Chapter 8

*AZUSA POV*

I woke up in a dark room. There was something attached to my mouth. To help with my breathing, I think. I panicked and pulled the mask off. I looked around. My friends Elias, Kate and Blaze were all in the room, sleeping. I threw my covers off and crept toward the window next to my bed.

I was about to jump out before a hand covered my mouth and threw me back on the bed. I saw a shadow at the foot of my bed. He crawled onto the bed. When his face came into view, I couldn't help but scooch away.

It was Zane. He sat crisscrossed in front of me.

"You fainted after the incident with the officers." He said quietly.

I didn't answer.

"What is Vylerone to you?" Zane asked.

I kept my mouth shut. He asked again. "What is your relationship with him?"

I never said a word. He growled. Zane jumped on top of me, grabbed my collar and pulled me to his face.

"What does he want with you?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I couldn't say anything. I didn't want to. I wasn't about to spout out everything to him. Not when all of, well, this has happened. Then I finally spoke.

"Get off of me."

*ZANE POV*

"No."

Azusa's eyes flashed purple again. It sent shivers up my spine, but I still didn't get off. "Who is Vylerone to you?"

"It's none of your business."

"Yes, it is."

I pulled her collar closer to my face. We were nose-to-nose. I scowled.

"What are you guys doing?" asked Blaze.

Azusa and I looked at him. I gave him a look to back off, but considering how stubborn he is, he shook his head.

Azusa pushed me off of her and threw her pillow at me. I set the pillow down next to me.

"Nothing," She finally answered.

"Ok. Well, I'm going back to sleep." Blaze fell back asleep.

It was very quiet for a few moments, then I said, "Let's go to the roof."

"The roof?" Azusa echoed. "Why?"

"To catch some fresh air," I answered.

"No."

I scowled. "Yes. We're going to the roof."

I teleported the both of us to the roof. All the lights in the city were off and the stars were bright and visible. Azusa gazed at the burning lights in the sky. She looked happier than she was inside.

I secretly cast a sound spell to keep our voices inside the transparent box around us. She smiled at me and laughed as the stars flew by.

"Never mind what I said earlier. It's beautiful up here."

I smiled. Now I and to ask her about Vylerone. "I hate to chase your good mood away again, but I want to know your connection with Vylerone."

She smile faded, then she chuckled softly. "Now that we're alone...I don't know if I should tell you."

"I'll tell you a secret about myself. One that nobody knows about me."

She giggled. "Well, my relationship with him? He's my...how do I put this, he was my closest friend.

I asked another question. "What's he got on you?"

"He liked using people as puppets. He started hurting others and destroying their lives. And he suddenly wanted me as well. He's such a powerful Half-Breed, I couldn't get away."

Azusa's eyes started to water. They spilled from her eyes and she was crying. I held her shoulder and told her, "No one can hear you. You can let it all out. Your anger, your sadness. Let it all out."

She shook her head. "I can't. That's not how it works. He'll do something horrid again!"

"He can't get to you right now. I have a barrier up."

It was quiet for a long time. Then Azusa cried uncontrollably. She fell into my chest and sobbed. She cried tears of fear, anger, sadness, anxiety, all those negative emotions. I could feel her sadness, at least. I've died many times. How could one not be sad?

"What about you?" Azusa sniffled. "You said you would tell me a secret."

"Ah. Yea, I guess I have to now." I began. "Do know what a Regresser is?"

"No." She wiped her tears away. "What is it?"

"Time travelers. They go back in the past when they die in the current timeline they're in."

"What does your secret have to do with Regressers?"

"Well, I am a Regresser."

Azusa laughed. "You can travel through time? That's amazing! It's completely hilarious."

Her voice echoed at the last sentence. Her pupils turned purple again. A small, white spiral appeared behind her. When it opened, a foot stepped out. Azusa stood up, and I followed her up then stepped away from her.

The person who came out of the spiral portal had me frozen. It was Vylerone. He laughed and Azusa copied everything right on cue.

"Hey there, Zane," They both said. "Haven't seen you in a while."

"Vylerone," I grit my teeth. "What does World want now?"

"Oh, he doesn't want anything. I'm the one who wants things. You see, I may be World's puppet, but I can still do things I want. And I want Azusa."

Azusa held still as Vylerone slid his finger along her cheek. He held her chin and turned her head my way.

"Isn't she beautiful?" He smirked. "I loved her and you took her. You took the most precious thing in my life."

"How could I have done that?"

"This timeline, I was going to talk to her. But you beat me to her. You heard things about her and kept her away from me. I decided I'd take her back."

Vylerone took a strand of her long hair and sniffed it. "She smells wonderful. I always liked her. Sweet and delicate, but strong and independent at the same time."

I let my ears and tail show and threw a rock at him. He dodged it rught before impact.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. That's not very nice. You could've hurt your sweet, little Azusa here. You wouldn't want that, would you?"