Shownotes
[18+] As Petra, Mark, and Seth reach Thunder Hill, Petra struggles to suppress his desires, and the true nature of the Rapture is revealed.
Today’s story is the second and final part of “Rapture” by Shiloh Skye, writer, editor, dog. You can find more of his work, as well as book reviews, recommendations, and info about where to find more great furry fiction, on his website at ShilohSkye.com.
Read by the Author.
thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/18-rapture-by-shiloh-skye-part-2-of-2
Transcripts
Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:and
Speaker:final
Speaker:part
Speaker:of “Rapture”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Shiloh Skye,
Speaker:writer,
Speaker:editor,
Speaker:dog.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:work,
Speaker:as
Speaker:well
Speaker:as
Speaker:book
Speaker:reviews,
Speaker:recommendations,
Speaker:and
Speaker:info
Speaker:about
Speaker:where
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:great
Speaker:furry
Speaker:fiction,
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:website
Speaker:at
Speaker:ShilohSkye.com.
Last
time,
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:Rapture
Speaker:occurred,
Speaker:Petra,
Speaker:Mark,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:were
Speaker:left
Speaker:behind,
Speaker:curiously
Speaker:transformed
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:wolf,
Speaker:a
Speaker:dragon,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:tiger.
Speaker:Petra,
Speaker:believing
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:left
Speaker:behind
Speaker:for
Speaker:being
Speaker:trans,
Speaker:spiraled
Speaker:into
Speaker:religious
Speaker:fear,
Speaker:desperate
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:forgiven
Speaker:for
Speaker:his
Speaker:perceived
Speaker:sin. A
Speaker:vision
Speaker:now
Speaker:leads
Speaker:him
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:concerned
Speaker:lovers
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:place
Speaker:called
Speaker:Thunder
Speaker:Hill,
Speaker:where
Speaker:he
Speaker:hopes
Speaker:he
Speaker:will
Speaker:find
Speaker:a
Speaker:second
Speaker:chance
Speaker:at
Speaker:deliverance.
Read
by
Speaker:the
Speaker:Author.
Please
enjoy
“Rapture”
by
Speaker:Shiloh
Speaker:Skye,
Speaker:Part 2
Speaker:of 2
We
reached
Speaker:the
Speaker:outskirts
Speaker:of
Speaker:town
Speaker:in
Speaker:an
Speaker:hour,
Speaker:passing
Speaker:a
Speaker:gas
Speaker:station,
Speaker:a
Speaker:car
Speaker:dealership,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:crumbling
Speaker:old
Speaker:barns
Speaker:before
Speaker:finally
Speaker:arriving
Speaker:at
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:gravel
Speaker:parking
Speaker:lot
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:roadside.
Speaker:It
Speaker:bordered
Speaker:a
Speaker:wooded
Speaker:county
Speaker:park,
Speaker:where
Speaker:hikers,
Speaker:students,
Speaker:and
Speaker:bored
Speaker:groups
Speaker:of
Speaker:friends—ourselves
Speaker:included—had
Speaker:once
Speaker:visited
Speaker:to
Speaker:pass
Speaker:the
Speaker:time.
Speaker:A
Speaker:map
Speaker:enclosed
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:plastic
Speaker:window
Speaker:outlined
Speaker:the
Speaker:hiking
Speaker:trails
Speaker:leading
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:hills,
Speaker:but
Speaker:we
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:consult
Speaker:it;
Speaker:we
Speaker:had
Speaker:walked
Speaker:those
Speaker:trails
Speaker:all
Speaker:our
Speaker:lives.
Paved
paths
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:gravel,
Speaker:then
Speaker:to
Speaker:dirt
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:next
Speaker:hour.
Speaker:We
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:shortcut,
Speaker:hiking
Speaker:up
Speaker:paths
Speaker:only
Speaker:recognizable
Speaker:by
Speaker:bare
Speaker:spots
Speaker:of
Speaker:hardened
Speaker:mud.
Speaker:The
Speaker:ground
Speaker:rose
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:steady
Speaker:incline,
Speaker:and
Speaker:though
Speaker:we
Speaker:found
Speaker:our
Speaker:new
Speaker:claws
Speaker:helped
Speaker:us
Speaker:climb,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:still
Speaker:an
Speaker:ordeal
Speaker:that
Speaker:filled
Speaker:my
Speaker:ears
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:cacophony
Speaker:of
Speaker:rapid,
Speaker:thumping
Speaker:heartbeats.
Speaker:I
Speaker:even
Speaker:started
Speaker:panting,
Speaker:much
Speaker:to
Speaker:Seth’s
Speaker:delight.
As
the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:started
Speaker:leveling
Speaker:off,
Speaker:we
Speaker:noticed
Speaker:cobblestone
Speaker:structures
Speaker:among
Speaker:the
Speaker:trees,
Speaker:and
Speaker:antique
Speaker:bricks
Speaker:littering
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:like
Speaker:fallen
Speaker:acorns.
Speaker:At
Speaker:last,
Speaker:we
Speaker:emerged
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:vast
Speaker:clearing
Speaker:of
Speaker:tall
Speaker:grass
Speaker:and
Speaker:crumbling
Speaker:ruins.
Thunder
Hill
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:long-abandoned
Speaker:town,
Speaker:named
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:thunderclouds
Speaker:that
Speaker:raged
Speaker:when
Speaker:its
Speaker:textile
Speaker:mill
Speaker:burned
Speaker:down
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:two
Speaker:hundred
Speaker:years
Speaker:prior.
Speaker:Now
Speaker:the
Speaker:place
Speaker:was
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:but
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:shattered
Speaker:hip-high
Speaker:stone
Speaker:walls
Speaker:outlining
Speaker:old
Speaker:buildings.
Speaker:But
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:center
Speaker:of
Speaker:those
Speaker:ruins
Speaker:now
Speaker:stood
Speaker:something
Speaker:entirely
Speaker:new.
At
first,
Speaker:I
Speaker:thought
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:things.
Speaker:The
Speaker:structure
Speaker:was
Speaker:far
Speaker:too
Speaker:pristine
Speaker:for
Speaker:this
Speaker:place,
Speaker:and
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:seem
Speaker:physically
Speaker:possible.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:statue
Speaker:of
Speaker:massive
Speaker:encircling
Speaker:wings
Speaker:the
Speaker:size
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:house,
Speaker:rising
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:rough
Speaker:shape
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:dome,
Speaker:with
Speaker:impossibly
Speaker:intricate
Speaker:feathers
Speaker:carved
Speaker:from
Speaker:red stone.
Speaker:An
Speaker:entrance
Speaker:waited
Speaker:between
Speaker:its
Speaker:wing tips,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:Sabaoth
Speaker:himself
Speaker:was
Speaker:inviting
Speaker:us
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:safety
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:embrace.
“There
they
Speaker:are!
Speaker:The
Speaker:wings
Speaker:of
Speaker:Sabaoth,
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:vision!”
Speaker:I
Speaker:ran
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:statue
Speaker:as
Speaker:fast
Speaker:as
Speaker:my
Speaker:footpaws
Speaker:could
Speaker:carry
Speaker:me,
Speaker:falling
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:knees
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:threshold.
Speaker:The
Speaker:beautiful
Speaker:carvings
Speaker:brought
Speaker:tears
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:traced
Speaker:my
Speaker:claws
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:detailed
Speaker:feathers.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:feel
Speaker:the
Speaker:divinity
Speaker:emanating
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:stone,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:whispered
Speaker:a
Speaker:prayer
Speaker:of
Speaker:thanks.
Speaker:With
Speaker:renewed
Speaker:hope,
Speaker:I
Speaker:summoned
Speaker:my
Speaker:faith
Speaker:and
Speaker:prayed
Speaker:as
Speaker:hard
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:could.
Mark
and
Speaker:Seth,
Speaker:as
Speaker:usual,
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:share
Speaker:my
Speaker:commitment
Speaker:to
Speaker:prayer.
