treasured to them. While he didn't like the thought of having to restrain himself, Emmett would oblige. He stood at her side and she looked up at him, her eyes penetrating and impossibly green. Her fingers slipped between his own and she stepped closer to him. "Sure you're not going to regret it?"

"Never."

She smiled and tugged lightly on his hands. He leaned down and she pressed a sweet kiss to his lips. "Don't let go," she whispered.

Then everything went black.

He couldn't see, or hear, or feel. It was cold, like he'd been pulled into a black hole. His survival instincts were triggered but before he could react his feet were on solid ground and the distant sound of birds was in his ears and the sun was shining down on him. The air tasted fresh and the grass was lush beneath his feet. The sun was high above them, showing it was around noon. They stood near a dirt path. It weaved beside a large pristine lake and on the other side of it was a huge formation of grey rock, stretching alongside the water. The lake's surface glittered as it reflected the sun's rays, shining like crystal. A large tree stood some distance away at the edge of the water. Beyond the lake were rolling hills and a lone, snow-capped mountain behind them. To his right were tall trees, leaves a red-orange he usually saw in the fall. Something stirred beneath the waters' surface. Emmett caught the sight of mustard yellow scales before whatever it was disappeared again. It was definitely too big to be a fish.

Cool.

Anala was lovely. The sun shone on her silky black hair and her eyes were dazzling in the light. A warm breeze carried past and his mind sorted the myriad of scents: grass, trees and dirt and fresh water. There were faint traces of other scents on the wind, ones he couldn't put names to. Anala's eyes closed briefly before she tugged him along by the hand, moving to walk along the edge of the water.

"This way," she said.

The ground elevated some, earth and grass rising above the water. "How do you know where to go?" he asked her, looking around.

"I can find the temple anywhere. It was built as a sanctuary for the Oracles so the Oracles know where it is, no matter where it happens to end up."

"Where are we?"

"North," she replied. She pointed past the trees and forest. "My home, the Arceon, is located in the Chandael Forests which are in that direction. It's about a three or four day's flight, one to two if you're in a rush. The Ael'z tribes are located in these parts but further north from here. We're more inland. That's where I was yesterday."

"Are they one of the Clans?" he asked.

Anala nodded. "They are closer to the border though, just on this side of the mountains. Beyond that is the outlands."

They were walking through the trees, tall and brilliant red. Emmett assisted her over a large fallen tree and his eyes searched curiously as he picked up a strange bird call. It sat a few dozen trees away, high up in the branches. The bird was fairly large, about the size of fully matured hawk with a long, graceful neck. It was covered in a glossy blue-violet plume, tail feathers nearly as long as it's body. The feathers were speckled with yellow spots near the ends and its beak, talons, and eyes were black. In the distance was a similar call. The bird released another trill, the sound unlike anything he'd ever heard, before it took flight and disappeared. Emmett felt like he had been dropped on another planet. This world was beautiful and strange, filled with creatures and people he had never before encountered the likes of before. His senses were overwhelmed, taking in everything. He suddenly realized he would have to learn the language. He wasn't really sure English was the common tongue here.

"What language do you speak? Is there more than one? Is English even spoken here?"

Anala weaved gracefully through the trees, her footfalls barely distinguishable to the untrained ear. Her eyes met his before she disappeared behind a tree. She was suddenly farther ahead to the right of him and Emmett darted towards her, only for her to disappear behind another tree. Emmett grinned, listening. The heartbeat came again and he spun to see her right behind him. She reached out rested her hands on his waist.

"I, as the rest of my race speak Elrar. There are slight differences in dialects depending on which region you come from but more or less it is the same everywhere but we have a couple more obscure tongues from the ancient times of our early ancestors. English isn't an often spoken language here but there are those who've learned it, and other languages to travel to the human world. There are a few other languages here, but that's because we are not the only creatures on this plane. We exist with the Fae, Natural Vampires, Wyverns, Lycans," she smirked. "Dragons."

"Dragons?" she had to be joking. She had to be.

"Well, at least that's what the legends say."

"What legends?" she took his hand and they continued on. "There are a few different ones and variations but it is said that before the angels fell, Dragons occupied these lands. They existed here for thousands of years and witnessed the fall of the Angels. They fell to the earth, but seven fell into this plane. Seven angels, seven clans. Once the first of the Layame were born to the Mages, the dragons told the seven that these lands were a gift to the Firstborn heir of the First Angel, creating the royal family whose purpose would serve to be the anchor, the element that was keep our people thriving and alive. It is said that the Goddess herself told one dragon that they must stay to protect the land. The dragon asked why and she said a charge would be born to them, a connection forged of its power and that it would be needed. So the dragon returned to the earth and slept, waiting."

"So there's a dragon roaming around?"

Anala laughed. "Of course not. No one has ever seen such a creature. The closest thing to a dragon I've seen is Zain. Wyverns are the closest relatives to the ancient Dragons and that relation is very distant. They are reptilian and can manipulate fire sure, but Dragons are incredibly powerful, much more than any creatures you'd find today."

"But the story had to come from somewhere right?"

