The Raven's Source

Chapter 27 - Pacted

The Week of Giving began at the end of November and finished by welcoming in December. It was full of children dressing up like things they want to be when they grow up, or things that inspired them. Parents would even welcome wild imaginations and encouraged their children to write or share stories of make believe. There wasn't a street you could turn down and not smell the wonderful and extravagant dinners families cooked and hosted throughout the week. It was a time to enjoy each other's company and give praise to have such bonds. And if anyone was ever to be found alone, they would always be welcomed to different homes each night to make sure no one was ever left out.

Another two weeks pass and the snow began to fall over the city. Shej smiled as he added a few more photos to an album he and Leena started. Photos from their birthdays, of Twyn and Ilyana's new home—which looked very similar to their home in Sundres but now with a second story—and photos from the recent Week of Giving that went without a hitch. As he and Leena expected to become parents in less than three months, this was the first time he had ever enjoyed the Week of Giving.

"Our book is getting so full already," Leena said, smiling.

"What are you doing up?" Shej asked, turning and wrapping his arms around her, kissing her forehead. "It's almost midnight."

"Babies are kicking vital organs, I couldn't sleep."

Shej laid his hands on her stomach and sure enough, there was a jolt against his palm. He chuckled, finding it such an amazing sensation. Leena's February due date still felt so far away.

"Same question. What are you doing up? The bed has been so lonely without you," she playfully whined.

"I couldn't get my brain to shut off, so I figured I'd add the photos we developed today to the album."

"Worried about the Holiday Gala tomorrow?"

A troubled sigh escaped Shej as he lowered his head, knowing he couldn't hide anything from Leena. "Yeah."

"Rose and Cerno have everything laid out just in case there is still a threat. We're going to be just fine." Leena's voice was soft as she tried to comfort him, placing her hand on his back and rubbing it a bit.

"I've been having nightmares again," Shej admitted quietly. He almost sounded ashamed sharing this. "And I just don't have a good feeling about tomorrow. I haven't been able to shake the feeling of any of it."

"Tell me about them," Leena said, leaning against him gently.

"I used to have nightmares about turning a corner and seeing both you and Twyn dead on the ground. Then I had nightmares of my brother killing you just before your due date. Those were always the worst. But these..." Shej paused and touched a photo of Leena interacting with a small child dressed up like an owl. "...these nightmares feel real. I come running down a hallway after you and there's suddenly a wall that falls away to a dark area with heavy snow on the floor. When I look out, I see it's a garden and there I am...I see myself lying on the ground, staring blankly to a distance that no longer exists. Hundreds of events start playing around me as if on floating screens, playing events I should be a part of..."

Leena's heart ached as Shej trembled, his fists balled so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. She heard two heavy tear drops hit the protective plastic sheet of the photo album one immediately after the other.

"...but I'm not," he continued as he reached up to wipe one eye with the butt of his palm. "I'm not in any of the images playing on the walls because I'm dead. I'm dead and just lying there on a cold snow covered floor, alone in a pooling of my own blood."