Queries

‘Run!’ That was the first thing that popped into my head, ‘Get as far away from these nut jobs as you can! Make a break for it, the door’s only two feet away! But where can I run to? I don’t have a clue which way leads to the exit... I could guess but with the amount of turns we took getting here... and what was it that Nera had said... “Last time I wanted...the library he got me there just as the clock chimed for midnight.”, If it took that long just to find a library... what chance do I have of ever finding my way out?!’ I was starting to realise that I’d just trapped myself with these strangers...
“You look whiter than a ghost,” Hertly murmured quietly then told Nera to get a small stool for me to sit on.
‘I don’t want to sit!’ I screamed with my mind putting such force behind the thought, Nera actually hesitated in bringing me the stool and started rubbing his temples.
“Nera, bring Ara the stool, now!” Hertly order him firmly, then turning to me stated, “You need to sit!” and it was like a switch went off in my head, my legs felt like jelly and the moment that stool was behind me, I collapsed onto it.
I became furious ‘No one ever orders me around like that!’ I was hissing stubbornly in my mind.
“Things change.” Hertly stated bitterness coating those words, “Your mother changed, couldn’t handle that one death, when there had been hundreds more seen by her very eyes!”
“No! That’s not true!” I screamed starting to cry, my next words barely getting through the knot forming in my throat, “It can’t be...”, ‘hundreds of deaths? And seen by her eyes, it wasn’t, it couldn’t be true...’
“Oh, but it i-” Hertly was saying when Nera suddenly cut in.
“Stop It!” He cried angrily, “Can’t you see what you are doing? You have to see through those past differences or you will destroy the plan! Think about our future you are putting into jeopardy. If you can’t keep yourself in check then you shouldn’t be in your position.”
“I- I don’t know what...” Hertly trailed off, “You’re right, I’m still getting into the habit of keeping myself under control.”
“Now can we get back to why we’re here?” Nera asked exasperated.
“Yes.” Hertly said not looking at me, “But not now, Nightmare can you please find Ara a room, she looks exhausted, and when was the last time you slept properly? Humans never seem to... Oh and Nightmare set up your bed on the floor of her room. Can’t let her get lost, now can we. You know how these rooms like to change...”
“Alright, I will.” Nera looked a little hesitant as though things hadn’t gone quite as he’d planned.

We walked in silence down the passageway until we reach the corner Paws had gone round.
“Here we are.” Nera announced as we reached a bright almost blood red door, “This is where we’ll be sleeping for tonight. Keep everything with you we aren’t coming back to this room again after tonight.”
I was still lost in thought about my mom and whoever the stranger was whose death she couldn’t handle... ‘Maybe I should ask Nera/Nightmare...’
“Ummm... Nera..?” I looked at him quizzically.
“Yeah. What is it?”
“Whose death couldn’t my mom handle?”
He seemed to be arguing with himself, unsure of what to do.
“Well it was about 15 to 16 years ago, a fight had broken out between the two enemy clans at the head meeting, the head meeting is where all the clan leaders meet up and discuss things, well your mom, being the leader of the Anahita clan, was at that meeting but because my clan and hers were both on the same side when the fight broke out her clan was right behind us to help with the fighting, and trust me we were grateful.” Nera continued after looking to see if I was keeping up, “Unfortunately the leader of the Appoloin clan, Dennam, was the strongest of all the clans, he had wings that were darker than black and a tail that was tipped with a blade; but that wasn’t what made him dangerous it was his Gift, when the fight broke out his clan was on the other side, it lasted for three hours with great losses to our clans, but his was still going strong with only five deaths...”
“What happened?” I asked, grabbing his shoulder gently to reassure him.
“She had her chance. Your mother was the only one with the power to stop him, but... she said she couldn’t... they had both stayed clear of fighting each other, and when she got her chance she hesitated, but so did he, that was when Bruno, one of my clan, went in, he had a knife which he stabbed right through Dennam’s heart, every body froze staring as the Appoloin lead collapsed, falling to his knees, the last words he cried were “Don’t let it die!”, after that your mother cried and mourned, she locked herself in a room for days, not letting anyone inside, then one day she just opt and left. She was running around these passage ways for hours when, and this was lucky for her, she ran into Paws. She ordered him to take her to a way out... Afterwards we never heard from nor saw her again.”
“Can I ask you one more question?” I asked quietly but then seeing his face and knowing he was uncertain, “I promise after this no more questions ever!”
“You will have more queries eventually.” He stated shortly, “But... You can ask me this question, as long as you know that I might not have the answer.”
“OK.” I gathered my thoughts a bit, “Do you know who my father is? Mom never spoke about him, plus no one else seemed to know anything and you seem to know more about my mom’s history and my history than I do...”
“I guess I’m no different because I haven’t a clue who your dad is.”
I was disappointed with his answer but I couldn’t be angry at him, no one else had known my dad either.
‘I have another inquiry actually quite a few, but I promised not to ask any other questions.’ I sighed, maybe tomorrow my queries will be answered but for now I needed to rest.
My last thought as I drifted towards sleep was, ‘I wander why Nera is known as Nightmare?’