Talon's eyes fluttered open, it all felt wrong. The world around him was pervaded in a deep blood red, he couldn't see what the sky looked like, as thick black shapes blocked out any sign of it. The black shapes were reminiscent of trees, their blackened branches curling upward like skeletal fingers.

His limbs felt heavy, his movements sluggish when Talon tried to stand. It was like he was treading water, everything felt frustratingly slow.

Words he couldn't make out scraped at the edges of his consciousness. They were unintelligible, yet persistent. Shapes moved in the distance—vague, shadowy figures gliding between the trees. They were human in shape, but had no other features beyond a silhouette.

The shadowy figures wisped by Talon as if he wasn't there at all. Talon glanced down at his hands, they were stained black. Panic surged as he frantically searched the rest of his body. His skin wasn't his own anymore; it had turned entirely black, void-like, a shadow of himself.

Talon stumbled forward, each step a struggle. His vision blurred, his steps were staggered. Ahead, he could make out a faint light. It flickered and something about it drew him in. Talon strained himself to keep going, no matter how heavy his legs felt and how his muscles burned.

His knees buckled, but he forced himself to stay upright, his hand gripping the rough bark of a tree for support. The surface tore at his palm but he didn't feel the pain.

Talon just kept walking.

Fighting through the pain in his muscles and joints. The burning hot feeling that rushed through his blood. His hand outstretched towards the light, his fingertips so close to brushing it.

Then it happened.

A blinding eruption of light exploded from his side, where the serrated blade had pierced him. It seared outward in jagged, chaotic bursts of energy. The force of it knocked him aside like a ragdoll, sending him sprawling to the ground. The light was violent and scorching, surge of pure agony radiating from the wound.

The light ahead was fading now, dimming with every passing second.

"No!" Talon growled through gritted teeth, dragging himself across the jagged, blood-red ground. His fingers clawed at the earth, his nails breaking and bleeding as he tried to pull himself forward.

His vision faded, the whispers roared louder, and his body trembled violently. The hellish world around him then went to black, no more whispers or pain.

Just darkness.

Had it been hours? Days?

Talon wasn't sure, when he began to regain consciousness. There was a familiarity about the smells around him, and the feel of the material under him.

As his eyes slowly peeled open, the hazy view of his bedroom came to light. He was in his bed, under his blankets. Talon had so many questions, but his body hurt too much to focus on just one.

Talon groaned softly, his throat dry, every muscle in his body aching as if he'd fought a hundred battles. His side throbbed, a sharp reminder of the wound he'd taken—but it felt different now, dulled, wrapped in layers of bandages he couldn't remember applying.

What had happened?

He struggled to focus, his mind swimming with fragmented memories. A forest bathed in blood-red light. Shadows phasing through him. Whispers. And then… the light, the searing pain, and… nothing.

How had he gotten back here? Where was Lux? Had she taken him home somehow?

"He's awake, Mum."

The familiar voice pulled Talon from his thoughts. Caleb.

Talon turned his head slowly, gritting his teeth as pain flared in his side. He forced himself to prop up slightly on one elbow, his vision sharpening at last. Caleb stood at the entrance of the attic stairs.

He looked a bit less put together than normal. His dark hair looked tousled worse than Talon's usually did, and he'd not shaved in days judging by the patchy facial hair on his chin.

Talon always did envy how Caleb could grow hair on his face without trying. He still felt like a prepubescent boy some days despite being the same age.

They stared at each other for a moment, before Caleb stepped up and approached.

"Mum asked me to keep an eye on you, until you woke up," he explained slowly.

Talon exalted rather deliberately through his nose. "You can stop now then, I'm up."

"How are you feeling?" Caleb started, but Talon cut him off.

"Don't give me that," Talon snapped, his voice low but laced with venom. He shifted painfully, glaring up at his brother. "You don't care about me. You think I'm a murderer."

Caleb flinched as if the words had physically struck him. For a moment, he just stared, guilt and unease warring in his expression. He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding Talon's piercing gaze.

"Talon, I…" He trailed off, sighing heavily before forcing himself to meet his brother's eyes. "I owe you a huge damn apology."

That caught Talon off guard. He blinked, his vicious glare softening for a second. An apology? Why now apologize, had his foster parents blamed Caleb for Talon leaving?

Caleb hesitated, then carefully edged closer to the bed. He gingerly sat on the edge, watching Talon's reaction. When Talon didn't bristle or snap at him, Caleb took a deep breath and continued.

"The Crownguard girl brought you here. She said… she said some kind of magical creature attacked you," Caleb began, his voice low but steady.

Talon's frown deepened, but he stayed silent, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly.

