Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 157: What He Sees ()

"Xenon... what is going on? Are you alright?" Neveah asked uncertainly,

A day ago, Xenon had been perfectly fine, Neveah did not hear anything untoward had occurred in the short time she had not seen Xenon.

The low growls rumbling out of Xenon left her feeling unsettled and Neveah sucked in a deep breath before she dared take another step closer to him.

Neveah moved cautiously, something was off with Xenon and she could sense it but she could not quite place a finger on it.

There was a strange aura exuded off of him and he gave Neveah no response, not acknowledging her presence either.

As Neveah got close enough, ignoring Xenon’s warning growls, she reached a hand out to Xenon’s shoulder but her hand did not get far.

Xenon’s hand shot up to grab hers and Neveah’s eyes widened slightly at the rough and scaly feeling of his palm,

The moment Xenon’s head snapped up and he turned around, Neveah got a glimpse of his state and the scroll she still held fell out of her hands.

Xenon’s eyes had turned the piercing shade of amber of his dragon side and as his gaze settled on Neveah, breathing heavily and a trail of blood down the sides of his lips,

A quiet gasp escaped her and Neveah felt a chill creep up her spine.

Xenon’s gaze moved down to the scroll for a moment and it was in that moment that the look in his eyes changed.

Before Neveah could do or say anything, Xenon’s hand took a hold of her neck in a crushing grip, his eyes blazing with rage.

"Xenon..." Neveah gasped out in shock as her hands instinctively moved up to pry Xenon’s hand away from her throat.

Neveah was still lost for words, the Xenon she stared at was completely different from the Xenon she knew.

There was no tenderness in his gaze, no reluctant innocence and naivety, all Neveah could see in Xenon’s eyes was bloodthirst.

Xenon’s grip on Neveah’s throat grew tighter and tighter.

"Misha..." Xenon growled out a word Neveah could not quite understand as she felt her windpipe being crushed beneath Xenon’s grip.

"Xenon... you’re hurting me..." Neveah gasped out, pulling at Xenon’s hand so he loosened his hold but his grip only grew tighter.

Neveah was lifted off her feet by her throat and her legs dangled in the air as her airflow was completely cut off.

"Xenon..." Neveah gasped out again,

Hoping her words could get through to him, but it was a fruitless attempt.

"Misha..." Xenon growled out again.

’Misha...’ Neveah thought, it was a word she had never heard before yet it sounded familiar to Neveah’s ears.

And then it clicked, Neveah’s gaze moved to the painting rolled open on the ground,

Just as before, it seemed to Neveah as though the black haired woman stared back at her, staring right into Neveah’s soul.

It was unnerving, but what was more disturbing was the writing at the bottom of the painting.

Even as Neveah struggled for breath, Neveah could still see clearly, previously, the painting had only come open halfway.

But at this moment, it was rolled open completely to reveal the entirety of it as well as a part Neveah had not noticed before... the bottom part where a short note was left.

The writing was barely legible and written in such small letterings, it was easy to miss.

Yet of all the parts of the writing Neveah could not make out at this moment, she could still make out the word...Misha.

’Misha...is not just any word...it is a name...her name...’ Neveah realized.

Neveah could already feel light-headed and black spots danced across her vision but the wheels turned in her mind and Neveah understood what was happening at this moment.

’What he sees...is not me...he sees her...’ Neveah thought in horror.

Whatever wrong the black haired woman had done to Xenon, the punishment was being dished out to Neveah at this moment. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

And for this reason, Neveah understood she perhaps would die today... because this was not the Xenon she was used to, this was the wild haze everyone had warned her of.

The wild haze Neveah had dismissed as nothing all this while, letting herself grow accustomed to a side of Xenon that could slip at any moment.

And now, Xenon did slip and there was no one around to save Neveah from his hands.

Of all the things that could end her in the dragon keep, Neveah had never once believed it would be at Xenon’s hands.

"Xenon... please...stop. It’s me, it’s Veah... don’t you hear my voice? Come back to me, please..." Neveah gasped out, searching Xenon’s eyes as she fought against the unconsciousness.

Neveah searched Xenon’s eyes but there was no recognition, only the madness reflected in his amber orbs.

Tears sprang to Neveah’s eyes, trailing down her cheeks as she realized Xenon would not hearken to her plea.

Her hands fell away from Xenon’s wrist and Neveah gave up the struggle, instead she just stared at those amber orbs, her heart constricting in pain.

When Neveah should have been worried for her life, instead her thoughts were focused on Xenon...on the manifestation of the evil within him that terrified him so much.

Neveah’s heart ached for him, ached because she knew her death would be just another proof to Xenon that he truly was the monster he believed himself to be.

Just when Neveah was certain she could bring him back to his world, back to his family and the people he loved... this was happening.

’If we die... would he ever forgive himself?’ Neveah asked her wolf as her limbs grew weak.

Neveah did not need her wolf to respond, she already knew the answer herself and so with the last ounce of strength Neveah could muster, she lifted a hand to Xenon’s cheek.

Her palm settled over his scales, her thumb caressing his cheek tenderly.

"Xenon... I do not know if I have said this before... but I never want you to forget it..." Neveah gasped out, her words coming out with much difficulty.

"If I am to die at your hands... I will not loathe you." Neveah whispered weakly.