19 Chapter 19: Boundaries

In the morning Veretta awoke feeling surprisingly refreshed. Though she had been incensed by the talk with Master Rhy, but admittedly there had been a silver lining. She kept recalling all of Errik's actions from the night before. If she didn't know any better, she might have guessed he was warming to her. Of course, a small voice spoke up in reproach:

'He is a wicked man. You should not go looking for anything from him.'

Veretta bit her lip as she lay in bed for a moment longer in thought. She was finding it harder and harder to draw that line in her mind. To think such a little indulgence on his part could motivate such thoughts. Veretta chastised herself severely as she rose.

Instead she brought her mind back to task at hand. She felt a sense of determination she hadn't felt in some time. Perhaps it was being back in the college that was motivating her. She pulled back her long black hair into a plait and dressed herself. She would go to the library today and begin her research. After some consideration, she had decided it was better that Silthus wasn't arriving straight away. Now she could plot her revenge succinctly. This time no one would be hurt.

When she had first left the college in the north, she had been in the depths of blinding grief. In truth, she wondered whether she had returned back to the village to fight Silthus or she had returned there to die. Summoning Errik was a mixture of desperation and pain but the result had been better than she expected.

Though he was not the man in stories, his knowledge of magic was still in tack. The stories of his wild temper were exaggerated. In fact his calm demeanour had been a great comfort. It made her own actions in comparison seem exceedingly reckless. From now on she would follow his example and take hold of herself. She could do this. Charlotte's death would not be in vain and Silthus would not escape what he had done.

With these thoughts engrained in her mind, Veretta set off to the library in the early hours of the morning. She left a letter for Tomas explaining she would do the tour later. The truth was, she worked best alone. Over the course of the harsh journey to the south something of an idea had already formed in her mind. Now she just needed the tools to take action.

A few hours later, Tomas, Errik and Yona gathered at the appointed place. Immediately Errik asked:

"Where is Veretta?"

"She's not coming," Tomas answered. He gave a brief summary of her letter.

"I want to go to the library," Errik said after listening.

Tomas glanced up at him suspiciously, "What's with you? You've not left her side in days."

A flicker of irritation came over Errik's expression. However, instead of insisting on the point, he crossed his arms with thinly disguised agitation and said no more. A few moments later they were joined by one of the senior students and shown around the college.

The campus grounds were expansive. The gated community of students contained everything needed to support itself without reliance on the other side of the world. The group found themselves walking through the great campus gardens. They walked through an aisle of trees before reaching strips of cultivated land where students were tending to the various plants growing there. Then they went onward into a white and elegant observatory. There was a wide and exotic collection of rare herbs which Tomas inspected eagerly.

"Yona!" he called excitedly, "look at this," he pointed to a pink flower.

She obliged and stared down expressionless.

"It's the colour of your eyes,"Tomas gave a wild childish grin.

An uncharacteristic flicker of surprise crossed her cool features. She turned her face from him at once, " No, it isn't,"

"Really? I guess not then," Tomas inspected the flower once more with a shrug and walked on.

The tour concluded with a visit to the Headmaster taking them back up the spiralling tower. This time the halls were silent as classes were in session. The sound of their steps up the cold hard staircase was the only noise. As they got higher and closer to the top of the tower, Tomas noticed Errik trailing some distance behind. He took a few steps down and looked Errik over soberly.

Errik seemed to be gripping the railing with his full strength but his hand trembled slightly. His brow had broken out in a cold sweat and his usual calm guarded expression was drawn up under the strain.

"Errik, you..."Tomas stared at him apprehensively.

Suddenly, the door at the top of the tower opened. A jovial old man with a rounded belly cast an inspecting gaze down below.

"There you are!" he exclaimed, "Come, come! You are late,"

He once more toddled back into the office beyond leaving the door open. The student guide turned back to rest with an apologetic smile.

"The Headmaster is really nice but he's a stickler for time,"they said a bit anxiously.

"Oh, sorry,"Tomas smiled. He started forward but glanced back at Errik once more.

In spite of his condition, Errik reached the office with the rest and they were escorted inside. It was a high ceiling study lined with shelves and shelves of books small and large. There was a neat arrangement of cabinets and drawers with proudly displayed treasures of all kinds. The Headmaster was sitting behind his long wooden desk twirling a finger around his moustache.

"Sit down, sit down," he instructed before seeing the guide off.

He came back looking at the group closely.

" We received no word from the North of your coming," he cleared his throat authoritatively, "but Master Rhy says you are guests of the red general so we have made special accommodations. Are they to your liking?"

" Yes, Sir they are, " Tomas answered.

"Good,"the Headmaster replied briskly, " he has been our patron. We couldn't have him thinking we treated his guests poorly. Now, we can enroll you in classes here if you wish but since you are senior students it is up to you. You have probably heard we are throwing a ball in a few days, of course you are invited to attend."

Though his invitation seemed sincere, something in his manner suggested it was less of a request and more of demand. Tomas gave a knowing smile.

" We will attend, sir,"

"Very good, " the Headmaster sniffed then with slightly puffed cheeks he added, " and you will tell the Red General how accommodating we have been?"

"Of course," Tomas replied.

The Headmaster gave a satisfied nod. However as he looked over them, his moustache twitched.

"I thought there were supposed to be four of you," he said as if he suddenly realised.

"The forth person is in the library, but they will attend the party as well," Tomas gave an uneasy laugh.

The Headmaster did not seem pleased. Nevertheless, he dismissed them all the same. They were brought lunches and brought back outside. Within moments of sitting down, however, they were swarmed with a group of students again.

"You should come to the food hall," they suggested.

"Actually," Tomas glanced over at Errik who strangely still, "we're just going to eat out here for a bit. Maybe we'll come later,"

After he managed to turn them away to their disappointment, Tomas let out a sigh.

