Neverending

Chapter Four

::Only thing with being me is that I am the only one of my kind. Out of all the species that now inhabit earth, and even in the past, I am the only one without a similar. No one to call family, friend, or brethren. But maybe, just maybe...that is all about to change.::

Silence had befallen us on our short walk through the desolate town. Achos led me to a small, minute tavern to stay for the night. He pushed open the door for me like a pure gentleman which caught me off guard. I hesitated at the doorway but quickly trudged inside. After I had stepped through, I paused and looked around the front desk of the tavern. Everything looked to be so old world, as if it were originally made to be an antique shop. Achos walked up to the clerk and leaned an elbow on the desk, glancing at the sign in book. He looked at it curiously for a minute, then winced up at the clerk with a lazy face. "We need a room for the night. Just the two of us here," he pointed his thumb back at me while I was curiously poking everything in the room out of curiosity. A small figurine peaked my interest, though I hadn't the foggiest idea why. It was little pewter statue formed in the shape of a woman with few details. But the scarce features she had made me wonder from where and whence was this made, and after what model? Her hands were spread apart welcoming the viewer, and protruding from her back were lovely, angelic wings. I turned suddenly to glance at his motion towards me jerking me from my daydream and walked closer behind him. I heard the clerk and Achos mumble some things business-wise, soon trading the key. In return for payment, Achos traded to the clerk some glowing rocks. I didn't know what they were, but they were of some value obviously when the clerk ogled them with greed, curling them in his filthy callous hands.

"Come on, our room's up here, " he gestured for me to follow, and I did. I wasn't normally this shy, but for some unknown reason to myself, I was. Walking behind him I could smell his scent, strong and musky. It strangely calmed me and loosened my tense muscles. Our room was on the first floor all the way at the end of the hall. He slid the key to unlock the door and paused, turning his head toward a window behind the door, peering out into the darkness outside. We heard noises; screams, howls and bellows of the Night Walkers. Shaking his head, he quickly opened the door fully and stepped inside. "Pick your bed," he said softly pointing to two beds set side by side against the wall. I chose the far left and sat down with a bounce, feeling the worn sheets and stiff pillow. I looked behind me to see a washtable and tub with a faucet at the far end of the room. I wondered when I would be able to take a bath in private, or if I'd even get to do so. I didn't worry about it so much and laid down for a moment to collect my thoughts. The drinks from earlier were starting to settle in and I shut my eyes in drunken comfort. In the corner of my heavy lidded eye I noticed him sliding his coat off and tossing it over a chair next to him. Next, he lifted his shirt to reveal a tattered and scarred chest, though chiseled to perfection. His back caught my eye the most, with a long, wide scar traveling the full length of his spine. I wondered how he'd gotten it but thought it rude to ask such a thing so soon. He plopped on his bed with a thud, dragging his arms up and putting his hands under his head for support to make up for the mere useless pillow. His face looked calm and serene, and with a sigh, he shut his eyes.

As the silence overcame me, the minutes passing by seemed like hours. I was tired, but my eyes were restless and anxious, denying to close for sweet slumber. Looking around the room, shadows from the nearby candles danced on the walls. The curtained window at the end of the small room remained still. Complete darkness was behind the veil, but sounds and murmurs were heard beyond the emptiness. After a while, these cries in the night become nothing but white noise to sleep to. The old tavern creaked of aging and smelt of times long past. Old cigars and a musty stench. My breath and heartbeat were all I concentrated on now, making an attempt to meditate and center myself. Then I heard him once again give a heavy sigh.

My eyes averted to the side, tilting my head slightly, seeing him with his eyes half open and looking to the ceiling as if there were something beyond it that he had set his gaze upon. A flicker of gold was seen in his brilliant green eyes as he just laid there, staring. His chest rose slightly with each breath, and his curves accentuated within the glow of the candles. Achos' eyes shut as he began to speak, "...what are you looking for?" His voice still entranced me, I just could not understand why. As cold a heart as I thought I had, it seemed to melt by his words.

"What do you mean?" I inquired. "I mean, like me. I'm looking for someone. What are you looking for? Or...who?" His head turned and eyes opened slightly, looking to me lying there on the stiff bed. His eyes entranced me for sure, an emerald green that shined without light. I turned away for a moment and looked across the room. "Sometimes, I really don't know," pausing a second, I took a breath. "Other times, I feel like I'm looking for something I lost a long time ago. But it's been so long that I've forgotten what it is I'm searching for." I looked back to him, his eyes now wider than before, as if he were really intrigued. "I guess I'm just wandering aimlessly, looking for something that's not there." I gave a little sarcastic laugh to myself.

He sat up from the uncomfortable bed and sat up at the side, facing me. Tilting his head a little he gave a smile, "wherever you look, there's always something to be seen. You just have to open your eyes." I lifted up from the bed and laid on my side looking to him with intrigue. He turned from a quiet, tough looking guy to a philosopher in two seconds. But he was right. I thought for a moment about his words, and gave a slight smile. "So, who is it that you are looking for? A family member, a lover...?" I questioned.

"No, no. Not quite." He reached into his right pant pocket and pulled out a piece of tethered paper. He opened it, the crackling giving away it's age. It was tanned and torn with some fancy print on it, about two paragraphs worth. He looked down at it with a heavy face and began to read.

"Seek the One who holds time, 

Two stars will soon align. 

One who holds a thousand souls, 

The future told and past unknown. 

Hear the breath of words of heart, 

Give up thyself and thee two part. 

To heal a wound by curse of old, 

Return the memory of past unknown.

Sacred wisdom and ancient fear. 

No longer safe when They are near. 

To cleanse a dirt of nasty deeds, 

Open the wound and plant the seed. 

Awaken now the One sees all, 

Life will rise and Holy will fall. 

The End soon to be nigh, 

A final chapter to One so high."

After he finished the two verses, silence swept over us both. His eyes remained glued to the little piece of paper. I looked to him for a moment, then to the floor, bewildered as to how to reply to such a thing. Suddenly he folded the paper and stuffed it back into his pocket. Taking his hand he brushed through his jet hair gently. "That was the prophecy that was given to me as I was rejected by my people." He looked at me with saddened eyes, "they told me that I was cursed, and was no longer welcomed as I plagued them. The only way I would be able to return and be accepted back was if I were to find this person in the prophecy who could get rid me of this curse. But it's so vague, that I might as well be looking for a needle in a haystack." Achos began to take off his boots and set them at the bed's side, then leaning back to rest a weary mind, this time placing his hands on his stomach, his fingers locked. I laid my head against my arm, still looking to him while on my side.

"But I don't understand," I added, "what was the 'curse'? You look perfectly fine to me." I felt an uneasiness enter the room as we both lay there. "I look fine now, and during the day. It's only at night, and at times of distress." He paused and suddenly rose from the bed, heading to the window. Standing in front of the curtain, he didn't move; just glared past it as if it weren't there and something beyond was his destination. He just stood there, and I watched as his curse began to take affect. "Please don't be afraid, but you're about to find out why they called me...'cursed'."