The Gathering: Race For Immortality

Chapter Thirty One: Dangerous Deals (Jaeson)

I walked hurriedly into my room ignoring the scent of the old wooden house. The way the floorboards creaked, the trinkets that sat upon shelves. I had to ignore the fact that I was here I was home and risking the whole damn thing just so they didn't find out what I had done.

Betting on their awkwardness to keep them outside I ran into my room opening and closing drawer’s purposefully making noise so they would believe my crap lie. I was disappointed in myself, I used to be smooth and in control.

But with the insistent throbbing pain in my leg I was slowly losing patience and possibly time. I needed to get that damn Immortality and fast. My family needed it, I had given my full resolve over to this single task. No matter how good of friends we had become I would do anything for my family.

I dropped back onto my bed letting out a heavy sigh, leaning back I dug around in all of my pockets pulling out around ten thick gold coins I had snagged from the tower. Unlike Paz I was used to stealing right in front of people and being discrete about it. It also helped that’s he was able to draw attention off of me and unto herself.

Pain shot up my leg making my body go rigid, every muscle tightened and I had to clamp my mouth tightly shut to stop the cry that would alert them. The sharp pain slowly ebbed away into a dull throbbing pain, tentatively I looked down at the small tear in my pants. It was probably just healing, it wasn't even that big of a scratch.

Shrugging off the bought of pain that had nearly threatened to blow my cover I rose from my bed limping across the room to my dresser. Lying on top was an old worn water sack, I had removed the cap and turned it into a pouch to carry small animals, fruits and berries, or anything else small.

It would serve as my stash bag, I dropped the coins into the pouch and debated whether to leave one or two for my parents. No doubt without me there to help they were slowly falling back into debt.

An ache grew in my chest and homesickness made my knee's weak. I wanted to stay, I wanted to hug my mother and tell them everything I had done. Most of all I wanted my little sister to be happy.

My hand tightened on the pouch, Zavreon promised them a golden future. All I had to do was bring him the immortality stone. I turned on my heel and marched from my room closing the door behind me. Warm afternoon sunlight was streaming through the kitchen windows warming it to that just right temperature.

One day I would be able to sit here with them again, I would be able to watch my sister grow and live a happy healthy life. All I had left to do was get through the remaining clues.

"I promise, I'll come back no matter what the cost. I'll make you proud." I whispered looking around the room before jogging back out the front door.

Everybody had found a spot to sit down, we looked exhausted, grubby, and malnourished. We all needed a break, but the stone was just out of reach. If we stopped here then we could end up losing it forever and for some of us that wasn't an option. All their eyes turned to look up at me, Paz glared at me suspicion creasing her childlike face. I tried my best to ignore her. She was the only one who had seemed to clue in.

I held up the pouch and their shoulders all relaxed by a fraction, Nat pushed to her feet dusting off the dirty red peasant dress she was wearing. Her shoes were beginning to look worn and thin in some places. She had brushed her hair with her fingers, I could tell because my sister had done the same a few times.

"Thank you Jaeson, it must have taken a while for your family to build up these savings." She said with a soft smile on her face.

I nodded my head and looked down at the pouch in my hands, "Yeah, but they'll understand. And I'll pay them back one day." I said weighing the guilt I felt in my heart.