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:eagerly
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:inside
Speaker:the
Speaker:temple
Speaker:to
Speaker:explore
Speaker:its
Speaker:inner
Speaker:chamber,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:waited
Speaker:outside,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:clearing
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:the
Speaker:monolith
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:surprise
Speaker:him
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:least.
Speaker:When
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:emerged
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:shadowy
Speaker:interior,
Speaker:having
Speaker:found
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:but
Speaker:a
Speaker:bare
Speaker:open
Speaker:space
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:circular
Speaker:window
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:ceiling,
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:me.
“Hey
hun,
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:are
Speaker:going to
Speaker:see
Speaker:if
Speaker:anything
Speaker:else
Speaker:has
Speaker:appeared
Speaker:around
Speaker:here.
Speaker:Will
Speaker:you
Speaker:be
Speaker:okay alone
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit?”
I
looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:him,
Speaker:confused
Speaker:and
Speaker:wishing
Speaker:they’d
Speaker:stay
Speaker:and
Speaker:pray
Speaker:with
Speaker:me,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:nodded
Speaker:regardless.
Speaker:The
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:wrapped
Speaker:an
Speaker:arm
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:tiger’s
Speaker:waist
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:walked
Speaker:off
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:ruins.
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:so
Speaker:badly
Speaker:to
Speaker:follow
Speaker:them,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:allow
Speaker:myself
Speaker:to
Speaker:leave
Speaker:this
Speaker:temple,
Speaker:no
Speaker:matter
Speaker:how
Speaker:much
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to.
Speaker:Reluctantly,
Speaker:I
Speaker:returned
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:prayers.
Or
at
Speaker:least,
Speaker:I
Speaker:attempted
Speaker:to.
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:hoped
Speaker:prayer
Speaker:would
Speaker:ground
Speaker:me,
Speaker:but
Speaker:instead
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:mountain
Speaker:climber
Speaker:desperately
Speaker:searching
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:handhold.
Speaker:I
Speaker:remembered
Speaker:how
Speaker:committed
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:that
Speaker:morning
Speaker:to
Speaker:showing
Speaker:God
Speaker:would
Speaker:accept
Speaker:me
Speaker:despite
Speaker:being
Speaker:trans.
Speaker:Yet
Speaker:here
Speaker:I
Speaker:was,
Speaker:fearing
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:abandoned
Speaker:and
Speaker:begging
Speaker:forgiveness
Speaker:for
Speaker:that
Speaker:very
Speaker:thing.
Speaker:It
Speaker:felt
Speaker:so
Speaker:wrong,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:knew
Speaker:God’s
Speaker:will
Speaker:must
Speaker:be
Speaker:right;
Speaker:to
Speaker:feel
Speaker:otherwise
Speaker:must
Speaker:have
Speaker:meant
Speaker:something
Speaker:about
Speaker:me
Speaker:was
Speaker:broken.
Speaker:My
Speaker:fear-ravaged
Speaker:brain
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:think
Speaker:of
Speaker:any
Speaker:other
Speaker:explanation.
After
an
Speaker:hour
Speaker:of
Speaker:fragmented
Speaker:prayer,
Speaker:dusk
Speaker:approached,
Speaker:and
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:red
Speaker:wings
Speaker:deepened to
Speaker:crimson
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:orange
Speaker:sunlight,
Speaker:my
Speaker:prayers
Speaker:wavered
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:strain
Speaker:of Mark
Speaker:and
Speaker:Seth’s
Speaker:words.
We
want
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:who
Speaker:you
Speaker:are.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:whatever
Speaker:the
Speaker:church
Speaker:wants
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:be.
I
told
Speaker:myself
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:fixed;
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:what
Speaker:God
Speaker:surely
Speaker:wanted,
Speaker:after
Speaker:all,
Speaker:and
Speaker:what
Speaker:the
Speaker:church
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:told
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:want.
Speaker:But
Speaker:my
Speaker:body
Speaker:itself
Speaker:began
Speaker:to
Speaker:fight
Speaker:back
Speaker:against
Speaker:that
Speaker:thought.
Speaker:The
Speaker:swish
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:tail
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:grass.
Speaker:The
Speaker:warmth
Speaker:of
Speaker:fur
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:cool
Speaker:Spring
Speaker:air.
Speaker:The
Speaker:heat
Speaker:that
Speaker:stirred
Speaker:between
Speaker:my
Speaker:legs.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:all so
Speaker:distracting,
Speaker:so
Speaker:tempting.
Speaker:Soon
Speaker:the
Speaker:sensations
Speaker:broke
Speaker:my
Speaker:prayers
Speaker:apart
Speaker:into
Speaker:loose
Speaker:strands
Speaker:of
Speaker:thought,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:realized
Speaker:I
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:pray
Speaker:any
Speaker:further
Speaker:without
Speaker:sating
Speaker:my
Speaker:curiosity.
The
priests
Speaker:rose
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:protest.
Do
not
Speaker:let
Speaker:yourself
Speaker:enjoy
Speaker:your
Speaker:body.
It
is
Speaker:false.
Speaker:It
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:trap.
But
I
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:because
Speaker:I
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course
Speaker:not,
Speaker:but
Speaker:because
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:necessity
Speaker:for
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:praying.
Speaker:Surely
Speaker:God
Speaker:would
Speaker:forgive
Speaker:me
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:this
Speaker:for
Speaker:His
Speaker:sake.
It
was
Speaker:an
Speaker:irrational
Speaker:loophole,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:brought
Speaker:the
Speaker:most
Speaker:furious
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:priest’s
Speaker:screams,
Speaker:but
Speaker:my
Speaker:desire
Speaker:was
Speaker:too
Speaker:strong
Speaker:resist.
Speaker:I
Speaker:immediately
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:my
Speaker:shirt
Speaker:and
Speaker:ran
Speaker:my
Speaker:claws
Speaker:through
Speaker:the fur there,
Speaker:stimulating
Speaker:the
Speaker:undercoat
Speaker:and
Speaker:finding
Speaker:my
Speaker:nipples
Speaker:buried
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Their
Speaker:sensitivity,
Speaker:which
Speaker:had
Speaker:always
Speaker:felt
Speaker:so
Speaker:foreign
Speaker:to
Speaker:me,
Speaker:was
Speaker:now
Speaker:dulled,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:found
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:more
Speaker:similarly
Speaker:desensitized
Speaker:sets
Speaker:below
Speaker:the
Speaker:first.
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:but
Speaker:smile
Speaker:at
Speaker:how
Speaker:right
Speaker:this
Speaker:male
Speaker:chest
Speaker:felt,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:soon
Speaker:caught
Speaker:myself;
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:doing
Speaker:this
Speaker:for
Speaker:God,
Speaker:not
Speaker:for
Speaker:me.
I
reached
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:my
Speaker:tail,
Speaker:played
Speaker:with
Speaker:and
Speaker:splayed
Speaker:the
Speaker:toes
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:footpaws,
Speaker:wiggled
Speaker:and
Speaker:flexed
Speaker:my
Speaker:ears,
Speaker:and
Speaker:even
Speaker:booped
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:nose
Speaker:like
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:done
Speaker:to
Speaker:so
Speaker:many
Speaker:dogs
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:past.
Speaker:Finally,
Speaker:I
Speaker:reached
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:dying
Speaker:to
Speaker:investigate
Speaker:since
Speaker:that
Speaker:morning.
Speaker:I
Speaker:looked
Speaker:around
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:sure
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:and
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:returned,
Speaker:then
Speaker:I
Speaker:undid
Speaker:my
Speaker:pants
Speaker:and
Speaker:slid
Speaker:them
Speaker:down.
Speaker:There
Speaker:between
Speaker:my
Speaker:legs
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:furry
Speaker:sheath
Speaker:and
Speaker:balls.
Speaker:I
Speaker:cupped
Speaker:them
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:paw,
Speaker:trembling
Speaker:and
Speaker:unable
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:my
Speaker:glee
Speaker:in
Speaker:check.
