The Choosing (14 page)

“Thank you.”  Sara whispered into the darkness.

“No angel, thank you.” Came the whispered response followed by a kiss to the top of her head.

Seth pulled the beautiful creature in his lap tight to his chest, hugging her close, hoping beyond hope that she felt the same about him as he did her.  He held her tightly for a long time, longer than he probably should, he was probably making Sara uncomfortable.  Finally, unwillingly, Seth relaxed his hold on the small woman, sighing in reluctance as he did.

“No.”  Sara whispered.  Her voice the sound of heavenly music.  “You can hold me tighter, I like it.”

Seth didn’t allow her to say another word.  Again he pulled her body into his, and locking his arms around her, he whispered into her hair.

“I’ll never let you go, not unless you ask me to.”  This promise Seth made to her with every fiber of his being, knowing he would fight with everything he had to keep her forever.

Sara heard his words, not so much with her ears as she did with her soul.  Her eyes filled with tears, and she let them slide down her face quietly lost in the darkness.  She believed Seth’s words to be true, and more importantly, she knew he cared as much for her as she did for him.  She didn’t feel worthy of him though, she had been raised, at least these last several years, believing she was worthless, less than worthless actually as her worth was in debt to a hateful, abusive man.  She did not want to burden Seth with care for her, a person who was not whole, a person who was broken.  It seemed unfair of her, to let him feel this way knowing she would never be worthy of him, feeling unable to make him happy.  Yet for some reason Seth continued to have feelings for her.  Maybe he did not realize she wasn’t worthy of him.  Or perhaps he pitied her.  Maybe, Sara allowed herself to hope, maybe he knows I’m broken and he doesn’t care.  Whatever the reason for Seth’s misguided feelings, Sara was overwhelmingly happy that those feelings were for her.  She would do whatever she was capable of to make Seth happy, make his feelings for her never change.

Sara thought of Seth for a long time.  She cared for him more than anything in the world, yet she did not understand something about him.  She wanted nothing more than to just lay upon the blanket with him holding her in his arms.  Yet for some unknown reason Seth seemed dead set against it.  He was willing now to cradle her body in his arms, holding their bodies so close together she could feel his heartbeat, but he would not lay down with her.  It was utterly confusing.  She realized that he was waiting for something, he had said as much, but she had no idea what it was that she must do to make her wish come true.  She ran image after image through her mind, conjuring out of thin air a hundred scenarios that would bring her one wish into being.  After a while her mind grew too tired to contemplate the question further, and she found herself listening to the rhythmic beating of Seth’s heart in the darkness.  It did not take long, the constant rhythm, like a lullaby put her inevitably to sleep.

Seth sat, his eyes closed, listening to the darkness.  He could hear Sara’s breathing, she was still awake.  Whether she was thinking or daydreaming he had no way of telling, but he wished he knew what was going on behind her beautiful face.  What he did know, however, was that she was happy here in his arms.  More than that, she wanted him to hold her tightly against his body.  She was comfortable with him, something Seth was afraid she may never be.  He had surmised much of her past by reading between the lines of the stories she had told about her life.  She never shared many details, and he assumed it was because they were too painful for her to tell.  It was obvious that John had abused her, both emotionally and physically.  This fact had led Seth to fear that Sara might never trust anyone enough to get close.  Yet she seemed to almost go out of her way to be near him, to touch him.  He knew now more than ever that she had feelings for him, trusted him even.  She wanted more from him and he knew it, and he was more than willing to give her anything she might want.  Just as soon he was sure that her feelings were true.  He didn’t want her to rush into something that might leave her hurt.  The worst part was he didn’t even know what he should protect her from, not knowing exactly how she may have been hurt in the past.  The only decision he was able to consciously make was to wait, as long as it took, until she was sure of her feelings for him, and was able to tell him as much.  Seth thought all this over, listening always to Sara’s breathing.  Her breathing had slowed, becoming shallower, and he noted that she had fallen asleep.  Now that she was safely asleep, comfortable in his arms, he rested his head against the stone that supported his body, and closing his eyes, went quickly to sleep.

