James came to a stop just before entering the flickering lights. To his surprise, Amber was still in his section of the station, filled with sorrow as she moved at a steady pace. With determination, he started toward her.

It wasn't until he reached the room he first found his people in that he found her unhooking the bodies and placing them in her storage.

"I figured we could bury them," she said softly.

James swallowed his emotions as he walked over to her. "I would like that."

Stopping just before she started the last body, she rested her hand against his chest before quickly moving in to hug him. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry, James."

Sniffling, he embraced her and pressed his face against her cheek. "It's okay."

"No, it isn't. I felt that anger in you. Your pain, sorrow, and rage. You want more answers and you don't know where to start."

Closing his eyes, he whispered, "you're right, like usual. But first, I have to free the rest of my people in this station and see if I can't learn anything to help me hunt down anyone that might still be alive."

Amber started to purr, easing his heart just a little bit before she pulled away. "I'm almost done here. I'll give you time in each room before I gather the dead. Reach out to me if you need me."

Forcing a smile to his lips, he nodded. Turning away, he started toward the next room. It wasn't a far walk as it was just down the hall and through another door he had to break open. This time, the lights were on completely and a dozen of his people were sitting in chairs, their arms and legs strapped down with wires connected to their heads and chest. Machines were beeping on the wall and displaying information he couldn't understand.

Once again, their eyes seemed to follow him, burning their emotions of freedom, relief, and vengeance into his heart and very soul. "I'm here to free you," he said just loud enough he was sure they could hear him. "I'll carry you with me forever."

Acceptance reached him and he began Siphoning their souls. Tears streamed down his face as the last soul flickered out and he sank to his knees. His control over his own soul was tenuous at best as he adjusted to the emotions of those he claimed.

Why do I feel their emotions? Why haven't I felt the emotions of others that I have claimed. Is it because they are my people?

He almost didn't want the answer. Still, he couldn't stop thinking about it.

A hand gently rested on his shoulder a minute later. "Ready for me to free them?"

Turning a teary eyed gaze to Amber, he nodded.

Letting him go, she moved into the room and started breaking the bindings and removing the wires. The machines blinked out as everything was removed and she added the first corpse to her storage.

Knowing it was time to move on, he wiped his eyes and left her to her work. The next room he found only had five people in it, and they were resting in beds. He thought that was all until he removed the blanket from the first one and found metal grafted onto their bodies. He didn't understand the purpose of the experiment, but each soul roared in pain and anguish as he promised to free them. And free them he did.

Amber gasped when she saw them and ushered him out of the room before he could lament further. Knowing she was doing what was best for him, he kept moving. Room after room, he found his people in various states of distress and anguish. Limbs and organs removed. Some in tanks of liquid that were barely keeping them alive. All of them semiconscious to the world around them. They were left that way on purpose and James could feel his anger growing with each soul Siphoned. He refused to grow numb to their plight, and his hatred towards humans was growing quickly.

He felt the hours pass by before he was finally done. Two hundred souls were freed by the end and each body collected as Amber led him out. She kept his hand in hers as she guided him back to the ladder and pushed him to climb.

Reaching fresh air, he found Luna awake with the other ladies. Grace stepped up to him and pulled him into a hug the moment he was in the nest. Zenaria hugged him from behind as Linda stood with her arms crossed next to Luna.

His Fenrir looked torn as Amber emerged and he could feel her regret for not helping. She regretted falling asleep, but he was glad she didn't have to see all of that. He was thankful she slept through it all.

"Ready to send them off?" Amber asked.

James turned toward the center of the city, not too far from where he was, where he found nearly every dragon awake and waiting. He could also feel his animal companions awake and sending him comforting emotions as they rested in their new dens.

"I'm ready," he said after nearly a minute. Turning to Mother, he asked, "will you start the fire?"

Nodding, Mother stood strong by his side. "I will. Lay them out and I will cremate them."

Amber took his hand and led him into the center of the street. Leaving him by the edge, she started laying out the bodies, only ten at first. Stepping back, she waited until Mother was ready before saying, "we all know why we are gathered her this night. The horrors that the Valiants went through have been revealed and taken into our souls. Their final moments will always live within James and the rest of his followers. Now they may rest forever knowing that they will be avenged."

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"Wait," Luna called out. "What does that mean?"

Amber turned to the Fenrir with angry tears but refused to answer. Instead, she said, "when you are ready, Mother."

The dragon blew flames over the ten corpses, burning them to ashes within seconds. Amber only waited for the ash to settle before laying out ten more.

James watched numbly, his legs unsteady as each wave of bodies were burned to ash. Every face was familiar and engraved into his mind and soul as they were put to rest.

It wasn't until it was over that he felt Luna take his hand. Sniffling, she said, "you should get some rest."

James wanted to agree but could already see the sun beginning to brighten the horizon. He wanted to feel tired, drained, or even exhausted, but all he felt was determination. It was likely a good thing he was so far from a sect at the moment.

"We need to feed the new demi-humans," he said in an unsteady voice.

Luna closed her eyes for a moment before nodding. "If that is your wish."