Speaker:I
Speaker:teased
Speaker:the
Speaker:rim
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:sheath,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:hit
Speaker:of
Speaker:sensitivity
Speaker:sent
Speaker:a
Speaker:shiver
Speaker:up
Speaker:my
Speaker:spine,
Speaker:causing
Speaker:my
Speaker:sheath
Speaker:to
Speaker:plump
Speaker:up,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:beginnings
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:red
Speaker:tip
Speaker:to
Speaker:emerge.
Speaker:It
Speaker:felt
Speaker:so
Speaker:wild,
Speaker:so
Speaker:new,
Speaker:so
Speaker:incredibly
Speaker:right.
“Nice,
isn’t
Speaker:it?”
I
jumped
Speaker:and
Speaker:fell
Speaker:onto
Speaker:my
Speaker:back,
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:shimmying
Speaker:my
Speaker:pants
Speaker:back
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:cover
Speaker:my
Speaker:modesty.
“I’m
sorry!
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:just—I
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to—”
With
a
Speaker:laugh,
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:waved
Speaker:my
Speaker:panic
Speaker:away. “It’s
Speaker:okay.
Speaker:You’re
Speaker:curious,
Speaker:I
Speaker:get
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:just
Speaker:did
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:thing
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:while
Speaker:ago.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:winked
Speaker:and
Speaker:sat
Speaker:down
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:me. “It
Speaker:looks
Speaker:good,
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:way.”
My
ears
Speaker:grew
Speaker:hot
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:compliment,
Speaker:especially
Speaker:coming
Speaker:from
Speaker:Mark,
Speaker:who
Speaker:was
Speaker:usually
Speaker:disinterested
Speaker:in
Speaker:such
Speaker:things.
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:the
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:desire
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:what
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon’s
Speaker:own
Speaker:cock
Speaker:looked
Speaker:like,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:swallowed
Speaker:my
Speaker:curiosity
Speaker:down.
“Where’s Seth?”
I
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:noticing that
Speaker:he
Speaker:hadn’t
Speaker:returned,
Speaker:and
Speaker:desperate
Speaker:to
Speaker:change
Speaker:the
Speaker:subject.
“Off
over
Speaker:there,”
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:said,
Speaker:pointing
Speaker:toward
Speaker:a
Speaker:distant
Speaker:ruin. “He
Speaker:needed
Speaker:some
Speaker:time
Speaker:to
Speaker:think.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:been
Speaker:a
Speaker:heavy
Speaker:day,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he’s
Speaker:worried
Speaker:sick.”
I
spotted
Speaker:the
Speaker:tiger
Speaker:sitting
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:dozen
Speaker:yards
Speaker:away
Speaker:upon
Speaker:a
Speaker:broken
Speaker:stone
Speaker:wall,
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulders
Speaker:slumped
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:tail
Speaker:swayed
Speaker:idly
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:stared
Speaker:off
Speaker:into
Speaker:space.
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:never
Speaker:known
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:an
Speaker:introspective
Speaker:person,
Speaker:but
Speaker:perhaps
Speaker:the
Speaker:reality
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Rapture
Speaker:was
Speaker:finally
Speaker:catching
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:him.
“He
shouldn’t
Speaker:worry,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:returning
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:religious
Speaker:convictions. “I
Speaker:have
Speaker:no
Speaker:doubt
Speaker:that
Speaker:once
Speaker:God
Speaker:shows
Speaker:us
Speaker:the
Speaker:way,
Speaker:he’ll
Speaker:be
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:whatever’s
Speaker:necessary
Speaker:to
Speaker:ascend.
Speaker:He’s
Speaker:too
Speaker:good
Speaker:to
Speaker:stay
Speaker:here.”
“He’s
not
Speaker:worried
Speaker:about
Speaker:himself.
Speaker:He’s
Speaker:worried
Speaker:about
Speaker:you.”
My
ears
Speaker:shot
Speaker:up. “Me?
Speaker:Why?”
“Why
do
Speaker:you
Speaker:think?”
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:sighed. “Look,
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:afraid.
Speaker:We
Speaker:get
Speaker:that.
Speaker:Who
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:spooked
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:end
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:world?
Speaker:But
Speaker:you’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:quoting
Speaker:scripture
Speaker:and
Speaker:mumbling
Speaker:prayers
Speaker:and
Speaker:saying
Speaker:things
Speaker:that
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:sound
Speaker:like
Speaker:you
Speaker:all
Speaker:day.
Speaker:We’ve
Speaker:only
Speaker:ever
Speaker:seen
Speaker:you
Speaker:like
Speaker:this
Speaker:once
Speaker:before.”
My
ears
Speaker:fell
Speaker:back
Speaker:at
Speaker:that
Speaker:unwelcome
Speaker:reminder.
Speaker:I
Speaker:scratched
Speaker:my
Speaker:claws
Speaker:idly
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:fur
Speaker:on
Speaker:my wrists,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:off
Speaker:into
Speaker:space
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:in
Speaker:tandem
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:forlorn
Speaker:tiger.
“You’re
saying
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:acting
Speaker:like
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:after
Speaker:they
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:convert
Speaker:me?”
Mark
stared,
Speaker:his
Speaker:answer
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:gaze.
I
took
Speaker:a
Speaker:deep
Speaker:breath
Speaker:and
Speaker:let
Speaker:it
Speaker:out
Speaker:slowly. “I
Speaker:suppose
Speaker:that
Speaker:makes
Speaker:sense.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:right,
Speaker:after
Speaker:all.”
“Petra!”
“Well,
weren’t
Speaker:they?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:snapped. “Once
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:the
Speaker:priests
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:family
Speaker:telling
Speaker:me
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:damned
Speaker:for
Speaker:wanting
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:man.
Speaker:Now
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:God
Speaker:Himself.”
“Hun,
that
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:what’s
Speaker:happening.
Speaker:And
Speaker:hauling
Speaker:you
Speaker:off
Speaker:and
Speaker:locking
Speaker:you
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:room
Speaker:with
Speaker:those
Speaker:priests
Speaker:was
Speaker:evil.”
“They
had
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:intentions,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said. “They
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:that
Speaker:this
Speaker:would
Speaker:happen
Speaker:someday
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:repent.
Speaker:I
Speaker:relapsed,
Speaker:and
Speaker:now
Speaker:here
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:paying
Speaker:the
Speaker:price.”
Mark
shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head
Speaker:and
Speaker:slumped
Speaker:back
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground.
Speaker:He
Speaker:sighed
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:Sabaoth’s
Speaker:crimson
Speaker:wings.
“They’re
in
Speaker:your
Speaker:head
Speaker:again,
Speaker:aren’t
Speaker:they?”
I
grit
Speaker:my
Speaker:teeth,
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:caught
Speaker:out,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:hesitantly
Speaker:nodded. “I’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:remembering
Speaker:the
Speaker:things
Speaker:they
Speaker:said
Speaker:ever
Speaker:since
Speaker:you
Speaker:took
Speaker:me
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:pool.
Speaker:The
Speaker:memories
Speaker:just
Speaker:sort
Speaker:of
Speaker:pop
Speaker:up
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:nowhere,
Speaker:always
Speaker:yelling
Speaker:at
Speaker:me.”
Speaker:My
Speaker:shoulders
Speaker:slumped
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:sighed,
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:bitter. “Why
Speaker:did
Speaker:they
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:right,
Speaker:damnit?
Speaker:Why
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:God
Speaker:just
Speaker:let
Speaker:me
Speaker:be…
Speaker:me.”
Mark’s
eyes
Speaker:brightened
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:lack
Speaker:of
Speaker:conviction,
Speaker:but
Speaker:they
Speaker:darkened
Speaker:again
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:saw
Speaker:me
Speaker:wince
Speaker:and
Speaker:straighten
Speaker:up,
Speaker:more
Speaker:words
Speaker:popping
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:to
Speaker:pull
Speaker:me
Speaker:back
Speaker:on
Speaker:track.
“Do
you
Speaker:remember
Speaker:how
Speaker:different
Speaker:you
Speaker:acted
Speaker:after
Speaker:they
Speaker:took
Speaker:you?”
