NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: A Rest
Last Time on
A Dream?... More Like A Nightmare
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"I ain't cleared you…", the doctor finally stated, to the amusement of Lelilah as she walked out of the school to stand next to her boyfriend and take an appreciative glance at John's body, before grabbing Darren's hand and pressing her own against him as he continued, "...so what the hell are you doing out of bed?!?!?!?!". The doctor finally allowed himself to roar out as a black aura covered his body, striking fear into the people still watching from the school windows.
John however, had been exposed to fear all of his life. So, it wasn't surprising when he wasn't affected by the doctor's power to, literally, instill terror into people who saw him, and drawled back, "Sorry doc, there was a medical emergency.", the boy sassed as he finally allowed himself to fall onto his back next to a still Sera before curling his back into her side, too tired to care for much of anything other than resting, but too afraid to go back to sleep.
Once more, Sera found herself in John's room, resting next to him, only this time he was awake to acknowledge her. She was curled into his body, searching for reassurance that her amber eyed young man was with her, and found it in the rough and calloused hand rubbing circles into her shoulders. She pulled him tighter against her as she felt it in the the other hand pressed in the nape of her neck, pulling her head into his chest as she took in his scent; the heady musk of John that she'd always adored, smoky sandalwood mixed with the shampoo he'd used to take a shower only minutes before. With her head buried into his chest, she could ignore his half lidded champagne eyes staring at her patiently to begin talking. She couldn't bring herself to speak so she studied his scars in silence with her hands, taking in the various bumps, cuts, and craters that made up his torso, as well as the newly raised flesh from the lion's claws on his shoulder. She didn't care for the royals in beds around her, she also chose to continue ignoring the still dazed and dreamily giggling Elaine sitting on the other side of John, pressing her back against his laying form to the king's confusion. She remembered him looking around for help after Darren had given everyone an order to rest for the day, only for the other girls to keep their pouts and join the embarrassed boys in denying John's existence.
She gave a tearful giggle as she pulled back slightly to see the still horrified face of Isen as he stared off into nowhere, muttering things under his breath, 'How does he not know?!' and, 'I can't tell him!!!', seemed to be on repeat as he rocked back and forth in bed. Blyke simply slept haphazardly on his own bed next to the two other boys, too tired from the fight and healing to do much of anything. Arlo propped himself up after the doctor had left and read a small history book he'd gotten his roommate Holden to bring when he'd come to visit half an hour ago while John had taken a quick shower and eaten enough food for three people. Claire sat on Cecile's bed with the silently pouting Remi, her puppy eyes on full blast as she stared at Elaine, as she scowled at the wall ignoring everyone in the room, while the energy tendril user curled into a ball under her blankets stewing in her own emotions, occasionally peeking out at the two on John's bed before once more closing herself off; a cycle that had repeated once every few minutes since John had laid down. Sera had latched onto him as soon as he'd gotten out of the showers and refused to leave his side ever since, under the silent threat of her slightly teary and sad eyes, John simply ate his food in the quiet room before pulling her into his chest and curling around her, not even moving when Elaine had sat next to them.
His amber eyes subtly glowed in the quiet room, another change that had happened after she'd left him alone the previous night, Sera noted; even without using his ability, his eyes still glowed their champagne amber color. Another change was the white tips of his hair that had darkened to a light gray, and remained unlike the white bits of aura pouring off of his body during his battle with the beast. Her body shuddered slightly as she pressed back against John only to release a startled yelp as he rolled onto his back, pulling her along with him. She took a glance around to see everyone was still in their own worlds before quickly settling into her new spot on his chest. She stilled to stare into the twin pools of liquid amber staring at her, her heart began to speed up as she took in his slightly haggard and amused face as he held her against him for the next few minutes in silence.
…
…
"He's gone.", came John's whisper, emotionless and muffled voice from where he chose to bury his into her hair. Sera flinched slightly from where she could feel his entire body shaking minutely, she turned her aqua eyes to meet his glazed champagne orbs before realization struck her and stole her breath away; William. Her best friend's dad had been torn apart for food right in front of his son, and they'd been too shocked to intervene in the handful of seconds it had taken for the beasts to finish. He'd battled against an endless army for hours afterwards, only to fall into a coma and awaken to fight again, to fight for her life; the most important person in his world now. He'd had no time to spare for grief, no time to allow pain to slow him, otherwise they'd all be dead by now.
She stared into his slightly dead eyes for a time, as she'd done countless times during their gaming sessions and movie nights spent resting together, holding his head in her lap as he slept, committing his face to memory as she waited for sleep to take her as well. Sera allowed a shaky breath to pour from her slightly agape mouth as she relaxed into the hold and closed her eyes, before coming to a decision and steeling herself. She reached out for the hands holding to him under the blankets and pooled aura into her palms as she met his own. John's half lidded eyes narrowed slightly in numb confusion, no doubt sensing the slight build up of energy from the barely recovered girl using what little aura she had regenerated. Sera allowed the blankets that covered the two from the chest down to ride higher on them, determination and desire lighting her sky blue eyes up with her own diminished power, as she mouthed to John three words that made any hesitation or confusion disappear from his gaze as she felt his own fluctuating aura meet and mix with hers.; 'Trust me…please.'
His aura was heavy, she noted distantly, as she felt the still healing energy of John's soul meet with her own in an explosion of love/adoration/concern/confusion/amusement/loss/grief/self-loathing the king of Wellston's soul brimmed with, pouring into her. She was quickly overwhelmed by the tidal wave of emotions stemming from the tired king she laid upon, however before she allowed her soul to be lost in the ecstasy of connecting to John, she had to make sure he felt her. To make sure he knew without her words that she was there for her best friend. With the last of her mind that hadn't been taken over by delirious joy, she sent everything she felt for John; every ounce of love she felt for him, the terrifying sea of loss she felt away from him, her hope for what they could become, and all of desire to explore everything about herself and John together. All of it was sent in one scalding hot package of aura meeting with John's own as she lost herself completely to the pleasure of connecting with her best friend.