"I know you could probably kill me with just one bite, but not before my blade glides through her throat." Giken, still in his wolf form, growls at Jerell, but Jerell is calm and collected. "You think I'm playing around, dog?" He yelled then he whispered to me, "My lady, I will be taking you with me now. If I don't, I will die. Forgive me." He presses the hatchet against my neck and a little more blood trickles down its blade.
Giken transforms into his human form and he reaches out his arms out showing his palm as a sign of peace. "Bekaa" (wait) he said in his native tongue.
"Bekaa…bekaa" Giken tries to talk to Jerell. "Niin beshwaji. Miigaadenindiwag gaawiin geyaabi."
"What is he saying?" Jerell asked me.
"He says he is a friend and no longer wants to fight you nor see you as an enemy." I said. "Your blade its~"
"Shhh, I'm sorry I have to do this. Only tell me what he is saying." Jerell demanded. "Close your eyes." Jerell's hold on me loosens, "CLOSE YOUR EYES!" He yelled and his loud voice scared my eyes shut.
Giken took a step forward just as Jerell yelled. Jerell's quick reaction sees Giken and he tosses something towards Giken. The item plops onto the ground right in front of Giken and an abrupt sizzling sound could be heard. The object then burst and a bright light was emitted for five seconds, blinding Giken.
I can feel Jerell grab hold of me as he dashed away from Giken. I never knew men could run so fast. Suddenly, I smell a strong odor of ammonia all around me. Apparently, Jerell had thrown little sponges soaked with fox urine all over the place a few days prior to drown out his scent. Now that he is fleeing, after literally kidnapping me, he is drenching me in fox urine too.
As we moved further and further away, I could hear Giken roaring from the pain from the blinding light.
"Jerell why?" I asked and then I felt a sharp pain on my neck right before I lost consciousness.
*
When I finally came to my senses it was already dawn. Jerell hands me a canister of water and I quickly gulp it down.
"How long was I out for?" I asked Jerell.
"Long enough." he replied nonchalantly.
"Why did you take me away when I was completely content with staying there?" I started to scold him. "...and I was happy! I was finally feeling a little safe and more myself than ever."
"Were you? Because all I could see and hear were your crying. Granted at night you were…" he blushed, "...you were mighty happy, but throughout your days, you are always sad! And, sorry for saying this my lady, but when I finally approached you again, you were isolated from everyone and crying… AGAIN! All by yourself. Like you always did…little one! You always did that Little one." he paused for a long while before he continued again. "Like you always did, little one, right before I found you… everytime." he said in a whisper.
I was lost for words and we just sat in an awkward silence. I peered around to examine our surroundings.
My nose was a little cold and our space was dark and dampy. Sniffling, I asked, "Where are we?".
"We are in an underground containment that I made to study their kind. This will keep us out of sight and keep our scent hidden. But to answer your question, we are close to Riverway, the new establishment made from where we embarked. We're close by but we've got a little ways yet. I need to make sure that you are safe where we are going. I've been gone for too long, I fear Pane and the others may have a change of mind about me."
"Pane? Who do you mean when you say the others?" I could feel my panic start to set in.
(Bloody hell, I've already told myself that I was NOT going to let others sway me. That I am going to be strong for myself. But this fear is creeping back up my spine and trying to grab hold of my emotions.)
"Well, you already have acquainted yourself with Pane of Sauro House. We have Kharrl of Khan house, Czechvi of Scandon House and me, Jerelliuyus of Boix House. The four of us are to lead people on a mission, so we all gathered followers for the mission. King Leifae Arkson even provided us builder, settlers, nurses, whores and more to help us create a new establishment."
"That is why you said Riverway? Is that the establishment?"
"Yes, my lady."
"What about Bjork?" I blurted out loudly. "Since he isn't leading, does that mean he is following?"
"Bjork? No, King Leifae Arkson held him back at Newtown Mansion. Gave him some errands to run at Pormanstown. Apparently, they're looking for a psychic gypsy, but who knows if that's even true. Sounds like a made up story to keep that bloke busy and out of the way." He said and then asked, "Why are you asking about Bjork? You should never acquaint yourself with that person. He is~"
"A predator!" I blurted again.
(Amazing that when I'm in Jerell's presence I could say whatever I please without any filters. I feel like we are children again and we could do whatever we please without any judgment, even though I never really said anything.)
"That wasn't the word I thought of, but it is equally disgusting. Wait, did he do something to you?" Jerell asked, but I didn't give him a response. "That bastard! I always knew that that twat would someday fuck up to give me a reason to kill him." Jerell's anger starts to grow little by little and in that tiny space we shared, you could feel the heat rise from his hyperventilation.
