Chapter 39: Life and death

He turned to Veretta who was watching Tomas with a trembling hand over her lips.

"Give me your hand," Errik instructed holding out his hand.

"What?" Veretta stared up surprised.

"I will need your magic as well. I will channel it into healing him," Errik added impatiently.

"Okay," Veretta answered though her hand hesitated a minute before taking his.

Upon taking Veretta's hand, Errik lifted the other above Tomas.

"Try to calm yourself and concentrate," Errik said quietly.

"Yes," Veretta answered hastily. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

Errik placed his hand on Tomas' chest. Tomas began to shake.

"Hold on to him," he told Yona.

She came around at once and took hold of Tomas' shoulders as his convulsions became more pronounced.

Veretta could feel the flow of magic between them. Errik's magic felt cold like falling rain. However, with a stir, the coldness abated and she felt a sizzling heat. Veretta opened her eyes at once, only she was no longer in the confines of the small shack.

She looked around startled at finding it in the middle of a forest. Veretta turned back to the sound of a stream flowing behind her. She looked down and spotted Errik sitting just above the bank. She rushed towards him at once.

"Errik! Where are we?" Veretta questioned hastily.

However, Errik was not listening. He was staring ahead in silence. Veretta knelt down beside him. She was about to call his name again when she froze. Errik light hazel eyes were red with tears. In fact, his entire face was wet with tears. Upon further inspection, Veretta realised he looked altogether quite different than she had just seen him. His clothes were ragged and torn. His face which was usually clean-shaven was slightly overgrown and his hair was not pulled back, but falling over his eyes. The look in those eyes was filled with such pain, she was momentarily speechless.

"There you are," came a voice.

Veretta looked back surprised. A man not much older than Errik appeared at the riverside. He was dressed in armour and wore a sword at his waist. He was handsome but also unmistakable sad. His grey eyes surveyed Errik for a moment before taking a seat beside him. He didn't seem to see Veretta either.

"Go away," Errik said at once.

"Michael," the man said more forcefully, "we have to go,"

"No!" Errik snapped. He turned to him with tears still streaming down his face and shook his head wildly. "I can't,"

The raw torment in his voice was something Veretta never heard. She shuddered at the sound of it. All the feelings she had thrown away seemed to come with a vengeance. She reached out her hand to Errik, but he suddenly stood. He threw his fists up in a rage against his temples.

"Michael," the man said again, "we can't stay here. We have to go,"

Errik's eyes came up completely bereft with agony, "I can't," he swallowed uneasily

"You have to," the man answered.

"Please Albaric," Errik caught hold on the man, "don't make me do this!" he pleaded.

The man inhaled deeply. His own eyes were filled with grief but turned his gaze to Errik steadily, "he's dead, Michael. He has to be buried,"

Errik dropped his hand and his head hung low, "I wish it was me. Why can't I be dead instead of him,"

"Don't say that," Albaric reached toward Errik, but Errik shook him off with a livid scream.

"This is my fault," Errik declared bitterly.

"It's not," Albaric said with a frown.

"It is. It is! IT IS!" Errik exclaimed with another burst of anger. "What have I done? She should have just killed me,"

"You did NOT do this," Albaric enthused desperately.

"I antagonised her," Errik nodded his head, "this is to punish me. Don't you see?! This is all to punish me!"

"You couldn't have known she would do this!" Albaric cried.

"I did," Errik said with a shaky laugh, "I knew, but she won't get away with his. Not this time,"

"Revenge won't solve anything," Albaric shook his head sadly.

Errik's eyes widened indignantly, "IT WILL SOLVE EVERYTHING!"

"We've already lost so many people. I can't lose you as well Michael," Albaric gritted his teeth,

Errik threw his face into his hands. For a moment he was completely quiet.

"Don't do this. I'm begging you," Albaric added softly.

Errik's golden eyes came up with an exceedingly savage glare, "I'll kill her. Then I'll kill myself,"

"Michael, please!" Albaric pleaded.

