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SERENADE OF SEA AND FLAME
Chapter Six, Vhagar

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"Visella!" A voice whispered.

"Hm?"

"Wake up!" When she rubbed her eyes, she flinched at her brothers and cousins that surrounded her.

"W-What's going on?" She yawned. "Did something happen?"

"Vhagar!" Rhaena whispered. Her voice filled with worry. "She's gone, someone stole her!"

"We wanted you to come with us to check it out," Jacaerys said, holding Luke's hand.

"Okay, I'll go," she said, wrapping a robe around herself. Her eyes widened noticing the blade Jace had, "seven hells, Jace!" She pointed at the weapon. "A blade?"

Luke gasped, "you swore!"

"Sorry," Visella apologized with a light chuckle.

"Well- you know," he said. "Just in case . . ."

She sighed, "alright then, let's go."

The children snuck past the guards to the Dragonpit. Jace led the way, wanting to protect his family from any possible danger. To everyone's surprise, Aemond emerged from the darkness, walking towards them. Visella noticed a drastic change in his behavior. He walked with confidence now.

"It's him?" Rhaena asked, confused.

Visella's forehead scrunched up when Aemond responded, "it's me."

"You claimed Vhagar?" Visella asked him in disbelief.

"That I did." He spoke as if he were better than all of them combined.

"Vhagar was our mother's dragon!" Rhaena protested.

"Your mother is dead." Aemond's tone was cold. "She has a new rider now."

"But— but," She stuttered. "She was mine to claim!"

"Then you should have claimed her!" He raised his voice.

"Gods, Aemond!" Visella exclaimed.

He was puzzled by her reaction. "I thought you would be happy for me?"

"The night of their mother's funeral, Aemond?" She rested her hands on her hips. "I can't believe you."

"You had no right to—" Luke started to say.

"Maybe you and your brother could find a pig for her to ride," Aemond scoffed. He looked back at Rhaena. "It would suit you," he tilted his head mockingly.

Everyone gasped as Rhaena tried to put her hands on Aemond. "Sister, no!" Baela yelled. Aemond shoved her to the ground. Without hesitation, Baela punched him across the face, causing him to fall to the ground. Visella quickly slid Rhaena to the side.

Aemond swiftly lifted back up to his feet, punching her back. "Hit me again and I'll feed you to my dragon!" Visella pushed him with a lot of force, almost knocking him back down. "Aemond, what are you doing?!"

Aemond pushed Visella back, sending her brothers to rage. "Don't you touch her!" Jace screamed. He threw punches at Aemond, hitting him a couple of times.

"Guys, stop it!" Visella shouted. "We're better than this!"

Aemond kicked at Jace's leg, making him fall. Little Luke charged at him, but was punched hard in the nose. He cried out in pain as he laid in the sand. "Luke!" Visella cried out. She pushed Aemond again, "what has gotten into you?!"

Aemond balled his fist, but looked into her eyes. For a moment, they softened, but he pushed her to the side again with more force. She fell to the ground. Visella quickly got back up and ran to Luke.

Jace pushed Aemond to the ground, giving him and the other girls a chance to all punch and kick at him.

"Let me see," Visella instructed her brother softly. She sucked in her breath, watching the blood pouring from his nose.

"It . . . It hurts." Luke teared up. Aemond pushed the three of them off. When Luke saw them on the ground, his anger got the best of him again. He charged at Aemond, screaming. Before he could touch him, Aemond caught him by his neck.

Everyone backed away as Aemond held a rock in his other hand. "You'll die screaming in pain, just as your father did!" Aemond threatened. "Bastards," he spat, glancing over at Jace.

Visella's heart broke hearing Luke's cracked voice, "my father is still alive . . ."

"He doesn't know, does he?" Aemond scoffed, looking at Jace. ". . . Lord Strong."

Jace pulled out his dagger, "don't hurt my brother!"

"Jace!" All the girls yelled. He tried to put up a fight with Aemond, but was too weak. He fell to the ground.

Aemond raised the rock, threatening to kill Jace.

"You won't kill him!" Visella yelled.

"Is that a challenge?" He smirked. Jace and Visella noticed Luke going for the blade on the ground. Without saying a word, Jace and Visella throw sand at Aemond's eyes.

Luke grabbed the blade and slashed his left eye, causing a pool of blood to pour out. Aemond screamed in agonizing pain as he dropped to the floor. Visella couldn't help but cringe at the horrifying sight.

Knights finally showed up to the pit. "Cease this at once!" One of them yelled.

"About time you all showed up!" Visella spat back, wrapping her arms around her brothers.

As the guards surrounded Aemond, Visella looked at her brothers, then her cousins. He hit every single one of them. Everyone but me, she thought. The knights forcefully grabbed all of them, taking them to the King and Queen.

As they were walking, Baela and Rhaena thanked them for having their backs. "That's what families are about right?" Jace asked them. "No matter what, we all have each other."