Chapter 10 Familiar

His ability to see the future was a blessing in disguise as this new place reminded him of a vision he had while in the cave. The vision were he met with her again was stil vivid in his mind and he couldn't help but smile. Apparently, he was treading in the wastelands in search for something special to him. It had been thousands of years since they last met and he knew not to raise his hope. The stench from rotten bodies and the cloud gloomy sky didn't make his determination waver in a bit.

His silver hair had been tied up and he was dressed in a brown furry animal overcoat. His black eyes scanned the area. He continued to the north where he ran into rundown home that had shrubs and anthills grown in and out of it. Behind that house stood the majestic Dark forest in its glory as it had the chance to regrow after the apocalypse.

Zeyn made his way into the house and the old shredded wodden door creaked when he pushed it open. This was once his home where beautiful memories were nurtured painfully and it was this same place where it had all come to an end.

Pushing the hanging vines aside, he walked inside to the once kitchen and on a side, stood a bird cage which was quite huge for a normal bird. In it was a skeleton of a bird, an Eagle!! Lightly brushing his fingers on the remains of his buddy Tay. A white glove emanated from his finger tips almost unrecognisable and it seeped into the bones. Zeyn decided to collect Tay's remains and put them in an animal skin bag and proceeded to inspect the house. In a room, that he had once prepared for her to come stay with him when she accepted him lay hundreds of frames of paintings, each different to itself. He had painted the works wonders inorder to bring her there some day but that never happened. The portraits were as good as new as he had preserved them with his dark essence. He proceeded to a secret passage way that led to an underground library, being the book worm he was, these things had been safely guarded but ha had no guarantee since his essence weaken during the time of his punishment.

He was rather happy that despite this, none of these things went bad. He collected them and took them away leaving the wastelands, what he didn't notice was the shadow that kept trailing him all the way from the waste land.

Returning to the dimension he had created for himself, he drapped his over coat on his couch and went to st things right. Personally, he reorganised everything in her room, as for his library, no need for him to do those things as everything got itself in place.

Andy lay in his room after confessing to Eleanor, he had to let her know how he's felt all these years but sadly, his passion for her would only remain with him, buried. He recalled his encounter with Zeyn on his hunt when Eleanor had disappeared from the hospital. Will he not come to save her? If she ends up in Ethys' hands then it'd be the end.

Everything from the past seemed to repeat, the parties involved in the apocalypse, the council, everything made him feel sick in his stomach. They had not yet managed to tap in Eleanor's essence, more like she was only but a mere human. The appearance of Ethy worsened everything, even the council wanted to take control of her, today her freedom was to be sold to the highest bidder. This was so frustrating, sigh.

A knock on the door interrupted Andy's train of thoughts and he rose from his bed. His father Richard stood there dressed in their cultural attire which was thousands year old snake skin with glittering scales for the pants and on over coat in the same material. Richards' attire was of red snake skin. "Not yet dressed?" he asked the depressed Andy.

"I don't want myself involved in the ceremony. Am her big brother, you want me to sit there and watch her get sold away!!! How do I look her in the eyes?"

"Andy, I understand and am in no better position, however, I have a few old friends that are willing to help us save Eleanor from being taken away. I want you to trust me on this!" Richard tried to sound convincing but he himself was not sure if his friends habored designs on Eleanor.

"Fine, it better be worth." Andy sighed in defeat and twirled changing into a sky blue oufit, no different from Richard's also made of snake skin. His transformation was breathtaking as his once short black hair grew to mid back length and his irises glittered, his facial features sharpened bringing out the real man he is, heavenly handsome!!!

In the ceremony hall, all the guests had also changed into their traditional outfit making the ceremony look more colorful as there were mixtures of green, purple, white, grey, brown and all shades of snake skin scales.

The silver chandelier hanging up above enhanced the ambiance in the room making the most exquisite scales to glitter. Chatting and catching up ensued in the ceremonial hall as wierd music continued to play.

Back in Eleanor's room, she stared at her father and brother incredulously when she saw how they were dressed. Her father looked younger, like he was in his early thirties where as her brother, looked heaven defyingly handsome. She was forced to rub her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating.

"Dad, Andy?!!" she was not sure she knew these people yet they felt so familiar.

"Honey!!"her father called.

"Pie!!", her brother too called out. They were afraid she wouldn't handle their change but were thrown aghast when she jumped and squealed.

"Cool!!!! dad,brother ,your transformation is mind-blowing. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me!!" Her eyes looked at them twinkling in admiration. "Who did this make up on you? I want one too!! Will I become a kid once again?!" she ranted on her own as she circled her brother and father till her excitement died down a little.

Richard gave Eleanor a sad smile and his eyes almost teared up. "Honey, there's something that you need to know." he spoke seriously. Her father had never worn such a stern face when with her, this made her frown a bit and turned to her brother.

Looking at her brother, he nodded at her and she looked back at her father seriously. They took their seats and the explanation begun. Eleanor listened carefully but at some point, her mind went blank with information overload as her father's voice rang in her head.

We are not human!

Today, you'll come of age in our kind.

You'll be taken away

Papa loves you dear and we are going to do our best to keep you with us.

The guests you saw today are from our kind.

You can't say no if any of them win you over.

" Your giving up on me?!" Eleanor couldn't help tearing up. The family she grew up believing loved her senseless was going to sell her away? For the safety of everybody!! What about her, her freedom, dreams?! All those meant nothing?

She just got lost in her votex of endless questions with no answers. The helpers came and dressed her up in an ivory coloured snake skin, her lips were painted a faint pink colour and diamond chain stones criss-crossed in a wavy pattern on her forehead with a fee falling back with the length of her hair. A silk veil covered the lower half of her face leaving her lifeless eyes exposed. One thing for sure, she'd never be able to escape this.

This is for the good of everybody in this planet.

Lots of love from Litto-ways ❤️❤️❤️❤️