"James, Honey…"

Opening his eyes, James lifted his arm and found it to be as thin as a child's. Realizing he was dreaming again, he tried to keep his eyes open. Chills ran through his body as he switched from freezing to burning hot.

"His fever isn't coming down," a woman whispered.

Blinking through tired eyes, James recognized his adoptive mother as she kneeled by his bed. His lips and mouth were too dry to say anything, but he remembered that his real mother told him that she hid his soul cultivation in his body and played it off as the flu. This had to be that moment.

"We just brought him home," a man stated.

Blinking a few times, James recognized his adoptive father, and yet the man's face was blurry and distorted as he struggled to remember what he looked like.

"He'll be better soon," his mother said. "She wouldn't have given us a dying child."

"What are we supposed to do with him?" his father asked. "Did she give us any hints?"

Shaking her head, his mother said, "she wanted us to keep him safe until his core developed. After that, he will join the sect and live his life. At least until the time comes that he changes."

She must be talking about my soul awakening. The sect clearly didn't know that would happen though. They cast me out and left me for dead without understanding that I would come back.

"I will teach him what I know," his mother stated. "The ancient languages and the world as a whole. I'll prepare him as much as I can."

Sighing, his father rested his hand on her shoulder. "Very well. I will support you."

Resting her hand on James's forehead, his mother let out a slow breath. "At least he's awake. I should make some broth for him."

"I'll do it," his father volunteered. Leaving the room, James could hear him moving things in the next room over. What sounded like pots being shifted stirred his memories and caused the world to blur.

Before he could process what was happening, a sense of dread, pain, and fear rolled through his body. The world was dark and he floated in a void as he felt fragments of emotions.

Fear dominated his mind followed by pain. Mind breaking pain as the feelings of those he absorbed overpowered his thoughts. The sounds of metal clipping metal filled the void.

Screams started a moment later, making him hold his head as he curled into himself. "Stop!" he shouted the void. "Leave me alone!"

Voices echoed all around him, begging for the pain to stop. Fear filled their voices as crying filtered through the air.

James felt himself starting to shake as he cried. He felt a crack deep inside himself grow and he started to go numb. The emotions all around him filled that crack, breaking it open further.

The crying slowly stopped as rage replaced the fear and pain. Rage at the world and those that tortured his people. Rage at The Pact and humans.

"Kill them!"

"Destroy them!"

"Become the monster they called you!"

Voices flitted all around him, making him uncurl and stand strong. He panned his gaze over the void and watched as faces of his people appeared and flickered out. Children and young adults that had been tortured and experimented on called to him, begging for him to avenge them.

Clenching his fist, he felt the anger grow into an inferno. The small spark that had once burned in his chest, grew in size, becoming an ever burning fire that filled his soul. The cracks in his mind started growing slightly larger as he let the pain, anger, fear, and sadness flow through him. He let the memories of his people in. Let them build his desire for vengeance. He walked through the void, listening to the calls of his people that had willingly given him strength. They helped him grow closer to his violet soul. He would be there soon and he would strike.

***

Luna used her body to hold James down as he thrashed in his sleep. Amber was rubbing his cheek, whispering calming words to him, while doing her best to hold him still.

"He isn't calming!" Luna felt the tears rolling down her cheeks as she pleaded to whatever god was listening to help her.

"Let me try," a soft voice said.

Turning, she found Zenaria standing in the doorway, tears of her own dripping from her chin.

Luna was desperate enough to try anything. Waving the kitsune over, she nudged Amber out of the way, making space.

Climbing into the bed, Zenaria rested her cheek against his and started to hum. The soothing melody was sweet and comfortable and within seconds, James started to calm. His thrashing turned to twitches as Luna climbed off.

Rubbing her eyes, Luna took a shuddering breath. "Can you stay with him tonight?"

Zenaria gave a thumbs up and continued to hum as she partially laid on top of James. Amber pulled the blanket up over them before falling into a chair.

"I'm exhausted," the nekorian whispered.

Luna walked over and leaned against the wall. "So am I. Let's take Zenaria's room and get some sleep. I'm sure Linda won't mind."