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:asked. “You
Speaker:had
Speaker:that
Speaker:thousand-yard
Speaker:stare
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:swear
Speaker:you
Speaker:could
Speaker:only
Speaker:speak
Speaker:in
Speaker:scripture
Speaker:half
Speaker:the
Speaker:time.
Speaker:You
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:admit
Speaker:that
Speaker:we’d
Speaker:ever
Speaker:been
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:friends.
Speaker:They
Speaker:put
Speaker:you
Speaker:back
Speaker:in
Speaker:your
Speaker:egg,
Speaker:and
Speaker:you
Speaker:were
Speaker:too
Speaker:scared
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:out
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:time.
Speaker:Now
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:throwing
Speaker:yourself
Speaker:back
Speaker:in.
Speaker:Why?”
“It’s…
it’s
Speaker:necessary,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said. “I
Speaker:got
Speaker:caught
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:becoming
Speaker:someone
Speaker:else.
Speaker:I
Speaker:rejected
Speaker:Gnosis,
Speaker:and
Speaker:now
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:paying
Speaker:for
Speaker:it.”
Mark
placed
Speaker:a
Speaker:hand
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:paw. “Petra,
Speaker:the
Speaker:way
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:the
Speaker:Rapture
Speaker:doesn’t
Speaker:make
Speaker:any
Speaker:sense.
Speaker:This
Speaker:isn’t
Speaker:about
Speaker:condemning
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:wanting
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:who
Speaker:you
Speaker:really
Speaker:are.
Speaker:If
Speaker:it
Speaker:was,
Speaker:there’d
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:hell
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:lot
Speaker:more
Speaker:people
Speaker:left
Speaker:behind.”
I
shook
Speaker:my
Speaker:head. “I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:think
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:true.
Speaker:And
Speaker:if
Speaker:it
Speaker:is,
Speaker:there
Speaker:must
Speaker:be
Speaker:something
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:judgment
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Rapture
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:just
Speaker:as
Speaker:important.
Speaker:Like
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:on
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:everything
Speaker:else,
Speaker:it
Speaker:judges
Speaker:whether
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:be
Speaker:fixed
Speaker:or
Speaker:not.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:sure
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:be
Speaker:fixed.”
Mark
stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:me,
Speaker:hoping
Speaker:I
Speaker:would
Speaker:find
Speaker:a
Speaker:more
Speaker:rational
Speaker:conclusion
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:awkward
Speaker:silence,
Speaker:but
Speaker:my
Speaker:faith
Speaker:held
Speaker:fast
Speaker:and
Speaker:firm.
Speaker:He
Speaker:sighed.
“When
we
Speaker:deny
Speaker:who
Speaker:we
Speaker:are,
Speaker:it
Speaker:leaves
Speaker:a
Speaker:hollow
Speaker:inside
Speaker:of
Speaker:us,
Speaker:where
Speaker:things
Speaker:will
Speaker:crawl
Speaker:in
Speaker:and
Speaker:make
Speaker:us
Speaker:into
Speaker:something
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:not.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:opened
Speaker:a
Speaker:wing
Speaker:and
Speaker:wrapped
Speaker:it
Speaker:around
Speaker:me
Speaker:for
Speaker:some
Speaker:much-needed
Speaker:comfort. “We’re
Speaker:here
Speaker:for
Speaker:you,
Speaker:you
Speaker:know.
Speaker:Whatever
Speaker:happens
Speaker:tomorrow,
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:faith
Speaker:you’ll
Speaker:close
Speaker:that
Speaker:hollow
Speaker:and
Speaker:get
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:who
Speaker:you
Speaker:really
Speaker:are
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:end.
Speaker:Sabaoth
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:leave
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:live
Speaker:a
Speaker:life
Speaker:you
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:want.”
I
nodded. “Same
Speaker:for
Speaker:you
Speaker:and
Speaker:Seth.
Speaker:If
Speaker:God
Speaker:decides
Speaker:otherwise,
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:do.
Speaker:You’re
Speaker:right
Speaker:about
Speaker:one
Speaker:thing.
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:scared.”
He
wrapped
Speaker:me
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms,
Speaker:holding
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:against
Speaker:his
Speaker:chest
Speaker:and
Speaker:comforting
Speaker:me
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:strong
Speaker:beat
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:heart. “Whatever
Speaker:happens,
Speaker:you’ll
Speaker:have
Speaker:the
Speaker:power
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:happy
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:end.
Speaker:I
Speaker:promise.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:sky
Speaker:and
Speaker:was
Speaker:silent
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:while,
Speaker:just
Speaker:staring
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:emerging
Speaker:night,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:reading
Speaker:fate
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:stars. “Yeah,
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:sure
Speaker:of
Speaker:it.”
That
night,
Speaker:we
Speaker:slept
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:wings’
Speaker:embrace.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:rough,
Speaker:lying
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:hard
Speaker:ground
Speaker:with
Speaker:no
Speaker:blankets
Speaker:or
Speaker:pillows,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:told
Speaker:myself
Speaker:this
Speaker:was
Speaker:only
Speaker:for
Speaker:one
Speaker:night.
Speaker:In
Speaker:fact,
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:granted
Speaker:Gnosis
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:morning,
Speaker:I
Speaker:would
Speaker:never
Speaker:experience
Speaker:physical
Speaker:discomfort
Speaker:ever
Speaker:again.
Naturally,
I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:sleep,
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:and
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:to
Speaker:sit
Speaker:and
Speaker:stare
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:ceiling.
Speaker:My
Speaker:eyesight
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:dark
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:much
Speaker:improved
Speaker:from
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:human,
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:spent
Speaker:the
Speaker:hours
Speaker:idly
Speaker:stroking
Speaker:my
Speaker:fur
Speaker:and
Speaker:staring
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:stone
Speaker:feathers
Speaker:swirling
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:whirlpool
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:stars
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:open
Speaker:center.
Speaker:My
Speaker:mind
Speaker:was
Speaker:similarly
Speaker:chaotic;
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:sink
Speaker:my
Speaker:claws
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:single
Speaker:line
Speaker:of
Speaker:thought
Speaker:before
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:swept
Speaker:away
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:stormy
Speaker:seas
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:head.
I
looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:and
Speaker:Mark,
Speaker:who
Speaker:slept
Speaker:so
Speaker:soundly
Speaker:together.
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:had
Speaker:cuddled
Speaker:up
Speaker:close
Speaker:to
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:and
Speaker:draped
Speaker:both
Speaker:arm
Speaker:and
Speaker:wing
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:sleeping
Speaker:tiger,
Speaker:while
Speaker:Seth’s
Speaker:tail
Speaker:had
Speaker:curled
Speaker:around
Speaker:Mark’s
Speaker:leg.
Speaker:They
Speaker:looked
Speaker:so
Speaker:beautiful,
Speaker:smiling
Speaker:in
Speaker:their
Speaker:sleep
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:the
Speaker:Rapture
Speaker:had
Speaker:taken
Speaker:their
Speaker:worries
Speaker:away
Speaker:instead
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:souls.
Speaker:I
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:steady
Speaker:my
Speaker:envy,
Speaker:to
Speaker:no
Speaker:avail.
The
aimless
Speaker:stroking
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:fur
Speaker:soon
Speaker:escalated,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:found
Speaker:myself
Speaker:exploring
Speaker:again.
Speaker:I
Speaker:fondled
Speaker:my
Speaker:cock,
Speaker:which
Speaker:had
Speaker:grown
Speaker:further
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:its
Speaker:sheath
Speaker:and
Speaker:become
Speaker:unbearably
Speaker:sensitive
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:yearned
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:tiger
Speaker:and
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:just
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:yards
Speaker:away.
Speaker:It
Speaker:throbbed
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:paw,
Speaker:begging
Speaker:for
Speaker:attention
Speaker:past
Speaker:the
Speaker:point
Speaker:of
Speaker:simple
Speaker:exploration.
Speaker:I
Speaker:whined as
Speaker:I
Speaker:drew
Speaker:my
Speaker:paw
Speaker:away.
It
wasn’t
Speaker:fair.
