Raven

Part 4

The fire crackles as it devours the last log. It’s warm orange light dances across the pale bare chest of the young man laying on the fur rug. His long hair spills out around his face, a shadow of a beard grows along his jaw. The old blanket covers his lower half, and he smiles in his sleep.

I find myself in a position I had never expected. I was led to believe that these feelings were exclusively human; the very thing that we were created to use against them. Here, in this cabin, I’m not a demon. In this place, I am more human than I ever imagined I could be.

If what the old man said is true, there’s a good chance returning to the future would mean the death of this beautiful man. I doubt I could convince him to stay here, and be safe. There must be something I can do, and I get the sense that old man knows it. I resolve to go find him, while Andrei sleeps. It’s better this way.

It’s a little harder to navigate the forest with only the light of a semi-full moon. I rely on memory to find the circle of stones. As the trees thin out, I notice a figure in the distance. The cloak glows red in the moonlight, standing just outside the outer rings, where the ground dips. When I approach, I find he’s standing in front of a lone stone, with incoherent symbols carved into it.

“His son? Where is he now?”

“He’s dead.”

The words ring out in my mind.

“He was a good son. I miss him dearly.” The old man muses as he crouches down to stroke the rock.

“What brings you to the stones so late?”

I stop just a couple feet behind him, “Don’t be cute with me, old man. You know the truth, don’t you? What I am?”

He sighs, and doesn’t speak for a long time. “The stones have warned me. You are unnatural to this land. Why do you travel with the mage of time?”

“Unnatural.” I scoff, “I was born long before this land.” I glare at the stones, as though that proves my point. “It was an accident. A coincidence… Though it seems he’s lucky I was there.”

“It would seem so. This method of travel is risky.” He turns to look up at me, “But you are not as you were intended.”

I flinch and narrow my eyes, “Why would you think that?”

He stands back up, “Because he is not yet dead.”

I purse my lips. “Alright, you got me there.” I glance behind me, a little paranoid that he may have woken up and followed me out. “So, if you know, why haven’t you told him?”

He makes a strange gurgling noise. I think it’s a laugh? “He is so young to already to carry this burden of time with him. If he knew all there was to know, he would lose sight of the important things in life. He needs you now, as much as you need him.” He raises a bushy eyebrow, “Besides, I could ask the same of you. Why have you not told him yourself, hmm? Could it be that you, yourself, are afraid of the outcome?”

I balk at the implication. “Of course not! I know what I am, and that isn’t going to change. He’s just got this crazy idea that I’m some sort of amazing, perfect thing. It’s hard to burst his little bubble.” I stick my nose up and cross my arms, “What’s wrong with letting him be happy?”

He coughs, sort of like a wheezing chuckle. “For one who has seen so much of time, you act like it is such precious a thing. I am surprised.” He looks back down at the rock. “I am weary with age and wish to let go, but the stones hold me here against my will. I wish it to end.”

I frown as that sinks in. “You want to die?” He nods once. “Andrei is too noble to agree to that.” I smile to myself. The innocence of that boy is refreshing.

“Will you not do me this favour? Help me to let go?” He turns to me with bright blue eyes, “I have already lived beyond my years, thanks to the stones and their power. Time is not the same without him. No matter the cost, to live alone is to live a life of death.”

I blink a few times. He’s asking me, not Andrei. Suddenly it makes sense, and I feel stupid. I glance back in the direction of our little cabin. Would he try to stop me? Probably… But this man is clearly in pain. I sympathize. Loneliness is unbearable, even when you were created to wander alone.

“Tell me how I can save him.”

*

The old man explained to me in great detail exactly what happened to his son. He arrived back from the future, body broken, and soul shattered. He sacrificed his own power in the hope of saving his son, but it wasn’t enough. The consequence caused the magic of Stonehenge to lock up. Now, someone would have to die to open the path. Luckily, we had a willing volunteer. The trick would be to make sure Andrei wouldn’t suffer the same fate.

So, the night before the full moon, as Andrei rests for tomorrow, I find myself on the outskirts of the town. The villagers have been surprisingly generous, and friendly. They didn’t ask questions of me, and offered food and supplies over the last week and a half. Now, as they lay in their flea-infested beds, they have no idea they will never see the morning.

