'The blood of a fallen or stripped angel'
It didn't add up to why Karina could create Novas.
She was left to pawn over question marks smeared over her past, her present, her identity.
"You need….the blood of a fallen angel to create Novas?"
"Yes. That's exactly why Milo went crazy over it. Novas on earth...that too created by a human. That is beyond impossible; it could never happen in a million years."
"But it did."
"You know, it's weird how you explain things when I ask you and call me a mundane; even a hundred different words for a human. Yet you accuse me and talk like you want to kill me. What's stopping you now?"
"I can't kill you...because you are evidently human. We can't kill humans and I don't want to dig myself a bigger pit to bury myself in."
"You're still unsure.
"What?"
"You seem unsure like you're just trying to show me you're scary but you're not sure yourself; whether I am what you think of me to be."
Dario edged closer to her, "Are you trying to provoke me?" Karina grew intimidated; trying to hide her obvious sign of discomfort.
"No. I'm just pointing out what I see."
Dario just cast a lazy look, "Sure."
After an uncomfortable silence, Dario slightly moved his fingers in a wisp, instantly keeping her stuck; immovable. Her body fought hard to break the invisible tension imposed on her, wrapping her tightly in place.
Her eyebrows furrowed in frustration, the heavyweight of dread crushing her showed in her eyes.
"I won't kill you...or hurt you, don't worry mundane. I just need to find a trace." He leaned closer, "Angel blood."
Karina attempted to let out a scream for help; but was instantly cut off when Dario clenched his fist, emptying her voice.
Dario kept his entire focus on her; slightly twirling his hands in subtle movements of control.
Karina felt pulled; like her internal self was drawn and clutched, closer and closer towards Dario. He was trying to reach the depths of her, like he was trying to find a trace of something.
The slight discomfort slowly turned into suffocation. The air entering her lungs narrowed into almost nothing; fluctuating surges in the atmosphere around her.
The pain alleviated and started becoming unbearable, her face constricted in horror. Just when she felt her losing consciousness while being sucked into nothing, she heard an objecting voice.
Jonah.
He lunged towards Dario, grabbing his hands, breaking the bond he held with Karina.
Regaining control, Karina choked and coughed; grabbing her neck, loudly inhaling a surge of air.
"What the fuck were you thinking?" Jonah was frantic, pushing Dario away, "You could have killed her! Don't you remember what that's going to bring on you goddammit? On us?" Dario stood still, who was in a slight state of shock.
"I lost control. I thought they messed with her with ichorous blood."
"She could have died, and you know it." Realization seemed to dawn on Jonah, "You're weakened, you're losing control over your powers."
Dario angrily whispered something inaudible to Karina. Her eyelids were droopy; any energy she had was sucked out of her.
Jonah turned to Karina, checking to see if she was alright, "How are you feeling now?"
"Tired. A bit dizzy."
Jonah took her hand softly, his right palm over hers. Karina felt a glowing surge of energy again. "Thank you." She sighed, trying to move around.
She met Dario's eyes; but this time, she couldn't make out his face. There was no sign of any hate or anger; it didn't look like he was sorry. He just easily shut down any possible clarity to the common eye.
Karina wished she could hide her emotions like him.
"She didn't have any trace of ichor. I saw...the Desert of Sansak"
"What is that?"
"It's a desert, bright red and very very hot. It's a remnant of different realms together. It's one of the common points of different realms."
Desert..bright red...Karina was taken back to the haunting dream she had. The figure that had looked like one of her parents.
"I...had a dream once. It was in a bright red desert. Everything was surrounded by smoke, I saw someone. Weirdly, it felt like I saw my parents."
Jonah and Dario looked taken aback. "You seriously saw them?" Jonah asked her, concerned.
"I think so."
When she looked up again, Dario had already strode towards the entrance, vanishing in a swift. She was just left with one of many questions.
Were her parents from Enkeli?"