~~Young~~

Chapter Twenty Two

   He could tell himself that, but for some reason Gage felt like it was only half of the story.

   “Hey Duncan,” Gage gave him a nod…to the hushed whispers once again when he realized his wings were out, “where’s Sera?”

   They were in awe that Duncan knew him…but someone should have told Duncan that because he was just as astonished as the others seeing Gage in his natural state.

   “Gage?” he frowned. His wary eyes went behind Gage, then landed on the blade he still had in his hand. Then he swallowed and backed away.

   Now why would he be afraid of him? Sure Gage was in one hell of a state, bruises all over, ruffled feathers, he was probably covered in blood too. The black and red varieties, but Gage thought he had approached him calmly enough even with his blade out. He quickly tucked it away and tried again.

   “I just want to know where she is Duncan,” he tried for calm again.

   But it didn’t seem to be working.

   “I-I’m sorry,” he held his hands up as Gage continued towards him, “I swear I didn’t know.”

   Gage’s expression fell, “sorry for what?” he asked suspiciously, and this time with a little bite.

   “For kissing her,” Duncan blurted, “if I had known she was…about you…that you were the other guy…that she was with you then I-I…what are you?”

   Calm Gage, be calm. He tried to convince himself futilely. He didn’t need to kill this boy for touching his woman, for kissing his woman, he didn’t.

   “Apology accepted,” Gage said through his teeth, and ignoring Duncan’s question, “now, where is she?”

   “She’s inside,” he shook his head at Gage as if he should know, “she went after Chelsea, she’s stuck upstairs. She went back up, said she had to check on something-”

   Gage was off again before he could finish.

   “Foolish woman,” he snarled as he ran, “the both of them!”

   Chelsea for going back for Gage- because there couldn’t have been any other reason for her to go back up there- and Sera for following. Would there ever be a time when he didn’t have to fear for her life?

   The heat was a tangible wall inside the front foyer, or what was left of it. The upper room had come crashing down into what was once the living room to his right and the staircase was gapped up both flights. All around him Gage could hear the sounds of the fire popping as it ate away the structure, intermediate crashes breaking the constant crackling. Which made his cries for Sera all that more worthless.

   Upstairs, he said upstairs so that’s where he had to go. Gage pulled his wings close and took the stairs three and four at a time, leaping over the growing gaps effortlessly.

   “Sera!” he shouted again when he came to the top of the stairs.

   He put an arm in front of his face to try and see through the heat waves. Up here it was like standing in an oven, even heaven’s warmth didn’t singe this bad. He looked left, he looked right, there was no sign of life from either direction. He looked left again. That had been the side of the house he had fought Bane on, but the twelve foot hole in the floor would have been impossible for them to cross. He looked right again. That floor was intact but there was a sizeable chunk of the ceiling aflame only inches from the floor.

   “Sera where are you?” he rumbled desperately.

   “Over here, we’re in here,” a voice called from the left.