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Chapter One:

 

            Her face turned a ghostly white; it was the kind of white only fear could bring about.  She stepped back shaking her head slightly, as she muttered the word “no” over and over.

He tipped his mug to his mouth.

Her eyes widened to a seemingly unnatural size and for a moment, a brief moment, time stopped, and she stood and stared.  Then her scream filled the night sky.

He let the warm poison fill his mouth and sit there before he swallowed.

He crouched down and looked behind him; perhaps some foul beast had followed him out of the woods?  Nothing.  There was nothing but the dark trees sneering at him.  He stood up again.

It burned as he swallowed.  He never could get used to the burn.

“Mother!” he called as he ran to her, “What is it?  What is wrong?”  He climbed the steps toward her.  A little awkwardly at first: he must have still been tired from that failed attempt…”What is it?” he repeated.

He shook it off.  It was the burn; that sweet acidic burn, that would help him forget.  Forget it all.  At least for a small amount of time, if he was lucky, maybe even the entire night.

As he spoke he could hear a whisper in his ear.  He turned to his right, but there was nothing there.  Confused, and slightly annoyed at his mother’s incessant screaming and ranting for no good reason, he stared out into the woods.  “Mother please,” he spoke as he scanned the trees, “Please tell me—“The whisper came again, in both ears.  It was a light, airy sound; yet deep and guttural at the same time.  It seemed to penetrate his entire mind.  He jumped slightly when he heard it for the second time.  And looked around him, up at the sky, frantic.

He nearly smiled at the thought of being able to sleep through the night.  Not dream.  Well, he hadn’t done that since…but he wouldn’t have nightmares either.  Not tonight.  If he drank enough, he would simply sleep.

“Mother please I—“ The whisper came for a third time, but stopped as he stopped.  “Where is that coming from?!” he screamed.  And as he bellowed into the night sky the whispers seemed to fill the air.  Every particle, every space, there wasn’t a molecule of air that wasn’t coupled with a guttural pierce.  Then, it all seemed to flow into his mind.  Swirling, piercing, suffocating.  On top of that, he felt a dull, but sudden pain in the back of his head.  He screamed and reached behind him to grab his head when he felt a sharp pain in his hand and wrist.  Then again in his head, “Mother help me!  What is happening?!”  He screamed again as he turned and realized the pains were not without cause.  His mother stood behind him holding a fire poker in her clenched hands.  Her face contorted between fear and disgust.  Another moment when time seemed to stand still.  The look of pure fright that was deep in his mother’s eyes he had never seen before, and would never forget.

He pushed back the urge to smile; he wasn’t unconscious, not yet.  He took another, longer, gulp of his drink.  This time he didn’t hold it in his mouth; he swallowed it straight.  The burn scratched its way down his throat.  He shook it off again.  “Just a little more,” he whispered to himself, “a little more…and it’ll all be forgotten…”

His mother screamed and ranted, but her words were lost to him. She was speaking in English, he knew it, somewhere in the back of his mind, he recognized it for what it was.  But he could not understand it.  “Mother…please stop…help me…I’m hearing things…I don’t know…I…please…”  He reached out to her, advanced towards her, in return, her screams became louder, and she swung frantically at his head, arms and chest.  He pulled back, cowering slightly.  He moved down a step or two.  He was afraid, confused, and for some reason…he could feel anger welling in him.  She was his mother, why wasn’t she helping him?  There were whispers again as he thought this, he spun around, it was the first time he heard them without speaking.  He faced his mother once more, shouting at her, “MOTHER PLEASE!”  She continued to scream, continued to swing.  Until…he could feel it…deep in the caverns of his mind.  The barrier, that moral barrier…snapped.

He sighed, and glanced around him at the rest of the tavern.  It was half empty…or half full.  Mostly regulars.  None a friend of his.  He was the only person sitting at the bar, no…there was a woman…at least he assumed it was female, in a green and beige dress.  Everything was already becoming blurry.  He stared in the colorful mesh’s direction for a moment longer before he returned to his ever-faithful mug.  He leaned his head back as he went for the last bit.  The last bit he apparently forced down his throat already.  “Damn…empty already…Hey!”  He slammed the mug down on the mahogany bar top, “Hey! Barkeep!  A little more please?”

The lights stung his eyes at first.  He was in the foyer.  When and how he got in there he had no idea.  But he recognized the little brown table he had bought for his mother.  And the small glass candy dish that sat there, always full of little chocolates.  He swayed slightly, light headed and confused.  “Mother…” he whispered, looking to his right, further into his house and to his left at the closed front door.  There was something…sprayed almost, across the bottom of the door.  He closed his eyes as he swayed slightly again.

“Look…my good man, I think you’ve had quite enough as it is…it’s getting late, nearly the witching hour.  Why don’t you go on home and sleep it off?”
”Please…I’m asking nicely here…just fill the damn cup…”

He opened his eyes, and stared at the door.  What was it?  He knew what it was yet…the word escaped him.  Then, the smell penetrated his nose.  The stench of blood.  That’s what it was, blood.  Blood?  Why…why would blood be on the inside of his front door?  He took a step forward, and slipped.

“And I’m asking nicely for you to leave.  I’m only suggesting it for your well being…you know the news as well as I do, there have been attacks at night.  No one is safe.  And in your state…well…quite frankly sir, you’d make a pretty easy target, why don’t you go on home?”
He scoffed, “Target?  Look, do your job and fill the damn cup.”

Catching himself before he hit the ground, he looked down.  There was a trail.  A pool of the red ooze sat just in front of his feet.  And a trail went off slightly to his right…

He shuddered.
”You okay?”
”I will be…once …you …fill this cup,” he slammed the cup on the bar top once more.

