Ragweed: WHEEEEE!! I'm out of my slump! This chapter isn't terrible! I know the last two weren't great but this one is much better.
Dracula: Oh joy…
Ragweed: Okay, um, lets think what do I need. For those of you who are confused, the Royal Wolves are relevant to the story, I'm not giving you guys random unimportant things. Sorry, it's just a lot of people get angry for some reason when you give them some foreshadowing. Lighten up people!
Carl: Ragweed, you're scaring what few readers you have away!
Ragweed: Fine, um reviews. Verona, again, thank you for your kind words, they are great motivation for me, because God knows the muses don't do their job.
Legolas: We do to.
Hige: You just don't listen.
Jack: And you're not all that bright.
Ragweed: twitch Who invited you guys, this is a Van Helsing fic! Anyway, you people out there, just go on and read…


Crimson-Stained Shards of Memory

Chapter 9: The Evil Feeding the Good

'It was a beautiful letdown,
When you found me here,
And for once in a rare blue moon,
I see everything clear.
I'll be a beautiful letdown,
That's what I'll forever be,
And though it may cost my soul,
I'll sing for free.'--The Beautiful Letdown, Switchfoot

.:I:.

A numb blackness enveloped him and Gabriel welcomed it with a long sought relief. Life wasn't supposed to hurt that much, memories were supposed to be kept locked down, buried, never revisited. Dark times of one's past should be kept out of sight and out of mind, and which soul had more dark times to visit then Gabriel Van Helsing's? The numbness was so easy, it took away all his pain, his memories, his nightmares. The scars on his back didn't burn anymore, he had all but forgotten they were there. For the most part, Gabriel simply sat in the Darkness, hugging his knees to his chest, rocking back and forth slightly, thinking of nothing; he didn't need or want to think of anyway. He was perfectly content to remain here forever until he pined away in the Darkness to be lost forever. So when an all too familiar grey coldness swept up his numb body, Gabriel's heart swelled with despair and he prayed silently, that it would spare him this time. But then, when were Gabriel's prays ever answered?

As always, Gabriel sensed Dracula before he saw him. A white-blue iciness that seemed to originate from the triangular scars on his back, then crept slowly along his spin to his neck and head; like icy claws that grabbed him like a vice and would never let go. Gabriel felt his body begin to tremble, but he refused to let fear get to him, he refused to let this get the better of him. He was strong then whatever this was, he was.

"Gabriel," the coldness was emanating from his left side, as if that was the way Dracula was approaching from. But Gabriel didn't look up, he just hugged his knees closer to his chest and remained silent, fury and anger burning deep within him.

A swift black figure darted in front of him, pausing near Gabriel for a moment then quickly sweeping out of sight. Gabriel tensed and shot a hateful look at the figure as it took off. It hadn't been long when the swift blur of darkness dashed by Gabriel once more, causing him to flinch ever-so-slightly. The presence vanished momentarily, and Gabriel let his tensed-shoulders fall and thirsting, gladly welcomed the Darkness into his body again, ready for it to take him completely. It would be so wonderful to be enveloped in the numbness and never have to live or breathe again. So wonderful…

Then suddenly, the Dark was all around him, very close to him, and it filled Gabriel to his dead core with a wild fear he had never felt. The mere presences of the Darkness made him shudder and want to cower away. But, trembling, he held fast and told himself only a few more moments before he was taken. A claw-like hand grabbed Gabriel from the back of his neck and with quick and not-too-gently jerk, tossed Gabriel to his feet before he could react. Instantly, Gabriel's years of training flooded back to him and he spun around to face whatever grabbed him. And who it was did entire surprise him.

Dracula step forward from the Darkness, green eyes staring, piercing Gabriel to his centre, and yet somehow, not filled with as much hate as Gabriel remembered. They stared at each other for a moment, neither daring to breathe, and then Dracula spoke.

"What are you doing here Gabriel?" he spat. It was not a question. "Are you content with pinning away in the Darkness? Do you find it fitting enough for you?"

Gabriel simple stared back at the vampire, not fight, not hate, nothing stirring in his brown eyes. Simply a vacant stare empty of any signs of life or warmth, or a soul. Dracula narrowed his eyes as if Gabriel were mocking him. If Dracula had one weakness, it was how easily his ego was bruised. And the vampire was not nearly as bad as he could become.

"Then maybe this is what you've sunk to after all of these centuries. Perhaps this is what you've become after all. But it is not the Gabriel I remember," the vampire noticed his voice had softened with his last statement so he added quickly in a harsh tone, "But then, you wouldn't remember at all would you."

