Long silent days passed between Kaval and Ari. Although the sun was out, the clouds blocked any rays of sunlight from shining down onto them. They were dark clouds threatening to fill the land with rain once more. Ari could smell it in the air. He shook away his distaste for it and looked around at his sparse surroundings, ignoring Kaval's presence altogether.

The trees barely had leaves on them when they were well into the summer months. They were dead much like the grass around them. The land was too open, too vast, and too empty for his liking. Rein had always taught him to avoid such terrain when the land was unfamiliar because it would be leaving him defenseless and exposed to whatever lurked in the shadows. Ari could feel it. Those haunting eyes and presence of lessers. And those things that pulled at his legs, sinking him into the ground. It brought on the same kind of feeling he felt when he was deep in the crypts below the dark place. Ari held himself tight, trying to think no more of it. That place frightened him even when he was not there and that thought alone bothered him.

"It is quiet," Ari murmured, catching Kaval's attention.

"And what of it? Does it... unnerve you?"

"Yes," Ari admitted. "It smells... "

Kaval smiled then.

"Of what?"

"Death."

"Death? What a peculiar thing to say when there is not a dead thing here."

Ari stopped walking and looked at Kaval.

"The feeling I get when I walk closer to that mountain is the same one I felt when I went to the dark place that once was a fallen temple." Ari did not know if he should say more, but more words came spilling out of him. "I had woken something then..."

"Oh," Kaval said uncaringly.

"Was it you?"

Kaval nodded causing Ari to close his eyes.

"I had not called but you answered. You have the blood of a Great running through your veins. It had to be you or some other. But others, like us, are hard to find."

Ari took a couple paces back and meekly touched his neck.

There was a reason for why Auovin did not want Ari to go anywhere with him and why Cyrus tried to keep Kaval away. Ari thought, at first, it was because they wanted to continue to shield him away from the side of him he had not known. Slowly, Ari was coming to believe that was not the reason why.

"I thought I had told you this already," Kaval said as he reached for Ari's hand. "Do not worry, Ari. I will not hurt you. I do mean that. Truly."

"So then tell me the real reason why you want me to go there?"

Kaval frowned and looked away from Ari.

"Even if I tell you, it will not change a thing. Do not ask questions you may not want to really know the answers to. Not yet. Not now. I am not the one to answer them."

Ari did not bother to prod any further. It would get him nowhere. So he thought to ask another question.

"Your markings then... Where did you get them?"

Kaval rubbed the back of his neck as his eyes lowered to the ground.

"How is the better question. I do not know which of the three had put me to sleep... but they are the reason how." As best as he tried to hide it, Ari could hear the anger slipping through Kaval's voice.

"And the markings etched onto your skin when you had... ?"

"They are the things that bound me to sleep. Unlike blood demons, we do not sleep as they would, so we do not need such markings on our bodies."

"They say they are stories passed down from our parents. Are they not the same for you?"

Kaval shook his head no.

"We engrave our stories into walls and carvings. The language is the same, but the way we go about sharing such information is much different. With blood and time, these things that litter my back will disappear and I will be as I once was."

"So it did more than just put you to sleep."

Kaval ran his thumb across his own lip and sighed. "I spoke too much already."

Ari turned his attention to his changing surroundings not bothering to press any further. The ground became slick and icy even when the air around them felt warm. When he exhaled, his breath formed clouds that disappeared as quickly as they formed. He did not feel the chill due to the blood he had taken. That thought made him fill with guilt. If he had taken that much how was Cyrus truly doing? He may have been fine enough to dress and go wherever he wanted to go off to... but it did not speak for his strength at all.

"Is he really alright? Cyrus... I mean. You must have seen him go." Ari heard himself ask aloud.

"Oh, so you worry about him now? It is not all about Auovin?"

Ari cut his eyes to Kaval. He pursed his lips and furrowed his brows. What had made Kaval become so hostile? It was like walking on eggshells with him when Ari once felt nothing but comfortable around him.

"Kaval."

Nothing but silence filled the air between them. There were sounds of birds or trees moving from the wind. It made Ari become more unsettled by the seconds. However, Ari wanted to trust Kaval. He would not do a thing to hurt him. That was what he wanted to think, but his heart was beating fast. As soon as Ari tried to reach for his hand, Kaval moved his hand away.

"Have I said something wrong?" More silence. "Kaval," Ari said again, growing anxious now. "Have I done something wrong then?"

Kaval smiled. "You are not one for silence, are you?"

"I want to speak to you."

"Why?"

