"Of all the things to ask about, you decide on something like recognition?" Kain asked.
Tyler narrowed his eyes at the sorcerer. "Lucky I wasn't asking you." The blue eyed boy snapped. "Recognition is the recognizing of the soul. It's the bond between life mates." Edymond answered, in hopes of stopping an argument before it started. Myriahs eyes found Axels and his deep frown slightly lifted when he watched her cheeks stain pink. "I remember Zafrina and Axel explaining it to Myriah. I-"
Tyler sighed and he ran a rough hand through his hair. "I don't know-"
"Are you curious about the fever?" Myriah asked hopefully, which earned her a tilt of the head from Axel. They both knew that she was well aware of what was on the boys mind....
"W-what was it like for you?" Tyler asked Myriah helplessly. Myriah moved to sit on her haunches in front of the upset boy. "It was hell for me." Myriah whispered as she brought her hands to either side of Tyler's head and closed her eyes. "What are you-" with a yelp Tyler was taken back to the day that Myriah had the fever. The blue eyed boys eyes widened at the destruction that he saw... the immense pain he felt...
Before he could register what was going on he was back in the living room, with everyone surrounding them.
"I woke up in Alexander's facility. I thought I had somehow survived this new dangerous virus... turns out I am this entirely different type of creature." Myriah murmured, "After meeting Axel, Atoli and Angalo, I learned that I have an entirely new path in front of me. Instead of decades, I could have centuries. I can heal those who are hurt and I can just as easily take life away."
Tyler slowly nodded, "Im still processing and learning to deal with the fact that the family I thought I had, isn't my family at all. I'm dealing with the fact that I was an average honor roll student and now I'm this powerful being." Myriah tilted her head as she offered an assuring smile, "I'm still a Myriah... I'm just..." she shrugged, "I'm destined for different things, you know?"
"What about... your parents?" Tyler whispered, "Mika told me mine are dead..."
Myriahs gentle hands gently touched his knees and she guided him to look into her eyes, "From what I've learned in these past few weeks is that that which is passed is still in our hearts. And it always will be." Tyler covered his face with his hands and his shoulders started to shake. He didn't even get to say goodbye to them.
Tyler barely felt the strong hand that came on top of his right shoulder.
"Your parents were two of the most genuine people I have ever met. And I've been alive for a very long time." Axel murmured in solemn tones, "Your father was killed before I even knew what was going on, and your mother sacrificed herself to ensure that I would keep you safe." Axel murmured at which Tyler stilled completely. "Why-" Myriah started at the same that that Mika said: "Tyler-" Tyler lunged at Axel with a growl, sad eyes now consumed by anger. Axel barely had time to shove Myriah out of the way as Tyler shoved him into the vintage cherrywood coffee table that was behind him, crushing it completely.
Myriah tried to come between them to be held back by Edymond. Jasmine was pulled back by Kain while Mika tried to pull Tyler away from Axel who didn't try to fight the angry boy on top of him. Pinning him to the carpet with his forearm across his neck.
"You're powerful!" Tyler cried as he shoved Mika away from himself. "Myriah promised that none could beat you!" Axel blinked at the boys outburst, "you could have saved them both!" Axel felt a lump in his throat as the memory came back to him full force. "Tyler-" "You should have saved them!" Gentle blue eyes were now a raging black with golden irises, as Tyler punched the vampire in his jaw. Myriah covered her mouth as tears filled her eyes when she saw Axels blood spill from his mouth. "Why didn't you?!" Tyler cried, "How could you let them die?!"
"Axel-" Myriah tried to go to him again but Edymond wouldn't release her, "let go of me!" Myriah muttered. Mika tried to pull Tyler away again, for his glare to be directed at her, "Do not interfere!" Mika bowed her head as tears blurred her vision. "Tyler..." the amber eyed girl pleaded, but he completely ignored her.
"I didn't let them die." Axel whispered. Tyler's next punch halted. "I was trying to get them out." The vampire took a deep breath in hopes of composing himself, "I was focused on the soldiers and where they were. My mind was on an escape route..." Axel closed his eyes to keep his own tears from escaping. "I was compelling your parents to forget me. To know that you were safe and happy and that you would see them one day."
Axel sighed when Tyler relaxed his stance, "before I knew what was happening, your father was in front of me, then his head jerked back... and he was gone." The tears spilled from Tyler's eyes onto Axels shirt.
It was in this moment that Axel cursed his bond with Myriah. Surely he was getting soft. The thought was confirmed when he caught his brothers perplexed expression. Had he not been ensnared by the lavender eyed vixen, this boy would have been knocked out for daring to accuse and hit him. "I grabbed your mother and tried to get her to escape... she said to give you her love, and to give you our protection. They always knew you were special and they were so proud to have been your parents...." Axel cleared his throat and he gently shoved the sobbing boy off of himself. Part of him considered getting even... With a sigh, the vampire sat up and pulled the boy into a firm embrace. "I am sorry for your loss, boy. I am sorry to have failed in protecting your parents. Know that in keeping you safe, I have honored their last wish and for that, their spirits are at peace."
Axel wondered if Myriah would be proud of him for putting the better foot forward by not harming a newborn. He internally berated himself for allowing the thought to cross his mind.
Tyler slowly returned Axels embrace and Myriah finally succeeded in shoving Edymond from herself. She pulled Tyler away from Axel and scooted between Axels legs until she couldn't scoot anymore. Axel blinked when Myriah leaned into him until her nose was touching his. "My-" "You shouldn't have let him hit you." Myriah snapped as she healed the black bruise that was forming in Axels right cheek. So much for appealing to Myriahs gentle nature by understanding the boy and not hurting him. Axel caught her hand in his and he shook his head. Telling her that the bruise didn't need to be healed. Myriah offered him a warm smile as she pressed her forehead to his for a moment. Before Axel could say anything, Myriah spun on Tyler who was blinking at the small girl in front of him, while looking at Axel for help. Said Vampire simply got to his feet and lightly dusted himself off. He sat in a recliner perfectly at ease with his decision to not come to Tyler's rescue by redirecting Myriahs anger at himself.
Surely the gods have blessed his many good deeds by placing Myriah as his shield and sword.
"Call it even for you getting to punch me." Axel explained with a half shrug. For some reason smaller women were angrier and there for scarier than the average woman. After a brief recollection of how Myriah was tossing him around like a rag doll last time he intervened with her temper, the silver eyed male decided: He was staying put.
"Your blind anger made Mika cry." Myriah poked his chest, "You also shoved her pretty hard." Tyler felt like a child being reprimanded by his mother, he looked at Mika who was sniffling and dabbing at her eyes, embarrassed to be on the spot. "I understand you're going through a lot, you're newly changed, and you just found out about your parents. But that is no reason to yell at or hurt Mika." Myriah scolded. Tyler looked to all of the other men in the room. Angalo disappeared on account of Atoli waking up. Kain was suddenly very interested in the book he was reading, and Edymond looked around helplessly, lest he be forced to interfere and further risk the wrath of the goddess. He looked to Axel who sat in a recliner resting his elbows on his knees. "Don't look to me, elf." The vampire murmured as he extended his hand to receive some files Jasmine was handing to him, "Be aware, if my brothers home is destroyed, his mate is also a ball of fun when she's angry."
Tyler regretted his bond with Axel. Of all of the people to be bonded to by a life debt… it had to be someone like him.
'Traitor.'