With
a
Speaker:huff
Speaker:I
Speaker:stared
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:ceiling
Speaker:again,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:and
Speaker:failing
Speaker:to
Speaker:chant
Speaker:aimless
Speaker:prayers,
Speaker:which
Speaker:had
Speaker:become
Speaker:even
Speaker:more
Speaker:impossible
Speaker:lately
Speaker:despite
Speaker:the
Speaker:scolding
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:priests
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:head.
“Petra,
you’re
Speaker:awake?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:heard
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:whisper.
Speaker:When
Speaker:I
Speaker:looked
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:answer,
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:already
Speaker:crawling
Speaker:out
Speaker:from
Speaker:under
Speaker:Mark’s
Speaker:wing.
Speaker:The
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:mumbled
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:stayed
Speaker:fast
Speaker:asleep
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:tiger
Speaker:crawled
Speaker:over
Speaker:on
Speaker:all
Speaker:fours,
Speaker:his
Speaker:hips
Speaker:and
Speaker:tail
Speaker:swaying.
“Yeah,”
I
Speaker:said. “Can’t
Speaker:sleep.”
“I
can
Speaker:tell,”
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:said. “I
Speaker:um…
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:sound
Speaker:weird,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:I
Speaker:woke
Speaker:up
Speaker:because,
Speaker:well,
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:giving
Speaker:off
Speaker:a
Speaker:scent.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:paw,
Speaker:which
Speaker:clumsily
Speaker:concealed
Speaker:the
Speaker:stubborn
Speaker:bulge
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:pants.
I
realized
Speaker:the
Speaker:implication
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:face
Speaker:grew
Speaker:hotter
Speaker:than
Speaker:ever
Speaker:before. “Oh
Speaker:no,
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:so
Speaker:sorry,
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:it.”
“No,
it’s
Speaker:okay.
Speaker:It
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:smell
Speaker:bad.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:actually
Speaker:kind
Speaker:of,
Speaker:well…”
Speaker:He
Speaker:averted
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:tell
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:blushing
Speaker:under
Speaker:that
Speaker:fur. “Maybe
Speaker:I
Speaker:shouldn’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:said
Speaker:anything.
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:try
Speaker:to
Speaker:ignore
Speaker:it.”
I
reached
Speaker:out
Speaker:and
Speaker:placed
Speaker:a paw on
Speaker:his. “No, it’s
Speaker:okay.
Speaker:Just
Speaker:stay
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit,
Speaker:please?
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:really
Speaker:use
Speaker:some
Speaker:company.”
Seth
smiled
Speaker:and
Speaker:agreed.
Speaker:He
Speaker:attempted
Speaker:to
Speaker:sit
Speaker:cross-legged
Speaker:in
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:me,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:new
Speaker:shape
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:legs
Speaker:confused
Speaker:him,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:opted
Speaker:instead
Speaker:to
Speaker:sit
Speaker:clumsily
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:side.
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:help
Speaker:but
Speaker:snicker.
“Hey,
I’m
Speaker:doing
Speaker:the
Speaker:best
Speaker:I
Speaker:can,”
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:laughed.
Speaker:He
Speaker:finally
Speaker:settled
Speaker:into
Speaker:something
Speaker:that
Speaker:only
Speaker:looked
Speaker:half-comfortable
Speaker:before
Speaker:asking, “How’s
Speaker:your
Speaker:head?”
“Not
great,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:answered. “I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:settle
Speaker:down
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:pray.
Speaker:I
Speaker:feel
Speaker:like
Speaker:my
Speaker:head’s
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:explode
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:find
Speaker:a
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:relax.”
Seth
tapped
Speaker:his
Speaker:claws
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:rhythmically
Speaker:in
Speaker:thought. “Here,
Speaker:let
Speaker:me
Speaker:try
Speaker:something.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:tiger
Speaker:scooted
Speaker:close
Speaker:and
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:onto
Speaker:his
Speaker:lap,
Speaker:careful
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:crush
Speaker:my
Speaker:ears.
“What
are
Speaker:you—?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:but
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:him
Speaker:run
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:fur
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:neck,
Speaker:it
Speaker:silenced
Speaker:me
Speaker:completely.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:burst
Speaker:of
Speaker:heaven,
Speaker:his
Speaker:fingers
Speaker:tracing
Speaker:through
Speaker:my
Speaker:fur,
Speaker:rubbing
Speaker:behind
Speaker:my
Speaker:ears.
Speaker:The
Speaker:tension
Speaker:went
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:muscles
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:tail
Speaker:wagged
Speaker:uncontrollably.
“I
had
Speaker:a
Speaker:feeling.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:you
Speaker:have
Speaker:some
Speaker:dog
Speaker:in
Speaker:you,
Speaker:huh?”
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:looked
Speaker:down
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:dumbfounded
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:His
Speaker:smile
Speaker:turned
Speaker:me
Speaker:to
Speaker:putty
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws,
Speaker:deepening
Speaker:the
Speaker:longing
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:felt
Speaker:for
Speaker:him
Speaker:all
Speaker:day.
Seth
leaned
Speaker:in
Speaker:and
Speaker:ran
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:across
Speaker:my
Speaker:chest
Speaker:and
Speaker:belly.
Speaker:I
Speaker:whined
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:slipped
Speaker:under
Speaker:my
Speaker:shirt
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:thoughts
Speaker:came
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:halt.
Speaker:All
Speaker:the
Speaker:guilt
Speaker:went
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:me
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:enjoyed
Speaker:the
Speaker:ecstasy
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:gentle
Speaker:touch.
“How
is
Speaker:that?”
Speaker:he
Speaker:asked.
“G-Good,”
I
Speaker:gasped
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:rubbed
Speaker:up
Speaker:my
Speaker:sides
Speaker:and
Speaker:returned
Speaker:to
Speaker:scratching
Speaker:my
Speaker:neck.
Speaker:My
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:lolled
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:panted
Speaker:in
Speaker:pleasure,
Speaker:mindlessly
Speaker:content.
Seth
chuckled. “I
Speaker:think
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:set
Speaker:you
Speaker:off.
Speaker:That
Speaker:scent is
Speaker:back.”
Mortified,
I
Speaker:realized
Speaker:how
Speaker:tight
Speaker:my
Speaker:pants
Speaker:had
Speaker:become. “I’m
Speaker:sorry,
Speaker:it
Speaker:just
Speaker:does
Speaker:that,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said. “I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:control
Speaker:it.
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:how
Speaker:any
Speaker:of
Speaker:this
Speaker:works.”
Seth
smiled
Speaker:and
Speaker:sat
Speaker:me
Speaker:up.
Speaker:To
Speaker:my
Speaker:surprise,
Speaker:he
Speaker:placed
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:aching
Speaker:need
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:lovingly
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:undid
Speaker:the
Speaker:button
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:pants.
Speaker:I
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:awkwardly
Speaker:and
Speaker:began
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:away,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:my
Speaker:chin
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:fingertips,
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:in,
Speaker:and
Speaker:kissed
Speaker:me.
The
tiger
Speaker:made
Speaker:it
Speaker:feel
Speaker:so
Speaker:natural,
Speaker:even
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:awkward
Speaker:shapes
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:muzzles.
Speaker:My
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:went
Speaker:wide
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:fur
Speaker:shivered.
Speaker:I
Speaker:shouldn’t
Speaker:let
Speaker:this
Speaker:happen.
Speaker:God
Speaker:was
Speaker:surely
Speaker:watching.
Speaker:I
Speaker:needed
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop
Speaker:myself.
But
I
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:stop.
Speaker:The
Speaker:taste
Speaker:of
Speaker:Seth’s
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:on
Speaker:mine,
Speaker:the
Speaker:heat
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:breath,
Speaker:the
Speaker:heady
Speaker:scent
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:emerging
Speaker:arousal;
Speaker:the
Speaker:tiger
Speaker:was
Speaker:intoxicating,
Speaker:my lust for him
Speaker:overwhelming.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:even
Speaker:my
Speaker:faith
Speaker:could
Speaker:stop
Speaker:me
Speaker:from
Speaker:embracing
Speaker:the
Speaker:beautiful
Speaker:tiger’s
Speaker:gift.
