Sarah finished her strawberry milkshake and threw the empty cup on the garbage bag she kept on the passenger’s seat. In a gesture she’d repeated more than a dozen times in the last hour alone, she checked the time on her burner phone’s watch. A quarter past six. It wouldn’t be long now, she thought. But, on the other hand, that had also been a thought that had crossed her mind all too many times.

She’d spent the whole day in her car, parked in front of the Amtrak train station, moving it around from time to time, far from people but surrounded by them so she wouldn’t look suspicious; constantly alert, constantly watching. Now she felt tired and all she wanted was to go back home, take a hot shower and bask for a bit in the unwavering feeling of safety offered by Alexis' embrace. Besides, the rain that had fallen all afternoon had made the sky darker faster than usual, and so her Alexis shouldn’t be long now.

She looked at her phone once more. Maybe she should call, she thought. Sure Alexis had guaranteed that he could find her anywhere, but maybe he’d been exaggerating just a bit …

The shadow that suddenly covered the window at her side made her jump, her hand flying to the car keys, her basic instincts telling her to flee.

“Good grief! Hale!” she recognized him a second later, taking a hand to her chest where her heart seemed about to explode, and took a deep breath, lowering the window. “Don’t scare me like that!” she complained with a small smile of relief and only then noticed the young man’s closed, dangerous expression. His clothes were drenched, his black hair with red streaks falling over his sickly pale face. “Is everything okay?” she asked, concern growing inside her. In any other place she’d already lowered her mental defenses to listen to his emotions. But there were just too many people around, and the mixture of feelings that would most certainly assault her would probably make it impossible for her to distinguish which emotion belonged to whom. “Alexis …”

“Alexis and Aaran had to go out,” Hale told her, interrupting her, his voice dry and short. “Some problems in the North. Aaran ordered me to come and get you,” he added and Sarah was silent for an instant.

Ordered ... Aaran ordered, and so Hale obeys …

Sarah took a deep breath and unlocked the car stepping outside, taking the opportunity to stretch her crumpled legs.

“Well, I’m glad you came,” she told him, smiling up at the cold dark-green eyes staring at her. “I’d already asked Aaran about you. Since we haven’t seen each other since … what happened.” The pain of the loss almost brought tears to her eyes. Most times she just pretended to be like Selena, that had almost no recollection of what had happened to the family that had taken her in. But reality was quite different … and talking about it was still painful. “I didn’t even got the chance to thank you … or to tell you I was sorry for what happened … I tried to explain to him that the responsibility was mine, and mine alone. But, as I’m sure you can imagine, Aaran doesn’t really take what I say into consideration. After all, I’m still just a Human.”

“It’s okay.”

“No it’s not!” she countered vehemently, holding his arm as if to make her words meaningful, and Hale looked at her slightly surprised. “Because it wasn’t fair. The fault was all mine, not yours. And he had no right to punish you.”

“Aaran is always right. I put your life in danger by obeying your will,” he argued, feeling slightly confused as he looked at the small hands squeezing his arm.

Why bother with things like that? It was all in the past, wasn’t it? What good could it come from discussing something like that now? Fair? Did that word even had any meaning in her world? And what the hell! Why was he arguing with that Human, and on top of that, having to agree with a punishment that he himself had considered uncalled for? The annoyance that burned in his chest made him frown. He had no time for that! Farran was waiting.

“Ah! Bullshit!” she retorted, releasing him, and the sudden critical tone of her voice made him feel lost. “Because you put my life in danger?! That never even happened! In fact, that's the worst excuse I've ever heard! Besides, if you hadn’t listened to my request Selena would … have died in that fire. And Aaran knows it better than anyone. And Selena … without her my life would be meaningless …” she added and Hale’s frown became even deeper.

“What do you mean, excuse …?”

“That that stubborn idiot spends his life swallowing his own feelings, which doesn’t mean he’s unable to feel,” she declared and Hale’s expression became even more threatening, which made her smile. Be it him or Alexis, they both reacted really, really bad when someone badmouthed Aaran. They were really like Brothers, if only in that regard. “Can’t you see? The reason why he was so mad at you to the point he felt the need to punish you all these days wasn’t really because, hypothetically, you could have put my life in danger. Aaran simply didn’t like the fact that you disobeyed him. That you chose to fulfill my wish, instead of his. In the end, hum … I’d say he is too possessive of you and was simply jealous?” she suggested with a pensive expression and Hale found himself staring at her, completely baffled.

