Chapter Twenty Six

It seemed it wasn't only Ahnger who was getting tired of the room in the guest house.

Right when the sun went down, the male made a failed attempt of leaving the room. Sayge had been with him so she had to balance his weight on top of her as they left the room. It was entertaining on how they got downstairs. Some of the doggen who were downstairs rushed over to help but Sayge said she had it. She even glared when Ahnger reached over for a little help.

It hadn't snowed outside so it was clear skies. Ahnger only wore his slacks and button down while Sayge had to change into warmer clothes. With her bundled up in extra cloths and thick furs, she did her best not to trip over her own feet as the both of them managed to walk over to the gazebo. They had some difficulty navigating the maze of flowers but found their way to their destination. Using her hips to push open the doors, Sayge and Ahnger stumbled inside.

The inside of the gazebo was strangely warm than the outside. It was so warm that Sayge had to remove her jacket. Taking a seat on the cool tiled floor, Ahnger laid down and stretched his body. It felt good to be out of that dreadful bed. Feeling the coolness up his spine was rejuvenating. What felt better was when Sayge joined him.

Taking her in his arms, the two looked up at the roof of the gazebo. Stained glass of multiple colors formed a perfect circle around clear glass which was in the center. Through the glass the two could see the night sky just as clearly as it was outside. The colors casted a ray of light down which was caught by the tiles for they reflected the colors.

"It must've taken you a while to build this."

"The glass was the hard part. Everything else was easy."

"So will you be making another one anytime soon?"

The male grunted. Sayge just smiled.

It felt good to get some fresh air. Ahnger's family was in the mansion since none of them knew the two had taken their little walk to the garden. The Brothers had been informed on Ahnger's deal with the goddess. Even though they acted like they didn't trust Ahnger, everyone knew they were just as worried as Ahnger's family. Sayge was still afraid but believed in the male when he said he would fight his way back to her.

As Sayge looked up at the ceiling, she noticed Ahnger had drifted to sleep. Their little walk defiantly exhausted him. Sayge felt uneasy how tired the male got just by walking. It was a terrible reminder how close he was to dying. All she could do was take a deep breath and rest her head on his chest. Feeling his chest move and his heart beating under her ear was her only assurance he was still around. His arm tightening around her shoulder was also a good reassurance.

Even though it was slightly warmer in the gazebo, Sayge reached over for her jacket which laid on the benches. Stretching her fingers to their fullest, she managed to grab the hem of her jacket and drag it over. She draped it over her body since she was catching a slight chill and wiggled closer to Ahnger for some warmth. Some of her jacket covered the male's body. She knew he wasn't cold because of the darkness but didn't care. Having her jacket on top of him helped ease her fear of him freezing in his sleep.

Sayge watched the sky for a while as the stars shined brought light to the sky. Her eyes began to droop until she snuggled up against Ahnger and decided to catch some sleep of her own.

The darkness rolled around in its world. Or it tried at least. It was so weak it took more effort than usual to do one simple roll. Once it was on its back, the darkness huffed upside down as the grass tickled its nose. Using the last of its effort, the darkness completed its roll.

The Scribe Virgin's deal was still on its mind. Thinking it all came down to Ahnger's will to live, all the darkness could do was sit back and wait. If it had been its choice, the darkness would've gone in head first into this death scenario and come out the other end without a second thought. But it wasn't its wager. It had to wait for Ahnger and it actually felt a scenes of dread.

Thinking of Ahnger dying just didn't sit well with the darkness.

Well, it wasn't up to the darkness. It would just have to wait in its world until the end came. Then again, there was that little chat with the goddess. She made it sound like the end wasn't a couple days away but right around the damn corner. The darkness's fur bristled from the thought and shook its head.

Even though the darkness was exhausted, it attempted another half role and decided to stay on its back. There it faced the night sky in its world. When it tilted its head to look in the distance, the mansion stood tall with all its lights shining through the windows. Tilting its head back to look at the stars, the darkness wagged its tail in the grass.

Exhaustion grew to where the darkness could barely keep its eyes open.

It smirked.

"You better keep your promise, Ahnger."

One by one, a star burned bright until it vanished from the sky. It happened faster and faster to where the sky burned bright with white light. The breeze in the world picked up and leaves danced over the field. Leaves dancing to the wind as the sky grew brighter and brighter. When the wind picked up, only a few stars remained before burning out. It wasn't long until it was the crescent moon formed a smooth full moon the same time the stars around it began to brighten. The moon at the same time brightened and illuminated the world.

The darkness liked it.

Something was irritating Sohrrow's skin that he started scratching his left arm.

