Chapter 25: The wind and the rain

Song recommendation: "I close my eyes and bang I am dead" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTwdGRHl5Mw)

"This is it," Michael ushered the way.

They cut through into a forest clearing. There was a small shack beside a river. The churn of water and birds singing in the trees filled the forest air with sweet spring melodies. The shack was a rustic little structure. It was four ancient-looking brick walls, a chimney and an old slate roof.

Michael turned back to Albaric and Rena.

"I'll talk to them, stay here," he said, "Kali might get a bit well...you know Kali, if she sees the rest of you...so maybe stay back,"

"You have ten minutes," Rena stated flatly.

"After that, we'll have to have look inside," Albaric sighed, "Tell them to take off before then,"

"Sure," Michael smirked.

He stepped inside. It was dark. The curtains were drawn and there was a faint smell of blood in the air.

"Kali?" he called apprehensively.

He turned to the corner where the curtains were drawn over the beds and swept it back...

Within a few minutes, Michael emerged back outside.

Albaric called to him surprise, "that was quick,"

Michael didn't answer. He doubled over breathing heavily. He threw a hand over his face as he were about to be sick but halted just as suddenly and threw himself back up. He inhaled deeply and rapidly.

"Michael?" Albaric tapped him on the shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Michael's eyes blinked rapidly. He was staring ahead. His eyes were wide and fixed. He looked pale and was shaking ever so slightly. His mouth parted as if to speak but no words came out.

"Where's Kali and Bird?" Albaric questioned alarmed.

"Kali..." Michael said slowly and with growing ferocity, "Kali...Kali...KALANDRA!!!!"

He took off running into the forest screaming her name.

"KALI!! GET OUT HERE!"

"Gods!" Albaric flinched, "What are you doing?!" He started after him but halted.

"Rena?" he called behind, "Michael took off!"

"He won't get far," Rena said, reaching him. She held up her hand. The red spiralling mark appeared.

Michael's screaming suddenly stopped. She and Albaric followed into the forest. They found Michael on his knees absolutely livid and shaking with rage. Despite the confines of the covenant he was fighting against it with full force. He was red in the face and his brown hair was thrown over his eyes as he exhaled venomously.

"Michael, Stop it!"Albaric stared apprehensively. "What's gotten into you?" he asked gravely.

Michael stared up, his eyes watering so slightly and then he slumped over. Albaric's eyes widened.

"No..." Albaric exhaled shakily and took off back in the other direction.

"Albaric, what is it?" Rena called after him but he was gone.

Albaric raced back to the shack and burst through the door. He searched around till his eyes laid sight on what his heart had been dreading. His heart sank and he stared breathlessly ahead.

Upon the bed in the corner of the room, Bird was lying very still as if asleep. However, there were purple marks around his neck. Albaric stepped forward releasing the breath he had been holding. He knew already but he placed a hand on Bird's skin. It was ice cold.

Albaric stumbled back out of the shack. Rena and Micahel were outside the door. Rena stared up at Albaric apprehensively. Michael was staring at the ground wordlessly.

"It's...Bird," Albaric said slowly, "he's dead,"

Rena's brow furrowed. She went inside hurriedly. If there was any chance of revival...she might be able to...

Rena stared down at Bird sombrely. She could tell at once. He had been dead for some time. It was too late.

Coming back outside there was silence. Only the river splashing in the distance and the birds singing innocently. Rena lifted her hand and broke the hold of the covenant. Michael didn't take off running again.

Instead, he lifted his face. His cheeks were streaked with tears and his eyes were wide and red. The cunning slithered yellow in his eyes was caught by the soft light. They shined a brilliant and murderous gold.

"Let me go," he said through shaky breath, "I NEED TO FIND KALANDRA RIGHT NOW."

"To do what?" Albaric said soberly.

"TO FUCKING KILL HER!"

"Michael," Albaric swallowed uneasily, "we need to..."

"NO! NO!" Michael screamed, "NO! WE don't need to do anything! Just let me out of this fucking pact! I have to go! I need to go!"

"I can't do that," Rena said subdued.

Michael grabbed hold of Albaric desperately, "please Albaric! Please!" he cried, his voice breaking.