“Jealous?!”

“Why the surprise? It’s clearly an emotion you’re able to feel,” Sarah replied with an amused smile. “To tell you the truth I’m yet to discover an emotion that we have and you don’t, or vice versa. The only difference is that we are more … restrained, in the intensity and way we feel about things. While you are naturally completely overrun by emotions, which means you have to try much harder to maintain a rational, critic mind.”

“Jealous?!”

Sarah laughed, as he seemed unable to get past that notion, and wrapped her arm with his, tilting her head to look up at him.

“Does that make you happy?” she asked softly and Hale averted his gaze, frowning again.

“As if I’d listen to what some stupid Human as to say,” he grumbled and Sarah smiled again, happy with herself.

He could say whatever he wanted. But the truth was that color had returned to his cheeks and his dark-green eyes had recovered their brightness. He’s just a kid … she thought, wishing he’d be shorter so she could ruffle his hair.

“Aaran is very complex … I’m only able to see the surface, and I can only understand what I see by comparing him with the only patterns I know, Human patterns. Because we’re not so different I know there’s an acceptable probability that I’m not all that wrong, and that’s why we’re able to understand each other. The same happens with you … and with Alexis. But, from the three of you, Aaran is without a doubt the one who’s more distant … more unreachable … But I guess you know that better than I do.” He was now looking at her with a serious, attentive expression. “Even so, you chose to stay by his side, and although he may not show it, your presence doesn’t go unnoticed.” Hale blushed again and pulled his arm away from her, clearly too embarrassed. Sarah tried hard not to laugh and stretched lazily. “Oh well. Time to go home. I can only imagine the mess I caused …” she sighed and pulled her handbag out of the car. “I don’t even want to think about what’s going to happen,” she complained. “Alexis told me that I should ditch my car together with my old cell phone. Hale?” she called him as his mind seemed to be somewhere else, lost in thoughts, and when he looked back at her his expression had gone back to being heavy. “Have you brought your car?”

“Yeah …”

“But …?” Sarah guessed, noticing he seemed tense and unsure about something, and Hale clenched his fists hard.

“It’s safer to go back by other means.”

“Other means?”

“Through the shadows. Safer and quicker.”

Sarah grimaced. She understood all too well what he meant by through the shadows. The little experience she had regarding traveling around Alexis’ way wasn’t at all positive, to say the least. Although quick, and she admitted, practical, the moving through the shadows thing always left her feeling sick to her stomach, dizzy and with the sensation that someone had mashed all her cells and remade them just instants after. Besides, every time she reached her destination her senses were all hypersensitive for a few, but painful minutes, during which the faintest light seemed like a blazing sun shining directly in her eyes, the sound of her own breathing sounded more like a old train, and all material surfaces were harsh and rough. All that, added to the fact that she didn’t feel the slightest bit at ease with the degree of physical contact needed for Hale to take her out of there, made her really wish they could get home any other way.

However, Hale's closed and somewhat compromised expression was starting to worry her, even if rationally she couldn’t find any reason for that. And so she walked up to him, grabbing hold of the flaps of his coat, afraid he might lose her on the way.

“Okay. If you think it’s safer …”

Hale just nodded in confirmation and clearly avoided to look straight at her. The arms that surrounded her were tense and unsure, and Sarah couldn’t help shivering as she felt how cold he was, her throat clogging when she saw herself locked in his embrace.

“Hold on.”

She obeyed, crisping her fingers harder, the fabric of his jacket clenched between her trembling hands.

The sensation of being transported by that strange method was even worse than she remembered. Although almost instantaneous, the experienced seemed to drag indefinitely, and when she finally felt solid ground beneath her feet, the world around her looked and felt extremely aggressive and shocking. And so she closed her eyes, escaping the soft light that illuminated the compartment, and clenched her teeth hard, stopping herself from screaming at how rough, almost burning, her own clothes felt against her sensitive skin. She focused her attention on one single task – breathing – and the soft sound of footsteps hammered against her ears painfully. To her relief, little by little, her senses begun to slowly return to normal, and when she was finally able to open her eyes again she noticed she was in Alexis’ living room, which left her more relieved. For an instant she’d had the feeling something was wrong and that Hale was hiding something from her. But now, back home once again, she felt safe and embarrassingly anxious to see herself back in Alexis’ embrace.

