Blake still refused to let go of Jaxon who held him close to his chest. They both stood behind Owen and Kai who did not want the two to be in danger in case the whole thing escalated again. The witches were still on edge but were too preoccupied with trying to heal Scarlett Graycrest to want to fight again.
The shifters though were clearly looking for a fight and only Elliott's presence hindered them from ripping the witches apart. Elliott looked over at the body of Scarlett twitching in pain while Leon tried his best to soothe her pain. But he was no healer. The only healer in the group was the Head Druid who looked livid.
Blake shuddered when he saw his maddening eyes darting over the shifters like they were monsters. He had healed his broken wrist and stood now and glared at them with ill-disguised fury.
"Head Druid, we need your help," Leon shouted while his face was plastered with worry for his mother.
"I refuse."
"What?!"
"You... She promised me revenge but the shifters are still here. Kill those beasts and I will heal your mother," said Matthew. He pointed at Elliott and his pack. Blake felt horror and disgust surge from his chest. That asshole actually wanted a mass murder in return for healing, was he insane?
"You can't be serious. You want us to murder innocent people-"
"Innocent? Look at them. They are rabid beasts. If we do not stop them they will just spread," Matthew shouted to the whole crowd of witches who winced. Some of them looking uncomfortable. The rage had faded and they now saw clearly what they had done.
"This is ridiculous. Ahriman? Can you-" Blake needed not finish that line as Ahriman looked over at him. His burned face was soon covered in black smoke as the face Blake had come to known now appeared on Ahriman's face.
Ahriman walked casually over to Leon who raised his mother up hopeful that Ahriman could help him. Ahriman leaned over Scarlett who groaned as her burned body still fumed after the attack. The smell of burning skin was horrible and Blake wanted desperately to gag but he held it back out of consideration for his friend who might lose his mother.
"Well, the good news is that she will survive. These wounds are not lethal," Ahriman said slowly. He had a strange look of fascination on his face that made Blake want to hit him. A little empathy would not have hurt.
"Are you sure? These burns-" Ahriman interrupted Leon with a gesture before scratching his head.
"This is no ordinary burns. They are not meant to kill. The flames of the Archon Nemain is not ordinary. It does not burn those with a pure heart. But the more sins you are guilty of, the worse marks the flames will leave. Your mother must be a truly horrible person for her to be burned to this extent but she will not die," Ahriman explained.
"Is that the bad news?"
"No, she will never be healed from her scars as long as she has a wicked heart. Nemain's flames are like a curse meant to burn the sins into the skin. In full view of the world. When her sins are abolished. Then the scars will vanish," Ahriman said with a shrug.
"That will never happen," muttered Leon, and Ahriman chuckled.
"That is the fault of all those who sinned. They rarely seek redemption. Either way, you can try to break the curse but I know of no way to break the curse of an Archon."
"Not even though you are one yourself?" asked Elliott and Blake frowned. He had wondered if the connection between Ahriman and Nemain is that they are both Archons. It would explain why they know each other, why Moira knows of Ahriman. Archons are considered above gods after all. Direct links to the Anterions.
Ahriman chuckled and straighten his back as he walked over to Blake. "Perhaps."
Blake pouted at the diverting answer which only made Ahriman grin and pinch his cheek.
"You- I can heal her! If you kill them," Matthew shouted but no one believed him. Or maybe no one wanted to risk it for Scarlett. Either way, no one heeded his calls.
"I want justice. He killed my son!"
The glade was deadly silent except for Matthew's shouts. Blake felt Jaxon tremble and looked up at him seeing his stiff jaw and pale face. He remembered that Jaxon was the one that had found the body. The horrors that he must have experienced.
"And I already told you that we will see to it," said Elliott.
"I don't trust you. I want him dead."
"You want all of us dead."
"If you do not give me want, I will come back with the Justicars. I will not-"
A growl silenced Matthew who stared at the strange sight. Ronan had entered the scene and most back away. Some out of respect, others out of fear of catching whatever plagues him. Ronan grabbed onto Mark and hit him so hard that his head slammed into the ground. Blake couldn't help but to let out a whimper when Ronan climbed onto Mark and continued his assault. Twisted sounds echoed as Mark's face was hit and blood splattered onto Ronan's face.
"Ronan!" Elliott grabbed onto Ronan who stared at the body under him. His glowing amber eyes looked up at the horrified Matthew who stared at Mark. Tears streamed down Mark's face as he sniveled like the child he was. Matthew stumbled back a few steps when the realization hit him. This was a child.
"Is this enough? Or do you want me to finish him off?" asked Ronan. His cold eyes awaited Matthew's answer but Matthew just ran never daring to look back. Ronan turned to the witches.
"I hope this concludes our business."
The witches did not dare to say anything and just ran off taking their wounded with them. Leon followed them as he was worried about his mother. Blake just stared at the scene before turning around and vomit. Jaxon held onto him trying to comfort Blake but nothing could ease the rotten feeling inside his chest.
"The boy is alive," said Kai loudly. Most likely to comfort Blake who had reacted the strongest.
