Everything is filled with smoke, and I can't see Ari. Where is my love? They were doing great over there, and now I can't see them. They were truly a sight to behold, and I almost got distracted from my foes, admiring them in the distance. They were covered in the blood of their enemies, looking so fierce. I fell in love with Ari more, seeing that side of them. I don't want Thultu to see this side of them because this seems like nightmare fuel for children. I just finished off my opponents, and Dysis has finished off hers. I don't feel Ari's presence either. It is like they disappeared. We are sitting in suspense, awaiting this smoke to clear. When the smoke finally clears, I see they are standing. Thank goodness my Ari is still standing.Wait, something isn't right.
Ari isn't moving.
They look like a crimson statue.
I run to them, and the closer I get, I see that there is a vine piercing their chest, and Ari is not conscious. I see the demon earth mage with white fur that pierced Ari, and I get my whips and immobilize his arms, then I go up behind him and get another whip and whip around his neck. He says in a strained breath, "That vile woman had to die. No demon that used to be human can marry into the royal family… even….if….they…are…broken…" I didn't recognize him with his new look and the mask, but this is the same asshole that Ari stood up to on our first day in Patala. He tries to use vines to attack me, but I use my whips to tie his vines down. He is gurgling and trying to breathe, and I deny him all the opportunities to take a single breath.
He needs to die.
After I feel like he has suffered enough from not being able to breathe, I just snap the whip and break his neck. I then drop his corpse indelicately, treating it as the garbage that it is.
I ran up to Ari and their lifeless body, "Ari!" I sob as I stroke their face, "No! You said you wouldn't leave me! Come back to me!" Dysis comes up and is nuzzling up to Ari's body. I can't understand her words, but I am sure she is devastated like me. I hold Ari, and I also hold Dysis. Sky came down and is making sad chirpy noises on Ari's shoulder while nudging their face with his beak. Unknown to me at this devastatingly empty moment, the demon soldiers went back to their camp so I could grieve alone. I feel so much rage and emptiness. My whips are raging and destroying everything around us as I scream for Ari.
I wish I had magic to revive that earth magician just so I could kill him again and again.
HE KILLED ARI.
MY BEAUTIFUL ARI.
MY LOVE.
Sky and Dysis both hug me to bring me back to my senses, and I quell my whips. Everything in the encampment around us is now destroyed.
As soon as I send her off in a ceremony, I will rip my own heart out.
I just can't take this pain. While still crying, I pulled Ari off the vine that was piercing their chest. When I do, I see their collar glow, and her chest is closing. I FORGOT ABOUT THEIR ENCHANTED COLLAR! Seeing there is hope for Ari, I immediately go from a mournful rage to panic.
SHIT!
COME ON!
I rummage through my bag, then their bag, until I find a healing potion. WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?! I know we have fucking potions, but things got a little crazy after the incident with Entre and my bag is now a hot mess. When I FINALLY find one after what seems to be forever, but probably was only maybe a minute. I give it to Ari immediately, pouring it into their unconscious lips. Ari seems to have swallowed it, and I put my ear down to their mouth while looking down at their chest to see if I can see it rise and fall. I feel a slight wisp of air tickling my ear, and I cry tears of relief, "I need you to stay with me! Don't you die on me!"
I hold Ari and look towards Dysis and Sky, "We need to return to the castle as soon as possible so they can recover!" Dysis approaches and bites her leg, causing herself to bleed. Dysis puts her bleeding leg above Ari's face. Now realizing what she is doing, I stop holding her so tight and I give her a bit of space so she can do her thing. That is a great idea, Dysis. Vampires heal faster when they drink blood. I am so glad I have them here with me.
I can't think straight with Ari in this state.
Sky comes up to me and nuzzles into my face while sitting on my shoulder. I pet him with my opposite hand. I love this little guy so fucking much. I say to both Sky and Dysis, "I love both of you so much. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't here with me. My brain is only thinking desperate thoughts of the heart, dispensing of all rationality." Sky chirps and continues to nuzzle my face, and Dysis coos while still giving Ari blood. After a while, Dysis stops and then coos at me, and she lies down. Understanding what she is trying to say, I grab Ari and hop up on Dysis's back. Sky gets in my cleavage, and I hold Ari tight with one arm and hold Dysis with the other, and say, "Let's fly."