But he isn’t here. Hale told me that he went out with Aaran. But why? And where to? She was worried once more, but as she looked for Hale to bombard him with questions, she found him by the tall window, arms crossed over his chest, his head hanging low. And yet, what erased all her eminent questions was his expression of suffering, and the way his fingers bit into his own arms, his body tense.

Without a second thought Sarah opened herself to his emotions. The chaos that flooded her made her gasp.

Fear, anger, hate, doubt … guilt.

“Hale …” Her words were cut off when a new wave of emotions pierced through her, making her immediately raise her defenses. And even so … Her heart jumped anxiously inside her chest and Sarah held her hands together when she felt them tremble. Just like Alexis, she thought … and like Aaran when he’d lost control. Those emotions were raw, uncontrolled, too intense to belong to a Human Being, and for that reason easily able to break through her mental defenses. However, although they ran wild and unchecked there was a cold order that kept them organized. The completely opposite of Hale, she concluded looking back at the boy. And the expression of absolute terror that had taken over his face was enough to confirm her suspicions.

“Hale?” she called him softly and he hesitated for a second before turning to face her. “Alexis and Aaran … are they really safe?” she asked, feeling the words burning as they passed by her throat, and he nodded, slowly, although his glowing green eyes betrayed the intensity of his emotions. “Then?”

Hale hesitated once again and averted his gaze.

“He has your sister …”

That soft whisper was enough to leave her breathless and Sarah hugged herself trying to stop shaking.

Selena … Selena wasn’t there, somewhere in the kitchen, or upstairs in her room. Selena was faraway, in the hands of the most dangerous, most vile creatures she’d ever known. Sarah took a defensive hand to her neck, remembering what she’d been through at the hands of those monsters and forced herself to breathe in, since she’d completely forgotten she had to. This won’t do … You have to stay calm … You have to think.

She pulled herself together and took a deep breath, raising her head. Above all she couldn’t allow herself to give in to her feelings. Being able to maintain a cold, rational attitude was the only really advantage she had, since she was dealing with basically emotional beings. Taking another deep breath to make sure she was able to control her shaking legs, Sarah crossed the room in firm, decided steps and stopped again by the front door. She couldn’t waver. She couldn’t show weakness. She had to be firm and distant.

Pulling an umbrella from the basket by the door, she opened it and stepped outside to a cold, heavy rainy night. She climbed down the steps from the porch, through the narrow path of white stones that lead to the front gate, and stopped halfway, noticing the dark shadow standing under a black umbrella, on the other side of the gate that had been left invitingly opened.

She wouldn’t be afraid of him, she told herself taking another step forward. There was nothing to be afraid of. And, no matter what her heart might feel, her decision could only be one.

The hand that landed heavily on her shoulder surprised her, leaving her tense, forcing her to stop about six and a half feet away from the man waiting. Slightly raising her head she saw that Hale was standing right beside her, and she had to fight the instinct to avoid his touch. Although she wouldn’t dare lower her mental defenses again, all she had to do was look at him to know that something had changed, that he too had made a decision, winning over the terror that had kept him paralyzed by the window.

“Halius … as far as I recall … this is not what we agreed upon,” the man in front of her declared in a soft, strangely sweet voice that, even so, was easily heard above the constant noise of the rain.

Sarah squeezed the handle of the umbrella faced with the confirmation that Hale had really betrayed them and felt his hand, still on her shoulder, twitch nervously.

“I’m sorry,” he replied in a surprisingly firm voice. “And I could try and excuse myself, but the truth is that I think she has the right to choose, instead of having me choose for her. After all, Humans are blessed with free will.”

The man laughed, delighted, and raised his head pulling down the hood that had been hiding his face.

“Coward to the end, I see …” he commented with sarcasm and his practically black gaze fell upon her, leaving her immediately nervous and tense. “Sarah Wilson … it is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance” He made a small bow and Sarah held firmly to her self-control.

Taller and stronger-looking than Alexis, his face seemed as young as Hale’s. His black, short hair stood all over his head, the small spikes painted sky blue. He dressed all in black, from head to toe, the pointy shirttails reaching knee-length, the long coat falling all the way to his ankles. Even his hands were covered in black leather gloves that made his fingers look even slimmer. His face was perfect, the eyes slightly elongated, the lips thin. But his most intimidating trait was the layer of ice enveloping him that, strangely enough, didn’t match at all the few emotions escaping his control and piercing through her mental defenses.

