Wings of Shadows ~ Book 1 ~ Beginnings ~

Promises

This couldn't be happening!  They had been doing so well...
Ruben gritted his teeth as he staggered into the little parish. 
He had promised her he would look after them...
While his power was limited, he had done all he could to make sure they never lacked the necessities.  He had even been fixing up the old outpost they were forced to live in.  But it was very slow work with his limitations... and no help...

"Finished already?" Brother Marren's scrutinizing voice stopped him short.

"No. I just forgot something," he replied quickly without looking his way, but he could feel the man's critical gaze on his back as he nearly bolted for his tiny room at the back of the parish. 

Closing the door, he listened for a moment to make sure Marren wasn't going to try and 'visit'.  Satisfied that he had successfully evaded him for the time being, he got down on his knees and reached under his mattress for the loose floorboard.

The vile he kept hidden there was the last of the medicine he'd bought all those years ago. There were only a few doses left but that would probably buy the little fellow another year or two. And maybe that would be enough time for him to get stronger...

With some effort he got up, his body already beginning to feel the strain of his visit.

Opening the door, however, he ran face to face with Brother Marren.
"Going somewhere?" The man demanded, barring his way.

"I need to finish my visit with the children," Ruben said cooly and tried to hide the vial behind his back before it was spotted.

But it was too late.

"What's that?" Marren demanded.

"It's just a tincture," he said dismissively. "Rain is feeling a little under the weather today and this will help."

Marren's dark eyes narrowed, "It's happening isn't it?"

Ruben shook his head. "What? No..."

"You're a terrible liar," Marren said as he confiscated the precious vial. "So that's why it's taken you longer and longer to cleanse yourself lately."

He examined the bottle, but his face darkened at the symbols scribbled on the label. "This comes from Mystics. Where did you get it?"

"A traveler I met a while back, owed me a favor and gave me that in payment," he replied as nonchalantly and vaguely as possible, dearly hoping he wouldn't pry further.

"How long ago?"

"I don't remember..."

"You used a Mystic potion on her didn't you? That's why she didn't die for so long," Marren growled. "And it almost cost you your life - and many of our neighbors lives!"

"I had to do something!" Ruben pleaded. "She was my sister!"

"She was tainted!" He snapped back.

"What was I supposed to do? Just let her die?"

"Yes! As hard as that is - yes. You were selfish and many suffered needlessly, including you."

He shook his head, unable to agree with him. "I did what I believed was right. She was my only family, and she didn't deserve what happened to her, and she most certainly didn't deserve to die for it! And neither does Rain." He tried to grab the vial back but to his dismay, Marren jerked it out of his reach.

"This is for your own good," he said quietly, and effortlessly shoved him back into the room.

Ruben tried to scramble to his feet fast enough but his strength was already faded.
Marren quickly shut the door and bolted it from outside.

"Don't do this! Marren! Marren!"

"You should save your strength," he called from without.

"Please, I promised them I would be right back. If I don't get Rain that medicine, he will..." his voice caught for a moment. "He'll die!"

"You mean the shadows will claim him," Marren corrected.

Ruben gritted his teeth. It was a fate worse than death. "Please. He's just a child..."

"They're not children!" Marren shouted back. "They're monsters, Ruben. I know when you see them, you see your sister's children, but that's not what they are."

"How can you be so heartless?" He gulped.

There was silence on the other side of the door for a moment, then in a pained voice Marren replied. "That's what you think? Do you know how I feel watching you suffer through the cleansing ritual after every visit and the toll it is slowly, but surely, taking on your health?"

"I know it's hard but..."

"Don't worry," Marren cut him off. "It will be over soon anyhow."

Ruben frowned.

"I know you intercepted my dispatch four years ago. And I let it slide because I knew just how devastated you were loosing your sister. But I can't take it anymore."

"What did you do?"

"I sent for the collectors."

"No!"

"I heard back two days ago. They will be here sometime within the week."

Fighting back tears of fear and frustration, he pleaded, "Please, then, just let me see them one more time. Let me give Rain a fighting chance. Let me prepare them..."

"I'm sorry, but I can't.  You are already on the verge of collapse and you were only there a quarter an hour. It's better this way."

He could hear Marren walking away.

"Marren! Let me out!"

When he did not stop, he added, "If you do not let me see them one more time, I swear I will never forgive you."

The steps paused. "If it saves your life, I can live with that."

Exhausted, despite his fear, Ruben sank against the door.