Haven

Two

- 5 years later -

"Come on Sanctus! It's not far, we'll be back before anyone realizes you're gone."

Sanctus regarded Alonya warily. The usually laid back female had been overcome by the sudden urge to sneak out and explore a recently abandoned development towards the west side of the city. The two were practically joined at the hip, always doing everything with the other; and so naturally she was now requesting that he come along.

Normally Sanctus was good with this. He usually needed little to no urging to slip out the window and down to the ground.

 Unfortunately, he had chosen the night before to sneak away and spend most of the night out watching the city night life. He had been spotted by the groundskeeper upon his homecoming. His aunt had found out about the incident and was now less than pleased with him.

 Getting caught sneaking out again would have it's consequences, the worst being him having to stay home from the festivals due to happen that weekend. The fireworks and parade were rumored to be huge this year. It was definitely not something he wished to miss.

"But what if we do get caught, Alonya?" He protested. "Aunt Esfir is already upset with me, I don't think it would be a good idea to risk getting caught again. Can't we wait a bit? It's not as if any of it will change in the next few days."

Alonya huffed at her brother's hesitation. "If we get caught, I'll just tell her it was my idea."

He gave her an odd look. She would probably be excused for the act if she were to get caught, seeing as Aunt Esfir held a rare liking towards the willowy teenage girl. She would receive no more than a quick scolding on how unladylike it was to go out at night.

Sanctus, on the other hand, was not in his aunt's good graces. He had gone against her word way too many times for her to approve of him. Often times, he was just one slip up away from being kicked out of the manor.

 "I don't know, Alo..." He murmured.

She regarded him coolly for a long moment. A mischievous spark that made Sanctus feel slightly on the edge came into her eyes. "Fine. I'll just go by myself, then." She winked at him, and then dropped from sight. The soft sound of her shoes against the ivy ladder she had used to get up to his window floated through the air back to Sanctus.

His brows shot up. 

"Alonya!" He hissed after her. He lept from his bed, shuffling over to the window just in time to see her loping off across the yard. 

He swore under his breath and regarded his options.

He could give in and follow after her, or he could stay back. She wouldn't actually go without him, right? She was probably just using the act as a way to get him out. Sanctus pulled his bottom lip in between his teeth and bit down on it.

Perm was a dangerous city at night. Gangs ruled the streets as soon as the sun took it's rest. It was not a good place for a young woman such as Alonya to run free.

But he didn't have to worry about that. She wasn't brave enough to actually go on without him. 

Or was she?

He could see now that the dark blob that was her had reached the wall at the end of the yard now. She paused there, hesitating, waiting. She turned, looking uncertain as she scanned the yard behind her. She was looking for him, Sanctus soon realized. In that case, she was going to be disappointed. He wasn't going.

Surprise flooded his boyish features as she gave a shrug of her shoulders and began to climb up and over the wall. 

She was going by herself! An annoyed sound left Sanctus' mouth. He couldn't just stand by now; he had to go after her. He hurriedly pulled on a coat before following his sibling's path out the window and across the frosted grass to the brick wall.