It took us two days to get back to the castle. I found another healing potion and gave it to Dysis to heal her leg from where she bit it. I also made sure to stop and wash Ari well to get all of the blood off of them. There is a story among our people of a legendary hero dragonkin warrior who fought human armies all by himself and would be covered in their blood, looking like a fearsome nightmare that terrified the weak. Ari reminded me of those stories. Completely covered in blood, taking on countless opponents by themself.
When we arrived back at the castle, I took Ari straight to my room to lie them down on my bed. Thultu is crying, "What is wrong with Momma? Why are Momma's eyes closed?" I pull the covers up over Ari's body to cover the hole in their clothing from where the vine went through and respond, "Momma got hurt while taking care of the bad guys, but Momma will be alright if they get some rest." I pat his tiny head. I give Ari another healing potion, and I cut my hand and hold it over their mouth. Adoni sees this and leaves in a rush.
She returns after some time with medical supplies to tend to my hand, and also a robe that we can change Ari into. I was able to feed Ari enough of my blood. Thultu asks with adorably watery eyes, "Does Momma need my blood, too?" I shake my head, "No son, you never have to worry about that. You need all of your blood inside you, otherwise you might not grow as big and strong as your papa." Thultu gasps, "I won't get big and strong if I lose blood?" I know this is misinformation for my son, but it technically isn't a lie, but it isn't the truth either. We just want him to be as safe as possible. I nod, "That is right, Thultu. So you have to make sure you don't lose too much of it, so you have to be careful so you can grow up to be big and strong."
He sits at the foot of the bed while Adoni and I both change Ari into a robe. Once Ari is changed, we cover them back up, and Thultu gets under the covers with them and cuddles with Ari. SO PRECIOUS. I whisper to Adoni, "I have to report to my father, take care of both of them for me." She nods and I leave my room, heading to the throne room to my father. I get to the throne room and they announce my presence and I approach Father, putting on my serious 'dealing with the family' mask and kneeling, "Father, I have news. Ari, her familiars, and I quelled the separatist invasion. We did not leave any survivors or take any prisoners." Father wears a look of amusement, though it was very brief, then he promptly resumes his emotionless expression, then responds, "My my, aren't you just full of surprises here recently. Where is your precious Ari?"
I am trying not to cry right now. I say while keeping my serious family mask on, "They fought with great valor and killed countless of their forces, but they were gravely wounded during the fight and are now recuperating in my quarters. They have yet to regain consciousness." Father says with his usual unbothered expression, "Let us know if anything is required for their recovery." I replied to him, "We will probably need a regular supply of animal blood. I have been cutting myself to feed them while they are unconscious." Father still seems unbothered like usual, "Consider it done. Did you require anything else, Lysara?" I shake my head, "No, Father. I will take my leave. If anyone needs me, I will be in my quarters by Ari's side." Father nods, and I take my leave to return to Ari.
It has been a few days since we returned to the castle, and I haven't left Ari's side and haven't eaten any food. When the food arrives, they ask me and I just shake my head.
I have no appetite.
How can I eat when the love of my life hasn't woken up yet?
Today, I shook my head when Adoni came in with food, and Sky surprised me and grabbed my ponytail with his feet and flew, pulling me over to Adoni and the food and dragging me to the chair where Adoni was offering the food. He starts angrily chirping at me, and I don't understand what he is saying, but I understand what he is saying. I sigh, "Ok fine, you are right. I probably should at least try to eat something. If not for me, then for Ari." Sky then nods then taps the plate with his beak. Thultu doesn't have any problems eating and is already done and back in bed with Ari snuggling under the blanket.
I took a bite of food, and after taking a bite, I finally realized that I was starving. I make it an active point to not rush eating since it has been a while without food. I don't want to overdo it. I eat this whole plate, and I can't bear being away from Ari's side any longer. I could have more sustenance, but right now I need Ari more. I crawl back in bed and take a cup of animal blood that Adoni brought, and I give it to Ari, then wipe her lips. I place the cup on the nightstand and I cuddle up with Ari just like Thultu is doing on their other side. I doze off with my head on their chest, holding them.