"What in the bloody hell did he do to you? Wait! Don't tell me or I might… Nope, don't tell me." Jerell went back and forth with himself. I couldn't help but start to laugh at him.
"I've forgotten how adorable you were when you were angry." I said in a giggling laughter. "Silly Jerell, you've got something right there." I pointed to his chest and he looked down. I then brought my fingers up and tapped his nose, "NOT!"
I laughed loudly this time. All he could do was stare at me, puzzling over what just happened. Eventually, Jerell joined me in laughter and we joined in conversation reminiscing about our mischievous times together on Master Boix's ship. We needed to kill time since it was dark out. What can be a better way to pass time then reconnected with an old friend after so many years.
Our emotions moved from anger, to sadness, and finally to joy. It was the opening door for us to finally rekindle our friendship.
"Why is it that you never spoke to me until we parted ways? He asked. I didn't answer him and just kept my head down, but then he said, "There were times, I swore, I heard you talking at night. But I just thought that maybe I was dreaming."
Eventually, our conversation transitioned from our past to our present, until Jerell finally asked me, "So those people that held you captive are werewolves like the old wives tale? You know, like vampires and werewolves?"
"Werewolves? I've never thought of them like that… they simply transform from man to wolf and wolf to man that's all. That doesn't make them werewolves…" I stopped abruptly, remembering my first night with Giken. He was a man with fur like a wolf…Giken WAS a werewolf and he said he was the only one who could transform in that form.
"My lady?" Jerell interrupts my thoughts.
"Jerell, for bloody sake, stop calling me that! It sounds completely criminal coming from you."
"I don't know what to call you my la…"
"SHUT UP! Call me like you use too."
"You want me to call you Bud?" Jerell snickered.
"Well, then just call me Seer." I requested.
Jerell shoots me a weird look as if he could see right through me… right through to Seer of Pormanstown.
"You want me to call you Seer?" he asked.
"Sure." I replied.
"That's an odd name. How did you come up with that name?"
"One of my old maids in Newtown Mansion suggested that name to me after she died. Claimed it to be a wonderful 'NO LONGER A THRALL' kind of name." I said casually.
"You mean, before she died?" Jerell interrogated.
"Oh, right. Before she died she suggested the name." I corrected myself, but I felt Jerell's eyes lingering on me and studying my every movement. "Well, it seems to be getting dark. I will sleep now. Please don't leave me alone, okay?"
"Just like when we were little, I promise, Seer." He said as he scooched over to his side and closed his eyes.
That night, I felt a cold chill come over my body and I was awakened by my chattering teeth.
"Jerell?" I whispered his name, but he is fast asleep. "Jerell, I'm cold. Can I borrow some of your warmth?" Still no response. I made my way, crawling towards him and eventually into his arms. He spoons me from behind and I place his cloak over the both of us.
I enter my dreams in the ocean of stars and am dressed in red again. In front of me stood Little One.
"I have something for you." Little one said to me. I walk towards her to receive it. "It's a shard." she said.
"A shard from what?" I asked her.
"It's from his heart. You've always held the missing piece to his shattered heart. He has searched for it all his life trying to glue it all together again, but you had it with you. It's time to return it." Little One hands me a large piece of red broken glass and I take it into my hands.
(What is the meaning of this?)
"It's okay to love. Love is always free and if you have it you should always give it." Little one's slowly fade away. "He loves you too, you know. Haha!"
Little one's gigglings echo into the distance and I wake.
"Lit… Seer? Why are you alright? You're so cold, you're shivering." Jerell enclose
me into his embrace.
"I'm just cold." I replied. "At the corner of our little space, a spirit lingers there, trying to communicate with Jerell. It's energy is so strong that my body couldn't retain my heat.
"I do apologize, Seer. This place is supposed to be cool and damp. Fires will attract others, so I do deeply apologize." Jerell whispered to me.
"That is fine with me. I have you to keep me warm, just like the old days."
"Yes, of course. Just like the old times on that ship." Jerell smiles.
"Jerell, I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"I'm sorry I broke your heart and stole a piece for myself. I would like to return, but in order for me to return your missing piece, I must tell you something very important. Can you just be truthful with me?"
"Sure." Jerell answered hesitantly.
"First, Jensen is here..." I can feel Jerell freeze in place as he holds his breath, "and he wants you to know that you've achieved your goal in Newtown already. It is now a matter of whether you'd like to listen to what she has to say."