The Awakening

Calder

Ella felt the boy being ripped away from her while a strong claw grabbed her shoulder. He head had been turned the other way by the boy's cradling one, so she hadn't seen what it was. Now she would face it. She called her blaze.

It was opening herself up to what was always there. She was the doorway and the key. She let it flow through her and around her. She hadn't felt like this since the Event when she had to save Emma. She was pure rage. She felt like the surface of the sun itself, as the fire burned from within.

The claw that had been on her shoulder was flung back from her. She turned to face the monster and teach it what a real monster was. She was awed by what was before her. It towered above her head at least twenty feet. The wings weren't leathery as one would expect but looked like spun gold silk. The claws were tipped with dagger-like talons.

A large golden dragon. It's claws were in front of it's face, shielding it's eyes from her light. She directed her rage and power to her target.

"You dare touch me or mine, creature of darkness!" Her voice came not out of her mouth but her mind. It reverberated through the air and into the minds of those around her. She saw the dragon cowering in front of her.

Then she heard, "Ella please." Echo in her own mind. Calder's voice, pleading with her.

She was open and so could feel everyone around her and that's how she knew. It was Calder. She felt the rage start to dwindle but it was replaced by hurt. They had betrayed her. Hidden what he was from her. He was beautiful and terrible to behold.

"Why" was all she could say.

Lance stepped closer to the creature that had been his son. "Calder, hey buddy. Can you hear me? It's dad." He took a few more steps and was now in front of Ella.

She still held onto the power. She wasn't sure what this transformation had done to Calder. They had told her that Calder hadn't shifted yet, into any form. This is why they said he hadn't shifted, they didn't want her to know he had become this creature.

The creature lifted it's eyes and looked at Lance. "It's ok son, the first time is painful and scary, I know. I'm here though. You can come back now." He said and held his hand out.

The creature then shifted it's eyes to Ella. It's burning golden eyes. Then a beautiful gold light emanated from under it's/his skin and then he was Calder again. He stood there naked, covered in sweat and shaking but still looking at her. He looked so vulnerable, scared of what she would say.

"Arabella," he said pleadingly, "please don't be afraid. I'm sorry, I didn't know. I thought he was going to hurt you." His voice broke with emotion. He tried to take a step toward her but his legs gave out. Lance was there and caught his son against him.

"Let's get you dressed and warm. We can talk about everything after you're feeling better." Lance told him softly, leading him away.

Rowan was there in wolf form. She had been monitoring the scene but when Ella had called her blaze it had frightened her and she had backed off. Her unnatural blue eyes studied Ella warily.

"I guess you haven't seen that before." Ella said matter-of-factly.

Rowan turned and followed her father and brother.

Ella looked to where her father was bent over the cold pale boy laying in a heap a few yards away against a tree. She walked over to them and kelt down.

"Are you ok?" She asked. "I hope he didn't hurt you. I swear we didn't know what he was."

The dark eyes looked up at her, "You don't know what I am," he said.

"How about let's just start with your name," Robert suggested with a warm smile. "I'm Robert, this is Arabella."

"Luke" was all he said.

"Ok Luke, would you like to come back to the house with us? There's plenty of room there for one more. We know you've been watching us for a while now." Robert coaxed him to his feet.

Ella saw his shoes were very worn, holes in places and filthy. He had been walking for a long time.

"Yes let's go," she said to them and went to take hold of the boy's hand and lead him back.