"... Because you are my friend," Ari murmured. He was beginning to doubt his trust in Kaval when he did not want to. Kaval was acting strangely was all. Ari just wanted to know why.

Kaval turned and looked at Ari-- truly looked at him which made Ari's stomach turn.

"Trusting in people so easily will get you nowhere but to an early grave, Ari."

"You give me no reason not to... I spoke recklessly and I did not mean to pry. Forgive me."

"It is not that," Kaval said with kneaded brows.

"Then what is it?"

"Just what will you do when you come to know the truth? Will you still be the same as you are or someone entirely changed by the weight of a burden that is not yours to bear?"

"I do not know what you are speaking of. You are always straightforward with me, but I know you must have your reasons for why you are not now."

Kaval continued walking ahead, causing Ari to follow closely behind. Ari caught up with him and pulled on Kaval's shirt.

"Tell me, Kaval."

"You look like him... is all," Kaval whispered. "But do not worry. I meant my words that day I took your blood and took my true form. I am loyal to you until you or I pass away, I promise. On my life, I swear, but this is something I must do and you must see."

Ari thought to say something in response, but he stopped himself and gave Kaval a light smile.

"It seems you are afraid and in need of a friend... So am I. I am afraid of what I may find out and what I will do when I learn of it. Even as we speak, it is eating away at me like a festering wound." Ari thought of Auovin. "What I am trying to say is that I understand you."

Kaval lowered his eyes to the ground before he laid a light kiss on Ari's cheek.

"Thank you."

"I admit Auovin takes up a great part of my heart... but it does not mean I do not care about you or Cyrus, for the matter."

"You are sweet-- too sweet almost."

Ari looked up at Kaval.

"I... I do not think so. Perhaps, I may have been once before. But the things I did-- I do-- I do for myself. Someone once told me that the mask I wear has cracks. I did not understand her then, but I am coming to understand her words now."

Kaval shook his head. "We all do in some way or another. You wear no mask. Your intentions and emotions are as clear as the moon on a cloudless night." He took Ari's hand in his hand, turning it over and flipped it back over again as if inspecting it.

"That--"

Kaval left a kiss on top of one of his knuckles. "I would not have sworn myself to you, if not. As young as you are... You do not know what a prize you have won. But to the victor goes the spoils."

"I do not know what those words are supposed to mean." Ari stopped in his tracks growing wary once more.

"I do."

Ari recognized who that voice belonged to, causing a chill to go up to his spine soon after. How did he find him? Instinctively, Ari backed behind Kaval as Inge approached them.

"Give him to me. I will take him the rest of the way," Inge said. His hair was tied neatly into a braid and thrown to this side. The clothes he wore were a little dirty, but Ari could tell he was well rested and fed well. When he looked Kaval he realized he had not asked for his blood. The last time he had eaten a thing was such a long time ago. Ari clenched his hands into fists beating back the fear growing inside him.

"Why are you hesitating when we both want the same thing?" Inge said.

"He does not seem to like you."

Inge rolled his eyes. "So we had a few minor misunderstandings in the past. One led to you waking, so you should be thankful."

Kaval narrowed his eyes.

"I do not want to fight with you. You are still weak. Do not make this harder than necessary." Inge flicked his eyes over to Ari. "You do not even know how hard I searched for this little kitten. Did you see how many Sanclii littered the ground back there, right? That could have been someone you held dearly."

Ari's eyes widened. So many thoughts passed through Ari's mind in that moment. He knew he should have gone back to check on Freir and Rein, but he set in his way of finding Auovin.

"To be fair, the lessers did the most of the work," Inge went on to say as he came closer. Kaval pushed him back with one hand, sending him back quite a bit.

"He is lying to you," Kaval said.

"Am I? I helped them."

"Because you like Rein," Ari noted.

"And so if I do?" Inge hissed. "I did you a favor. Now you do me one."

"You did yourself a favor."

"I went to the wrong temple. But, this time, I promise, I got it right this time."

In a blink of an eye, Kaval grabbed him up by his neck and flung him across the emptiness. The dust barely settled when Kaval fell to the ground. Kaval quickly dodged the blade directed at his neck. Ari kicked it out of Inge's hand before he could try again and stabbed his dagger through his hand.

Kaval was still pinned under him, however. Inge had his hand around Kaval's throat. When Ari tried to pull him off of him. Inge ripped his hand through the blade and slapped him away as if swatting a fly.

"You are not much a blood demon are you," Kaval said through breaths, "if you are lusting after a mere human."