If the remark had affected Gabriel, not even God Himself would have been able to tell. Dracula's only response was an empty, cold, dead stare. It reminded Dracula of the eyes of his victims, not when they were alive but not completely dead yet. Almost…almost a pleading stare. I cry for something. But Dracula was unmoved, it simply infuriated him further. The vampire's body tensed and his deep green eyes shut-over with shallow icy blue, like mirrors or glass. The vampire locked onto Gabriel's dead gaze, boring into his with cold blue eyes. Searching him for something, something long-lost to both of them, and at time, something neither of them had ever stopped looking for, not entirely. But as always, Dracula could not find it, no matter how many times he would search Gabriel's soul, it was always empty, hollow and numb. The vampire screeched in rage as his attempts to break the man went no where. Dracula's rage poured into Gabriel and a hot furry seethed through the man. The scars that marred Gabriel's back began to burn, fiercely. Somewhere deep within his mind, Gabriel new he should be screaming, yet, that part of him was gone. Buried deep, locked down, suffocating, never to be realised again.

Dracula was almost shocked, nothing was working. He remember the voice telling him he needed to wake Gabriel, yet so far, all his attempts had come up short and time was not with him. Frustrated and at his wits end the vampire let his tightened shoulders fall and released his grip from Gabriel. Cold blue turned to green and rage and frustration were near boiling points. Dracula looked back at Gabriel. Nothing had changed, vacant expression, eyes colder then anything Dracula could remember seeing. A look so lost and pleading, wishing.

Like him.

Almost before Dracula realized it, sharp, obsidian claws raised high and came slashing down upon unmarred flesh. One swift move brought down upon untouched skin, burning black daggers. Cold blood wept from newly-opened wounds. The vampire blinked and his face twisted into a confused frown. What had just happened? With a panting breath, Dracula looked down at his trembling hand; cool crimson blood clung to his black talons, blood not his own. Instantly, the vampire's neck shot up to meet Gabriel's dead stare. Five, slender, parallel slash-mark cut across the man's face. Yet Gabriel didn't seem to notice, didn't seem to care. More silence past and Dracula tried to process all that just happened. For the first time in wait was most likely centuries Dracula felt surprised, shocked at his own actions. Never once had he ever felt out of control of himself, his emotions--what little of them survived--didn't rule him; that isn't the way of vampires at all. And especially not he way of himself. Yet, Gabriel's cold blood stained his black claws and bled from his face. And it…scared him that he couldn't control himself. Because if he couldn't, what the point of him being here still after all these wasted years.

Gabriel was surprised as well, even if he did not show it. Not shocked at Dracula's outburst (if anything he had expected that), but more so surprised that it didn't hurt. Even now with blood starting to trickle down his face, nothing hurt, nothing told him to scream or fight back even though somewhere deep within told him he should. Something was screaming at him to breathe, to fight, but it was just so far away now, too far lost. Gabriel suddenly felt no strength. Already numb limbs gave way and Gabriel collapsed to his knees, jolting Dracula from thought. What tiny vision their was began and Gabriel's senses began to swim. Was this it? Was the Darkness finally taking him? Oh how he hoped beyond anything else it would come and claim him. Finally relieve him from the world of falling shadows. And Darkness took hold and dragged him down and everything was black.

.:I:.

Gabriel fought his friend and tried to sit up, "I am fine, my friend, let me get up."

Vlad was not moved however and kept his friend firmly pressed down against' his bed. "No my friend, you are not going anywhere. Not with your broken arm."

Gabriel snorted but gave up the fight, although he would never admit it, he was very tired, "Broken," he muttered, "I've slain wolves and rode horses across the mountains in the rain and snow with worse wounds. A winter hunting trip will be nothing."

Smiling, Vald stood up and walked to the other edge of the small healing room where the room's one window was covered by a set of very heavy and dark drapes drawn in front of it. With a swift tug, Vald pulled the drapes back allowing the milky-white overcast light of the day pour in the room. Gabriel squinted at the sudden light. The fact that the town was now covered in a good three feet so solid white snow didn't help for now, reflections of stark snow-light were also shinning in, harshly.

"There," said Vlad with a tease in his voice, "Now you have a scene to imagine this hunting trip you'll be going on. My father and his hunting party are waiting on me however so I must be going."

"And Gabriel must be going somewhere or he will go insane kept pent-up in this room after two weeks," muttered Gabriel from his bed bitterly.