“Farran …” her voice cut the night although it hadn’t been her intention and he smiled softly, a cold, fake smile.

“I see they’ve been talking about me. Or was it my voice that betrayed me, after our brief phone call?”

“What do you want from me?” she asked, going straight to the point, and he seemed surprised for brief moments, before smiling again.

“Hum … if someone had kept to our previous arrangement we wouldn’t even be having this conversation!” he pointed out in a clear threat, although his face maintained that calm, tranquil expression, and Sarah felt Hale’s hand twitch again. “But oh well …” He sighed, leaning the handle of his umbrella against his shoulder and making it spin. “If you’re asking me what I want then it’s rather simple. I only want you to take four steps forward,” he declared, his gaze suddenly razor sharp, clashing with his uninterested and almost gentle expression, and Hale squeezed her shoulder as if he were afraid she might actually do it. Farran’s eyes were immediately on him and his expression became severe and threatening. “And what do you think you’re doing? When you just said it was her choice to make?”

Sarah felt Hale tremble again and took a step forward, brushing off his hand, which regained Farran’s attention.

“I don’t need anyone’s opinion.” She raised her head to face him. “I know you want me to leave Alexis’ Territory. And that as long as I am in here you have no way to reach me,” she declared, and since the first time they’ve met, Farran’s expression actually mirrored his emotions.

“I see that you’re relatively well informed, about a lot of things.” A deep frown marked his forehead and Sarah forced herself to stand firm. There he was, she thought, the terrifying man with whom she’d talked on the phone.

“I’m sorry. I can’t do what you want.” Farran raised an inquiring eyebrow.

“You can’t?” he repeated as if fearing having heard wrong, but Sarah didn’t waver.

“If I leave Alexis’ Territory you’ll probably kill me.”

Farran frowned and his anger brought an intense glow to his dark eyes.

“If you don’t do what I tell you your sister will die in your place!” he declared, raising his tone, and Sarah felt her stomach turn inside out but still was able to maintain control.

“Even if that’s the case. I can’t,” she reaffirmed and the anger that surrounded her, as he was faced with her stubbornness, was so intense that the air itself seemed heavy with electrical charges.

“Wretched Human! As to be expected! Nothing matters more to you than your own life!”

“Most cases, of course, you’re absolutely right,” she replied and Farran seemed at a loss for words, as if he hadn’t expect her to answer, much less to bluntly confirm his words. “Because once you’re dead than it’s the end. We need to be alive in order to live. What’s the logic of sacrificing one's life for something that we won’t be able to enjoy once we’re dead? And yet, sometimes, life brings us other people who become so important to us that losing them, even if we remain alive, means we die as well. Because without them life is no longer life. And as far as I'm concerned these are the only things that really deserve such sacrifice, since without them there’s no point in living on.”

“So you merely saying that your own sister isn’t one of those people,” Farran concluded, sounding calmer, and Sarah clenched her fists hard, forcing herself to smile in order to deceive her tears.

“Of course she is … Selena means the world to me. And up to a few weeks ago I wouldn’t have even thought twice, before complying with your demand. But now things are different. Because I can sacrifice my life for Selena’s. But I can’t sacrifice Alexis’ life!” she declared with all conviction, facing him without the shadow of a doubt, and Farran seemed surprised.

“Alexius’ life …” he repeated and a mocking laughter rose from his chest, joining the rain’s melody. “You really believe that? Those are mere delusions from a mad mind. Alexius is on the verge of complete madness, as eventually happens with our entire Race. Aaran is the only fool who refuses to see it. Although we do share some different points of view and had our occasional disagreements, Alexius and I have always been like Brothers. That’s the reason why I captured him in the first place. Deborah, the scientist you kidnapped today and that I’m hoping is still alive, is developing, at my request, a drug to delay and even suspend the mental and physical degeneration that leads to the madness that eventually swallows us all. It’s truly regrettable that there wasn’t enough time to run more tests, but Alexius was in a dire situation. And so, because the drug wasn’t completely perfected, some secondary effects, most of them undesirable, started to manifest. Among these are delusions, memory gaps, fake memories, and, of course, that Silver Mark. I don’t know how you found him in that warehouse, but the fact that you were the one who, in his mind, saved him, made him see you as an ally. And since you’re clearly a female his confused mind labeled you as his Hridaya. They’re just delusions. Because it’s simply impossible for a male from our Race to have a Hridaya from another Race! It just doesn’t happen!”