"She showed the guards," Caleb went on, glancing down at his hands as though searching for the right words. "And Mum said they found this… this black ooze. After the Mage Seekers took it away, it proved something magical was doing those killings. And you—" Caleb's voice hitched slightly. "You almost became its next victim. Just like Dulren was."

There it was, absolution.

Talon didn't feel vindication though. He just felt tired and frustrated it took nearly being slaughtered to finally clear his name and end the threat for good.

"Where is Lux?" Talon managed to wheeze.

"She was taken home by the guard, I heard her parents were not happy she was running around a forest…" Caleb then gave him a coy look. "...With a boy."

Talon groaned, letting his head fall back against the pillow. "Oh, don't tell me people think I tried anything!"

Caleb's grin widened, and Talon suddenly wished he had the strength to sock him in the shoulder. "Her brother wants your head on a pike," he laughed. "Really, Talon? Sneaking around with a Crownguard? That's bold, even for you."

"You're insufferable," Talon muttered, rolling his eyes. His side throbbed, but it wasn't enough to drown out the annoyance bubbling up at Caleb's teasing. "I'm not interested in that."

"I have to ask," Caleb said, his grin spreading. "Did this demon walk in on you two doing the nasty?"

"No! Gross!" Talon snapped and launched his pillow at Caleb, hitting him right in the face.

"Alright! I'm just teasing you, Tal. Though she was asking to come see you soon. I think she totally likes you, even if you look like death right now." Caleb said, giving his pillow back.

Talon relaxed himself, letting the silence settle between himself and Caleb. He still had so many questions, but couldn't be sure what ones to ask without putting Lux at risk. "Was Lux hurt?" He settled for asking instead.

"She was shaken, but no wounds to my knowledge," Caleb shrugged. "In all seriousness, what were you two doing out there? I'm not having you just run into each other by chance before this thing jumped you both."

"If you must know…I asked her to help me. I met her near the city after I left," Talon sighed. "She agreed to help me investigate the demon, but well…Now I've a second hole in my chest."

"Do you promise not to leave again?" Caleb then asked.

Talon swallowed. He'd left out of hurt and rejection, it was an ugly feeling that'd never gone away no matter how old he got. "I overheard Mum and Dad," Talon said slowly. "Dad said he thinks I'm dangerous, after what Dulran did to me in the forest."

"Dad does not think that, Tal," Caleb tried to insist. "None of us do…I…I just got caught up in the rumors. I was a complete shit head to ever believe them, I know."

"And a moron?" Talon added with a small smirk.

"And a moron," Caleb agreed. "Come on, you can't rot in bed all day, Talon. Mum wants to see you!"

Caleb helped him gently out of his sheets, taking Talon's arm over his broad shoulders as he walked him towards the attic stairs.

"Thanks, Cal…"

"Hey, what are brothers for?"

When Talon got down to the kitchen with his foster brother's help, three sets of relieved smiles greeted him.

He'd shyly explained why he left after getting a good heart meal down him, Tarian's face crumpled with guilt.

"I'm sorry, Talon," his foster father said, his voice thick with emotion. "I never meant to make you feel like that. I just—" He faltered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just thought you needed help after what happened. I handled it all wrong."

Talon had never been apologised to so much in a single day. Everything started to feel a little better, his shoulders eased ever so slightly.

Everything felt like it was all going to be okay again.

"So, you and Luxanna Crownguard?"

Quinn's voice had a teasing lilt as she glanced over at Talon, casually nocking her crossbow. She adjusted her stance, took aim, and fired. The bolt struck the painted target dead center.

They often enjoyed practicing together in the fields. Talon was no good with an actual crossbow, instead he had crafted himself some throwing knives when his foster father hadn't been around the forge.

"Don't start," Talon grumbled, as he watched her hit another perfect bullseye on the target. "I've already had it off of Caleb."

Quinn smirked and stepped back, letting Talon come forward to line up his own throw. "Don't take Caleb on, he's probably just jealous you got laid before he did."

"Quinn!"

Talon's groan deepened into a whine, his cheeks darkening as he stood. He hated this kind of talk. It made his skin crawl every time someone insinuated things he had zero interest in. Why couldn't they understand?

He huffed, shaking his head as he lined up his throw. The dagger left his hand with a sharp flick of his wrist, embedding itself just shy of the bullseye. "For the last time, I did not do anything with the Crownguard girl," he snapped. "You're putting me off on purpose."

"Maybe a little. Not like you to miss the target," Quinn said, smirking.

"Hard to focus with a sore body and a prattling sister," Talon retorted. This time, his blade sailed true, landing perfectly in the center of the target. He nodded in satisfaction and turned to Quinn with a smug look.

They walked forward, retrieving their arrows and blades before returning to their spots. Quinn lined up another shot, letting it fly. She just missed the bullseye, letting out a frustrated noise. She glanced at Talon, who threw another dagger and landed another perfect hit.

