Bane

I looked at Jaspen and smiled. How I had once looked that young too- before Rentook and I were swept away to the courts of the gods in our twenties to be offered eternity. Our fathers had made sure our mothers met and we had grown up learning magic and our abilities. For some reason the gods had chosen us to be the first immortals and Rentook was ecstatic whereas wished to live just as a normal demon.

After a moment of longing to be young again, I started our story.

(start of memory) Rentook is a few years older than me, but on my twentieth birthday, my father came to fetch me and swept me away to the Jade Hall of the gods. I saw Rentook there as well. Our fathers stood behind us and pleaded with Temille to allow us immortality for we would be of great use to him with our advanced powers as warlocks. It was the only time I've met all of the gods and goddesses and eventually the gods asked us what we chose- immortality or to stay as we were. Rentook spoke up first.

"I will take your gift," he said enthusiastically.

I stood there not knowing how to answer. Live forever? I was only twenty and I wasn't sure what to choose.

"And you, Bane," asked the gentle voice of Temille, "what will you choose?"

I looked over at Rentook. He would be lost without me and even then, I had a slight crush on him, but I knew he didn't feel the same. I hoped that, perhaps, intime, he would maybe feel the same, but back then I doubted it.

"I will accept your gift," I said at last.

My voice wavered, but it was too late to take back my words. Temille raised his hand and I saw Rentook's skin begin to glow as did mine. All of me tingled, and after a moment, he lowered his hand and the glowing ceased, but I felt different.

Fora few centuries, Rentook and I traveled- it seemed natural and we learned as many spells as we could. I never courted anyone, but Rentook did and he even settle down with one and had a child, but after she died, he didn't date as much. He seemed different somehow and colder…

It was then we made our retreat to the Foghorn Mountains and made this cave. Our fathers sent us scrolls to master new spells and we learned how to look into a fire and see anyone who needed guidance. I was happy here and enjoyed learning new spells, but Rentook… Rentook gave up magic for over a century and did nothing really except cook and care for his son. I tried to help him as well with the boy- it wasn't very long before we learned he held some powers, fire for one, for he singed Rentook's hair. I enjoyed helping take care of the boy-it felt right and Rentook seemed to not to be so cold. Not until the boy got older and Rentook took him away to a village to grow up and to be among his own brethren.

When Rentook came back from that trip he was broken. His son had meant a lot to him, but I understood why he took the him away. The emptiness in the cave grew. It wasn't till one night when we were sitting together and eating that Rentook took me by surprise and leaned over and turned my head so I was looking at him and he quickly brought his mouth to mine. Is at there confused for a moment, looking at him stunned. (end of memory)

"Don't act as if you haven't been waiting for that," he growled.

I blinked. "I…"

"I tried not to like you," he admitted, "but after losing everyone, I realized we'd be stuck together forever. I would never lose you to sickness… to old age… to anything. I didn't want to like you, but after losing everyone else…"

This was the last time I had ever seen Rentook cry even slightly, but it was the beginning of our relationship. At first I thought it was due to him not wanting to be alone- and I honestly didn't care. I had always liked Rentook.

"But he still acts indifferent," Jaspen sputtered. "It wasn't till you comforted him when his father came just to talk to me that I realized."

I sighed. It was true; Rentook was ashamed for how he felt, how he had slight feelings for me, but I didn't care. I hadn't had to watch him be hurt by another mortal since his wife died.

"He didn't want to make you uncomfortable with how we are. I know you are still getting used to the fact that we don't age."

"He acts as if you're not here half the time."

I chuckled. "How much do you know about love, boy?"

He looked away towards the fire and my smile dropped. I had forgotten that he had recently killed his betrothed- well, not him, but Iblis.

"I…"

Jaspen shrugged. "It's fine. I've learned to deal with it."

"I'll let you rest," I said, seeing I had accidentally hit a nerve with the boy.

With that I got up and went towards the fire. I ached all over to skrye- a technique we used to look into a fire to see someone- for Rentook- to see his face, but I knew it would bother him to see me breaking down that much. I sighed and lay down by the fire. I just had to hope he didn't find a girl he'd rather be with again. He was known to get bored of me for a year or so, but he always came back when he noticed they aged. Perhaps I was just a safety net for Rentook after all, but I didn't want to believe that- not with the way I caught him looking at me some days.