Sarah took a deep breath, and strangely enough felt even more relaxed and certain of herself.

“Maybe you're right. In truth I can hardly dispute your logic,” she conceded. “I know all too well the monster that inhabits him and how frail the chains holding him down really are. And yes, part of me always thought that someone as uninteresting as me, a mere Human, could never be someone so important in the life of such an extraordinary being like Alexis,” she declared and faced Farran, that by her unwavering expression, immediately concluded that his words hadn’t had the slightest effect on her. “However, none of that really matters to me. Because truth or delusion, Alexis believes in it. And it’s not only his mind that believes. His heart, even his essence … his whole being believes in it. And it was me he chose, whether I’m worthy or not. And I accepted his choice, and, implicitly, its consequences. And unless he tells me he was wrong I’ll keep believing in him. So, even if you’re right, and I’m not Alexis’ Hridaya, as long as he believes I am my death will destroy his life. And because I’m Human there’s not much I can do for him. But I can at least do my best to protect the life he believes holds the power do destroy his.”

To her surprise Farran was silent for a while, his severe, cutting gaze directed straight at her, as if he were weighing her words, and somehow his emotions became softer, more contained.

“All that regardless if you really are or not his Hridaya … You really believe that he would choose to follow you instead of living?” he finally asked and Sarah clearly felt the deep pain emanating from him as the words left his lips.

“Because he knows you … and because he knew you before. Because he knows your mind and because he … loves you. I have no doubt. But I’m sure that, should you just place your own desires on hold for a moment, and just think about him, you’ll reach the same conclusion."

Farran frowned, obviously displeased, but ended up taking a deep breath, absently playing with his ear piercings.

“We’re at a standoff, then. Because it’s obvious that even if I were to give you my word that I wouldn’t kill you, my word alone is worthless to you. On the other hand I have in my power a Human that just became useless, since she’s unable to assure me your cooperation. And although she is an important Human for you and someone you wish to protect, she’s still second in your list of priorities.” Listening to those words Sarah felt a stabbing pain in her chest but stopped herself from reacting to his provocation. Farran sighed and put on a light pout. “And to think that all I want is for Alexis to pay me a little visit,” he lamented and fury returned to his eyes. “Because you know? Every time we meet he’ll give me one of those sorrowful looks, always feeling sorry for me. As if he is the righteous one and I'm the one who's wrong. As if I’m the one needing saving, when he’s the one standing on the verge of a precipice. But maybe things would change a little, if I were to have you in my possession. Don’t you agree?” Sarah was sure but chose to remain silent. Farran was extremely complex and even more unstable than Alexis. And not only emotionally, but also regarding his own desires and objectives, which made him truly dangerous. “So tell me. What do you want to do?” Sarah squeezed her hands together as they started to shake again.

“I want to go with you, if that will guarantee my sister’s safety,” she replied without even flinching. It was getting harder and harder to keep up that facade. Her despairing mind was constantly thinking about Selena, somewhere out there, defenseless in the hands of those raving mad, bloodthirsty beings.

“But you won’t come.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t,” she confirmed in a broken voice and the sound of footsteps captured her attention as a dark shadow stood beside her.

Hale. She’d completely forgotten his presence, and Farran looked rather displeased at having been reminded of it. Hale, however, stood firm, his clothes completely drenched, his hair dripping water all over his face, but his expression hard and cold.

“I also have my own objectives to achieve,” he announced dryly. “And this standoff of yours is hardly to my advantage. And so I suggest that a Tamu Na Kanu is taken, an Oath of Truth."

“A Tamu Na Kanu …?!” Sarah repeated and Farran smiled coldly.

“It’s an unbreakable oath, just like the law of the Territories that you’re using to escape from me,” he explained although he was staring fixedly at Hale. “And who’d be the witness?”

“Me, of course.”

“Of course,” Farran repeated, truly amused, and shrugged. “I’m fine with it, if our Sarah will trust you enough to believe that this oath is truly unbreakable like we’ve told her. Do you really think she’ll believe the word of someone who’s just betrayed her?”