In the light of the near full moon, the guise of my human form fades away in the breeze. It will be easier if they don’t recognize me. I creep into the closest mud-brick house, a family of four. I stand over the bed where the parents sleep and watch their chests rise and fall. Am I really going to do this? Is one life worth all these?

Yes. The answer resolves before I even fully consider the question. These humans won’t move anything more than the dirt it takes to bury them. Andrei just may save the world. He’s one of a kind. Even if I can’t keep him for myself. Even if he hates me when he finds out the truth. It will be worth it.

I lean down and grab the man’s face. His eyes snap open, and he gasps. I hold my finger to my lips, force his jaw open, and draw the soul out of him. One by one, I collect the souls of every man woman and child. I hate the taste of children’s souls, but they are more powerful than their parents. When the last one falls out of my grasp, I feel full to bursting. I hope that will be enough.

The sun peeks through the trees as I slip back into the cabin, back in my human form. Andrei is exactly where I left him. I strip my clothes off and curl up under the blanket. The fire has died, and a chill has started to settle into the room. I pull the blanket up to my shoulder, hook my left leg between his, drape my arm over his body, and press my chest against his cold skin. He stirs. His arm slips over my waist, he buries his face in my hair and kisses the top of my head.

“Where’ve you been, my angel?” He mumbles, half asleep.

I kiss his neck, “Nowhere, love. Go back to sleep.”

He groans, “I don’t want to leave anymore. Let’s just stay here forever.”

“I wish we could, but you know we have to go back.” I trace my fingertips across his ribs. “I’m sure we’ve already affected the past enough as it is.”

“I haven’t seen a soul except that old man. I’m sure we’d be fine.”

I roll my eyes, “You haven’t, but I have. Where did you think those supplies came from?”

He lifts his head, “What? I feel like a kid in detention! You should have taken me with you!” He lays back down and sighs, “But I guess you’re right.”

“Don’t forget, that witchling is counting on you. She’s probably freaking out by now.” I giggle at the thought. Then, I’m saddened at the memory of my own assignment. “If I’m lucky, those kids will have found their way home, so I can stick around for a while.”

“Mmm…” He shifts and snuggles closer, “That’d be nice.”

*

“It is time.” The old man says ominously. He stands in the center of Stonehenge, the full moon gleaming above. There’s not a cloud in sight. I can’t remember the last time I could see so many stars.

“Alright. I’m ready.” Andrei reaches out to shake the man’s hand. “Thank you, for everything.”

The man bows his head, and his gaze turns to me. “Have you prepared as we discussed?” I nod. He smiles, “Then it is time you fulfill your end.”

“What do you mean?” Andrei looks back, confused, “Have you been meeting with him?”

I keep my eyes on the old man. “Yes, I did once. I needed to know the truth.”

The young mage looks hurt, “What do you mean? I wouldn’t lie to you. What did you ask him?” He spins again to the elderly man, “What did you tell her?!”

“What she needed to know.” The old man coughs, “I’d like to be near my son. That’s all I ask.”

I glance over to the lonely grave outside the circle. “I don’t suppose you brought a shovel.”

“I do not know what a shovel is, but I have this.” He pulls a tiny spade out of his cloak.

“You can’t be serious. No one’s killing anyone!” Andrei steps between us, shielding me. “What did you say to her?!” He demands.

I put a hand on his shoulder. “Andrei, enough. I asked him how to save you from the same fate as his son. In exchange, he wants me to put an end to his suffering. The stones won’t let him die, and we can’t use them while he’s still alive.”

“What?” He gasps. “No, you can’t! There has to be another way!” He grabs the spade from the old man, holding it behind his back as he gets in my face, “And how were you going to do that anyway? You feel nothing for killing this old man? Isn’t that murder?!” His voice gets louder with each question. “My fate doesn’t matter! I’m a Chosen, I’m supposed to protect others! It’s what I do!”

I meet his heated gaze with equal force, “What are you protecting him from, exactly? Can’t you see that he’s in pain? He’s old, sick, and alone. The stones are holding him prisoner here, as some sort of twisted punishment. The only way to set him free and break the lock on Stonehenge is to kill him. Do you have any idea the pain you’re asking him to endure because death makes you uncomfortable?”

