Sapphyra [Adult Superhero Progression]

Sapphyra

I tried to pretend that the visit from Barbie was just a fever dream, but I knew it wasn’t. Not only did it feel too real and fresh in my mind, her scent still lingered in the med bay.

Yeah, I wasn’t sitting in this stink any longer.

[You’re getting up? You should wait for Erek to get back, dumbass.]

“I know.” Shocking to hear me say it but I wasn’t that selfish. “Whatever grief I have with his selfish ass, it has nothing to do with the babies.”

For once, she didn’t have a sassy comeback. Damn, she really was scared.

Sitting up slowly, I moved my body off ‌the cot and headed towards the door. My hands braced against the cool tile walls and headed out into the ruins of the city once more.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I shivered at Erek’s bellowed voice from above me. He’d been on the rooftop this entire time? So much for taking a walk.

“I needed some air.” I called back with my head held high. I tried to hold in my coughs, but found it impossible.

He landed gently in front of me, splashing muddy water on my already ruined clothes. Because what else could go wrong today?

“Don’t try to stop me.” I warned him, but my legs wouldn’t move. He crossed his arms and shook his head, looking at me like I was the most pitiful creature alive.

“What? Don’t look at me like that.”

“I’m waiting for you to ask for ‘ma help like a sane person.” He yawned, waiting for something. “Where are you off to in such a rush, anyway?”

“The wishboard.” I muttered. If Barbie did something to it, I’d never forgive myself. She told me to make a wish, that can’t be a good sign.

HIs brow raised. That got him moving.

“Ya’ll have one of those here?”

“You’ve seen it before?” I wheezed the question out slowly, determined not to need him before I was ready.

“Course I have. Down in Cappville. Still creeped out by those little mushroom folk’ but they’re harmless I guess.”

Something the mayor Vrush said to me came rushing back to my mind. “Pale skin, white hair, red eyes and your mouth was covered.” I turned to him, weighing my feelings on the matter. If I’m right….I burst into a fit of laughter. Oh, this was too fucking good.

“Yeah that’s me. What about—hey, why’re ya laughing?! Ah hell, she’s lost her mind already.”

“Haha! This incredible.” Wiping away a stray tear, I smile at him.”Maybe laughter is the best medicine, I feel a bit better already.”

Erek’s forehead vein throbbed, good. Pissing him off made me feel even better.

“What the hell are you on about, woman?”

“You.” I finally found my legs again, taking a shaky step towards him. He caught me in his arms, helping me steady myself. I lowered my voice for this next part.

“You’ve been running from your destiny for so long but I think you can’t escape it, not really.”

He snorts, loud and obnoxious. “What are you talking about?”

“Cappville, you dropped off a woman there, right? Small, deep brown skin?”

I gave him a moment to recall it. Erek shrugged.

“Yea, found her wandering in the wilds and decided to do my one good deed for the century. Why?”

“Because that woman? She was my mother.”

His face speed-ran through the stages of grief as the realization hit him like a freight train: he hadn’t been avoiding his destiny at all.

“Erek, you’ve been taking the long road to your destiny, but you still got there. Same as everybody else.”

He hissed in my ear and pulled me flush against him, sending shivers down my spine. Not sure if I was just delusional because I was dying or excited about fucking him over, but I was getting wetter by the second.

I can’t even blame the heat this time. Sometimes I hate my body.

“You’re out of your mind, little girl.” Said the man holding me like he never wants to let go? Really?

My symptoms cooled down at his touch this time. It made me wonder if our relationship affected the power of the mate bond.

“Calling me little girl doesn’t mean I’m wrong…Grandpa.” He scoffed, “You can be upset all you want, but what are the odds that you’d wind up bringing my mother back to me after all this time?”

His arms loosened; I bet he wanted to drop me.

“Stop it.” He growled.

“No. See, I’ll say it since you won’t: you never escaped your destiny, you’ve just taken the long way round, cowboy.”

I should have known I’d get a violent reaction from him; I just didn’t expect him to sweep me off my feet and carry me back into Beacon. He stomped back inside, two steps in one stride, unceremoniously dropping me back onto that same cot.

His breathing was heavy, and he gripped the edge of the bed, trapping me ‌between his arms. Erek was so close; our foreheads were barely an inch apart. I could taste his rage and desire in the air. And if that wasn’t enough, my eyes caught a glimpse of the python tenting his pants.

“Not one more fucking word from you.” He snarled. “You think you’re so fucking smart, huh? That everything just falls into place because some bitch said so?!”

Even with shaking shoulders and a racing heart, I didn’t sink into the pillow. I met his emotions head-on, gritting my teeth, determined to see this through.

He never saw it coming.

“What…what the hell are you doing?” He stammered as I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into my embrace.

“It’s called a hug, dummy. Do they not have those in Drakkir?” My tone was playful, but my hug was tight. He froze at first, but after a few seconds his arms wrapped around my waist and he climbed back into bed with me.

“Why the hell are you doing this?” He whispered.

“Because it’s not fair to anyone.” I admitted the quiet part out loud. “I don’t like her methods either, and I absolutely hate that you left me to fend for myself for so long.”

He gulped and licked his lips, resting his head on my bosom. It felt like he was a missing piece I had no idea I needed until we met.

“Is there a but in there?”

I chuckled softly. “I hate that you left me but, maybe that was for a reason beyond either of our control. Hell, maybe beyond Phereda’s too. I get the feeling she’s less of a puppet master and more of a messenger.”

“Either way, she sucks.”

“You can let go then…if you hate this so much. Guy’s working on the cure right now, right?”

If I didn’t know any better, I could swear this man was blushing.

I smiled, cheeks darkening to match his.

“Thank you for saving my mother, by the way. I owe you one.”

He huffs softly and pulls the covers back over us. “Just get better, and we’ll call it even.”

His arms tightened around me again, making sure I was comfortable beneath his massive weight.

“I’ll stay just till he brings the cure and you’re good as new. Not a second longer, understand?”

I rolled my eyes. The man had zero conviction in his voice, unlike earlier when he fussed at me.

“Understood.”

Just then, someone knocked on the door. It was a smiling Guy, “Well, I hate to interrupt you two but there's some good news.”

“Don’t leave us in suspense, boy,” Erek rumbled.

“One, I have the cure. Two, you have to see it to believe it.”

“what? What’s going on, Guy?”

“Sapph,” he grinned, pointing towards the city. “It’s the people; they’re learning to build the city back on their own terms!”

Oh…why am I less excited about that than I thought I’d be?

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