Inge turned his attention back to Kaval. Ari could smell his blood as Inge's nails sank into the flesh of his neck. Kaval wrenched Inge's hand from his neck and rolled them over. He flipped Inge onto his back and drew Inge's arm behind him. Inge's head pressed into the dirt as Kaval put more of his weight on him.

"You are choosing wrong," Inge growled.

"I am not choosing anything," Kaval answered. Inge tried to wrestle out of his grasp, but Kaval kept a firm handle on him.

"What does that boy even matter to you? You are a Great."

"So is he," Kaval said.

"Pfft, when it is convenient for you all. Anyone with mixed blood is considered a blood demon in a Great's eyes, is that not right?"

Ari looked at Kaval.

"He is ours to deal with. Not you and your kind, so stay in your place." Inge backed his head against Kaval's, causing Kaval's nose to bleed. Kaval cried out in pain and fell to the ground before Ari had a chance to gauge what was happening. Something sharp and blue was lodged in his upper chest. Blood poured out of the wound quickly. Ari did not know what to do.

"I did not want to do that, but you left me with no choice." Inge rose and wiped his lip. "A pity you have just woken only to be put back to sleep again. And for what? Him?" He spat near the ground where Ari stood, but Ari held his ground as frightened as he was becoming of him.

"Ari, go," Kaval rasped.

Ari took two daggers out and held them in between his fingers once Inge stopped. The lessers were approaching. He could feel their presence lurking amongst the emptiness. Ari knew Inge could sense it as well.

"Look what you made me do. I caused a mess."

Kaval tried to rise, but only a cry tore from his throat making Ari's brows furrow. He could not think to leave him to the mercy of a man like Inge. Surely, Inge would kill him. And Kaval was his friend. Ari could not leave him behind.

"Do not even think about it, kitten. Put those down and come with me."

Ari looked from Inge to Kaval. He had to do something and do something quick. As soon as Ari started to back away, the growls from the lessers became prevalent. Wyhils were surrounding them and seeres tended to always follow close behind.

"Do not make me chase you. This time, you have nothing to bargain with."

"Why are you even after me? I have done nothing to you."

"And I suppose this is the part I tell you every intimate detail of something we have been arranging for centuries. I do not think so."

When Ari made no movement to do as he said, Inge turned and walked towards Kaval. He pressed the blue stone in deeper with his foot, causing Kaval to grovel. There was pain written all over his face, and Ari could not stand it. But the thought of--

"I am not going to ask you again. Put them down. Now. Or I will truly put him into a sleep he will not ever wake up from."

Ari dropped them without another thought. Inge was not one to make empty threats and Kaval was already in so much pain because of him.

"Arms out."

Ari squeezed his eyes shut and obeyed.

Inge came and checked his arms, legs, and boots for any more daggers. He grabbed a couple from out of Ari's boots and threw them to the ground.

"I was not lying when I said I had helped them," Inge mumbled close to Ari's cheek. They are somewhere here doing something that they have no reason to be doing, I am sure."

Ari elbowed him in the eye, blinding him enough to escape from him and go to Kaval. Kaval's markings were glowing from his shirt near where the blue stone was. It was gradually spreading to the rest of him. Ari had to take it out. But what if he took it out and caused more harm than good? How would he stop the bleeding that would happen once he removed it? Ari bit his bottom lip and grabbed the stone rod with both hands and pulled. He had no time to contemplate.

Kaval howled in pain, but it was the only way Ari knew how to help him.

"Forgive me. This will hurt." As soon as Ari was about to pull it the rest of the way out, Inge came and locked Ari's head in his arms.

"Conscious or not, I will bring you to them even if I have to drag you there." Inge tightened his hold on him, cutting off his airways. Ari dug his nails into the flesh of his arms but it had no effect on him. The light was fading from Ari's eyes. He could hardly breathe.

"Sleep now," Inge whispered.

Ari struggled in his arms, but his strength was leaving him. Air came back to him the moment he was released from Inge's viper grip. He coughed and blinked incessantly to clear away the tears forming inside of his eyes. It hurt to breathe, but Ari was glad to be free from it.

When he looked over to his left, he saw Kaval laying motionless on the ground. It caused tears to well in his eyes at how useless and weak he was. He needed-- wanted strength and power to protect the things he held dear. At that moment, he would pay any price for it. When he looked to the right, he saw Inge down on the ground with a foot resting on his neck. His eyes widened as soon as he saw a pair of molten yellow eyes staring down at Inge with a scowl set on his face.

Auovin.