However, a look of certainty had come over Errik. He exhaled viciously, "I'll kill her," he said once more before proceeding to march away.

Veretta was about to call after him again, but suddenly everything went dark. She opened her eyes once more and they were once again in the dark confines of the shack. Yona was cradling Tomas. He wasn't as pale as before but still was unconscious. Veretta looked down. Her hand was longer joined with Errik's met but he was staring at her with a strange expression. As soon as her gaze met his, he quickly looked away.

"I've done what I can," he said in a low voice and turned away from her entirely. Veretta looked back at Tomas. At that moment, Tomas gave a cough and everyone turned to him in anticipation.

"Tomas?" Yona looked down nervously.

"Oh, I don't feel so good," Tomas remarked as he stirred. His eyes slowly opened and he struggled to rise, but his arm gave way and he collapsed back on the table.

"Tomas, you need to rest," Yona said helping him rise.

"There's a bed just over there, "Veretta pointed to the back of the room.

Tomas looked over to her confused, "Veretta?"

Veretta gave a sad smile. Tomas said nothing more and turned away. Yona led him to the bed and lay him down. Veretta watched with a relieved sigh.

"Thank you," she turned back to Errik.

Errik gave a tight nod and turned to the door, "I'm going to take a walk," he said in a low voice.

Veretta watched him go with a feeling of trepidation in her chest.

"Yona?" she said thoughtfully, "Will you be okay here for a minute? I'll be right back,"

Yona gave a nod. Her eyes were still on Tomas who was lying across her lap resting. Veretta turned hurriedly to the door. Errik wasn't far out of sight and she chased after him. She caught hold of his arm and he turned back with a strained expression.

"Errik, I saw something when you took my hand," Veretta said slowly.

"When you channel someone else's magic, you can sometimes see..." Errik paused.

"Memories?" Veretta's green eyes were set on him with an intensity he hadn't seen in some time.

"Yes," Errik replied quietly.

"Then that really happened?" Veretta questioned.

Errik averted his eyes, "I suppose it did,"

"What happened to you, Errik?" Veretta stared at him fearfully.

"You're friend lived, that's what happened. Mine didn't. That's all there is to it," Errik slipped his hand from hers and turned away, "Let's not talk about this. You said yourself, there's no use in pretending to care about each other, right?"

Veretta stared down bitterly as he disappeared from sight. She turned back to the shack. Inside Tomas was sleeping on Yona's lap. She had a finger against his cheek but quickly pulled it back upon seeing Veretta.

"How is he?" Veretta asked concerned.

"He's asleep," Yona replied shortly.

Veretta swallowed uneasily and rested against the wall still watching them.

"Why did you come here, Yona?" she asked.

"Because my master cannot cast healing magic," Yona stated flatly, "neither can I,"

"Because you are...demons?" Veretta hesitated.

Yona's red eyes came up completely devoid of any emotion, "Yes, because we are demons,"

"You said he was attacked on the way here," Veretta bit down on her lip, "did he try to run away?"

"Yes, twice,"

"The red general did this to him?" Veretta frowned.

"No," Yona replied coldly, "My master was only doing what you asked of him, but Tomas wanted to leave,"

Veretta's eyes fluttered grievously, "I don't expect you to understand, Yona," she said in a low voice, "I was trying to protect him,"

"From Silthus?" Yona looked up with a blank expression.

"No," Veretta faltered, "from me. I am not good for him. I didn't want him to be forced to choose between me and what was right,"

"You underestimate him," Yona replied, "he will decide for himself what is right regardless of what you do,"

Veretta could give no answer. She hung her head for a moment and went to the front door.

"Please call me when he wakes," she said before turning outside.

She planted herself just outside the door up against the brick wall. It was cold now. The blue sky had finally been overcome by the grey clouds and it looked fit to rain. Veretta wondered when Errik would return - if he would return...