"Do you have to be so good looking, Errik? You know that's why they're following us around," Tomas glanced at him.

Errik didn't answer. He was staring down restlessly.

"I think they follow because of you," Yona said in a low voice.

However, Tomas was not listening. He was trying to get Errik's attention without much success.

"You look like shit,"Tomas nudged his leg lightly." You're acting strange Errik, stranger than normal and that's saying something, "

Suddenly, Errik flew up wildly and reached for Tomas's neck. Yona immediately interceeded holding him by the wrist.

"Control yourself, wizard," she said coldly.

Errik's eyes widened as if coming out of a daze. He staggered back and took off running.

"Errik!" Tomas exclaimed.

However, Errik was already gone.

Later that evening Veretta found Tomas and Yona in the food hall. It was a long room with great wooden beams and rustic tables. The room was bustling with students taking their dinner. Veretta took a seat with a plate of food.

"Where's Errik?" She asked.

"He locked himself in his room," Tomas said without looking up from his plate, " Maybe you should go talk to him. He's been acting strangely,"

"Strangely how?" Veretta questioned.

Tomas tapped the table thoughtfully, " I don't know. He just seems off,"

That night Veretta visited Errik's room. Throughout the dinner, she had a sinking feeling in her gut and a sense of growing unease as they mounted the steps and reached the dormitories again. When Yona and Tomas has gone, Veretta was left standing alone outside Errik's door. Her hand hovered over it anxiously. Was this another time she would be crossing into his boundaries?

Still, over the last few days, he had seemed less closed off than usual. However, she had also detected something in Tomas' hesitation that told her it was more than his usual standoffishness. Veretta inhaled deeply and knocked at the door.

It took longer than usual but eventually, Errik came to the door. He looked different than usual. His olive cheeks were slightly red. His hair fell over his light eyes and he had a self-satisfied smile. He leant against the doorway somewhat unbalanced and stared down.

"Errik," Veretta hesitated, "have you been drinking?"

"Drinking?" Errik raised an eyebrow playfully, "no, I don't drink,"

Veretta looked past him. She could see bottles on the desk beyond. Not only that, but the room was in a state of disarray. Her eyes came back to him severely.

"Are you alright?"Veretta shook her head.

"I'm fine," Errik returned flatly."I told you already,"

He leaned forward and wrapped a hand around the back of her neck. Then he put his head on her shoulder and let out a long sigh. Veretta's face turned red and she quickly glanced around. She already knew how rumours spread quickly in the colleges.

She quickly pushed past Errik and stepped into his room. It was in a worse state than she initially thought. The room was small and cramped as it was. Veretta wondered how he had managed to make such a mess in the first place. It was almost impressive.

In all the time she had known him, he hadn't so much as raised his voice. Yet the him now seemed strangely vulnerable. Veretta wondered if he had recalled something of the past by being back here. It was the only thing that would explain his strange behaviour. In truth, Veretta wasn't sure whether she was happy or afraid.

"This isn't like you," Veretta inhaled apprehensively.

" Actually I think this is exactly like me," Erik answered reticently. He leant back on the door wearily.

"What does that mean?"Veretta asked quietly.

"If my behaviour is unacceptable to you," Errik gave a smile that didn't reach the eyes, "perhaps you ought to command me better,"

"No, I don't want to command you," Veretta frowned, "Just talk to me, Errik. Why can't we just work together?"

"I don't play well with others," Errik replied coldly. "I don't like talking either,"

"Can't you try, Errik?" Veretta shook her head grievously. "I don't want to control you or force you to do anything you don't want to do...So we need to figure this out together,"

"Yes, you've said so many times," Errik stared down bemused.

Veretta regarded him coolly. "We already agreed that there is a line that we shouldn't cross but I want to help you if I can,"

"What would be crossing the line for you?" Errik asked with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. He took Veretta's hand and kissed it softly. Veretta let out a gasp of surprise.

"Is this crossing the line?" he asked with his golden eyes watching her darkly. His lips trailed her arm and them her neck as he kissed her again.

"What about this?"

He leaned forward about to kiss her lips but Veretta pulled away. "What are you doing?" she asked flustered.

Errik let out an incredulous laugh, " What is it with you? You said you cared about me and the minute I start to take interest you turn away?"

Veretta's jaw clenched "I'm not turning away but the truth is, I have the power between us. If I don't control myself, I'm going to cross even the limited boundaries we have now!"

"I don't mind if you dominate me," Errik replied darkly, "in fact, I wouldn't care if you demanded much more than you do."

"What?" Veretta stared up confused.

Errik leaned forward till his face tickled Veretta's cheek, "If you want something more me, you should just take it,"

Veretta's face turned red, she stared at him reproachfully, "No, certainly not,"

" You don't love me, do you?" Errik said quickly, "as long as that's not the case, why not?"

"Because it's not right!" Veretta faltered, "people should only be together if they love each other,"

"Oh, little necromancer," Errik breathed, "we are so past right and wrong,"

"Even if that is true," Veretta frowned, "I...I don't want to become that person. I know that I've done many bad things but this isn't who I want to be,"

"Then what about me?" Errik gave a bittersweet smile, "Who am I supposed to be now? Won't you tell me?"

Veretta's heart ached but she didn't know how to reply. Her silence was accepted by Errik with a stiff nod.

"Okay. You want boundaries?" his eyes narrowed fiercely, "then GET OUT!"

Veretta flinched at the sound of his voice so uncharacteristically severe and pained. She almost lost her footing as she went for the door flustered. She pushed past him out the door. She didn't know why but the moment she left his room she took off running. She didn't stop till she reached the darkness of her own room and closed the door behind her. She leant back on the door with a trembling hand, blinking back tears.