Hale stood stiff and cold as stone, and Sarah squeezed the umbrella handle with both hands.

“I believe in Hale,” she declared without a doubt and Farran looked at her with a sarcastic smile.

“Even if there’s a possibility that he just said what he said to make you come with me?”

“If he really wanted to just deliver me to you he could have done so many times before.”

“Yes, Halius changed his mind. What leads you to believe he won’t change it again?”

Sarah found herself without an acceptable answer. And Hale was just standing there, next her, in silence, without even glancing her way. Sure he’d betrayed her, and right then he was clearly confused about which path to follow. But there was something in him that remained unchanged, and somehow that gave her all the reassurance she needed.

“Even so …”

Farran smiled again and looked at Hale.

“It would seem this Human trusts you. The question is, do you trust me enough to leave the safety of Alexius' Territory?”

Sarah felt her heart jump. She hadn’t thought about that. And the moment Hale took a step forward she grabbed his arm before she could even realize what she was doing. Farran laughed, amused by the situation, and Sarah found herself breathing hard, tears clouding her eyesight. The shadow that stood in front of her hid her from Farran's piercing gaze, and the hand that was placed on top of her head was freezing but didn’t shake.

Sarah dried her tears nervously and took a deep breath, pulling herself together, and when she finally raised her head Hale gave her an approving smile that left her perplexed.

“If he destroys me go back inside and wait until Aaran comes back,” he simply told her, and before she could react, quickly stepped back, almost as if his feet didn’t touch the ground. When she realized it Hale was already on the other side of the gate, standing face to face with Farran.

Farran smiled again and grabbed his umbrella with his other hand, taking off his right glove.

“I guess you’re not such a coward after all,” he observed, reaching out his hand, and Sarah held her breath when Hale followed his lead without even hesitating.

“I’ll say the binding words. If you don’t mind, please repeat them in a way Sarah will understand them, so she knows what’s being said and understands the limits of your oath,” Hale said in a cold, serious tone that Sarah had never heard from him, and Farran shrugged, looking completely relaxed.

“So be it.”

He held Hale’s hand and they both started talking in unison, some strange words Sarah was unable to comprehend. And yet, as she looked bewildered at what was happening right in front her eyes, the drops of rain falling on their united hands started to glow, and bit by bit, a thin white light, like a bright luminous thread, started to take shape in midair. The silence that followed left her heart beating in her throat and she saw Hale take a deep breath and close his eyes, his pale face dripping water, his black bangs glued to his forehead. The words that left his colorless lips were half lost amidst the sound of the rain but the bright thread obeyed his voice, taking turns as buried itself in their arms alternately, disappearing through the clothes they wore. Farran’s voice startled her, as he repeated the words of his oath so she could understand them, in an unperturbed, clear voice that completely swallowed Hale's soft whispers.

“I, that today answer by the name Farran, here present in this space and time, swear by my life and by the value of my life, that I shall not destroy the Human life known as Sarah Wilson. I swear that I will not purposely place her in any situation that may result in her life being lost. I swear I will not order or command others to end her life. I swear that, should the ones who follow me place her life in danger or threaten her in any way, I will do my best to keep her safe and protect her. Of my oath is witness the one that today answers by the name of Halius …” Hale was suddenly silent, facing him with a severe look, and Farran sighed, looking bored. “Of my oath is witness the one that today answers by the name of Hale,” he corrected and Hale went on. “That here confirms the truthiness of my intentions. And so be it that the break of this oath may imply mine and his destruction alike.” Sarah squeezed the handle of her umbrella even harder. “And so be it that his life may never end by my hand. And that this oath may be valid until one of us ceases to exist.”

Farran stopped talking in understandable words and Sarah noticed that they were both repeating the words from the beginning, until the bright line simply disappeared.

Finally Hale took a deep breath and stepped back, breaking contact. Raising his right arm, he pulled his sleeve up and Sarah could clearly see the red marks imprinted on his skin in delicate waves and swirls, a lot like Alexis’ Silver Mark. Farran sighed, as if complying with a child’s wish, and imitated him, showing his arm where the same red marks glistened on his skin.