Vlad, who was, as always, dressed in black, picked up his bow and quiver from the chair they were slung over and tossed them over his shoulder. Gabriel never liked to be left behind, but his arm was not merely broken, muscle had been severed down to the bone as well and that would take longer to heal, even if Gabriel was impatient. Vlad, though he wished Gabriel was able to accompany him, new that the risk of his friend causing further damage to himself was high and was not willing to let Gabriel take it, no matter how hard he fought. The young aristocrat came next to his friend's bed and bent down over him, wrapping on arm over Gabriel's shoulder and resting his brow on the side of Gabriel's curly locks.

"Deal with it a little longer," Vlad whispered in a kind tone. "I'll be back in four days with new deer and bear meat to cook."

Gabriel sighed, "I don't think I can sleep that long," he laughed softly, "but I'll see what kind of sleeping draught I can find in Eldan's herb collection over there then." Gabriel pointed quickly at the tower of jars and bowls filled with countless different mixtures of medicinal plants and herbs on the opposite side of the bed.

"That 'collection' has saved your life once or twice, Mr. Van Helsing." Both Gabriel and Vlad were surprised to Eldan, the healer, stride into the healing room carrying a bundle of scrolls under the crook of his arm. The young man always carried himself tall and almost regally, then again, he was very tall, six feet five inches in today's measurement. He was fair-faced with a soft smile and had a kindness about him, just an aura of safety that seemed to surround him. He was about the same age as Vlad and Gabriel--around twenty or so, and he was thin and slender-built. Like most of the people of Vaseria. Yet there was something about Eldan that was not like anyone in Vaseria.

"Yes it has," Vlad nudged Gabriel in the ribs lightly before standing up, "You should learn to be more thankful Gabriel."

Gabriel's response was a throw-pillow hurled at Vlad's head.

Eldan gave an exasperated sigh, "I'm surprised you two haven't killed each other yet," muttered the man who had dropped his scrolls on a desk and was now beginning to glance through them. Leaning on his palms over the small desk which was against the same stone wall the door was on. The healer tucked a stray piece of long white hair behind his ear and added. "I swear you two will be the death of each other one day." And with that he stood up and strode gracefully around the foot of Gabriel's bed to the far side of the room where the small tower of jars and bowls of medicines were piled in a seemingly order-less way.

"Gabriel will be the death of many things I'm sure," said Vlad with a smirk on his face, "He must be one of the more high-maintenance wounded man you've have to tend to, Eldan."

Another pillow went sailing into Vlad's head.

"Well he most certainly does mess up the place. What with this pillow-tossing he seemed to have grown fond of." Eldan turned back to Gabriel caring a bowl of watery paste and smirk on his pale face. Pink eyes locked on his Gabriel's. "Now sit up, I need to apply more of this onto your wound."

Using his left arm--his good arm--Gabriel propped himself up against the cherry-wood headboard, with the help of Vlad. Eldan came and sat on the feathered-mattress on Gabriel's right, mixing a grey paste in a small wooden bowl with stir stick.

"Vlad, will you help undo the sling and bandages?" asked the man.

Without word Vlad smiled and obeyed the albino man's request. For indeed, this is what separated Eldan from the rest of the village and its population. Pale skin, smooth white hair that he let grow to his waist and pink eyes in place of dark, aristocratic ones. Eldan's parents had been among the first settlers in Vaseria with Valerious the Elder. When their son had been born albino, he was rarely allowed outside for his skin would burn in the faintest lights. Separated from most childhood activates, Eldan took to reading and soon, became interested in the art of healing. Practising since he was a young boy on farm animals and pets of the village's children, Eldan soon became a very skilled healer at a very young age. When Valerious the Elder learned of the boy's abilities, he immediately asked the boy to work for him at the Manor. Fate must have been on the man's side in some way, because the first man Eldan treated in the Manor, just happened to be Gabriel when Vlad had first found him half dead at the outskirts of the village. Though accepted by the rest of the village on some level, Gabriel and Eldan formed a quick a strong friendship, for they were both outcasts in a sense. And Vladislaus, never one to discriminate, welcomed them both with open arms. They had become a tight-knit friendship, but Vlad had obvious obligations to the village and royal peoples of Romania as the Son of the Dragon and this often meant he would be gone for weeks at a time at some points, in which Gabriel and Eldan found they depended on each other most.

