The Mirror Guardian

Chapter Ten: Emotions: How About No.

When they came up to the area where the screams came from, they noticed that a door was ajar. When they got closed they noticed that there was blood on the handle. They turned to each other and their eye met, with a nod, Mailee opened the door. The two looked on, frozen in horror on the scene that greeted them.

They stared at the two bodies covered in blood on the ground, one female and the other was male. It was like someone had ripped them wide open. They were also brutally mauled and dismembered. Blood everywhere, on walls, the floors, and even on the ceiling. Their bodies where non-recognizable at this point.

And the one and only person standing in the middle of the whole mess was no other than Soren, covered head to toe in their blood.

"Soren..." Mailee whispered in distaste.

"I never thought you'd end up here, Dear sister," Soren said running his blooded fingers through his hair. "And surprise, surprise you're with someone else too. Don't tell me your going soft and weak for others?"

"Don't mistake my kindness for weaker being and creatures. I will kill you with the same hand that I heal you with. Don't think about playing any games with me Soren. What the bloody hell did you do?" She was furious with Soren, this was too savage even for him.

"Oh but dear sister, they were the ones who came at me first." Soren had put his bloodied hand up in mock surrender at her. "Are we going to play 'who killed more people' game? Because you are going to win that game every time."

"Soren, you're supposed to not draw attention to yourself." She counter, ignoring his small blows about her killings. "For gods sakes! Who have you killed now? You can't even tell who the two are anymore."

"The two from Omen. But in my defense, I was left unsupervised by you." Soren shrugged, but as he was walking past the two he added as his voice was like cold death. "Make sure you know who your loyalty lies, my hand or our father's hand may slip once again." She caught Soren's hint when he had gave a quick glance towards Rinaru on his way out.

Mailee didn't speak, didn't made a sound, but the look in her eyes told Rinaru exactly what was about to happen. Before she could react. Rinaru took a step forward and closed his fingers around her wrist. He made her turn around and wrapped her in his too-large coat like a straight-jacket. Then he picked her up and started walking.

"What do you think you're doing? Put me down!"

"Shut up." He demanded as he carried her back to his chambers. Once they got back to his chambers and the door shut, he untangled her from his jacket. "What just happened back there with him and you?" He asked before he could stop himself.

"That is between me and my half brother." She shook her head and finally, after all that had happened she went to the door. "It's in the past." She said dryly not liking where this conversation is going.

"Did you honestly think I wouldn't realize what your brother was implying to you? As someone who had gave me the stink eye that suggested a threat to me." Rinaru questioned, trailing her. He stopped a foot away, but the space between them felt strangely intimate, especially as spoke with concern. "Before you leave: This mystery lover of yours... He doesn't live in Ashia, does he?" He instantly knew he'd said the wrong thing when some of the light vanished from her eyes.

"His name was Raloric," she finally spoke, her voice distant.

"Was Raloric?" He caught the past tense. "What happened?" She looked at him, smiling sadly.

"He died."

"When?" He got out. He knew he shouldn't have said  anything if he'd knew...

"500 years ago." She pushed her lips together, shoving away the memory of how'd he looked the last time she'd seen him, broken on that table. She got out an uneven breath. "I don't even know where they buried him. I don't even know who I'd ask about it." Rinaru didn't reply, and she didn't know why she bothered talking, but the words just tumbled out. "I failed him," she whispered. "In every way that counted, I failed him." A glimmer of pain flashed across her face, so real and endless that he felt it in his gut.

"I'm sorry." He breathed. She shrugged, as if it could somehow diminish the grief he still saw in her eyes.

"So am i," she whispered, and faced the door once again as she opened it. Sending she was truly done talking this time, Rinaru cleared his throat.

"Good night, Mailee. I hope to see you tomorrow maybe." She didn't say anything as she left the room. Mailee couldn't banish her heart-wrenching memory of Raloric, even when she read a book long into the night, even when she finally fell asleep.