“Happy now?” Hale lowered his arm and went back to his silent self. “So?” Farran asked, turning to Sarah. “Or are you going to tell me that all that talk about trusting Hale was nothing but mere…”

Farran stopped himself as he saw her step forward. He purposely took a step back, forcing her to clearly cross the gate, but even that didn’t faze her.

Sarah only stopped as she stood right in front of him, raising her head to face him with an unwavering, firm expression.

“Take me to Selena!” she demanded and he smiled, clearly happy with the way things had turned out.

“We finally reached an agreement,” he declared, reaching out his hand, but before Sarah could take it Hale’s hand was on her shoulder again, pulling her back.

“I’ll take her. It’s what we agreed, after all,” he declared and Farran frowned, displeased with his intrusion. And yet he seemed to choose not to dwell in such details and, shrugging, lowered his hand and dusted off the small droplets of water that had fallen on his sleeve.

“I hope this time you can do it without any further detours,” he replied in a clear threat and bowed lightly to Sarah. “I wish you a pleasant trip and hope to see you soon,” he simply told her and disappeared amongst the shadows.

Sarah found herself sighing in relief but immediately took a deep breath and raised her head again. Not yet! It was still way too soon to feel relieved. Nothing had been solved. She hadn’t rescued or protected anyone yet.

“Sarah …”

She smiled at Hale’s uncertain expression and took a step forward so that he too would stand under her umbrella.

“You’re completely drenched,” she noticed and he gave her a puzzled look. “I’m glad you don’t get sick. But still, I’m sure it must be extremely uncomfortable.”

“Sarah!” He reprimanded her, as if wanting to give her a wake-up call, and she smiled again.

“Don’t worry, Hale.” He frowned, averting his gaze, making her laugh. “Let me guess. ‘Me? Worrying about some worthless Human?! Never!’” she imitated in a hoarse voice and laughed again but he didn’t even break a smile. “It’s fine. Somehow I feel all of this as … inevitable. And of course I’m scared. And I don’t really feel like I’ll be able to solve such difficult matter. But that’s exactly why. I’ll remain calm. Remain rational and objective. And I’ll carefully ponder every step I take. In other words I’ll do my best … It is, after all, the only thing I can do.”

“And what about me …? Aren’t you going to ask?” He lowered his head and she took a deep breath.

“What for? Beyond any judgments of value like ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, I’m sure you’re also doing the best you know and can,” she simply declared and he turned to face her.

“How can you be so sure of that?” he almost accused her and Sarah placed a hand against his chest which immediately made him cringe. Just as she’d guessed. He was freezing cold.

“Because I know how you feel,” she declared and smiled at his puzzled expression. “I’ve told you before. You’re the one that stubbornly refuses to believe me. And we should get going before Farran thinks you’ve decided to take me somewhere else.”

Hale sighed, feeling somehow defeated, and took a step forward, holding her in his cold embrace. For an instant a shiver ran through his body at how frail and warm her body felt against his. He could feel how tense she was, hear her breathe and clearly listen to her nervous heartbeat, even though she kept apparently calm and under control. She felt really small and he could still remember how easily he’d raised her from the ground, when he’d stopped her from running straight into a burning building. He knew that should he just squeeze her a bit harder the bones that gave support and shape to her body would simply shatter. And yet … Where did it come from? That strength he saw in her eyes, the same that had allowed her to face Farran with her head standing tall, when even him couldn’t stop shaking when in the presence of the leader of the rebels. And the way she’d talked about Alexis … The absolute certainty she’d imprinted in her words … Truth or not, whether Farran was right or wrong, Hale found himself wishing he might meet a woman that would be able to talk about him that same way. And he couldn’t help resenting and envying Alexis even more …

“As for Farran … it would be wise not to contradict him too much …” he finally told her. “Even if he did take the oath, should he lose his reason …”

“Don’t worry.” She returned his embrace with trembling hands, and although he knew that that was due to their eminent trip, he found himself imagining how good it would feel to have someone embrace him like that, without any second intentions. “I also know how Farran feels. You risked your life for me, Hale. Now it’s my turn to protect you. I swear I won’t allow him to break his oath,” Sarah declared with all conviction and Hale held her closer, breathing in the sweet scent of her skin.

That Human was making him even more confused! It was best he parted ways with her as soon as possible.

“Take a deep breath, Sarah …!” Was the only warning he gave her before dragging her with him into the shadows.