"Can't be that sore," Quinn muttered, watching him pull back with a sly smile. "You're hitting great now."

"I can still feel it in my chest, even when I'm lying down," Talon admitted, his focus staying on the target as he readied another throw. "It's worse at night, if I'm honest."

"Talon, you should tell Mum or Dad if it's still bothering you," Quinn said, her teasing tone softening with concern. "Let me look at it. Maybe it's gotten infected? Have you been picking your scabs again?"

"No!" Talon growled, slapping her hand away as she went to get under his shirt. "It's fine, stab wounds just hurt and it's a wound that's just healing slower, alright?"

Quinn didn't seem fully convinced, but let the issue go. She returned to lining her shot and the two continued to hit targets for the rest of the afternoon.

xxx

His siblings left for training a few days later, leaving just Talon and his foster father in the house for a few days alone. It'd been nice, Talon felt like they'd begun to repair their relationship again. Talon even drew the courage to show him the throwing knives he'd crafted himself, Tarian was actually impressed rather than scold him for making weapons for himself.

He finally decided he should listen to Quinn and tell someone the wound on his body wasn't closing properly. When he'd inspected it this morning, it was going black. That was never a good sign, he'd seen people lose extremities that way back when he lived homeless.

Talon rubbed his chest absently as he padded barefoot toward the kitchen, the ache from his wound still lingering. It felt worse today, it made him feel unwell in himself.

Just as he reached the kitchen doorway, an agonizing bolt of pain shot through his chest, so sharp and sudden it stole his breath. Talon staggered, clutching at his side as his knees buckled beneath him. He collapsed to the floor, gasping and writhing.

A strangled whimper escaped his lips as the pain flared again, a searing heat radiating outward from the wound. His vision blurred, and for a moment, everything around him seemed to ripple, as if the world itself was distorting. It was like being stabbed all over again, the serrated blade-like appendage slowly sawing through his flesh and muscle.

Tarian stood at the counter, his back to Talon as he stirred the pot. The older man turned slightly, humming a tune under his breath, but there wasn't even a flicker of recognition in his gaze.

"Dad!" Talon cried loudly, but his foster father continued his task, oblivious. Panic rose in Talon's chest, blending with the unbearable pain. He rolled over weakly, trying to pull himself closer.

He stared at Tarian, his heart pounding.

Why isn't he looking at me? Can't he hear me?

"Help me," he whispered, his voice breaking. But Tarian didn't move, didn't flinch, didn't even turn around.

When Tarian finally turned and started toward the hallway, Talon's heart surged with a flicker of hope. But his foster father walked forward, his gaze distant—until his foot brushed against Talon's side.

Tarian stumbled, his balance faltering as he let out a surprised shout. He fell forward, sprawling onto the floor with a muttered curse. His spoon clattered loudly beside him.

"What in the—" Tarian grumbled as he pushed himself upright, rubbing his knee. Then his eyes snapped to Talon, sprawled on the floor just inches away. His features drew into shock. "Talon?! What are you doing down there, boy?"

Tarian reached for him. When his foster father's hands wrapped around his arm to help him sit up, the sensation brought some mild relief to the ache in his wound. Only mild though.

"You didn't help me!" Talon whimpered, his voice still raw with the fading pain. "I called for you, but you didn't help me!"

Tarian's brows furrowed deeply, his expression a mix of concern and bafflement. "What are you talking about? You didn't call me, Talon." He adjusted his hold, steadying Talon as he brought him to the sofa "You must've passed out, I only just noticed you on the floor."

He gently eased the teenager onto the sofa and urged him to stay there, while he went to grab some water. Talon slowly lay back against the soft, plush fabric underneath him. Had he just imagined calling out like that? If he had fainted, how had Tarian not heard it? Talon glanced at his hands which were still shaking terribly. He exhaled onto his palms and rubbed them together, trying to calm himself.

It was then that Talon noticed his hands. The skin was darkened, shadowy, as though smudged with soot. He blinked, his heart skipping a beat, and as he stared, the color seemed to shift. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, it faded back to its usual off-tan.

Talon's breath hitched. What was happening to him?

"Talon?" Tarian's voice cut through his thoughts. The older man set a glass of water down on a coaster nearby, studying his son's pale expression. "Did you hurt your hands?"

The young man jerked, quickly stuffing his hands into the pocket of his hoodie. "No," he said hurriedly, his voice snapping. "I'm fine."

"If you say so, just sit there and relax okay?" Tarian patted the top of his head and returned to the kitchen.

Talon slowly let himself slump onto the sofa, resting on his unmarred side. He must've been lucid dreaming, maybe this wasn't even happening and he was still upstairs right now. Sleeping, and his foster father would come fetch him any second now.

He slowly closed his eyes and let himself slip into sleep.