“Today is your day, Halius. But it has to be today. There won’t be another opportunity.”

His phone had been ringing for what it felt like ages before he had finally been able to wake up just enough to recognize the annoying sound that had dragged him from his rest so early in the morning.

“Today? Why today?”

“It's not like I planned it. In fact I have nothing to do with the latest events. But, once a wave is created, the best option is to take advantage of it the best you can.” The voice on the other side of the phone had replied. His ever calm, ever soft tone could easily deceive the useless Humans he dealt with, but was hardly enough to deceive Hale. Farran was dangerous … and deceiving. “Do you have a TV set close by? It shouldn’t be hard to understand what I mean. It is a last minute’s news, after all.”

With his body feeling heavy and still half asleep, Hale had slipped out of bed and dragged his feet until he reached the TV. The bright light, as he turned it on, made him frown, and then he was faced with a reporter, who standing in the middle of a bunch of disorganized, restless, noisy Humans, tried her best to make her voice audible. The special emission sign was blinking repeatedly in the upper right corner, and firemen and police officers alike were seen everywhere.

“An explosion?”

“Not just any explosion.”

And then he’d recognized the place from where the reporter was broadcasting live.

“The Hillman Cancer Center!”

His mind had feared the worst, rushing as he foresaw the catastrophe that would follow … for all of them.

“It’s not what you’re thinking. Sarah Wilson isn’t a victim. Quite the contrary. She’s the perpetrator.” Farran had added, guessing his thoughts, leaving him immediately relieved and angry at the same time, for having allowed his emotions to take control. “Halius. I do hope that reaction of yours is due to the ability to see the bigger picture, and not because you’ve somehow grown attached to this Human.”

“I’m not even going to answer that!” he’d replied although his stomach burned in fury. He was sure that right then Farran was smiling, having fun at his expenses. “And what did you mean by perpetrator? Something like that is hardly Sarah’s style.”

“Humans are like this. Their permanent inconsistency is exactly what makes them so irritating and dangerous.”

“And? What does this have to do with anything?” he’d insisted, trying to make their conversation as brief as possible, and had once again felt a wave of amusement from his interlocutor.

After repeatedly meeting the leader of the rebels these last few nights he’d quickly stopped eluding himself about Farran's apparent comprehension and kindness. He knew that, like Aaran, he only saw him as a child, which due to his young age was unavoidable. The difference was that Farran was able to recognize his abilities and didn’t hesitate in making use of them. Farran saw him as a sword. Not as a mere shield.

“You tell me, Halius. Now that the police will be chasing that Human, and I will make sure they do, what do you think our Alexis will do?”

He didn’t need to think twice to reach an answer.

“He’ll probably depend on Aaran to solve the problem … like always. In the meanwhile he’ll keep her away from his Territory, since Humans aren’t subject to our rules and hiding her in the house would be too dangerous.”

“Exactly. And so the first piece of the game is out of the way. And we didn’t have to move a single finger to make it happen. Separate them and drag them out of that hole, these are the essential factors for my plan to work. What else could I wish for? This is the perfect moment!”

Hale took a deep breath and lowered his hand as he was about to knock on the door. With a second thought he allowed his body to become a shadow and slid from dark place to dark place, regaining his material form inside the house. He knew that, just like planned, he’d been the first one to arrive. But ringing the doorbell would have alerted Alexis to his presence, which he wished to avoid for the time being.

The house was completely silent, but even so, just to make sure, he ran upstairs, checking all the rooms. No one, just like Farran had predicted. Not even in the kitchen.

“What if you’re wrong? What if the younger girl doesn’t leave the house?”

“She will leave. I’m never wrong about things like this!” He’d answered him, his tone of absolute certainty deeply annoying him, making him suddenly wish he could prove him wrong. “However, if the improbable does happens and she doesn’t leave the house, as you said, you’ll just have to stick to the plan. They’re only Humans, after all. Dealing with one, or dealing with two, I’m sure you’ll be fine both ways. The only thing that will probably have to change is my degree of persuasion to make sure my proposal is accepted, nothing else. But you don’t have to worry. She won’t be home.”

