Sarah's breath caught in her throat as she stared at Valen worry laced her gaze, "How are you still alive? I watched you die…"
"We have Palmer to thank for that," he said, his voice softer than usual. "I felt my soul being dragged back into my body." Valen slowly lowered her to her feet.
Sarah swallowed, her hands trembling as she turned her gaze toward Palmer.
"What's happening to him?" she whispered, fear gripping her. "I've never seen him like this before…"
Valen exhaled, glancing at her before his gaze locked back onto Palmer. "Palmer has never truly relied on anyone before. He doesn't know how to express it, but he's in constant pain… like something is growing inside him at a rapid rate, threatening to burst out at any moment."
Sarah's lips parted, but Valen continued.
"But when he feels needed… when he feels like he belongs, he's able to suppress that thing inside him." Valen voice dropped. "But when the thing that keeps him tethered—the thing that makes him feel human—is taken from him or feels threatened, he just lets everything go. He completely loses himself and something else takes over." His expression darkened. "So the thing standing there isn't Palmer anymore. And it's worse this time."
Sarah shuddered. "Isn't there a way to bring him back?"
"That was why he created us."
Sarah looked at him in confusion
"After losing his first anchor—his brother, Elijah—he lost control of himself. Your ancestor, Elias Montgomery, tried to be that anchor, but it wasn't enough. It wasn't the same. He still kept losing control, sometimes almost eliminating the people he swore to protect."
Kael, Ivy, and Kole listened in silence, their gazes dark with understanding.
"So he thought… why not distribute parts of my essence to lessen the burden? The more containers, the more water you can withhold."
Sarah's breath hitched as Valen continued.
"He found people who had lost everything… people on the brink of death, people who had no more hope. And he gave them something to live for. He gave us a purpose, showed us his dream, and made us want to help him achieve it."
Valen stepped forward, his posture unwavering.
"And that's why we'll always bring him back—no matter how many times he explodes."
Kael, Ivy, and Kole rose from the rubble, standing behind Valen. Their eyes burned with the intricate crimson noble pattern.
"Until we see his dream come true."
The three of them stood at Valen's side, their presence unwavering.
"Hey, you."
Valen's voice rang out, directed at Lilith.
Lilith stood, brushing off debris and yanking out shards of glass embedded in her skin. She scoffed, tossing them aside. "What do you want, mutt?"
Valen's expression didn't change. "We could all gang up on you right now and end you." His voice was disturbingly casual. "But I'm pretty sure you don't want to watch your brother get torn apart limb from limb by his twin."
Lilith's usual playful smirk now turned into a frown.
Valen's crimson gaze burned into her. "and we need your help suppressing whatever it is that's taking over Palmer, so we're pretty much on the same page here,, aren't we?"
"I don't care what form Elias takes. If he so much as harms my big brother, I will kill him."
Valen smirked. "I'll take that as a yes."
Rolling up his torn sleeves, his entire stance radiating determination. Blood and dirt stained his clothes, but he stood firm.
"Palmer's consciousness is being overwhelmed by this thing. He shared his essence with us—we'll give it back, as much as possible, to help him fight against it." His voice hardened. "But first, we have to save Elijah. Only you can hold back that thing now that its horn is at that level."
Lilith's lips curled in a smirk, though her eyes were cold. "Hmph. Do whatever you want."
She clenched her fists.
"I just want my Elijah back."
And with that, they lunged—toward the nightmare standing before them.