Chapter 4

Since Sophitia's confession, being around each other was just awkward. They rarely spoke to each other anymore, only to discuss plans. "We have two people to look for now," Siegfried said quietly as they walked (about a metre apart from each other). "If we keep listening for Raphael too, we may find Tira faster."

Sophitia nodded mutely, and Siegfried sighed. "Sophitia, you have to realise you have a duty. And it is not to fall in love with me. There is no way we could ever be together, it just isn't safe. You need to understand that. It is…too soon for you to be seeking love again." His voice took on a pleading tone. "Please understand."

Sophitia sighed and sped up her pace, leaving Siegfried to catch up.

Hardly a word was spoken for the next two weeks. And with each passing day, guilt tore at Siegfried's heart. He knew all she wanted was to be close to someone again, someone who comfort her. And he wished he could do that. He knew he was falling in love with her, but what could he do? They had their duties, and after that, separate ways.

How he longed to have been awake when she kissed him…

But no. This couldn't get in the way of what he must do. Help Sophitia, then take her back home. That was all. Love wasn't in the specification.

~*~

The sound of rustling caught Siegfried's attention- he had been hearing it for a while but only now had it concerned him. "Someone's following us," muttered Siegfried, laying hand on sword hilt. Sophitia warily drew her Omega sword and glanced around. "Who? Where?"

"At least she's talking," he thought, before saying, "I'm not sure…" He squinted through the trees, adding, "but whoever or whatever it is, they may attack. Be on guard."

"Right." Sophitia listened- at the moment it was silent. "I don't hear anything at the moment…but let's get moving…"

Their next few hours of travel were free from constant rustling, so they stopped for a rest in the evening, on the outskirts of the wood. Sophitia, seemingly going back to her silent state, helped Siegfried with their meal (rabbit again) before slipping off to bathe in a nearby pool obscured by bushes, leaving Siegfried on his own.

Bored, Siegfried began pulling up grass and knotting it, singing softly to himself in an attempt to find something to do, but his mind was buzzing as it always did when he was alone. "Maybe I should leave her to continue alone. I hate the fact that I've upset her…and I can't return her feelings…why must it be I she loves…?"

Just through the bushes he could see the pool Sophitia was bathing in but not Sophitia herself. Not really realising he was doing it, he shifted forwards and left so he could see her. Sophitia had her back to him, her wet blonde hair sticking to her skin, shimmering enchantingly in the silvery moonlight. She turned to the side and scooped up the clear water to let it run down her chest- Siegfried's eyes were nearly popping out of their sockets, glued to her beautiful perfection…

A throbbing between Siegfried's legs jolted him back to reality, and he smacked his forehead with the heel of his hand, quickly moving away in case she saw him. "What on earth was I doing, spying on her? But…she is so beautiful…"

Deciding a walk would clear his head a little, he stood up and pushed through a thicket, back into the wood. It was darker here, the moonlight only showing in occasional shafts between the many-leaved trees.

But the knight had barely gone twenty feet when his foot struck something soft, almost tripping him up. The light here was almost nil, but Siegfried knew he had found a person, either wounded or dead. "Perhaps I have found whoever was tailing us today…"

Siegfried looked up to the trees, waiting for the moon to appear from behind the clouds so he could see- if this person was hurt he could not afford to injure them further by picking them up and taking them somewhere else. It was a good five minutes before moonlight flooded the scene, and looking down, Siegfried almost retched-

For the empty eyes of Raphael Sorel stared back at him, looking eerily bright in the silver light. His chest and throat lay open to the chilled air, and blood had spattered the ground around him.

After composing himself and swallowing hard, Siegfried shouted for Sophitia, who came running, her clothes stuck to her wet skin. "What's-" she began. Then she saw Raphael. Her face blanched and she covered her mouth with her hand, stumbling away to throw up. When she had finished, trembling and wiping her lips with a shaky hand, she turned back to see Siegfried knelt by Raphael, inspecting his chest cavity, running an iron-covered hand over his ribs. "If you feel you can…take a look," he murmured, looking up at Sophitia, extending his free hand to her. She took it and he gently pulled her down so she could see what was catching his attention. "Look," he said, pointing. "His ribs have been snapped back…his heart has been taken."

Sophitia closed her eyes and shuddered at the sight. "It…would not do to leave him here, and be despoiled by whatever is in this wood," she said softly, opening her eyes again and reaching out to slide Raphael's eyelids over his dead stare. "We should bury him."

With some difficulty, since the ground was hard, they managed to dig a shallow grave and mark Raphael's resting place with a cross of knotted branches that Siegfried twisted into shape (his parents had brought him up as a Christian and he thought it would be more respectful- monster though Sorel was). Sophitia stuck it into the ground and sighed. "What will become of Amy…?"

"She is a strong girl," Siegfried replied, smoothing the soil. "She will find some way, I'm sure." He brushed his hands off and slipped an arm round Sophitia, who was still weak-kneed, and helped her back to the camp.

Still a little wet from having to abandon her bathe quickly, Sophitia crouched by the fire, unaware of Siegfried staring avidly at her. "That was Tira's work," she whispered. "Those marks on Raphael's body were identical to those that marked Rothion."

"You're sure?"

Sophitia nodded. "You must know it too."

"I was thinking the same as you." Siegfried tore his eyes away from Sophitia to lie back and look up at the stars. "Once you are dry, we will leave. I don't think it safe to remain here tonight."