Getting up, Amber shuffled out of the room. Luna glanced at James one last time before wiping the last of the tears from her eyes. She didn't know what would work anymore. His nightmares were getting worse just after they were getting better. She thought she was enough to calm him, or even Amber would work. Now…

Shaking her head, she wished Zenaria a goodnight before leaving. She found Amber already in bed with Linda and soon joined them. She didn't want to talk about it, and Linda didn't ask. Everyone could hear him thrashing and the subsequent calming.

In the morning, he likely wouldn't remember anything happening. He only ever had fragments of the dreams over the last two weeks. It was never enough to help him explain what was happening.

Closing her eyes, Luna forced herself to sleep. She needed the energy for helping him during the day.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

***

James woke to warm breath on his cheek. Either Luna or Amber had crawled closer than normal, making him smile. They were even holding his hand. Before he woke them, he thought back on his dream. He could still feel the sense of purpose that was ingrained into his soul. He needed to grow stronger. Far stronger than he already was. He needed to head to the Underworld and destroy The Pact for murdering his people.

He felt numb to the emotions that he was feeling before. The fear and pain were gone, replaced with a calm anger and drive. The voices whispered all night, and were now quiet.

I bet it's Amber. I should wake her.

Chuckling to himself, he rolled onto his side, putting a slight space between him and the mouth breather. When he found black hair in his face and a face that had never shared a bed with him, he froze.

What is Zenaria doing in bed with me?

Her eyes fluttered open before narrowing into thin lines as she yawned. Pressing in closer, she held his hand to her stomach and pushed her nose against his neck, making him want to back away again.

"You're awake," Luna whispered from the doorway.

"I am," James whispered back. "Why is she in my bed?"

Zenaria woke up again and pulled away. "I had to calm you…"

"Calm me?"

Luna nodded and walked over. "You were having a bad nightmare. The worst one yet. Do you remember anything?"

James shook his head right away. They didn't need to know about the void, or the voices. He didn't need to share the sense of purpose they had given him.

"James?" Luna asked softly.

Blinking a few times, he let Zenaria go in order to rub his eyes. "Sorry, I don't remember anything. I don't even remember falling asleep last night."

Luna chuckled. "I'm not surprised. The moment you settled into the bath, you were out. We cleaned you and carried you to bed."

Slipping out of the bed, Zenaria stretched her arms above her head while yawning. "I'll be downstairs."

James watched her walk away, his eyes seeming to be unable to pull away from her swaying tails. Their relationship had drastically changed.

A gentle hand touched his cheek, pulling him back to Luna. "Sorry," he muttered.

"For what?" she asked innocently. "I believe you were just getting up and getting dressed. We have another run at the nest today."

Rubbing his eyes one last time, he nodded. "You're right."

Luna frowned at his steely tone as he promptly climbed out of bed. Grabbing his leather and feather armor, he slid it on with purpose before cinching it into place. Rolling his neck and shoulders, he felt strength in his body that he hadn't noticed before. His mind felt clear and focused as he turned back to his wife. "Let's go."

Nodding, she fell in behind him as he left the room. When they got downstairs, he found everyone waiting for him. None of them commented on the fact that Zenaria slept with him, which he was thankful for.

"We'll venture further into the city today," he announced. "Once we know if the monsters have respawned. If they have been, then we will clear as much as we can before the afternoon. Our only goal is to get stronger."

"Are you joining us?" Amber asked.

"I am." His strong answer made everyone blink a few times before he started walking toward the door. "Let's go."

Luna hurried after him, falling in by his side. "I like when you take charge like that."

Smirking, he glanced at her. "Good. If you do good today, I might just help you with your tail and then carry you to bed."

"Oh?" she blushed. "Are you thinking impure thoughts?"

"I assure you they are anything but pure."

Giggling, Luna took his hand. "I'm looking forward to killing more than you. I want to feel your hands teasing every part of me."

"I was thinking my lips."

Her blush grew deeper before she looked away. "James…"

"I'm not sorry." Turning to the rest of his party, he waved for them to hurry. "We aren't walking there. Pick up your pace!"

Kicking into a jog, he set the pace that they were barely able to keep up with. He didn't leave any of them behind, but they reached the city in minutes, rather than an hour. Slowing to a stop, he spread out his soul and found all of the monsters back in the buildings.

Luna tried to catch her breath by his side, and he noticed the others struggling as well. With another smirk, he gestured to the buildings. "What are you waiting for? I thought you were all determined to get stronger?"