Seth
put
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws
Speaker:around
Speaker:my
Speaker:hips
Speaker:and
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:me
Speaker:close.
Speaker:Free
Speaker:from
Speaker:thought,
Speaker:I
Speaker:pushed
Speaker:into
Speaker:him,
Speaker:and
Speaker:we
Speaker:fell
Speaker:back
Speaker:onto
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:where
Speaker:I
Speaker:stood
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:hands
Speaker:and
Speaker:knees,
Speaker:grinding
Speaker:against
Speaker:him.
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:my
Speaker:pants
Speaker:down
Speaker:and
Speaker:my
Speaker:cock
Speaker:spilled
Speaker:out,
Speaker:painfully
Speaker:hard
Speaker:and
Speaker:dripping.
Speaker:He
Speaker:fondled
Speaker:my
Speaker:package
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:gentle
Speaker:touch
Speaker:that
Speaker:sent
Speaker:shivers
Speaker:through
Speaker:my
Speaker:whole
Speaker:body.
“Come
here,
Speaker:you
Speaker:handsome
Speaker:wolf.
Speaker:Let
Speaker:me
Speaker:show
Speaker:you
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:use
Speaker:this.”
I
must
Speaker:have
Speaker:only
Speaker:slept
Speaker:for
Speaker:two
Speaker:or
Speaker:three
Speaker:hours
Speaker:that
Speaker:night,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:best
Speaker:sleep
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:life.
Speaker:I
Speaker:woke
Speaker:up
Speaker:holding
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:arms,
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:resting
Speaker:against
Speaker:his
Speaker:cheek.
Speaker:I
Speaker:licked
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:fur
Speaker:and
Speaker:squeezed
Speaker:him
Speaker:tight
Speaker:without
Speaker:even
Speaker:thinking.
Speaker:Only
Speaker:when
Speaker:I
Speaker:opened
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:did
Speaker:I
Speaker:realize
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:done.
“Good
morning
Speaker:you
Speaker:two,”
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:said,
Speaker:a
Speaker:tease
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:voice.
Speaker:The
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:crouched
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:us,
Speaker:a
Speaker:huge
Speaker:grin
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:face.
Speaker:He
Speaker:caressed
Speaker:Seth’s
Speaker:cheek,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:felt
Speaker:the
Speaker:cat’s
Speaker:purr
Speaker:vibrate
Speaker:against
Speaker:me. “Good
Speaker:kitty,”
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:cooed,
Speaker:then
Speaker:he
Speaker:reached
Speaker:over
Speaker:and
Speaker:rubbed
Speaker:me
Speaker:behind
Speaker:the
Speaker:ears. “And
Speaker:good
Speaker:doggy.”
Despite
my
Speaker:ears
Speaker:going
Speaker:hot
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:pet
Speaker:name,
Speaker:my
Speaker:stomach
Speaker:turned
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:guilt
Speaker:of
Speaker:what
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:done.
Speaker:I
Speaker:released
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:arms,
Speaker:sat
Speaker:up,
Speaker:and
Speaker:averted
Speaker:my
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:emotionlessly
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground.
“Petra?”
Mark
Speaker:said.
I
didn’t
Speaker:answer.
“What’s
wrong?”
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:asked.
But
I
Speaker:stayed
Speaker:mute,
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:voices
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:head.
No
desire
Speaker:can
Speaker:be
Speaker:met
Speaker:without
Speaker:consequence.
This
is
Speaker:the
Speaker:proof
Speaker:of
Speaker:your
Speaker:cage.
I
stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:entrance
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:temple.
Speaker:Light
Speaker:had
Speaker:begun
Speaker:to
Speaker:drive
Speaker:away
Speaker:the
Speaker:dark
Speaker:and
Speaker:paint
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:in
Speaker:gold.
Speaker:Dawn
Speaker:had
Speaker:come.
I
stood,
Speaker:pulled on
Speaker:my
Speaker:pants
Speaker:to
Speaker:cover
Speaker:my
Speaker:sin,
Speaker:and
Speaker:stumbled
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:temple
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:open
Speaker:field.
Speaker:I
Speaker:turned
Speaker:around
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:every
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:hill,
Speaker:my
Speaker:ears
Speaker:swiveling
Speaker:like
Speaker:radar
Speaker:dishes
Speaker:in
Speaker:hopes
Speaker:of
Speaker:finding
Speaker:something,
Speaker:anything,
Speaker:to
Speaker:show
Speaker:God
Speaker:was
Speaker:still
Speaker:coming
Speaker:for
Speaker:us.
Speaker:But
Speaker:everything
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:before.
When
Mark
Speaker:and
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:emerged
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:statue,
Speaker:they
Speaker:found
Speaker:me
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:knees
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:damp
Speaker:morning
Speaker:grass.
Speaker:They
Speaker:approached
Speaker:slowly,
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:hiding
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:behind
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon’s
Speaker:wings.
“I’m
sorry,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said
Speaker:to
Speaker:them. “I
Speaker:should
Speaker:have
Speaker:tried
Speaker:harder.
Speaker:I
Speaker:should
Speaker:have
Speaker:stopped
Speaker:myself.”
Seth
looked
Speaker:confused,
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:he
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:thinking
Speaker:about
Speaker:how
Speaker:our
Speaker:night
Speaker:together
Speaker:had
Speaker:just
Speaker:ruined
Speaker:our
Speaker:chances
Speaker:of
Speaker:ascending.
Speaker:No
Speaker:doubt
Speaker:it
Speaker:had
Speaker:anchored
Speaker:us
Speaker:to
Speaker:our
Speaker:bodily
Speaker:prisons
Speaker:now.
Speaker:From
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:they’d
Speaker:gone
Speaker:in
Speaker:death,
Speaker:the
Speaker:archons
Speaker:were
Speaker:no
Speaker:doubt
Speaker:cackling
Speaker:in
Speaker:victory,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:all
Speaker:my
Speaker:fault.
Mark
crouched
Speaker:at
Speaker:my
Speaker:side.
Speaker:He
Speaker:opened
Speaker:his
Speaker:mouth
Speaker:to
Speaker:say
Speaker:something,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:clearly
Speaker:struggling
Speaker:to
Speaker:form
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:words
Speaker:to
Speaker:condemn
Speaker:me.
“Petra,”
he
Speaker:finally
Speaker:said, “I
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:tell
Speaker:you
Speaker:something.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:very
Speaker:important,
Speaker:so…
Speaker:listen
Speaker:close,
Speaker:and
Speaker:please
Speaker:believe
Speaker:me.”
Speaker:I
Speaker:readied
Speaker:myself
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon’s
Speaker:fury.
Speaker:He
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:deep
Speaker:breath
Speaker:in,
Speaker:readying
Speaker:his
Speaker:fire,
Speaker:and
Speaker:finally
Speaker:let
Speaker:it
Speaker:out.
“God
didn’t
Speaker:give
Speaker:you
Speaker:the
Speaker:vision
Speaker:that
Speaker:brought
Speaker:us
Speaker:here.
Speaker:I
Speaker:did.”
My
brow
Speaker:furrowed
Speaker:as
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:waited
Speaker:patiently
Speaker:for
Speaker:my
Speaker:reaction.
Speaker:It
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:moments
Speaker:for
Speaker:my
Speaker:mind
Speaker:to
Speaker:catch
Speaker:up.
“That
doesn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:make
Speaker:sense,”
Speaker:I
Speaker:said.
“It
was
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:you
Speaker:leave
Speaker:the
Speaker:church,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said. “I
Speaker:put
Speaker:it
Speaker:in
Speaker:your
Speaker:head,
Speaker:so
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:bring
Speaker:you
Speaker:here
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:wings
Speaker:of
Speaker:Sabaoth.”
Speaker:My
Speaker:brow
Speaker:furrowed,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:squinted
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:remembered
Speaker:the
Speaker:moment
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:church
Speaker:when
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:had
Speaker:locked
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:with
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:put
Speaker:his
Speaker:hand
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:shoulder,
Speaker:just
Speaker:before
Speaker:the
Speaker:vision
Speaker:took
Speaker:hold.
