Chapter 36

                                    

                                          
There's a bit of gore in this chapter. If you don't want to read it you can PM me and I can give you a summary of the chapter.


                          
"I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain." 
                          
--James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time  

                          
***
                          
A gasp tore itself out of me as I sat up. I looked around me carefully before standing up.
                          
My senses were on high alert trying to pinpoint where Zephyr's brother was. He wasn't anywhere in The Howling Woods. I'm completely alone.
                          
A frown pulled at my lips as I walked through the labyrinth of trees. Why isn't Azazel here? He's always there when I wake up. 
                          
"It's been a long time, Silver."
                          
I whirled around and saw a man of about thirty; light brown hair, blue eyes, and a light dusting of a beard around his jaw. He was slightly muscular and wore dark jeans, a simple dark green shirt, boots, and a black leather jacket. A sword rested on his hip. He looked so calm and laidback. 
                          
I narrowed my eyes at him.
                          
"Who are you?" I asked as I slowly reached for my right dagger but let my hand hover over the handle. I'm waiting for him to give me a reason to draw my weapons.
                          
A sympathetic smile crossed his face. 
                          
"I'm Maeve's husband." 
                          
Dante.
                          
My eyes widened as something I couldn't describe flowed through my body; the hand that was reaching for my dagger fell limply at my side.
                          
"You've grown so much, Silver."
                          
I shook my head and growled, "You're just an illusion. My father is dead."
                          
"I'm so sorry, little dragon. I never meant for this to happen to you." His eyes reflected his sadness.
                          
I bared my pointed teeth and hissed, "Shut up! Don't call me that! You had your chance to save me and you just ignored me. You let Maeve hurt me; didn't even try to stop her."
                          
At least he didn't join her in the chase. I'm sure I would've died then despite the prophecy.
                          
"I didn't want to." His response made my heart bleed. 
                          
All this time I thought he was trying to stop my mother from hurting me or tried to talk her out of it but he just stood by, deaf to my pain. I barely saw him around the house before I left. He was just as much a stranger as my mother was. 
                          
"You were an abomination. To think my first child would be born blind. I hated you. I hated your very existence and wanted you dead."
                          
Each word continued to cut my heart to shreds. To hear your parents say that to you is even worse than a slow and painful death. 
                          
Where was the love they were supposed to show me? 
                          
"I died during the Purge and with my dying breath I cursed your life hoping you would suffer for having that Tainted blood running through your veins."
                          
"Maeve had the same blood." I stated, flummoxed. 
                          
He shook his head. "Her blood cured her illness; yours took away your sight, made you useless."
                          
It's always the Dragon Race. Without them, I would've had loving parents and never had to pick up a weapon to survive. But I also would've remained in the dark. With them, I managed to open up to others and met a too energetic cat along the way. I'd rather take their hatred instead of living the life I could've had. Meeting Cloud and the others is enough to make me satisfied with the life I'm living now.