Ancient Love

by Everlastingangel09

Clara unknowingly encounters the one she was prophesized to stay away from. But as things get more and more treacherous she has no other choice but to rely on him. An opportunity to return home arises but will she go back or stay with the dangerous Lord of the West?

13. Chapter 12

Sunrise came quickly through the windowpane as Toga squinted at the beams shining through. Hearing the humans walking around outside early to begin shoveling the snow from their fields he heard the old man coughing in the next room over. Quickly he got up and assessed the situation and noted that the man was near his death with the smell of iron smell wafting through his senses.

"You are near death…" speaking solemnly as Toga approached while the man shifted to try looking his way, the man nodded with haggard breathing.

"I've had this feeling for a while now…bound to happen sooner than later." He didn't get up from his bed, merely looking out the window and smiling to the villagers that passed by. "I had hoped for one winter more before passing on…"

"Before I take my leave, what are your thoughts of my son and the companion he travels with?"

The man nodded a few times, perhaps recollecting his memories, then answered. "The boy was a strong lad…chopped wood as though it was mere kindling. The lass had strength never fathomed…" he winced when he thought another coughing fit was coming but eased slowly. "That night when the storm howled its deathly billows, I heard the sound of beasts close by." He took a breath and was getting weaker and weaker as he spoke, slowly slipping into deaths open arms. "I feared a demon had snuck in and was devouring the young couple…but I saw a demon in the room…red eyes glaring back at me…snarling fangs…it was frightening…" he shook as he told his tale and Toga knew the outcome. The man steadily slumped deeper into his bed, eyelids growing heavy as he laid back. "I hope my eyes deceived me…that a demon was not…" his voice crackled into silence as Toga watched the demons of hell take his soul away into the afterlife.

"Foolish son."
The man slipped into his death peacefully, leaving him to deal with the other humans outside who might question his death upon his visitation. Though it was unprecedented, Toga took his leave quickly to avoid questions and got to his horse without much notice and took off from the village.