Chapter 18: Witnesses

"I don't get it. Why is it so difficult for everyone to get my name right? And now you.

What's up with this guy that I keep being used as his second?

"Listen...."

"No, you listen. I am Sky Vanskyver and you will do well to address me by my name, I won't be a substitute for anyone... and you may just let go of the fantasy of finding him in me."

Exhausted, Raphael took to the nearest chair, more disappointed and emotionally drained than tired. It hit him so hard, that those words were almost like severing a bond.

"You know, I grew up beside him. The first of his offsprings which makes it harder for me to accept him ditching him identity.

He gave me the gift of immortality and kept me by his side through ages and everywhere his feet met, I was there to accompany him. When others started coming, it became an order in the realm, only I could reach the dark lord Lucian.

I don't know all the details of how he became what he is today but I know he was once a child within a human community, and it could have been there he developed the desire to keep humanity safe but the oath occurred at a later time. Within the longest year of my hibernation.

But Marcus knew, he was there and it was not just the both of them. I'm certain that they were witnesses."

"What's that? Like we have with the judges here?"she enquired, looking confused.

"Yes, from what I have seen over the ages, there would always be witnesses, even in your own human affairs but I figured you don't really know that your witnesses are not the living alone... you see," he began gesticulating, sitting upright on the ladder chair while she rocked on hers, " there's a representative of the living, the dead, the immortals and Earth and Sky.

For each of your judgements, there are witness spirits. Very vengeful beings that manifest in certain cases to avenge the wrongfully convicted and maybe even those murdered."

"That sounds like they are the upholders of justice and fairness."

"No, witness spirits are blood hungry and what they do are not often for the memory of the wrong or to remedy the matter. They simply exploit it, justifying their hunt and actions by the meanness and evil in the heart of the criminal. Some, often blinded by their quests may even hurt the good.

"I once thought of reaching my parents and often at times, I feel them around me, guarding me. Are those also... you know."

"Ivy, there are a lot that even I do not understand about the human race. Lucian often said that beyond us, that there's a component of humanity that possesses not only immortality but the very similitude and power of the one God .

Yet all I see are but feeble and witless, fearful and often dreadfully wicked creatures."

" You are no better than us.

But Raph , if you are of the nature you speak, the very first of your kind fed on blood."

" You mean Lucian fed on blood. He did, and I think you want to know if that was how I was made.

Well, no. But others came that way. They call it the blood rage. Something that eats up his mind and leaves it bare with an unquenchable thirst for blood.

"He doesn't look that evil to me. All I often see in him is a man who lost himself but still possesses some strands of goodness, besides, you can't be certain that he is really Lucian."

"It's funny how I had once felt it couldn't be him, yet a wolf recognized him instantly... even though he was like my father."

Picking the sadness overwhelming him, she reached out her hand and rubbed his back.

"If you both are done being so romantic, turn around and tell me what you are doing in my home without an invitation."

"Nikki... it's been awhile."

"I wasn't talking to you... you, what are you doing here?"

"Could you ever be nice and accommodating for once in your life?"

"She is, and if she isn't with you then you must have gotten on her bad side, Raph...."

"Raph? First time you come over in years and you are already trying to endear yourself to everyone around? Like seriously? Fine, tell me what you are doing here and get going."

"Nikki, come on... it's been long we saw each other and this is how we greet one another?"

"I will take that as you don't have anything important to say. Listen, Bella is not here and I trust she will be back soon, and when she returns, she will come and report directly to the Chamberlain. That being said, could you please take the door?

And you, sit down there!"

Raphael was caught stranded in the middle. He had wanted to see the lady off and comfort her on the way, and being ordered to sit back which he felt compelled to do, he watched her helplessly, how she tarried, in hope he would come after her.

"Come, you, snap out of that thought!"

"Are you always this mean to everyone around?"

"I am, and what you gonna do about it... what, suddenly love sick ?"

" Why are you making a mountain out of this? She just came over while I was waiting outside for you, and while at that, Lucian came over, and left after throwing his spear at me and she was there to pull me out of wallowing.

What was I supposed to do, chase her away? Besides she was nice and more accommodating than you have ever been towards me or obviously anyone especially since last time."

"And what did you expect? My best friend and the only family I ever had went into comatose here, while protecting you and your friend from further hurt. How was I supposed to take it? And not to mention I even had a silly, stupid, thoughtless feelings for the brute that left a hole in her chest!

It's so nice of you telling me my shortcomings in which case I assume she is way better than me in every thing because she is " nice". Now you can get out of my home and chase little miss very nice,"she stumped away, infuriated.

Mildly disoriented by every thing, Raphael followed her upstairs after awhile and met her weeping on the bed.

"Come on, Nikki, it hasn't gotten to this... and... and of course I'm sorry for what I said. You shouldn't take it to heart."

"Get away from ," she pushed when he hugged her but feeling her shredded heart, right after his eyes met the painting of the two girls above the head of the bed, he held onto her until she stopped and broke down in his arms.

A strange feeling overcame him, at the same time it filled Nikki to the brim.

"Hmmm... Nikki... I ... I."

Meeting her teary eyes, and that gentle look that he had never seen in her, found himself locked onto her the next moment in bed bathing in the mixture of their body scent and heat. And from a tree some feet away from the house, Ivy watched them with a hint of disappointed in her eyes before she shifted into Shanty, leaning onto the tree for awhile and when she turned , Lucian was there right in front of her.