Chapter XII
Greater Good
"Heh..you scared the pup off..." Arno smiled as he stared into Iden's eyes half lidded.
Iden smiled softly. "Perhaps."
Arno laughed before violently coughing, splattering blood across his vest.
"If I had just kept running I would not be here now.." he breathed.
Iden looked into Arnos face.
Slowly Arno attempted to sit up but screamed as He felt his cracked rib break off into his insides. "Agh!.. Huh..ah." Arno's chest fell rapidly as his breathing quickened. "Damn.." he laughed. "I've cheated death to many times it seems.."
Iden frowned.
"Arno..I could"
"No." he shook his head slightly.
"Iden, I want to feel the sunrise against my skin again." he stared into Iden's pale complexion before grabbing his hand and gripping it harshly.
"Would you kindly do me that favor?" he breathed.
"Of course." he smiled softly.
Carefully Iden picked up Arno onto his back then carried him towards the horizon. Slowly the light peered over the horizon casting its light over them.
Iden's being began to burn as the light set above them, he gritted his teeth as he felt his skin wisp away.
"Arno I cannot stay.." he stated as his knees felt weak.
His back felt light as he fell to the ground, he looked over his shoulder to see Arno standing there smiling at him.
"I won't be in your shadow Iden." He whispered before the scene around them filled with sunlight, so bright it burned the grass then everything around them.
Iden's face almost became unrecognizable as his skin burned from his face into a thin layer of muscle. His gaze fixed upon Arno then the flames engulfing his being then to the woman that stood behind him.
Iden's eyes fixed on her porcelain face as he outstretched his hand towards her before collapsing, his vision darkened with her face still etched into his mind.
Suddenly Iden snapped awake, laying on the cold hard ground before realizing Arno still bled beside him. He quickly grabbed Arno's face and felt his cold skin against his hands as his being laid stiff beside him.
Iden could no longer see Arno's heart beat as his skin set discolored.
Arno's eyes were stained black like dark voids, Iden slowly shut his eyes before picking him up and carrying him off into the distance.
An hour later he stumbled upon an old building with gold lining the walls and a gold table setting in the middle of the room. Carefully he laid Arno's body onto the table then stared into his blood stained clothes and skin. Untying his black cloak Iden swung it over Arno's body, covering it completely then dropping his weapons beside the table before leaving the room back into the woods.
Endlessly walking into the shadows casted across the ground as he watched the sunlight stretch over it. His thoughts we're interrupted by hurried footsteps behind him. Quickly Iden turned only to see a hooded figure jump into the air above him with their hidden blade drawn.
Blocking the assassin's attack he grabbed their arm and threw them back sending them flying onto their back.
Soon Iden realized it was a woman, he hair was the color of blood as we're her lips.
Swiftly she ran towards Iden then swung again but missed as he grabbed her throat and lifted her up to the sunlight.
"Let go of me!" she spat.
"Why are you here?" his voice stayed calm.
Without hesitation she pulled a pistol from her belt and fired two shots into Iden's shoulder and chest. Quickly she got away from his grip then kicked him across his face before pulling out a large syringe. Iden stood up as his anger boiled under his skin, he watched as the woman sprinted towards him.
"Forgive me Arno." she whispered as she watched Iden disappear into bats before he appeared in front of her and swept her off the ground then biting into her neck.
"Ngh.." her eyes began to flutter close as She readied the syringe then plunged it into his abdomen sending the dark liquid into his body before her life was drained from her veins.
Iden pulled away harshly as he felt a burning pain fill his chest before he ripped the syringe from his abdomen. He began to walk away but stopped as he glanced into the woman's face, frantically he knelt down beside her then gently moved the locks of hair from her face.
Shocked he pulled his hand back as He realized who she was.
"No..no..no" Iden brushed his hair back then saw the familiar necklace draped around her neck. Carefully he took the necklace before he disappeared into the shadows.
Two men stepped out from behind the trees then slowly walked towards the woman's body. "Will it work?" one of the men whispered as he brushed his hand against the woman's cheek. "For her to give her life away to a monster it will work..even now as we speak."
Sickly his vision blurred as he came in sight of the gold lined building. His chest squeezed and ached as he slowly opened the door only to come face to face with Arno sitting up on the table bare skinned only covered by Iden's cloak.
"Your back." his golden eyes pierced through the shadows into Iden's as he faced him with a wicked smile across his delicate face.
What could this mean for Iden? stay tuned! i have character art here on my profile, Arnos looks will change since he is positioned strangely in the drawing. I will have more drawn soon with character descriptions! Reviews are appreciated!