As he mindlessly scratched away, the male worried about what the Scribe Virgin told him. The goddess had summoned him during his sleep and told him of the deal she made with his twin. Truthfully, he wasn't too keen about Ahnger gambling his life on this deal.

Sohrrow pulled himself out of his deep thoughts to what was around him. He was temporarily caught off guard when Lhyra plunked at least eight plates in his arms. Then he remembered he was supposed to head over to the main dining room where everyone was setting up for First Meal. Some of the doggen shifted their beady eyes at the male but he had gotten used to their glares.

Taking the plates and pushing open the kitchen door which lead to the dining room, the male looked around.

Sitting on the edge of the table at the head was Nightmahre who seemed to be messing with Phride. The male then tossed his head back and laughed the same time Sohrrow's little brother started ranting his point. Sitting on one of the couches in the room was Gabrielle and Ehmma with Dhark and Rhose on their laps. Victoria was leaning back in her chair with its front legs dangling in the air and her legs crossed on the table. Mehrcy had just walked up to his shellan and playfully nudged them off. The human grunted with disapproval but forgot about her disappointment when his father kissed her. Ehnvy was with Annahbell were the two had just finished setting the cups on the table before the male took his female in his arms. Behind Sohrrow, Lhyra pushed through balancing four bowels of hot rolls since the food was just about ready. She looked over and ordered her hellren to set the table.

Sohrrow laughed to himself as he made his way over to the table. But before he reached it, the male had to stop and reach the best he could to scratch his arm. However, when he was able to do so, the itching began to grow. Starting at his wrist and traveling up his arm, the itching was starting to become unbearable. It traveled past his shoulder down to his chest until it stopped.

That's when the burning began.

Dropping the plates, they shattered at Sohrrow's feet as he clawed at his shirt. The male then ripped the arm and half of his shirt off when he saw it. Everyone had stopped doing what they were doing when the plates fell and were all watching what the male was looking at.

Black patterns starting at his wrist began to form up his arm in their own distinctive ways. Soon the patterns took form of what looked like the design of Norse knotwork which traveled up Sohrrow's arm and past his shoulder. Slowing down barely at its chest, the knotwork formed the head of a black wolf to finish the pattern.

The burning ended when the patterns finished.

No one spoke. They didn't even know what had happened. The only thing they knew was that these patterns all of a sudden formed on Sohrrow. However, when Sohrrow no longer ached to stop the burn, he inspected the patterns. They were different but almost seemed to imitate Sayge's seals.

Sayge's seals. The Scribe Virgin's instructions.

"No."

It was quiet.

Not quiet like the world went silent from the lack out outdoor sound but dead quiet.

Stirring from her sleep, Sayge rubbed her eyes and looked around. She could hear the wind blowing so she thought it was probably her hearing. Resting her head back on Ahnger's chest, the female closed her eyes and would've gone back to sleep when the sound of nothingness crept back. Sayge drew her head back and rubbed her ears just to make sure they were working.

Sayge's ears were working perfectly.

So why was it quiet?

When Sayge laid her head back on Ahnger's chest on hopes of getting some sleep, she found out why it was quiet.

She couldn't hear anything.

"Ahnger?"

Sitting up, the female nudged Ahnger. When his eyes didn't open, she began shaking him. Still his eyes didn't open.

"Ahnger?"

"AHNGER!"

The sound of Sohrrow yelling startled Sayge. Through the glass she saw the male run out into the cold and head straight to the guest house. From the way how terrified his voice sounded, Sayge drew her eyes back to Ahnger. He looked like he was sleeping and would wake up any minute. But when Sayge shook him again, his body just moved with the movement.

Using both her hands, she shook the male hard where anyone would've woken up. When he didn't, Sayge pressed her ear on his chest and heard nothing. It was the emptiness of his heartbeat which woke her up.

She couldn't hear Ahnger's heartbeat.

"Ahnger!"

Tears formed in her eyes as she began shaking the male and screamed his name. The sound of snow crunching up came from the door and Sohrrow ran around Sayge. She looked up to see his entire left arm was covered in some strange tattoo which slightly resembled her own. Ahnger had told her about the seals the Scribe Virgin had created and when they would appear.

When Ahnger died.

With the sight of Sohrrow's new seals, Sayge looked down at Ahnger.

He would wake up. Sohrrow had his seals so he would wake up. Any minute. Any minute his eyes would open. He promised he would wake up

Any minute.

Ahnger wasn't waking up.

"No," whispered Sayge. "No no no!"

Sohrrow pulled her away from Ahnger when she started pounding on his chest. Hitting the male and trying to get out of his grasp, she screamed for Ahnger to wake up. But no matter how loud she screamed or how many tears she shed, Ahnger laid still before her.

Ahnger gambled with his life and promised to return.

He promised he would come back.

He promised.