"I.." Albaric stared down unable to speak.

"Please!" Tears streamed down Michael's face, "I have to...I have to do something... Bird, he's.."

He threw his head down with a sob and fell to his knees. Albaric looked down grievously. Even when the others had died, Michael never cried once. Not when they told him that Clover had killed the Crillian wizard. Not when his best friend had been killed during the war. Nor when the Empress never returned. Michael never shed a tear.

Now he was crying like a child. Albaric had no words. He too felt the weight crushing his heart. In his mind, Bird would always be that child he had found in the desert, wide-eyed and full of amazement. Albaric bent to one knee.

"Michael," he said softly.

Michael didn't answer. His face was buried in his hands so low his elbows were covered in mud. He was sobbing so fiercely his throat was raw.

"We have to bury him first, "Albaric said, his voice barely a whisper.

Michael stopped shaking. He became very still. He came up ghostly white, staring at Albaric in disbelief.

"No!" he rejoined sharply. "No, I don't want to. Not here in the middle of nowhere!"

Michael flew from the ground and darted into the shack. The door bolted behind him.

Albaric dragged a hand over his face and came to a stand.

"I can compel him out," Rena said softly, putting a hand on Albaric's shoulder.

"No," Albaric shook his head, "That child was like his son, Rena. Just let him be for a while,"

She nodded quietly. From within, the sobbing continued for several hours.

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**The demon world**

Yona skipped lightly into Ace's room. There were times she would simply appear at his door. If he was in a good mood, he would read to her for a while.

"Ace," she said with a smile, "Vassy is looking for you,"

"He's always looking for me," Ace sighed.

"Because Vassy loves you, Ace," she replied.

"What do you know about love, Yona?" Ace smiled.

"Only what my mother told me," she answered.

"Your mother? Where is she?" Ace looked down at the small red-eyed child.

"I can't remember where I left her," Yona replied. "But I didn't want her anymore anyway,"

Ace nodded knowingly, "well, what did she tell you about love, Yona?"

"She said love is a flower. It blooms only once and then withers and dies," she recalled in her childish voice.

Ace was wondering if she even understood the words when she looked up at him.

"That's why you should be careful who you give that flower to," Yona added, "You might regret it afterwards."

Ace glanced down at the small child with a blank expression. "I see."

They walked out into the courtyards. There was still blood on the ground from where Clover had been standing. Ace wondered if they managed to survive? He shook his head. What a pointless thought.

He reached the throne room. Varseille was pacing back and forth in a worse mood than ever. He had been in quite a state since Ace had helped Clover escape. Oh, but it was pretty amusing to watch.

"Where have you been?!" Varseille exclaimed upon seeing Ace.

"I'm here now," Ace answered flatly.

Varseille marched up to Ace and yanked his face to theirs.

"You're not sorry at all, are you?" he snarled.

"I never said I was," Ace smirked.

"After everything that beast did to you, you just let them go," Varseille hissed.

"They were half-dead already, Varseille. I doubt they made it to the human world alive." Ace shrugged.

"Don't fucking lie to me!" Varseille spat.

"It's not a lie.."

Before Ace could finish, Varseille grabbed him by the hair and dragged him across the room. Then he thrust him to the ground with a shove. Varseille threw his mask aside. He pinned Ace to the ground and began to kiss him roughly.

Ace leant back with a long sigh as Varseille kept kissing him hungrily. At first, Ace just stared ahead vacantly. But slowly his eyes slowly panned down to Varseille's neck. One snap. That's all it would take. Should he just kill him now?

Suddenly Varseille stopped. Ace's fingers were already around his throat. Varseille hadn't seemed to notice. He was staring off to the end of the hall distracted by something. Ace didn't look to see what had caught Varseille's attention. He was imagining the sensation of snapping his neck and seeing his body go limp. And it would be so easy.

Sena...that was Ace's recurring thought. It had been like a fire in the darkness. However, the more he became accustomed to the darkness, the less the light appealed. What would he do if he saw Sena again? Would he kill him? Could he kill him? Or maybe a better retribution for Sena's abandonment would be to throw his brother's useless body at his feet. What would Sena's face look like at that moment?

Wouldn't that be funny?