He looks back and forth between myself and the old man. The reality sinks in, and his shoulders slump. “Yes… Yes, it does. But, if there is absolutely no other way, and if this is truly what you want…”

The aged man nods, “It is.”

“Then fine.” Andrei steps back and turns away.

I hesitate. If he sees this, his illusions of me will be shattered. “Andrei, maybe you can start digging… By the look of it, the hole is going to take some time. You don’t need to be here for this.”

“Fine.” He huffs, storming off toward the ditch and the other grave.

“Thank you.” The old man half-smiles, causing something to ooze out of the hole in his cheek. “I have waited a long time for this. He will understand someday.”

I watch the hot headed boy charge across the moonlit grass. “I’m not so sure about that. Well, let’s get this over with.”

The old man sits down on one of the stones in the center and looks up at me. I stand over him, my back to where Andrei ran off, just in case he gets curious. I bend over, and the man holds his mouth open. I wonder if he’s met one of my kind before. With a soul as old as his, it takes mere seconds to draw it out. The shell of the man sways, then tumbles over onto the grass. I cradle the frail body as I carry it over to the grave sight, his head and limbs hanging down limp.

Andrei has barely started to dig when I place the body a couple feet to the side. Andrei barely looks up, his long hair sways with the motion of his digging, covering his face. I kneel to close the old man’s eyes, and cross his arms. The body has already begun to leak fluids, and his mouth hangs open as though in a scream. Corpses tend to do that.

“I’m sorry.” I whisper. “I was hoping you wouldn’t have to have this on your conscience.”

“It’s just… I hate it when people have to die for me. Even if they are old and in pain. I try to avoid it.” He breathes heavily with the exertion of digging. “Anything else he told you about the jump?”

“He didn’t die for you. He should have died of natural causes. He was stuck because of what his son did.” I reply, avoiding the last question.

He doesn’t speak for a few minutes. “The same thing’s going to happen to me…” He mumbles. “I don’t know how to survive whatever his son tried. I don’t even have any ambrosia on me!”

“That’s easy.” I shrug, “He didn’t have me.”

He stops digging and looks up at me, eyes wide. “No, I mean, you can heal fast sure, but still! To put you through that… I couldn’t!” He shakes his head, almost in panic, “You’d have to have enough energy to survive thousands of years of death!”

“I know.” I look at the dead man, “That’s what he told me. I’m prepared for that. Wouldn’t even be the worst thing I’ve been through.” I smirk, hoping to lighten the mood.

He frowns, but resumes digging. “We need to play twenty questions again. I still don’t know enough about you yet.”

“I have centuries of history. You’ll need more than twenty.” I laugh, “Pro tip; don’t piss off an Elder God. Talk about spiteful…”

“So, I need to ask you about that now.” He grins.

I tip my head, “I’m not sure they’d be very happy about me telling that story. It took a long time just to get them to get over it the first time.”

He chuckles, “I’m still asking you when this is over.”

I stretch my arms over my head and yawn, “Your funeral, hunny.” I pause, “And mine… Again…”

Andrei cocks an eyebrow, but doesn’t say anything. We’re quiet for a while until the hole is big enough to fit the old guy in. I help Andrei out and we lay the body in the grave. I find a stone, and place it above the head as Andrei fills in the dirt. He keeps his face turned away, and I hear a few sniffles. For his pride’s sake, I pretend not to.

“Well, I’m ready if you are.” Andrei shrugs, as he bows his head and moves toward the stones.

“I’m ready, but… Promise me you won’t give up. You have to survive, okay?” I grab his hand and lean down to see around his hair shield.

I catch a glimpse of fear, before he steels himself. “It’ll be nothing, right? What’s a few pin pricks?” He forces a nervous laugh.

I stop in the center of the Henge, and smile up at him. “You’ll be okay. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Thanks.” He smiles weakly, squeezing my hands.

By Krystyna and Kayla

#romance #portal #time #magic #Raven #love #demon #Timejump #Magic #Andrei #Stonehenge #thrill #fantasy #archerofcantibury #Fantasy