Spirit Animals - The Ten Keepers: The Lost Talisman of Ursala [Book Two]

Chapter Eighteen - The Second Favor

Remember when John told Eilene that for him to forgive her, she needs to do him two favors? Here's the second one! Enjoy!!!

Eilene's POV

They had found an empty cave which was on a ledge, hard for the Many to get them. They had decided to sleep there but Eilene had too many things in mind to sleep properly. She could hear the others already snoring. She sighed and quietly went out and sat on the edge of the ledge.

She looked up and wished she could see the stars right now. The only ones that were calming her was her Spirit Animal, Ursa, and her companions. She heard someone walking towards her and she turned around to see John.

"Couldn't sleep?" John asked, sitting beside her.

"How can I sleep in a place like this?" Eilene muttered.

"I'll take that as a no," John replied.

"What are you doing here?" Eilene asked, "Couldn't sleep?"

"Nope," John answered, "I saw you go out so I followed you. You might need need my help since you chose a staff."

"And this bothers you, swords boy?" Eilene teased.

"Call me swords boy and i'll call you staffs girl," John warned.

"Fine then, oh great son of Lord Gaundor," Eilene replied, "I shall not call you swords boy for it annoys our easily-annoyed, good-looking, great son of Lord Gaundor."

"Thank you very much," John said sarcastically then his eyes widened, "Did you just called me good-looking?"

"That is called sarcasm," Eilene replied too quickly.

"You called me good-looking," John repeated.

"I meant that you're good at looking," Eilene said.

"Admit it, i'm good-looking," John said, scooting closer.

Eilene scoffed, "In your dreams."

"Why did you call me good-looking?" John asked.

"I didn't," Eilene replied.

"Eilene, the truth," John said.

Eilene paused then said, "Why do you want to know?"

"Because I want to know," John answered.

"That is not an answer," Eilene replied.

Before John could reply, Eilene heard scuttling sounds echoing from the caves. Then she saw them, the Many, scrambling through the caves. John and Eilene froze as they watched the Many scramble past them below. The last of the Many had disappeared but Eilene was frozen with fear.

She could still see their blank eyes, ghastly figures, the black twisting spiral on their foreheads, the Wyrm.

"Eilene," John's voice cut through her thoughts, "Eilene!"

"S-Sorry," Eilene stammered, shaking her head.

John looked at her sadly then looked at his arm where the parasite was. Taking a deep breath, he pulled up his sleeve and gasped. The parasite had passed his elbow and was slowly making its way up his shoulder. Eilene looked away while John quickly pulled down his sleeve.

After a few minutes of silence, John spoke, "You're...You're scared of me? Since I have that parasite and will soon turn to one of those..."

"I'm not scared of you," Eilene said quietly, "I'm scared for you."

John looked at her as she kept going, "Sure i'm scared of the Wyrm and the Many but ever since my mom died, the only one who cares for me, I didn't want anyone else to die. Then my father died, the only one I have left that still cared. I was pretty sure you guys hated me at that time since I betrayed you all."

"But I still cared," she went on, "What scares me most is losing those I really care for. I don't want to lose anyone anymore."

"I-I'm sorry," John started but Eilene cut him off.

"There's nothing to be sorry about," Eilene said, "It's not your fault. We will find that talisman and we will defeat the Wyrm."

"But what if we don't find it in time," John said, "What if I become on of those?"

"You won't," Eilene insisted, "Because you're going to fight it. You have to fight it. You can't give up."

"But...But if it doesn't work," John said, "You need to promise me something. If it doesn't work, you have to stop me. You need to stop me. I can't turn into one of those. I can't hurt any of you."

"John, I can't-"

"Please," he pleaded, "I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't want to turn into one of the Many. Please, you need to stop me. Just promise me you will stop me."

"We'll find the talisman before you turn," Eilene said.

"What if you don't find it in time?" John asked.

Eilene was silent for a moment then whispered, "Then i'll stop you... I'll do it myself..."

Eilene didn't want to of course. She couldn't but it's just one last promise for John.

After a couple of minutes, John broke the silence again, "You know, you still haven't answered my question."

"And you know," Eilene replied, "You still haven't answered my question."

"Fine then," John said, "But there's still that second favor."

"What second favor?" Eilene asked.

"Remember when I said that in order for me to forgive you fully, you have to do me two favors?" John reminded her.

Eilene nodded.

"Well, you might not want to do it," John said, getting a bit nervous, "So i'll have to do it myself. All you have to do is to not hate me, kill me, or pull away."

"John," Eilene asked, suspiciously, "What are you going to do?"

"Just don't hate me, kill me, or pull away," John repeated.

Eilene looked at him suspiciously but just nodded. She sat there, looking at John, unsure of what to do. John looked a bit nervous. He took a deep breath, looked at her, then leaned in and kissed her. Eilene's eyes widened in surprise but she closed them and kissed him back. After a couple of seconds, they pulled away.

"Don't hate me," John said, raising his hands.

Eilene smiled a bit, "I can never hate you."

John smiled back.

"Oh Tellun," they both spun around to see Zoron and Hope looking at them with wide eyes.

Thinking fast, Eilene quickly added, "Yeah, I can never hate you-Eura. I can't believe you hate Eura, John."

John's eyes quickly filled with amusement and played along, "What? I love Eura! I just hate Gaundor."

"Oh come on," Eilene replied, "I mean, the beds weren't that bad."

"Speaking of beds," John said, getting up, "I really need to sleep now."

"Yeah, me too," Eilene agreed, getting up as well.

Both of them quickly said good night and went inside the cave.

Eilene managed to hear Zoron say, "Those two are really confusing."

That save though! And they did it again! Please vote and leave a comment on what you guys think. Stay tuned for the next chapter!