Dropping his bow and quiver onto the wooden floor, Vlad sat down on Gabriel's left. "Give me your arm." Gabriel shifted so that for the most part, he faced Vlad. The young aristocrat took his friend's right arm and began to unravel the feet and feet of clothe bandages. Some were bloodied, but not nearly as bad as it had been.

"They seem much better from when you fell through the ice, Gabriel," said Vlad absently as he unravelled the last of the cloth from Gabriel's forearm, revealing an ugly gash caked hard with blood that ran from the inside of his elbow to midway along his forearm.

Eldan scowled at the wound as he took Gabriel's arm by the wrist and examined it, "It's already healed over. We could leave it, but, it would be best if I gave this antidote once more."

"Oh joy," muttered Gabriel, he had been down this road before.

Eldan stood up and step over to a large bowl of water steaming over a small fire that kindled in the fireplace. Kneeling in front of the small fireplace, Eldan took a grey cloth and soaked in the water, letting it sit for a moment. It always amazed Gabriel how much Eldan could cram into the room given the time. Apart from the small collection of medicinal plants, Eldan also had several books and writing pilled on the small desk he'd dumped the scrolls on earlier. When not tending to the wounded or sick Eldan loved to pour through books and writings and he rarely seemed to keep anything in order, though he was always able to find anything an everything.

"You don't mind if we reopen the wound do you, Gabriel?"

Gabriel, shaken from his thought, nodded, even if he didn't like it. The sooner his arm healed, the sooner he could leave the healing ward and the sooner he could go outside.

Vlad meanwhile had been peering over Gabriel and staring curiously at the small wooden bowl that contained the grey paste Eldan had been mixing a moment ago, "Eldan, what is that stuff it made of anyway?"

"It's an antitoxin made from poppy seeds among other things," said Eldan, picking the warm cloth from the lightly boiling water with two slender fingers and wrung it out. "It relaxes the muscles and numbs them, making healing quicker while killing off infection as well."

"Makes your mind hazy too," groaned Gabriel, and he rubbed his eyes with his left hand, recalling the previous times he'd been given the antitoxin. "I can't remember a thing when you give me that stuff…."

The albino smiled. He stood up and sat back down on the bed next to Gabriel, "That's the poppies, they haze your mind. I put a sleeping draught in it this time so you'll fall asleep, that should make it seem shorter."

Vlad raised an eyebrow, "We then, maybe you will be able to sleep for four days, Gabriel. You sleep well into the day without Eldan's help anyway."

Gabriel jab Vlad in the ribs with his good arm as Eldan took his mangled one the wrist again and braced it across his knee, exposing the caked-over wound. Taking the warm, damp cloth, the albino healer laid it over the gash and rubbed it back and forth along the wound's length. Gabriel winced slightly, but he had been through worse.

"I'm sorry Gabriel," said Eldan, his sensitive touch had felt Gabriel's wince, "I know it must hurt."

Gabriel smiled, "No worries, my friend. It could be far worse." Gabriel suddenly became aware of time, "Vlad, isn't your farther and the hunting party waiting on you."

Vlad's eyes widened and he sprang of the bed and scooped his bow and quiver from their resting place on the floor, "Damn it, Father will kill me." He dashed over to the doorway, "Watch over Gabriel, will you Eldan? Don't let him kill himself while I'm gone." And was gone into the hallways in the direction of the stables.

Eldan chuckled softly as he stopped rubbing Gabriel's wound. Removing the cloth Eldan reviled that the caked blood had been rubbed away, leaving tender pink flesh in its place. The healer turned back to the fire and tossed the blood-flecked cloth into the boiling water. Turning back he scooped up a clump of the poppy-paste on the wooden stick he'd used to mix it and spread it over Gabriel's gash, trying to be as gentle as possible.

"It shouldn't sting, but if it does, just give it a moment and the feeling will fade," said the healer softly.

"It's fine," said Gabriel, not wanting his friend to worry.

"The cut looks a lot better then when you fell."

"Hmm…." said Gabriel

That was how Gabriel came to gain his injuries; on a rare overcast day--much like today--he Vlad and Eldan had been allowed to leave the manor and cross the river into the village to replenish some Eldan's medicinal herbs. As always, Eldan wore long silver robes that covered almost every inch of his pale skin. His long white hair pulled off his face into a three-banded ponytail. The healer's uncommonly long hair needed to be banded throughout its length as to not flare about in winter winds. Vlad, as always when he left the Manor was dressed in simple black clothing, not something one would expect the Son of the Dragon to ware. And Gabriel wore dark clothing of maroon and brown--the traditional colours of the Valerious House--which was broken by one of Eldan's silky white cloaks that hung over his frame.