“Good evening, Anne,” Hale greeted her from the door and the woman jumped, startled, raising her gaze from the potatoes she was pealing.

“Heaven’s sake! You’ll give me a heart attack one of these days, creeping around all silent like that!” she complained and gave him a critical look. “But really! Is that any way to walk around in this weather? Don’t tell me you don’t have an umbrella! You’re soaked to the bone!” she reprimanded him all in one breath, grabbing a towel and signaling him to bend forward so that she could reach him and dry his hair. Hale smiled obediently and allowed her to vigorously rub his wet hair.

“I forgot it,” he simply replied and Anne sighed, releasing him, leaving the damp towel over his head.

“Go and take a warm bath!” she commanded, placing both hands on her waist. “And put on some dry clothes! There’s a bunch of them in Miss Sarah’s room. I’m sure the young master won’t mind you using them,” she added and Hale used the corner of the towel to dry his face.

“Sarah … she isn’t home, is she?” he asked, just to make sure, and Anne went back to her potatoes.

“She left early in the morning and still hasn’t come back.”

“And Selena?”

“That mindless girl! I’m worried sick about her! She just left without a word! And won’t even pick up her phone! I just hope she’s back before nightfall. You youngsters only know how to make an old woman worry,” she complained. “So you can rest assure, no one will walk on you as you take your bath,” she told him, as if she were talking to a pubescent teenage boy and Hale smiled, nodding obediently, allowing her to go back to her tasks.

Unlike Alexis, Hale had never established close relationships with Humans. He’d never felt the need to, and somehow he felt proud of that. He had no Territory in the Human world and he’d sleep wherever was convenient, as long as the place gathered all the required conditions to keep him safe during the day. And yet, although he couldn’t quite understand why, Anne had quickly wormed her way into his heart. She was somewhat … warm, in a way his kind didn’t know how to be. And the spontaneous concerned way she treated him, as if in fact he were no more than young boy, constantly left him unable to argue with her. And so he’d frequently find himself doing as she told him, which he’d never allow to happen with any other Human Being.

Taking a deep breath he opened the living room blinds. It was still raining outside, which made night arrive earlier.

“You only need to say a few words, which won’t even be lies.”

“What if Aaran doesn’t choose him? What if he tells Alexis to stay?”

“That won’t happen! I’ll create a situation where a sword will be needed, not a shield. Aaran will chose Alexis to go with him, and he’ll leave the shield behind, at home, to protect the Humans.”

Hale clenched his fists trying hard to control his anger. Those words were like fire, feeding the incandescent hole consuming his chest.

“Hale! What are you doing here?”

Hale spun around and for brief moments his mind refused to process any coherent thought.

Somehow Aaran looked even more magnificent that night. His hair fell loose, slightly disheveled, over his shoulders; over a white, belted coat that reached knee-length. And, although his expression was more severe than usual his dark eyes gleamed slightly, far from the indifferent gaze he’d given him ever since the incident with the fire. It was as if, somehow, his existence had been recognized again, and Hale found himself smiling.

“And? As far as I remember I told you to stand watch outside Sarah’s house until I said otherwise. What are you doing here?” Aaran insisted, his harsh tone making Hale’s smile quickly wither away, leaving a bitter hole in his chest.

In the end that was all there was to it … Alexis was right, he thought. Aaran was always trying to get rid of him. That’s why he’d sent him to that infernal city under the excuse to find Alexis. And now that Alexis had been found and could no longer be used as an excuse, he’d sent him away, to spend his nights outside an empty apartment. Because in the end he was nothing but a shield, and Aaran didn’t need protecting. The only one he could ever see was Alexis, the sword, no matter how sick or broken he was.