Luna glared at him before dropping into her wolf form. He could feel determination flowing through her soul before she raced away. Slowly, everyone else broke away, rushing to claim a building or street to fight in. Only Zenaria remained as she walked over to his side.

"Following me again?" he asked.

She nodded. "If you don't mind."

Stepping up to her, he rested his hand on her hip. "Thank you for last night."

Tensing, she blushed a light pink while nodding. "I would do anything to help you."

"Anything?" he teased.

Nodding again, she met his gaze with determination and passion. "Anything."

"Good." Turning to the center of the city, he started walking. "I'm going to pull monsters to you, and I want to see what you can do. I'll kill any that overwhelm you."

Hurrying up to his side, she summoned her Soul Wires. "I'm ready when you are."

His smile grew as he kicked into a jog. They wouldn't need to go far before reaching a section the others weren't in. He also wanted to find the harder monsters that were sure to populate the inner city.

He only slowed once he was halfway to the nest. Zenaria came to a stop by his side, her eyes wide as she sensed the souls all around them. He knew she was strong enough to fight them, but not at their numbers.

Spreading out his soul, he tugged on all of them, pushing rage into their bodies that stirred them to action. Stone broke all around them as abominations the size of an adult human broke through walls and out of windows. Their blob-like bodies were undulating and pulsing with each movement of their spindly legs. All six of them ended in three razor sharp claws that tore at the concrete.

"You're up," he announced.

Zenaria nodded and set her lips into a snarl. Reaching out, she started Siphoning all that she could before simply disappearing. He could sense she wasn't Soul Shifted like Amber, but more like a wraith that drifted through the world. She was one with the light and shadows as a monster charging him suddenly fell to pieces.

Brows rising, he watched as one by one, the monsters fell apart, spurting blood into the air. Each Forsaken killed, spilled limbs and organs over the ground that were quickly trampled.

Zenaria was doing her best, but she simply couldn't kill them fast enough. In moments they were reaching him and he activated Soul Strike. Hundreds of souls across the area exploded, showering the streets and buildings in blood as energy flowed into his body.

The brief pause in the fight gave Zenaria a chance to appear by his side with wide eyes. "What did you do?"

"I killed them," he stated simply. "Monsters don't deserve to breathe the same air as me."

Gulping, she slipped into the shadows again before charging a new group. He made sure to keep an eye on her at all times and savored watching her tear through monster after monster. The crack in his mind filled with just a bit more joy at watching the death all around him. Like a poultice to a wound, she was helping him grow stronger.

Minutes passed as she tore through monster after monster. Once the Forsaken grew too close, he used Soul Strike, and pushed them back, coating the area in fresh blood. He wasn't gaining much in terms of growth, but every bit helped. This wasn't strictly about him. He needed Zenaria stronger if she was going to stand by his side. He wanted her by his side. He wanted to see her third tail come in. Even now, he watched both of her tails sway with the flow of combat.

Thoughts of the others grew distant from his thoughts as he focused everything on her. He pushed monster after monster toward her while watching energy flow into her soul. Each ember added to her growth, and he knew it wouldn't be long before she reached level six.

Crossing his arms, he felt the sneer on his lips settle into place. They weren't killing enough. More Forsaken needed to die. He could already feel those he talked with rearing their heads as they desired more. More blood and death.

***

Luna leaned against the wall with Amber and Mender. Her soul was spread out across the city and against James as she felt the raw rage and joy in his killing.

"It's not good," Mender stated.

"What made you think that?" Amber retorted sarcastically.

Pulling back, Luna turned to Mender. "Something happened last night. What could have changed him in such a way?"

Holding up his hands, Mender somberly shook his head. "I can't answer that. I told you I'm not an expert on the mind. The only reason I could push the memories back the way I did was because I'm intimate with his soul."

Crossing her arms, Luna pursed her lips. Amber nearly copied her before saying, "we have no choice but to keep someone with him. We'll need to keep reminding him that we need to use this nest to grow stronger."

"I agree," Mender responded. Turning to Luna, he asked, "can you talk with him tonight? After all, it's you he wants to carry away."

"I'll remind him." Touching her soul against his again, she added, "he's still changing. When will it settle?"

None of them could answer that question. Like they had been doing so far, they would take his actions one day at a time. That's all they could do.

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