“Remember
the
Speaker:humans
Speaker:Sabaoth
Speaker:raised
Speaker:to
Speaker:become
Speaker:his
Speaker:archons?
Speaker:How
Speaker:I
Speaker:always
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:to
Speaker:become
Speaker:one?
Speaker:Well,
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:years
Speaker:ago,
Speaker:I
Speaker:got
Speaker:my
Speaker:wish.”
I
stared,
Speaker:remembering
Speaker:how
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:had
Speaker:cut
Speaker:me
Speaker:off
Speaker:so
Speaker:adamantly
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:explained
Speaker:the
Speaker:true
Speaker:workings
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:archons.
I
froze,
Speaker:as
Speaker:still
Speaker:and
Speaker:as
Speaker:cold
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:broken
Speaker:stone
Speaker:walls
Speaker:around
Speaker:us. “Why
Speaker:are
Speaker:you
Speaker:saying
Speaker:such
Speaker:ridiculous
Speaker:things?”
“It’s
true,”
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:said,
Speaker:stepping
Speaker:out
Speaker:fully
Speaker:from
Speaker:behind
Speaker:Mark’s
Speaker:wings. “He
Speaker:showed
Speaker:me
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:time
Speaker:ago.
Speaker:We
Speaker:just
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:tell
Speaker:you
Speaker:because
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:all so
Speaker:fast,
Speaker:and
Speaker:you
Speaker:thought
Speaker:all
Speaker:archons
Speaker:were
Speaker:evil
Speaker:and,
Speaker:well…”
Speaker:The
Speaker:tiger
Speaker:hesitated,
Speaker:then
Speaker:shook
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:shoulder. “Show
Speaker:him
Speaker:what
Speaker:you
Speaker:showed
Speaker:me.”
“I
was
Speaker:just
Speaker:about
Speaker:to,”
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:said. “Look
Speaker:me
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:Petra.
Speaker:Just
Speaker:like
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:church.”
I
locked
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:with
Speaker:Mark,
Speaker:though
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:anger
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:direction.
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:about
Speaker:to
Speaker:scold
Speaker:him,
Speaker:but
Speaker:he
Speaker:placed
Speaker:his
Speaker:hands
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:shoulders,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:ripples
Speaker:returned.
Speaker:Everything—the
Speaker:sky,
Speaker:the
Speaker:field,
Speaker:the
Speaker:ruins,
Speaker:the
Speaker:distant
Speaker:trees—fell
Speaker:out
Speaker:from
Speaker:under
Speaker:me,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:finally
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:truth.
A
boy
Speaker:plays
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:two
Speaker:friends.
Speaker:Grows
Speaker:up.
Speaker:Falls
Speaker:in
Speaker:love.
Speaker:As
Speaker:a
Speaker:girl
Speaker:is
Speaker:taken
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:priests,
Speaker:he
Speaker:cries
Speaker:out
Speaker:in
Speaker:helpless
Speaker:grief.
Speaker:He
Speaker:is
Speaker:visited,
Speaker:told
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:coming
Speaker:end,
Speaker:of
Speaker:what
Speaker:he
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:will
Speaker:become.
Speaker:The
Speaker:boy
Speaker:trembles
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:weight
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:secret.
Speaker:He
Speaker:falls
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:church,
Speaker:holding
Speaker:his
Speaker:mates
Speaker:closer
Speaker:each
Speaker:passing
Speaker:year.
Speaker:Revealing
Speaker:the
Speaker:secret
Speaker:to
Speaker:one
Speaker:who
Speaker:would
Speaker:stay,
Speaker:keeping
Speaker:it
Speaker:from
Speaker:one
Speaker:he
Speaker:thought
Speaker:would
Speaker:ascend.
Speaker:Then
Speaker:baptism.
Speaker:The
Speaker:end.
Speaker:The
Speaker:vision.
Speaker:The
Speaker:wings.
Speaker:The
Speaker:wolf
Speaker:who
Speaker:remained.
Speaker:A
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:tiger,
Speaker:conspiring
Speaker:in
Speaker:secret,
Speaker:desperate
Speaker:to
Speaker:heal
Speaker:the
Speaker:scars
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:terrified
Speaker:man
Speaker:they
Speaker:love.
I
found
Speaker:myself
Speaker:back
Speaker:at
Speaker:Thunder Hill,
Speaker:trembling
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:arms
Speaker:of
Speaker:Sabaoth’s archon.
Speaker:He
Speaker:held
Speaker:me
Speaker:close,
Speaker:his
Speaker:snout
Speaker:resting
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:shoulder.
“The
Rapture
Speaker:doesn’t
Speaker:judge
Speaker:whether
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:good
Speaker:or
Speaker:bad,
Speaker:broken
Speaker:or
Speaker:whole,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said. “It
Speaker:judges
Speaker:who
Speaker:you
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:be.
Speaker:The
Speaker:fallen
Speaker:created
Speaker:our
Speaker:bodies
Speaker:as
Speaker:prisons,
Speaker:but
Speaker:we
Speaker:can
Speaker:reclaim
Speaker:these
Speaker:prisons
Speaker:and
Speaker:transform
Speaker:them
Speaker:into
Speaker:homes.”
Speaker:The
Speaker:dragon
Speaker:kissed
Speaker:my
Speaker:forehead
Speaker:and
Speaker:placed
Speaker:a
Speaker:hand
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:chest,
Speaker:firm
Speaker:against
Speaker:my
Speaker:racing
Speaker:heart. “This
Speaker:is
Speaker:where
Speaker:you
Speaker:belong.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:where
Speaker:you
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:be.
Speaker:Your
Speaker:home.”
I
could
Speaker:scarcely
Speaker:breathe
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:took
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:words.
Speaker:It
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:make
Speaker:any
Speaker:sense.
Speaker:It
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:right.
Speaker:How
Speaker:could
Speaker:it
Speaker:be
Speaker:so
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:church
Speaker:taught
Speaker:that
Speaker:our
Speaker:bodies
Speaker:were
Speaker:wrong?
“W-what’s
going
Speaker:to
Speaker:happen?”
Speaker:I
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:recovering
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:shock.
“We’re
going
Speaker:to
Speaker:live
Speaker:as
Speaker:ourselves,”
Speaker:said
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon. “Everyone
Speaker:on
Speaker:Earth
Speaker:who’s
Speaker:been
Speaker:left
Speaker:behind—and
Speaker:yes,
Speaker:there
Speaker:are
Speaker:many
Speaker:more—can
Speaker:move
Speaker:on
Speaker:from
Speaker:humanity
Speaker:now.
Speaker:On to
Speaker:better
Speaker:things.”
Speaker:Mark
Speaker:held
Speaker:my
Speaker:fuzzy
Speaker:paw
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:scaled
Speaker:hand. “Much
Speaker:better
Speaker:things.”
Seth
kneeled
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:us,
Speaker:placing
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:paw atop
Speaker:ours. “Mark
Speaker:has
Speaker:offered
Speaker:us
Speaker:a
Speaker:chance
Speaker:to
Speaker:become
Speaker:Sabaoth’s
Speaker:archons
Speaker:too,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said. “We
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:if
Speaker:we
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to,
Speaker:but
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:what
Speaker:the
Speaker:wings
Speaker:are
Speaker:really
Speaker:for.”
I
recalled
Speaker:my
Speaker:vision—the
Speaker:pillar
Speaker:of
Speaker:light
Speaker:shining
Speaker:down
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:wing’s
Speaker:center.
“Sabaoth
will
Speaker:grant
Speaker:us
Speaker:the
Speaker:power
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:this
Speaker:world
Speaker:our
Speaker:new
Speaker:home.
Speaker:We
Speaker:can
Speaker:be
Speaker:who
Speaker:we
Speaker:are,
Speaker:instead
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:church
Speaker:making
Speaker:us
Speaker:into
Speaker:something
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:not.”
The
priests
Speaker:screamed
Speaker:in
Speaker:my
Speaker:head.