Garret lay awake for a long time finding it hard to get comfortable on the stone floor.  He had heard whispers from somewhere within their nature made shelter, and knew that it was Seth and Sara.  He envied Seth a bit for his finding of such a beautiful woman.  They seemed to fit well together.  She was always looking at his brother with love in her eyes, and for this Garret was happy.  He too knew his brother cared for Sara.  He could see it in the way his brother walked with her and talked to her.  Seth adored the girl, and who could blame him.  She was gorgeous.  The fact that the two of them seemed so happy with each other was the reason Garret was happy for them, and at the same time extremely worried about them.  He had been trying his best to conceal his concern when they spoke.  Thus far he had been able to leave his brother and Sara in the dark about it.  Now he wondered if he should mention it to them.  Garret knew that a small part of him was jealous of Sara, it was only natural.  Seth was his twin, and they had always been the ones to look out for one another, always been as close as two people could be.  Sara had changed that to a degree, and Garret had noticed.  He was not angry though, he knew that one day it would happen, he just didn’t expect it so soon.  But all that was of little importance, what really mattered now is Seth and Sara.  He assumed that they had not yet really thought about where they were going.  In just over a week, they would be attending The Choosing ceremony, where more than likely they would be chosen to play two different roles, in two different places.  It was possible that they would be picked for the same thing but unlikely.  Garret was torn about what he should do.  He could warn them, remind them really, of the impending possibility.  This he feared might end their romance bringing them both to resent him.  At the same time however it could make them that much more passionate about each other, allowing their bond to strengthen to the point that it might last even if they were separated.  Garret still had the option though of simply keeping his mouth shut, delaying the realization that was sure to hit them in the very near days to come.  This option, he did not think, would destroy Seth and Sara’s relationship, but it might lead them to do something foolish without enough time to prepare themselves for a possible separation.  Then again Garret thought, maybe they have already discussed it and decided it wasn’t important enough to dwell upon just yet.  Garret hated being unsure, he could usually make difficult decisions quickly.  Usually though, those decisions did not affect his brother’s happiness and so effect his relationship with his twin.  Garret pondered the impossible dilemma until his brain could literally take no more.  One minute he was conscious, the next he was out like a snuffed candle.

Ashton laid awake mere moments after he got himself comfortable.  His conscious so clear it would make an angel feel guilty.  He closed his eyes, not a worry in the world, and fell fast asleep snoring lightly.

Seth awoke abruptly, feeling something was wrong he scanned the small stone room around him in the dim light from the sun still beyond the horizon.  He sought out his brother in the darkness and was surprised to see his brother too looked in his direction.  They both remained still, unwilling to move, listening into the darkness.  A small thud sounded from the back of the small cavern, where the ceiling was lowest and shadows the deepest.  Seth slowly turned his head towards the noise not wanting to bring attention to himself with sudden movements.  Garret had heard the sound too, but from his position on the floor had no way to look behind him towards the noise, and so remained intent upon his twin awaiting a response or command.

Seth peered into the darkness unable to see anything, yet knowing just beyond his vision, something lurked in the shadows.  Something moved then, appearing as just another shadow in the darkness, Seth had not noticed it until it moved.  Now that he could see the difference between the object and the shadows he was able to make out more details about it.  Whatever it was, it was crouching in the darkness standing on two legs.  That ruled out most animals.  It was doing something as well but Seth could not tell what.  The creature too had its back against the same stone Seth rested against, and so its gaze was not on him.  Seth slowly freed his hands from around Sara, careful not to disturb her, praying she would not wake.  He still wore his belt, but from this position, with Sara in his lap, he was unable to draw his sword, and unable to reach his dagger.  He looked to Garret to see if his brother was still armed and noted at once that he was not.  Remembering the previous night, Seth recalled both Ashton and his brother placing their items in the back of the cave where the creature now lurked.  Seth peeled his eyes from his brother and again looked into the darkness until he could distinguish the creatures form once again.  He located it, right where it had been, and now realized their predicament.  The creature was rummaging through their packs, standing between them and his brother’s weapons.  Seth looked around for something, anything he might use to distract the creature, long enough for his brother to regain his sword.  Garret had suddenly realized what was going on.  Garret Watched helplessly as his brother’s eyes darted around the cavern, first to him, then back to their gear, back to Garret, then everywhere.  Realization came to Garret just as Seth found his solution.  He hadn’t found anything to distract the creature in fact, he found something better.  Propped beside him was Sara’s pack, leaning against it her small crossbow.  This was perfect.  The crossbow sat on the opposite side of him as the creature, so whatever it was it would not see him reach for the weapon so long as he moved slowly.

