Raegar woke up the next morning with Dominique cuddled up to him, a pretty smile crossing her face, she was relaxed and felt comfortable. Monts later, he sat up as the building shook thanks to the storm outside, worse then the previous night causing him to mutter in frustration. ’’What the hell is going on? When has it evern gotten this bad?’’
He got out of bed and walked toward the window only to see the capital covered in a sheet of heavy rain, wind blowed behind it. While standing there, the Vampress quietly slipped behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She began kissing his neck, sending a shiver down his spine.
’’You’re seeing an Aether Storm from the far north,’’ she revealed. ’’It hits two a year, once at the beginning of the sumr and the other during winter when everyones hiding in their hos to get away from the cold. It caused chaos wherever it goes, killing hundreds if their not prepared.’’
’’Oh, I rember now,’’ he muttered, mories from thirteen years ago ca back to him. ’’One hit when we were children and destroyed a southern city?’’
Dominique nodded. ’’That’s one of the more known events, but yes, it’s the perfect example of how powerful they can get,’’ she answered. ’’Now, do we travel back to the palace or stay here?’’
Raegar thought for a second and shrugged. ’’It’s up to you, my love but I think the capital will be hit even harder in the coming hours.’’
The young woman flashed a warm smile and leaned back, her body relaxing before she stood to prepare for a bath. ’’We should head back by running,’’ she said, grinning. ’’If we hurry, we can stay ahead of the worst of it.’’
’’Running? This isn’t a work out Domi!’’
She laughed stepping into the bathroom as he turned to the weather outside causing chaos everywhere, only for it to calm down within minutes, sun bead down catching his attention. Afterward, he joined the Vampress in the bath, they washed up and got into warm but light clothes.
They left the hotal behind, making their way down Main Street only to notice it was empty apart from the Dawnfire soldiers ushering stragglers into buildings. One commander tried to approached them only to realize who Raegar was and got back to work, making the couple laugh.
Following that, they began running back to the palace, using their Aether as shield to stay dry when the rain finally started, it bounced off the barriers. Just then, he looked up only to sense tons of energy pouring into the sky, a mory about peaceful skies during horrible storms caused him to understand.
His eyes widened in horror when realizing where they were, he turned to the Vampress who was keeping up with him, revealing. ’’We’re in the eye of the storm!’’
As the young woman absorbed his words, her erald-green eyes widened, a whirlwind of emotions, shock, horror, and a flicker of dread appeared. Raegar, sensing the danger, didn’t hesitate. His gaze darted to a cluster of boulders nearby, offering a fleeting promise of shelter.
’’What are you doing, Rae?!’’ She shouted over the rain.
’’Keep moving!’’
Seizing her hand, Raegar pulled her toward the rocky outcrop, his heart pounding as the air grew thick due to the incoming nightmare. Without pausing, he cast a dozen Stormfire Bullets, sending them flying toward the ground. They burrowed deep into the earth, their trails hissing with latent energy.
A heartbeat later, the ground shuddered as the spells detonated, blasting away soil and stone to carve out a hollow beneath the boulders. The storm’s wrath descended just as they reached the makeshift refuge. The sky above roared, streaks of violet lightning clawing through the air, accompanied by a howling wind.
Raegar didn’t stop. With a surge of strength, he threw the Vampress into the newly ford burrow, her body disappearing into the shadowed recess as he shouted. ’’Get to the back now!’’
He dove in after her, his body sliding across the cool earth as he landed beside her in the small space. With a wave, he summoned a pulse of Aether, collapsing the entrance above them. The roof of the burrow caved in with a muffled groan, sealing them in a cocoon of earth and stone, cutting them off from the chaotic tempest raging outside.
Seconds later, the darkness enveloped them, broken only by the faint glow of his magic and the soft, uneven rhythm of their breathing. They were safe, entombed in their sanctuary, shielded from the storm’s fury. Dominque sat up, covered in dirt as she muttered. ’’That was close.’’
’’Yes it was,’’ he answered, pointing up.
The ground was groaning as the Aether Storm passed above them, so of the boulders were lifted into the air but their hideaway was safe. Raegar looked around and used so of his Earth energy to make the space bigger but soon ran out of steam, he collapsed to the ground to rest.
Dominique grabbed him and lifted his head onto her soft thighs as she ran her hands through her hair. This put him at ease, his eyes started closing as the exhaustion set in, the young woman smile. ’’Sleep my love, I’ll make sure your rest,’’ she whispered.
Raegar fell asleep monts later as she played with his hand. The young woman made sure he was comfortable and sent so of her Aether into his body to help. Soon enough, he pulled her into a hug, making the Vampress smile as she rested her head on his shoulder and joining him in his slumber.
After the couple fell asleep, the Aether Storm intensified, its howling winds tearing through the sky as the ground shuddered violently beneath the couple’s sleeping forms. Bolts of energy crackled above, illuminating the hideaway with eerie flashes. Pebbles and debris rattled against the stone walls, so slipping through cracks as the storm’s power grew.
Hours later, Dominique stirred first, her senses prickling at the danger. She tightened her hold on him, who slept soundly, his breathing steady against her chest but fell back to sleep, realizing their hollow was safe. Raegar woke up soti later only to realize the land above was flooding thanks to the dripping water.
He gulped and sent a shield of Aether around their safe place, keeping the storm out before sitting next to the Vampress. The young woman grabbed his arm, pulling him back under the sheets he got out earleir on. Raegar smiled as she began kissing him, once they broke apart she whispered. ’’Thanks for helping and not being angry with .’’
Following that, the couple hid under things cald down allowing them to climb out only to see chaos all around them. They navigated the ravaged landscape, stepping over shattered branches and dodging random boulders. The sky, now clear, revealed a bruised, violet hue, a lingering mark of the storm’s wrath.
Dominique’s heightened senses picked up faint tremors in the distance, aftershocks, perhaps, or sothing worse. She glanced at Raegar, his face set with determination despite his lingering exhasution. ’’Stay close,’’ she said softly, her hand brushing his as they pressed forward.
The path to the palace was treacherous, with deep fissures splitting the earth and uprooted flora blocking their way. As they crested a hill, the palace ca into view, its spires still standing but marred by cracks and scorch marks. The Imperial Guard was cleaning up the debris from the walls.
When the couple got close they let him through only to notice Dahlia’s garden was ruined, a group of garderners stood there looking horrified. Raegar was about to speak to the Vampress but the empress’s voice echoed out. ’’Don’t worry about the plants, they can be replaced. My staff cannot. Now get back to work!’’
Dominique giggled at this before leading him toward the palace entrance where the duo were greeted by Dahlia herself. The gorgeous brunette’s amber eyes lit up. ’’My Rae! Domi! How was the date? I hope it was ruined by the horrible storm?’’
Raegar was about to reply but the older woman’s head tilted and questioned. ’’Why are you both covered in mud? Is there sothing I should know?’’
A teasing smile appeared on her face, promtping Dominique to go bright red as he started laughing but he explained. ’’We had to hid in a hollow I created, the main part was going to hit the spot we were at, it was bad when the land started flooding thanks to the rain.’’
Dominique nodded in agreent. ’’Thanks to Rae, we were able to hide from it. Is the capital fine? The hotel was shaking.’’
’’It’s fine, a few buildings collapsed and we lost a few hundred people,’’ Dahlia revealed, a frown crossing her lips. ’’Monster hordes attacked other cities when our attention was elsewhere, catching my soldiers off guard.’’
’’Did they get the creatures under control?’’ Raegar inquired.
’’Yes, eventually,’’ she sighed. ’’Took so work but the generals managed to put them down.’’
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