Snow had blanketed the little, sleepy valley-village, for it was a pale early morning and not even the cart-tracks were treaded by the marketers yet. The three set out from the Manor and came to the river within a few minutes. The normally swift-moving water had frozen over into a thick solid ice track that wound along the bottom of the valley. During the winter, the river was far more easy to cross then make their way over to the small bridge that linked the two lands. Vlad jumped the steep bank first, landing with little more then a thud on the thick ice. Next had been Eldan, who--given with frail form--needed help manoeuvring down the seven-foot back. Being albino, Eldan had always been slender, almost sickly looking at some times and had low stamina so he became tired very easily. It had been the reason he was rarely allowed outside of the Manor so when he was given the opportunity, he took it with utmost eagerness.

They had been through this routine before when they needed to Gabriel hooked his arm under Eldan's from behind and held him to the edge of the bank. Vlad awaited on the icy river reaching up his arms towards them.

Gabriel felt Eldan trembling slightly against him, the albino never liked this; it scared him, "Don't worry," Gabriel whispered, to his friend, "Vlad will catch you."

Instantly, Eldan steadied himself, he hated when people thought less of him because of his appearance. "If he doesn't you'll have to kill him for me."

Gabriel smiled then glanced down at Vlad and nodded quickly. With a gentle toss, Gabriel dropped Eldan. Almost as soon as he did Vlad caught the man around his waist and lowered him to the ice, "There, that wasn't so bad was it?"

Eldan shot Vlad a daggered look but smiled. Just then, Gabriel dropped down beside them, landing far less gracefully then Vald had, nearly slipping on the icy but caught himself be catching onto the sheer wall of the riverbank. Both Vlad and Eldan tried to conceal a laugh as their friend stumbled on the edge of the river. Picking himself up Gabriel rolled his eyes and turned his gaze over the river, "So how do we get across the river, Vlad?" he asked, clinging to frozen, hard dirt of the bank to keep from falling again.

Vlad turned to face the opposite riverbank, "See there," said the aristocrat, pointing at a zigzagging path marked with black stones that led from one side of the river to the other. "The hunting party marked the best path for crossing this winter just two days ago. Just stay in-between the black stone markers and you'll be fine."

Eldan squinted and shielded his pink, light-sensitive eyes as he struggled to see the black markers, "It's so bright, the snow makes everything so much brighter," he turned away, "I can't look across the river."

Gabriel smiled and wrapped an arm should his friend's slender shoulders, whispering kindly, "Don't worry, you'll be fine, the path seems rather wide, I don't think you could go astray even if you wanted to."

Instantly, Eldan stiffened and turned away, though he visibly winced as he turned back to face the river. He did not want Gabriel's pity. "I'll be fine." the healer pushed a few strands of white hair that had come loose out of his face and pulled the hood of his silver robe over his head, keeping the light off his eyes for the most part.

"Well then we best be moving on," said Vlad and he took the first step out away from the bank. The ice moaned under the pointed weight and the cracking sound that resemble creaking timbers of ice settling into place made all of them cringe. But after a moment the sound of the ice settled and Vlad strode out into the centre of the river with his usual cocky boldness. When he came to what he judged to be the centre of the wide river, Vlad turned on the heel of his boot and shouted back, "See, the ice is thickest along the path," he stomped his foot on the ice beneath him, "You could ride a horse cart over this ice. Nothing to be worried about."

Gabriel smiled and whispered, "See," to Eldan before he to ventured out over the river, a little more wearily then Vlad had but was sure the path was thick enough to support all of them.

Not wanted the others to worry Eldan quickly followed, shielding his super-sensitive eyes. Looking up occasionally to make sure he was in-between the markers, but it was still hard to tell. In fact, Eldan had strayed from the marked path and unbeknown to him, had ventured to one of the thinner parts of the river. Ice creaked behind the albino and he froze, squinting against the harsh glare of the white snow and ice.

The cracking sound caused Gabriel and Vlad to turn back. To their horror, they saw Eldan frozen far from the marked path.

"Eldan!" called Gabriel as he and Vlad raced back along the ice.

"Gabriel?" answered the healer, who was as good as stranded blind on the river.

"Eldan, come back towards us," called Vlad. "Follow are voices back here."

