The Legions Broken Flame

Chapter 4

Soren

I'm at my desk again, still staring at these damn notes and books scattered across the top. I was supposed to leave with dad two days ago to drive down and see Ezra for his graduation, but I just had to finish these notes. Concentrating is hard when my thoughts are consumed by Ophelia. Every time I close my eyes I relive what happened. Or I hear her choked up voice yelling to me on the beach.

I have to leave tonight if I want to be there a few days before the ceremony. Driving is always safer, but it takes forever. f**k flying. Hours trapped in a metal tube in the sky, no way out, and the possibility of falling to my death? No thank you. I'll take the boring drive.

Just as I'm about to give up my phone starts vibrating on my bed. I spring up, thankful for the excuse to get away from the stressful work. I pick up the phone and see dad's name flash across the screen. They've probably made it there by now.

"Hey dad, how was the trip?" I ask while I start to grab clothes for a shower.

"It was good. A quiet drive without your yapping." I can hear his deep chuckle come after.

"Yeah, yeah old man." I chuckle back. "So how is Exra?" I can almost feel the atmosphere change through the phone as I wait for his reply. Hopefully nothing is wrong.

"He's good. He introduced me to a good friend of his today." Dad says. "They're celebrating her birthday that just passed."

"Oh, that's nice." I say absent-mindedly as I make my way to the bathroom.

"Her name is Ophelia."

I freeze. "What?" The word comes out barely audible.

"Ezra introduced me to his very shy and very timid friend Ophelia just now. She's very beautiful. Dark, chocolate hair, pale grey-blue eyes. Her birthday was just a week ago. She turned 18."

My heart is racing as I try to process what he just said. It couldn't be a coincidence, could it?

"Do you... do you think it's her?" I ask hesitantly. I don't want to get my hopes up if it is just a coincidence. We've been doing searches on Ophelias across the country all week. She could t have been so close, yet so far this whole time. I've always been close with Ezra and he's never mention her to me.

"I don't know, son. But it could be a-" He's cut off by a commotion somewhere on his end. "Hold on, somethings wrong

" Dad says and I can hear him moving around.

"Dad? What's wrong?"

Before he can answer I hear her voice. It's the same as on the beach, just as choked up and strained.

"He wasn't supposed to be home yet!" She yells frantically. "I have to go! Please just let me go Ezra!" She's starting to panic as her breathing becomes labored.

"f**k that! No! I'm not letting you go back there!" Ezra yells back at her sounding like a brother would to his sister.

"Ezra, you know he's not supposed to know I left! I have to go back! Let me go!"

"I know that! I'm sorry, O, but you're still not going back there!" They continue to argue and I can hear faint movement from them.

"Force your bond, Soren." Dad says sounding frantic.

My brows knit together. "What do you mean? Dad you know that's too fa-"

"It will work!" He snapped. "How could you know if you don't try? You will lead us some day, Soren, and you'll need to make these decisions on your own. We can't let her go back to that man if we can help. If you put pressure on the bond you can overwhelm her mind. She will sleep for a few hours, but it's better than the state she's in now. You'll also sleep since it's a new bond and your powers aren't what they should be."

He's right. I've always taken my responsibility in the clan seriously, but I needed to start thinking more like a leader. Especially now. I square my shoulders and make my way back to the bed to get comfortable. "What do I need to do?"

"Relax and let your mind reach out to her. Pull on that bond mentally and you should pull her into unconsciousness. We'll take care of her after, I promise." Dad explains and I do as he says. Lying back, I close my eyes and relax my body and mind. Soon I can feel the tug of our bond. I latch on mentally and pull.

I can still hear everything over the phone laying next to my head. The shouting suddenly stops and I hear her voice again, only softer this time. "Ezra, I don't feel good."

Everything is silent for a momentbefore Ezra starts yelling. "O?! Mom she won't wake up!"

"Dad, is she okay?" I mumbled as I feel sleep taking over. I feel exhausted.

"She's alright, son. You did well, I'm proud of you. We'll take care or her. Now rest." With that he hangs up and I'm swallowed by darkness.