Maybe (COMPLETED)

Chapter Twenty Five

"What is it?" I queried, sliding my hand into the part where it was to be held.

"A long rapier sword. Here," he tapped my hand and moved my fingers into a position so that my thumb and pointer finger were over the parts that stick out and still protected by the guardy thing. "You hold it like this. And here." He offered me a sheath. When I stared at it silently for a bit too long, he sighed, rolled his eyes and belted it onto my waist for me. "There you go. Put that in there," he said while sliding the sword into the sheath. "Off you go!"

"W-what?"

"Goodbye!" Saga began to push me towards the exit.

"What? But... but I still have questions! Wha-wha-why did you give me this sword?"

"You asked for help." He grinned. "Now bye."

"But Jacki-Saga!" I forcibly stopped myself from being pushed out of the tent. "You can't just leave me like this?"

"Can't I?" And with that, he shoved me out of the tent. Right into a hard body.

"Isaak?"

I spun around to face an angry, puffed, surprised Mekhi. With a strange cry, I instantly spun to run back into Saga's tent, but Mekhi caught hold of my shirt and dragged me back. "Not so fast goddammit! I just wanna talk. Where's Ash?"

"I don't know."

"Ah, fuck." Mekhi glanced around. "Why did you guys run away from me?"

"Because you've been lying to us."

"What?"

"You told Archer you've never been here, but you obviously have. You know you're way around, you have friends here, Wolf has seen you before... don't say it's not true, Mekhi."

Mekhi stared at me in utter silence. People ignored us as they bustled around, chatting and trading loudly, seemingly without a care in the world.

"Okay. Fine. I have been here before, but it's not what you think." He grimaced. "I mean, it kind of is. But please. I need to find Ash, and then I'll tell you both."

Mekhi spun around again and looked into the crowd. A sudden thought of Saga came to mind. "Wait, Mekhi, I-"

Mekhi glanced back at me and rose his brows, waiting for me to say something.

I swallowed. "Never mind."

Mekhi stared at me a moment longer. "Something about you Isaak... I..."

"What?"

"I don't know. It's... strange." He furrowed his brow. "Something about you just... turns me on."

We stare at each other a moment longer while I process what he said. My face turns red. "Wow, okay... I mean, I mean-" I stuttered, "You could've said that in... I dunno... a more romantic way... or something... li-like jeez Mekhi!"

Mekhi chuckled, voice deepening. "Well... I'm not really the romantic kind of guy, Isaak." He slid his hand to the front of my shirt and tugged me closer, until I could feel his warm breath wash over my face.

I glanced around us at the crowd of people sending glances our way. Some with disgust, probably due to my breed. "Um Mekhi-" I had to clear my throat. "Maybe somewhere-"

"You wanna finish this off somewhere private?" Mekhi murmured, leaning closer, eyes darkening.

"Y-ye-I-n-no...?"

Mekhi chuckled again, his breath now tickling my neck as he brushed his lips against my jaw. "What was that?"

"N-no... Ash-"

Mekhi suddenly drew back with a sharp breath. "Oh. You're right. We need to find him." He sounded slightly disappointed. "Where is he?"

I tried to tame my heavy breathing and fast-paced heart. "I don't fucking know. We got separated. He's probably looking for me."

"Maybe we should go back to the inn." Mekhi offered, and without my opinion, began walking in that direction. I quickly jogged to catch up with him.

We reached the inn in silence and entered quickly. Mekhi walked straight up to the bar and glanced at the bar tender. "Where's that Wolf guy?"

She shrugged and spoke with a croaky voice. "Went off with some blue-eyed guy. Said he wouldn't be back for a while."

"Was the blue-eyed guy blonde?" I quickly interjected before Mekhi could respond.

"Nah, brunette. Why ya asking anyways?"

Mekhi shrugged. "Thought he'd know where a friend of ours was. Blue eyes, blonde hair, fair skin, super nice? Seen a hendassi like that around?"

"Nope, sorry, can't help you there."

"Ah fuck this." Mekhi growled. "If you guys just fucking stayed here... why did Wolf let you go? I told him to make sure you stayed here!" His eyes flashed angrily as he quickly surveyed the interior area.

"We persuaded him. He didn't have much choice."

Mekhi rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Come on, no point staying here."

As soon as we stepped out of the door, Mekhi shot forward and grabbed someone from the crowd. "There you are!" He snapped.

Ash's blue eyes met mine as he grimaced at Mekhi's tight grip on his arm. "Isaak?"

"He says he has his reasons." Suddenly guilt washed over me for trusting Mekhi again so easily. "I'm sorry Ash."

His eyes were sad as he let Mekhi drag him away to an alleyway. I followed closely behind. Mekhi shoved Ash into the wall, furious. "Why did you just run like that!" He yelled into Ash's face.

I stepped forward, feeling protective and irritated, placing a hand on Mekhi's chest. "Back off, Mekhi." I growled. "Leave him alone."

"No, Isaak, I'm fine." Ash muttered.

Mekhi looked between us in confusion. "What that fuck was that?"

"It's called fucking trust Mekhi! You know, what friends have?" Ash snapped. "Trust, responsibility, caring about each other. That's what friends do! You know what friends don't do?" He glared hard at Mekhi's cold eyes. "They don't fucking leave each other behind! That's why Isaak and I were going back to help Archer you fucking dickhead!"

Mekhi stared at Ash in shock. "Since when did you swear?"

"Is that all you heard?" Ash growled, and shoved Mekhi back. "Goddammit Mekhi, do you even have a heart in there somewhere?"

"Yes?"

"Well it's hard to believe." Silence fell over the three of us. Mekhi turned his back to us, fuming, as Ash leaned against the wall, staring at the ground in thought. He looked up to meet my gaze for a moment, then turned to Mekhi's back. "What's your excuse then? For leaving Archer, and for lying to us."

"This is gonna sound crazy but... the reason why I lied to you and Archer was because, yes, I have been to Ganyan before. Before I was your bodyguard. Look.. it wasn't anything really bad, I was just trading illegal stuff and I didn't want Archer to know. The reason why I went to talk to my old... friends... was because I wanted to ask if they'd seen any of Colm's men around – you know, the king of Odrisicia who wants you so bad?" Mekhi rubbed his forehead. "Archer's plan was to come this way because Colm's men wouldn't think we'd come closer to his country, but he didn't think about the fact that lots of his men might be here anyway. That's why I was asking around."

Ash and I continued to stare at him, unsure now.

"I left Archer behind because he told me to. That beast was strong, and Archer wanted someone to stay with you guys. We couldn't defeat it with swords, only magic, and his magic is stronger than mine. He told me not to come back for him. I only did what he wanted!"

Ash fidgeted slightly. "But... can we go back to him now?"

Mekhi frowned. "No. He said not to come back. Maybe he couldn't kill that... that creature. I can't risk us going back there and having to face it again, without Archer."