"I suppose so. There's always some truth to legends and old stories. It's mostly just a story told to children."

They entered a large field filled with tall grass littered with pale blue flowers. It moved upwards, forming a bit of a hill. The bright sun was warm against his skin, yet it felt different than it usually did. It seemed more vibrant, less of a dull warmth and more like a physical caress on his lifeless flesh. The flowers smelled light and sweet and their fragrance began to cling to Anala, blending softly with her mysterious, seductive scent. Emmet pulled her into his side and his still heart throbbed as she rested her head against him. Another question came to him.

"If you were born at the Arceon how did you end up at the Temple?"

"When an Oracle has her first vision the former becomes aware of it. The Temple was created to house the Oracles and their Mages. A place to learn and develop in a sanctuary uninfluenced by the exterior world. It brings us closer to the Goddess. I had my first vision when I was seven. Iliana came and I decided to take my place as Oracle."

"Their Mages?"

"Once the oracle has their first vision and are brought to the temple they are taken to the Mages, where they chose a few to be vessels. From the moment they are chosen the Mages are raised with the Oracle. Coming into a power like this is straining and they serve as catalysts for her power, to harmonize it within each other and are bound by a deep spiritual bond." He could hear the fondness in her voice. "Usually one or two are picked, but I ended up with three."

"Greedy girl," he teased.

"Shut up," she muttered, sticking her tongue out at him.

A scent carried in the air and he inhaled. Emmett's ears picked up the sound of a heartbeat beyond the field. They were still not far enough to see nothing more than the grass, but someone was out there. Emmett was wary and excited at once. He didn't know what to expect, it could be a threat for all he knew, and his senses were on high alert. His body hummed, energy roiling under the surface. His mind was racing however. What would it be? Layame? Something else? How would he kill it if they healed? But what if it wasn't a threat? The thought made him pause. Anala seemed perfectly calm. Maybe he was overreacting.

But what if he wasn't?

Emmett and Anala walked over the hill and his eyes quickly spotted the figure near the edge of the field, stooped down at the base of a tree. The figure straightened and turned towards them. It was a woman. And a gorgeous one at that. Anala pulled herself from his side, jogging forward. Emmett hung back, observing as his mate made her way towards the stranger. She was roughly Anala's height, if not slightly taller. Her skin was a rich bronzed brown, smooth and lovely like milk chocolate. Her dark hair fell around her breasts in beautiful curls and her eyes were a warm hazel-brown. The woman was looking at them, but didn't seem to really see them. Anala approached the woman and they reached out to each other, smiling widely. The woman stepped close and pressed her head against Anala's. Something passed between them in that moment, Emmett felt the energy of it on his skin. They spoke to each other, that soft, hypnotic language rolling off their tongues. Anala touched her face and the woman pressed her hands to his mate's ribcage, leaning in to press their lips together.

Anala pulled back, holding the woman's hand. "Kaessra, srek ek kae Maeku, Emmett."

He was being introduced, that much he understood. The woman spoke to Anala as her eyes looked to him, stepping forward. She was staring at him with an odd gaze. Again it didn't seem like she was looking at him, like he was transparent and she merely acknowledged a presence. Why was she looking at him like that? He couldn't understa—oh. Emmett was surprised he didn't catch on sooner. The strange stare wasn't a stare at all. This woman was blind. The distant stare wasn't caused by a particular reaction to his presence, she simply couldn't see him. But that didn't mean she was unaware. Her senses were much more heightened, and there was something about her that told him she wasn't hindered by her lack of physical sight. She extended her arms and Emmett found himself reaching out, meeting her hands. Her skin was warm.

"Em, this is Kaessra. One of my mages."

She tugged lightly on his hand as the other touched his chest, his neck, and once he lowered, his face. Her head brushed his own and a soft warmth spread through him. A gentle force moved through Emmett and the power under his skin touched it. It was the strangest incident and he couldn't describe it. This was new, but it was also the most natural sensation he had ever felt next to recognizing his Mate. Something inside him recognized the connection, the pass of energy, so instinctually Emmett had barely realized he had learned in and did that. It had lasted a short moment, and the woman, Kaessra, had pulled back, smiling up at him.

"Lorra, Emmett."

He gave Anala a questioning look. "Hello?" he guessed.

She nodded, a smile on her full lips. He looked down to the Mage before him. "Lorra."

Kaessra smiled wider and stepped back. The pale orange material of her light dress fluttered in the breeze and she stooped down, picking up a basket filled with a variety of herbs, tied in bundles with bits of string. Anala was at his side and Emmett took her hand, feeling a lot better having her close where he could ease his edgy monster. She and Kaessra talked softly as their little group walked. Emmett listened intently, taking in the words he didn't understand simply for the sound. The conversation was soft and smooth and mesmerizing. Anala occasionally translated for him, the two women teaching him a few phrases. After a short ten minute walk the trees revealed a grassy clearing that opened to nothing more than immense green earth and endless blue sky. In the midst, was the Outland Temple.

Emmett stopped, making Anala pause and look up at him. "Holy shit."