The
wardens
Speaker:crafted
Speaker:thy
Speaker:body
Speaker:in
Speaker:deception!
Indulgence
in
Speaker:their
Speaker:lie
Speaker:will
Speaker:bind
Speaker:you
Speaker:to
Speaker:your
Speaker:prison!
Damned
are
Speaker:the
Speaker:traitors
Speaker:who
Speaker:would
Speaker:trade
Speaker:one
Speaker:prison
Speaker:for
Speaker:another!
They
had
Speaker:crawled
Speaker:so
Speaker:deep
Speaker:inside
Speaker:of
Speaker:me—the
Speaker:archons
Speaker:of
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:personal
Speaker:prison.
Speaker:I
Speaker:shivered
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:gazed
Speaker:deep
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:dragon’s
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:whined.
“Help
me.”
Mark
put
Speaker:a
Speaker:hand
Speaker:under
Speaker:my
Speaker:chin,
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:my
Speaker:snout,
Speaker:and
Speaker:kissed
Speaker:me.
Speaker:The
Speaker:priests
Speaker:screamed
Speaker:in
Speaker:fury,
Speaker:but
Speaker:their
Speaker:voices
Speaker:were
Speaker:snuffed
Speaker:out
Speaker:like
Speaker:candleflames,
Speaker:carved
Speaker:from
Speaker:their
Speaker:hollow
Speaker:and
Speaker:obliterated
Speaker:by
Speaker:Mark’s
Speaker:love
Speaker:and
Speaker:Sabaoth’s
Speaker:power.
Speaker:An
Speaker:unbearable
Speaker:weight,
Speaker:one
Speaker:I
Speaker:had
Speaker:carried
Speaker:with
Speaker:me
Speaker:all
Speaker:my
Speaker:life,
Speaker:crumbled
Speaker:to
Speaker:dust
Speaker:and
Speaker:fell
Speaker:from
Speaker:my
Speaker:shoulders.
Speaker:My
Speaker:mind
Speaker:was
Speaker:finally
Speaker:returned,
Speaker:tranquil
Speaker:and
Speaker:relieved
Speaker:of
Speaker:fear.
It
broke
Speaker:me.
Mark
pulled
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:kiss.
Speaker:Tears
Speaker:fell
Speaker:into
Speaker:my
Speaker:cheek
Speaker:fur.
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:hugged
Speaker:me
Speaker:from
Speaker:behind
Speaker:as
Speaker:I
Speaker:sobbed. “I’m
Speaker:sorry.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:so
Speaker:sorry.”
They
held
Speaker:me
Speaker:steady
Speaker:between
Speaker:them,
Speaker:letting
Speaker:me
Speaker:know
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:to
Speaker:apologize
Speaker:for.
Speaker:They
Speaker:both
Speaker:told
Speaker:me
Speaker:they
Speaker:loved
Speaker:me,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:returned
Speaker:the
Speaker:words
Speaker:again
Speaker:and
Speaker:again.
I
stood
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:threshold
Speaker:of
Speaker:Sabaoth’s wings.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:noon,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:sunlight
Speaker:shone
Speaker:down
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:window
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:temple’s
Speaker:roof,
Speaker:forming
Speaker:a
Speaker:pillar
Speaker:of
Speaker:golden
Speaker:light.
Seth
had
Speaker:gone
Speaker:first,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:emerged
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:light
Speaker:much
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:had
Speaker:gone
Speaker:in.
Speaker:A
Speaker:glow
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:dissipated
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:walked
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:me,
Speaker:a
Speaker:big
Speaker:smile
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:muzzle.
“It
feels
Speaker:good,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said. “Like
Speaker:a
Speaker:hot
Speaker:bath
Speaker:or
Speaker:something.
Speaker:And
Speaker:you
Speaker:learn
Speaker:things,
Speaker:too,
Speaker:like
Speaker:what
Speaker:we
Speaker:can
Speaker:do
Speaker:and
Speaker:how
Speaker:we
Speaker:can
Speaker:make
Speaker:things
Speaker:better.”
Speaker:Seth
Speaker:pointed
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground;
Speaker:flowers
Speaker:now
Speaker:grew
Speaker:where
Speaker:there
Speaker:had
Speaker:only
Speaker:been
Speaker:dry
Speaker:dirt
Speaker:seconds
Speaker:before.
Mark
walked
Speaker:up
Speaker:behind
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:ruffled
Speaker:my
Speaker:head
Speaker:fur,
Speaker:making
Speaker:me
Speaker:smile.
“This
place
Speaker:will
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:city
Speaker:someday,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said. “The
Speaker:center
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:new
Speaker:world.
Speaker:And
Speaker:together
Speaker:we’ll
Speaker:help
Speaker:it
Speaker:thrive.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:showed
Speaker:me
Speaker:a
Speaker:vision
Speaker:of
Speaker:what
Speaker:he
intended:intended:
a
intended:grand
intended:city
intended:of
intended:color
intended:and
intended:light,
intended:peaceful,
intended:happy,
intended:and
intended:free
intended:from
intended:the
intended:pain
intended:and
intended:oppression
intended:of
intended:the
intended:old
intended:world.
intended:I
intended:saw
intended:the
intended:citizens
intended:who
intended:lived
intended:there,
intended:all
intended:of
intended:them
intended:exactly
intended:who
intended:they
intended:wanted
intended:to
intended:be.
“More
animal
intended:people?”
intended:I
intended:laughed.
“You’re
damn
intended:right
intended:more
intended:animal
intended:people,”
intended:he
intended:said
intended:with
intended:toothy
intended:smile. “No
intended:more
intended:humanity.
intended:We’ve
intended:moved
intended:past
intended:that,
intended:right?”
“Right,”
I
intended:agreed,
intended:wagging
intended:my
intended:tail
intended:and
intended:standing
intended:my
intended:ears
intended:up
intended:tall.
“This
will
intended:be
intended:fun,”
intended:Seth
intended:said. “Lots
intended:to
intended:see,
intended:lots
intended:to
intended:do.”
intended:He
intended:ran
intended:his
intended:paw
intended:across
intended:the
intended:curve
intended:of
intended:my
intended:hip,
intended:down
intended:to
intended:my
intended:rear,
intended:below
intended:my
intended:tail. “Lots
intended:to
intended:explore.”
I
laughed,
intended:swatting
intended:him
intended:playfully
intended:away. “Save
intended:it
intended:for
intended:later,
intended:you
intended:horny
intended:cat.”
Seth
gave
intended:me
intended:a
intended:little
intended:growl
intended:as
intended:I
intended:kissed
intended:him,
intended:then
intended:Mark—my
intended:two
intended:lovers
intended:and
intended:saviors,
intended:who
intended:I’d
intended:never
intended:let
intended:anything
intended:pull
intended:me
intended:away
intended:from
intended:ever
intended:again.
I
walked
intended:up
intended:to
intended:the
intended:light
intended:and
intended:tested
intended:it
intended:with
intended:my
intended:footpaw,
intended:as
intended:if
intended:testing
intended:the
intended:temperature
intended:in
intended:a
intended:pool
intended:of
intended:water.
intended:It
intended:was
intended:warm,
intended:comfortable,
intended:welcoming.
I
looked
intended:back
intended:at
intended:the
intended:tiger
intended:and
intended:the
intended:dragon
intended:one
intended:more
intended:time,
intended:and
intended:I
intended:finally
intended:stepped
intended:into
intended:the
intended:light.
This
was
intended:the
intended:second
intended:and
intended:final
intended:part
intended:of “Rapture”
intended:by
intended:Shiloh
intended:Skye,
intended:read
intended:for
intended:you
intended:by
intended:the
intended:author.
As
always,
intended:you
intended:can
intended:find
intended:more
intended:stories
intended:on
intended:the
intended:web
intended:at
intended:thevoice.dog,
intended:or
intended:find
intended:the
intended:show
intended:wherever
intended:you
intended:get
intended:your
intended:podcasts.
intended:Thank
intended:you
intended:for
intended:listening to The
intended:Voice
intended:of
intended:Dog.