Seth’s eyes on the creature, he reached out his left hand slowly.  Finding the crossbow with his fingers he traced it top to bottom and frowned.  It was not drawn, nor was it loaded.  This altered his plan extensively.  He might be able to draw the small crossbow with one hand, maybe even without making enough noise to gain the creatures attention.  But the short arrows for the crossbow were in the quiver, belted to Sara’s waist.  First he needed his ammunition.  With his left hand, the one the creature wouldn’t see, Seth slowly traced Sara’s body, feeling a little guilty as he did so.  Sliding his hand over and around her waist he located the quiver.  Another setback.  He could reach the quiver with his left hand, but the opening was facing off to his right, just out of reach.  He would have to get an arrow with his right hand.  He now knew where they were, and he was certain could get one loaded in a fraction of a second if he could get the bow drawn.  Still watching the creature, which remained oblivious, Seth again searched for the crossbow with his fingertips.  Finding it he slowly, carefully lifted it away from the pack and away from the wall.  Feeling it was far enough from anything to make any noise he flipped it over in his hand, turning it bow side up.  Again he moved, just as before, painstakingly slow bringing the crossbow to once again rest against the stone that made the wall behind him.  He gingerly released his grip on the weapon assuring himself it wouldn’t fall in his hand’s absence.  It remained, unmoving.  Maneuvering his shoulder and arm he was able to reach above the bow to the handle that was used to draw the cord.  He gripped and pushed both down and back, one direction to keep it securely against the stone, the other to draw the cord.  The awkward position he was in made it more difficult to draw then it usually would be and he strained in the effort.  Slowly, gradually the cord neared the catch, and Seth, unable to watch what he was doing, realized he almost had it when he felt the handle come to a stop.  He had reached the catch, just one more tiny push and the crossbow would be drawn.  He pushed, and the catch caught, with a click.  Seth closed his eyes and froze.  He heard the creature turn.  He knew it was looking at him, he could feel its gaze upon him.  Seth waited afraid even to breathe.  He listened intently to hear if the creature moved towards him.  Worse than that, he heard something more familiar.  The sound of steel on leather.  The creature, it seemed, was armed. Seth at this point was not.  Sara stirred slightly in his lap, and Seth wished she would be still, not bring attention to herself.  Seth listened, and just as he feared, he heard the creature take a step.  The creature again paused as if watching and listening.  Another step.  Seth had to act.  He knew if he waited until the creature got any closer, he wouldn’t have a chance. 

In one moment, in a flurry of movement Seth opened his eyes, nodded to his twin, grabbed the crossbow pulling it before him with one hand, and pulled an arrow out from beneath his blanket with the other.  Looking to his hands he brought the bolt to the crossbow and seated it in place.  Turning his head to find his target, he found it.  It was too late.

The very second Seth began to move, the creature raced across the small cavern raising his thin wicked blade in front of him, turning the blade over in his hand.  He Saw the man brandish a crossbow and lunged at the man with all his might.  The creature knew it was a long shot.  He would have to travel through the air an incredible distance to deal the man a death blow.  Even so, he was already in the air, sailing forward, falling short.  His attack would meet the man's leg or his lap if the creature was lucky.  Maybe if he injured the man he would buy himself enough time to kill him then the other two men before they were aware of him.  The creature thought all this while still in the air, in a fraction of a fraction of a second.  He was falling now and thrust his blade out before him, blade down.  He would not reach the man's head or chest, but he would be able to drive the blade into his gut.