Eldan did just that. He turned around so that he faced Vlad and Gabriel. He could see them if he squinted and shielded his eyes, but the reflective glare of the ice and snow was hard on his eyes and made the back of his eyes burn. The young healer had only moved two or three paces when the thin ice beneath him cracked and his footstep was met with cold water instead of ice. Eldan instantly recoiled, frightened to continue.

"Don't move, Eldan," called Vlad. It was clear one of them would have to go out and help him back, but the thin ice was very dangerous, and both of them out-weighed Eldan by at least thirty pounds, making it more likely they would break the ice if they tried to go out to their friend.

"I'll go," said Gabriel. Vlad didn't protest, even though he wanted to. Despite his nimble, catlike abilities, he new Gabriel was lighter then him and he had a better chance of reaching Eldan.

"Be careful," said Vlad.

"Hang on, Eldan, I'm coming out."

For the most part, the ice held Gabriel, but as he edged closer to Eldan, a spider web of blue cracks wound themselves through the ice, the combined weight of Gabriel and Eldan stressing the limits of the ice. Gabriel extended his hand to his friend, "Eldan, can you see me? Take my hand, I'm right in front of you."

But Gabriel could not see the thin, almost unnoticeable line that snaked between them. Eldan stepped back, "No Gabriel, don't."

"Eldan, come quick before the ice breaks and pulls you in," Gabriel's voice was urgent.

"Not this way…."

"Eldan--"

Snap. Thin, brittle ice caved into the river, swallowing up Gabriel in one large rush of icy water. Eldan fell to his knees at the edge of the edge of the hole, completely unaware of the splits in the ice, creeping around him. Suddenly invincible to the sun, Eldan plunged his arms into the water, hoping to snag his friend before he was swept away. A mere second had gone by and the milky sky pierced the healers eyes, causing him to cry, but he did not lift his arms from the water. He was vaguely aware of Vlad who'd dashed by his side when he say Gabriel fall. With the sun attacking him from the sky and stabbing cold along his slender arms, the healer felt all strength leave him. If possible, his white skin went paler. But then, Eldan felt something grab his arms, clinging to him desperately.

"I've got him!"

Vlad plunged his arms down into the water and hooked them onto Gabriel, and with a strong heave, pulled his friend from the icy prison. Gabriel gasped as air surged into his lungs. Animal instinct kicked in and Gabriel clawed onto Vlad's cloak desperately, struggling to breathe. The aristocrat took his cloak from his shoulders and wrapped it around Gabriel tight as tight as he could. The freezing water dripped off Gabriel's shivering body. Only then did the healer notice that Gabriel's right arm was bent at an impossible angle.

"Your arm, it's broken," breathed Eldan.

Gabriel drew a shuddering breath, the cold was driving into him from everywhere, it was almost unbearable.

"We need to get him back to the Manor, to the healing ward," whispered Vlad. A loud snap caught their attention. "Eldan, follow me, don't loose me."

The normally carefree young man was sudden filled with fear for Gabriel and he scooped up his friend in his arms and nimbly stepped back to the marked path, Eldan, despite the painful sun, following him, water dripping from his silver robes.

"Are you alright Gabriel?"

Eldan's soft voice snapped Gabriel out of thought. He hadn't even noticed the healer had re-bandaged his broken arm.

"Yes," answered Gabriel, settling back down into the warmth of his bed. The sleeping draught was kicking-in, "just thinking."

Eldan smiled, his fair face glowing with the heart-felt gesture. The healer bent over Gabriel and wrapped a slender arm around Gabriel's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "Sleep Gabriel, I'll be back by sundown, I'll bring you something to eat." whispered Eldan to his friend.

Gabriel simply sighed and muttered, "Okay," and pulled the duvet up around his neck. Within seconds, he was asleep.

.:I:.

The Darkness didn't come. Nothing came after that. Nothing for what seemed to be eternity. But then, the faintest sensation of movement came over him. A sound, calling him. Someone was calling, and he could hear them….


Ragweed: OH! Cliffie! I cliffed you! Haha! Okay, um for those of you who are wondering (which I'm sure your not, you can skip this and review) Eldan is based on a friend of mine. thinks Damn I got weird friends…anyway a friend of mine--Daniel--is albino and I told him I'd put him in the story and I was going to put Eldan in anyway, so I made him albino. Now he has to read this. HAHA! This is my evil way of recruiting new readers for my stories.
Carl: Well, you only have like two people reading this anyway….
Ragweed: smacks head thank you for that Carl. Well, REVIEW DAMMIT! Um, next chapter's in a week or so…