Hale averted his gaze, searching for the voice that had suddenly left him.

“I came … to report … what I heard,” he hesitated. And yet there was nothing to fear. Because it was the truth. Only the truth!, he told himself and took a deep breath. Above all this was his choice.

“And?” Aaran insisted, sounding impatient, and Hale raised his head, facing him.

“It would seem that a group of rebels will attack some of the poor neighborhoods in the Hill district,” he declared, keeping his voice firm and relatively indifferent, but the news seemed to have its impact on Aaran.

“Today?”

“I can only guess that yes. I haven’t seen anyone these last few days. Suddenly finding two of them, this early in the night, is certainly significant. Because although the day is dark and rainy, it’s still too early for them to be around. And they sounded rather anxious.”

Aaran sighed heavily and ran a hand over his face, as if he felt too tired.

“Of all the days, it had to be today,” he grunted. “But I guess it was to be expected. Not even Farran’s iron fist can control those addicted to Ishar for long… It will be a massacre! As if we hadn’t enough problems with the Law as it is.”

“I can go, Aaran! I can go and keep the situation under control, until reinforcements arrive,” Hale suggested eagerly. If only Aaran told him to go … If only he’d trust him enough to give him that mission … If only he proved Farran wrong … There wouldn’t be any more decisions to make. No more doubts. And Farran could solve his problems any way he wanted.

“Out of the question!” the answer was dry and immediate, and all he had to do was take one look at him to know it was final. “Besides, if it is as you say, there won’t be time to call for reinforcements. Alexis and I will take care of the matter!”

Hale took a step back as if he’d been stabbed in the chest.

Alexis …

And Farran’s voice came back to him, soft and annoyingly persistent.

“I’ll create a situation where a sword is needed, not a shield. Aaran will choose Alexis to go with him, and he’ll leave the shield behind, at home, to protect the Humans.”

Hale clenched his fists hard and forced himself to keep his chaotic emotions under control.

“What about me …?” he asked in a whisper and Aaran seemed to wake up from his thoughts, turning to face him. “What am I expected to do …?”

“Someone has to go and get Sarah, and then keep them safe. I’ll ask Alexis where she is. Wait here!” he ordered and crossed the living room in his wide, heavy stride, towards the door in the back.

Hale reached inside his pocket and took out his cell. He was lost in the small bright screen for a minute. Farran had been right … Farran had been right about everything! Which was scary … and at the same time made him feel furious. He accessed his messages without a second thought and opened the anonymous one he’d received, no more than an hour ago.

“You’ll have two choices to make. And even if you fail to choose right on the first one, it is important that you don’t fail the second as well. Because everything will depend on your answer.”

He only realized how angry he felt when he could no longer distinguish the small black letters, his entire body shaking violently. What choices? There was no choice whatsoever! Aaran had chosen for him, hadn’t he? If only he had chosen to trust him enough to allow him to fight by his side …! And why was he paying attention to that stupid message anyway if he didn’t even know who had sent it? Maybe someone had just typed the wrong number, and there he was, trying to figure out the meaning behind the words that some useless Human had written.

With a growl he quickly accessed his contacts list, and waited for the other party to pick up the phone. But even when the intermittent sound was suddenly cut all he got was a silent answer. He almost bit his tongue to stop himself from uttering the words he knew he was waiting to hear. And when he finally spoke his voice sounded hoarse and dry.

“Everything happened as you said it would.”

“Obviously,” the voice from the other side replied, and although there was no gloating in it, Hale couldn’t help the wave of anger it rose in him. “You’re going to get her, right? I’ll meet you half way back.”

The line fell immediately after those words and Hale lowered his arm feeling suddenly empty. Where had all the anger and fury that had burned inside him just moments ago, gone? With a shaky hand he pulled his wet bangs over his eyes and excused the trembling that shook his muscles with the cold wet clothes he wore.

Now … there was nothing else he could do.