Amber met his gaze for a brief moment, her eyes alight with anger before heading to the ladder. She could feel what he was feeling deep in his soul.

Linda yawned once before resting her hand on his back. "I'll keep growing the crops. Will you check on the kitchen, James?"

"Yeah…"

Grace took his hand. "I'll take care of him, Luna. You need to calm the demi-humans. Amber and Zenaria will help you."

Luna agreed to the plan before kissing his cheek. "If you need any of us, James, all you have to do is ask."

Panning his gaze over the ladies, he finally settled on Mother and Everest. "I'll be down in a moment. I have a question for Mother."

They all nodded before taking the ladder down. Once they were out of earshot, Mother nudged Everest forward. "Take him to a quiet spot."

Everest stepped forward and gently bit down on his arm and pulled. "Follow me."

Rubbing her head, he started to follow the dragon away from the nests.

***

Amber felt a deep seated rage and hatred inside her soul and she knew she was getting it from James. Everything he had felt, she had felt as well. She knew why she resonated with his soul so much, but it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair to him that she felt the way she did.

"Are you okay?" Luna asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

Shaking her head, Amber started walking. "We need to calm everyone that felt his rage and pain. That blast of Soul Energy will have kept them awake all night."

"Not yet." Luna grabbed her arm and pulled her into a spare room. "You felt everything, didn't you? Why didn't I…oh…"

Amber closed her eyes, knowing that Luna might have realized a few truths. "Yeah. I felt everything and I can't stop the rage from consuming me. I'm afraid what I'll do if we go to another sect, which you know we will. He's hurting, Luna. More than I can possibly describe."

"What do we do?"

Opening her eyes, Amber took Luna's hand. "You give him every ounce of love that you can."

"Why don't you?"

Amber could see the confusion and hurt in Luna's eyes, but she still shook her head. "My relationship with him is complicated enough. He needs you, not me."

Luna gave in. "I'll wait until he's done with Mother. He wanted to talk before all of this. He needed help."

"I know," Amber whispered. She didn't dare speak louder as she did her best to hide her hurt.

"You're really connected to him, aren't you?"

Knowing there was no point in lying, Amber nodded. "He's my person. I'll always crave to see him smile and feel his body and soul against mine. I can't help it."

Sighing, Luna hugged her. "We'll figure it out together. Always together."

"Thank you."

Pulling away, Luna took a deep breath. "Let's calm everyone and give James some space."

Forcing a smile, Amber followed behind the Fenrir. Her thoughts never left James, but she knew he would talk when he was ready.

***

James walked with Everest for a few minutes before she stopped to watch the sun rise. The small dragon didn't talk or turn to him for several minutes. Once the sun had crested the horizon, she spoke up. "You're in pain, as you should be."

Frowning, he sat down. "Since when did you speak full sentences?"

Glancing at him, she snickered. "Since you needed me to. And right now is that time, James."

He didn't let it bother him as he felt anger and tears brim in his eyes. "I'm changing…"

Everest wrapped her tail around him. "You are and there is no stopping it. You finally know your people, only to learn they are all beyond help. You have to end their suffering and it's tearing you apart."

"What do I do, Everest?" He could feel the first tears trickling down his cheeks as he continued to watch the sun.

"You hold all of that rage tight to your heart. You'll need it someday, and when you are strong enough, you'll wipe out this so called Pact."

Covering his face with his hands, he shuddered. Everest rested her head against his shoulder, doing her best to hold him tight.

"You have a family still, James. All of us are your family. Jamie is your sister and Mender your brother. They are on their way to you right now. Linda, Zenaria, and Grace all hold you in their hearts. Luna and Amber belong to you deeply. Maybe too deeply."

Before he could respond, Everest shushed him.

"My mother is your mother, James. You're my brother and I'm proud to call you family. You have saved my life more than once and I want you to have all of the love you deserve. I just wish it was that simple."

"I do too," he whispered.

"The truth is, we need to close the rents and kill the nests. If we don't separate our two worlds, then we will all die. This world doesn't deserve you, but we also have to rely on you. More pain than you can imagine will come for you, James. This is far from over."

Glancing at her, he wiped his eyes. "I don't know if I can handle more. I feel like I lost a part of myself last night."

"You'll lose far more before you are done. The good thing is, you have your family to help piece you back together. No matter how much you break, we will hold you tight and mend all of your cracks."

He knew she was trying to make him feel better, be he honestly just felt exhausted. He was tired of everything going wrong. He was tired of being pulled into a bigger picture. He just wanted to run away and return to being ignorant and selfish, just like before his core was broken.

"Want to go kill something?" Everest asked.

Frowning at the random question, he looked out over the city. "There isn't much here to kill anymore."

"There are towns nearby. Just you and me. I need your help learning more about my soul abilities."

Wiping his eyes one last time, he nodded. He didn't know when killing became his comfort escape, but there was no turning away from it now. And Everest was right, she did need help with her soul abilities. He barely had time to work with her before.

"We should tell your mother," he said after another minute.

"She already knows." Waving him off with a few claws, she stood and stretched.

Climbing back to his feet, he glanced at the nest and his companions. Hopefully they would understand why he was leaving for a few hours.

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