Which Side Are You On? *Part 59*

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“Where’s Markus?” Ahx asked the moment they stepped inside.

            “He’s…gone,” Sariin said. Ahx scrutinized their faces until his expression grew even more fumed. “We tried to stop him, Ahx,” she explained.

            “Why didn’t you tell me?”

            “I didn’t think it would be a problem.”

            “You know very well how dangerous it is out there! You both could have been killed!”

            “I know. I’m sorry.”

            Ahx was pretty much yelling at Sariin at the top of his lungs. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ahx that furious before, Sovira thought.

            “Sovira,” he said, barely grabbing her attention. “I’m sorry about Markus.”

            She stared blankly at the floor.

            “She’s been through so much,” Sariin said with her arm around Sovira. “I’m surprised she hasn’t snapped yet.”

            Ahx must have been surprised too. He stared at Sovira with a worried expression, then looked back to Sariin. His expression was confound as he looked to her. Something was up. Sovira stared at him curiously as he opened his mouth to speak.

            “An old friend paid me a visit. He dropped this off.”

            Sovira stared at him bewildered. Old friend? She thought. He reached his hand out toward her. He was holding the amulet he gave her before. The one Karamys took. She took it even though now it held no meaning to her. Is this all Karamys stopped by for? What’s with him lately?

            “He came here?” Sariin asked, just as baffled as Sovira.

            “Yes. I was just as surprised. He said he wanted to apologize. He asked to speak to Sovira. I made it clear that he is not welcome on my property. Though, Syth was a little more upfront about it.”

            “So, that’s it?”

            “Yeah.”

            “Huh…Weird.”

            “Definitely weird,” Sovira murmured.

            What is he up to now? She wondered.

            “Will you be alright?” Ahx asked.

            “Yeah. I’ll be fine.” She knew it was a lie, and he most likely knew it as well. “I’m gonna go to my room. I just need some alone time.”

            She sighed as she let herself fall back into the bed.

            Markus was dead. She felt that it was her fault. Technically she didn’t cheat on him. But the fact that she had feelings for Syth, strong feelings at that, was just wrong. She wasn’t as loyal to Markus as she should have been. He didn’t deserve what she did to him. He deserved better.

            Sovira tossed and turned in her bed. She wanted sleep to consume her so she wouldn’t have to bare these thoughts any longer, but there were far too many to simply push aside. They would not allow her to sleep. Complete darkness would consume her before sleep even came close. She didn’t want that. She knew what would happen if it did. What she would do. She would be in Romara’s shoes.

            She heard voices outside her door. They were deep voices yet they sounded distant. She couldn’t make out what they were talking about, but she suspected it had to do with her. She focused harder on the voices beyond the door.

            “She just wants to be left alone,” she heard Ahx’s voice.

            “I only want to talk to her. I won’t be more than five minutes,” the other voice said. It was deep, like Ahx’s, but lower in tone, an upset or sorrowful tone.

            “She has been through a lot. Try to understand.”

            “One minute. Give me one minute.”

            “She wants to be left alone.”

            “I’m worried about her.”

            “We are all worried about her, but right now she wishes to be alone. Give her some time to clear her head. Give her some space for tonight and you can talk to her tomorrow.”

            “No, I-”

            “Syth,” Ahx said in a frustrated tone.

            She heard something hit the door. She presumed it was Ahx preventing Syth from barging in. She knew Syth enough to know that if he wanted something he was intent on getting it.

            “Fine!” Syth growled deeply in anger. She heard him stomp away.

            It was quiet after that. Complete silence once again, yet Sovira still couldn’t manage to fall asleep. Her mind was raging with thoughts. Thoughts of regret, sadness, questions, confusion, love, and a longing for atonement.

            She sighed as she gazed at the window. Wind was pushing hard against it. Karamys? She thought. She raised up and walked over to the window, As she lifted it up, wind blew in her face and through her hair. It was slightly harsh. The wind was blowing through the trees so hard that they were fairly bent over. Was Karamys out there? She wondered. Is he watching over me?

            Her thoughts were on the frozen demons. What had happened back there? Was that Karamys or was it the fourth demon? Neither conclusion made sense. Nothing made sense anymore.

            And who was responsible for killing Markus? Was that Karamys or the demons? Or was it Damien? So many questions but no answers.

            Sovira’s eyes flickered to something red, but she only saw a blur before whatever it was vanished into the trees. She took a deep breath and shut the window. It looked as if a storm was going to start. A storm of only wind, but a storm nonetheless. Though from her knowledge she knew wind itself could create a pretty powerful storm.

            She laid back down in her bed. Her head was clear. It was as if her thoughts had been absorbed from her mind. Perhaps all she needed was a little fresh air.

            Her vision was faded as she stared into the darkness. She couldn’t make out the figures in the shadows. She tiptoed forward and peered into the darkness where two people stood. It was a dead end, that much she knew. They were yelling and it looked as if they were struggling with each other. She blinked hard to clear the fuzziness, but her attempt proved useless as it didn’t fade.

            She ran toward them to get a clearer view. She saw one of the figures collapse while the other looked in her direction. The one still standing had red hair. But his hair was the only feature perceptible. Wind rushed by her and he was gone in seconds as she reached the dead end.

            The fuzziness began to clear as she stared down at the body on the concrete. His dirty blonde hair was a mess and he had bruises everywhere.

            Oh, no, she thought. She knew who she was staring at. “Markus!” she cried.

            “It’s okay,” she heard Syth’s voice and felt warmth on her arm.

            Markus and the dead end slowly faded away as her room came into view. She tried to breathe normally, but her heart racing as it was made that almost impossible. She was also sweating heavily. Seeing Markus dead once was enough. She didn’t want to relive it. The warmth on her arm was Syth’s hand. He was sitting next to her, stroking her arm.

            “Syth,” she muttered forlornly then protested. “No. No, it’s not okay.”

            She was in tears.

            “It was only a dream.” He tried to comfort her.

            “No. Everyone I’ve cared for is dead. Dead, Syth. I don’t know why I’m still fighting,” she cried.

            “It’s only human to fight for your beliefs and the ones you love.” He persisted in trying to comfort her even though he couldn’t possibly understand her pain. He couldn’t stand to see her like this.

            “But I’ve lost everyone.”

            “Then…I’m sorry.” His voice was low, hurt.

            “Oh, Syth,” she cried and hugged him. “You’re all I have. Please don’t leave me.”

            He embraced her back.