"Send him to the healer," Owen said grimly as he watched Ronan who fell onto the wall with a groan and sat down with closed eyes. Weariness plagued his very being.
"All of you, leave. We are done here," Elliott commanded while his eyes watched Ronan who took some trembling breaths. Joshua narrowed his eyes but did not say anything as he pulled the rest of them away. Blake could feel Jaxon trying to pull him away to but Blake pulled himself free. He still had something to do.
"Ahriman... What word should be used?"
"Xar, perhaps."
Blake let out a burst of humorless laughter. Yeah, that would do.
He walked over to Ronan who opened his eyes and stared at Blake.
"Blake-" Elliott began but Blake did not listen.
"Come to finish me off, lad?" Ronan said with a grin.
"I'm not like you," said Blake and touched the man's feverish skin. He closed his eyes and focused. Feeling the taint running through Ronan's veins. "Man Ogardan Pohisn Im Xar Ow Besaz Oy Res."
Blake heard gasps around him and he knew that the spell had worked. He could feel the taint entering his own body. He opened his eyes to see the black blood gone from Ronan's wound which rapidly healed with his shifter's healing ability. Now the rest was up to Ronan.
"Why?" asked Ronan in disbelief as Blake rose with trembling knees. Jaxon helped him steady himself and Blake looked down on Ronan.
"That curse was meant for me. It is my burden to bear. Not yours. I do not let others bear my burdens," Blake huffed proudly before having Jaxon carry him away as he could not walk. Well, his exit was far from dignified. That's for sure.
*****
Elliott looked after Jaxon, Blake, and Ahriman. Blake's tiny little profile still lingered in his mind. How can something so small carry so much strength?
"Protect that little thing, won't you? He is too kind for his own good," Ronan groaned. Elliott sat down beside Ronan with a sigh. He could only agree. Blake was too innocent for this world.
"Protect him yourself when you get better," muttered Elliott. He met Ronan's now more focused eyes. "You still owe him."
"I don't think he wants my protection."
"That's often when we need it the most."
"Speaking of experience?" asked Ronan.
"When we met... My father wanted to shield me from the world. I didn't listen. I did not care. And I ended up hurting a lot of people," muttered Elliott, and Ronan looked at him before sighing.
"You did not hurt me."
"But you-"
"Reacted badly. But not for the reasons you think," Ronan closed his eyes while Elliott waited for an explanation. Something he should have heard a long time ago. But nothing came.
"How is your wife?" asked Elliott to change the subject when he realized that no answer would come.
"Dead."
Elliott froze and stared at Ronan. Dead? When? How? He still remembered the beautiful girl that took what he wanted. He was so jealous of her. She had everything he wanted. All because of what gender she was born with.
"She died in childbirth."
"Your child?"
"Died along with her," Ronan's voice broke and Elliott felt his heart skip a beat when Ronan's face contorted in pain. "My son only took a few breaths before following his mother. I could only hold the little thing. Nothing I did could save him."
Elliott leaned back as the realization hit him. That's why Ronan was so upset when he had heard about Joanne almost dying in the fire and why he was in so much pain over Matthew's son. He knew the pain of a parent losing his child.
"Then why did you come here?" It was all Elliott could ask at the moment. Shouldn't he be grieving his wife and child? Not run across the country to take over someone else's territory.
"Because of you," Ronan closed his eyes. "Your face kept popping up in my mind. It was the only thing that could comfort me."
"So you are here to mess with me? Do you hate me so much?" muttered Elliott. "We were children. I might have done a mistake but-"
"It wasn't a mistake. Never call it that. And I do not hate you. I never did. I loved you. I love-" Ronan silenced. "I was foolish back then. Lashed out. I loved you so much. I wanted a future with you. Then I found out-"
"And you were hurt?"
"No, I was afraid. For when all was said and done. I was still in love with you. It didn't matter what gender you were to me. I still loved you and that frightened me."
Elliott stared at Ronan. "You loved me even after-"
"Yes, my greatest regret was that I did not run after you."
They both stared at each other. For a moment, all that Elliott saw was that handsome, wild boy so long ago that always protected him and gave him the world. The boy who had seen his other self and had fallen in love. The boy that apparently had loved both his sides.
"So why did you try to take my position then?"
"Because I know you. You never wanted it. Your father and brothers still don't see it. But you hate being the heir. You don't want to become the Patriarch. So in my twisted mind, I thought that I could carry the burden for you."
Elliott let out a chuckle as Blake's words came back to him. Ronan grinned as he knew his thoughts. "That boy outclassed us both. I guess I shouldn't carry your burden but help you carry it."
"Well, maybe we both are a good pair. The twisted fool that wants to carry everyone's burden and the fool that runs away from his own."
"So we are both fools?"
"Exactly."
The two men sat there as they watched the dawn arrive. Lighting up the valley and guiding new light into the dark corners of the glade. Hunting away the horrifying scene that had taken place during the night and leaving only the bright spring blossoms visible and the smell of morning dew in the senses of those who watched.