Slowly, unsure…his eyes followed the trail.  Inching up every sickening drop.  Until…

“Now look, there’s no need—“
He shuddered once again, violently, almost to the state of a paroxysm, “FOR THE LOVE OF GOD FILL THE CUP!”

…Her bare foot was the first his eyes rested on.  And then…more blood.  Then…there she lay…twisted, contorted.  Her body was as contorted as face had been just moments before.  Somewhere in the back of his mind he heard a snicker at this thought.  No…it wasn’t a laugh…not even he, could snicker at this…His eyes inched further up the bloody pile.  A face… he was searching for a face…surely…it couldn’t be …he found it…or…parts of what would have been…at one point, a head.  But those eyes, those fear stricken wide eyes; that he would never forget.  But no…that would mean…the butchered figure he stared down at, that he stood over, was …

A few persons turned to see what the commotion was at the bar.  Others, regulars, continued about they’re conversations.  It wasn’t unusual.  At least once a night there was some unruly patron, that wasn’t quite satisfied with his pint after pint of alcohol.  As long as things didn’t get too out of hand, it was of no concern to them.
”Now look, who the hell do you think you are?  I’m not afraid of you.  I really think you should—“
He stood up and leaned over the bar top.  He couldn’t see the barkeep, only the phantasmagoric images of his own mind.  The barkeep tried to lean back but found, he was unable to move.  As though something were holding him to his spot, controlling him.  “You are not afraid of me,” he whispered in a low, guttural, inhuman growl, “because I have not yet given you a reason to be.”  He grinned a toothy grin.  Literally, nearly ear-to-ear, two rows of pointed sharp teeth.  Also inhuman; one row of teeth alone was the equivalent, if not more, of the amount of teeth in any normal person’s entire mouth.

The young woman in the corner at the other end of the bar stared wide-eyed.  Besides the barkeep, no one else had seen what happened.

He sat back down, and in a mocking graceful wave of his hand, gestured toward the mug.  “My drink if you please,” his voice remained in a low growl.
The barkeep shook slightly, but nodded his head and did as he was told.  He returned with a mug twice as large and full to the brim.  He spilled some as he set it down and moved back. After a moment, he moved to the other end of the bar, and pretended to find something very interesting about a group of men talking at the corner table.

 

Chapter Two:

            Well, that had definitely secured her reservations about the strange man sitting roughly five feet away from her.  Any other woman, that had seen what she just had, would have run.  Immediately.  But she wasn’t any other woman.  Instead she found her interest in him suddenly piqued.  And, if she got nothing else at all out of her dangerous outing that evening, she wanted to at least know his name.

  He was not strikingly handsome, but there was still something…almost enthralling about him.  She studied him a little better now that she was completely interested.  The most startling feature about him was his hair.  It reminded her of a white thread her mother used once for a dress, it was the only time she had seen such a pure white.  His hair was long, and from what she could tell went to his mid-back.  He apparently wasn’t one for appearance; his hair was pulled back but not brushed.  Probably just to keep it out of his face, his clothes, weren’t tattered but they were not going to win a round of applause once he entered a room either.  His eyes seemed to have a red tint to them as well.  She watched him lift his mug as he drank, his fingernails were longer than most “gentlemen”, and seemed to be slightly pointed.

Her mind immediately began to spin all kinds of stories as to what exactly this man’s history was.  Who he was, what his past had entailed, and what exactly did he just do to the barkeep?

He glanced in her direction.  Her gaze caught his own, his eyes did have a red tint to them.  It was the second time he had looked in her direction; she smiled a little.  He turned away, apparently uninterested and continued to drink.  She pouted to herself, this was okay, and she still had some time to work on him.  She made a bet with herself, she would find out his name.  She considered moving over a stool so she would be a little closer to him, but decided against it.  She wasn’t that outgoing.  But maybe she could entice him to speak to her.  She continued to study him.  Committing every single inch of his person to memory, just in case she didn’t see him again.  After all, all her time here and she had never seen him before.
“Look wench, it’s rude to stare.”  He spoke to her but continued to stare straight ahead of him, mug half raised to his mouth.
She took this as her chance and moved over a stool, or three, and sat next to him.  “There’s a difference between staring and studying.  And it’s not very nice to insult someone you don’t even know.”
He didn’t respond, “Look woman, leave me alone.  Stop staring, stop studying, go prance about some other tavern.”  His voice was in a constant growl.
”You cannot order me around.  You have no control over me,” she replied, not so much indignantly as matter-of-factly.
He chuckled, “Not yet I don’t, no.”
”What does that mean?” she asked, leaning towards him slightly.
He didn’t respond but instead guzzled the last of his liquor, and turned to face her for the first time, “Look—“He stopped sentence, and stared at her, his red tinted eyes wide slightly.

Chapter Three:

            Her emerald green eyes stared right through him.  Big and innocent, they had a playful look to them.  Her brown curls fell down over her shoulders and across her bosom.  If the candlelight flickered just the right way reddish tints were visible in her hair.  Her lips were a light pink, and edged up in a small smile.  That same smile…
Was it the smile?  It had to be.  It wasn’t her eyes…he had never seen such eyes before. 
”What?  Tell me what you meant.”
Her voice, it was so soft.  Her voice was eager; she was dying to know what hidden message was in what he said.  She didn’t miss a thing, he could tell already.  Ah…but…if she knew the truth, would she still be so eager?  Would she still wish to befriend him?  Would…would those pink lips still smile at him, or would they spit out horrible maledictions, just like everyone before her?  There was only one way to find out.  He could tell her…show her the truth.  No, that would be moving too fast.  He just met her, and she was bored.  Yes that is what it was…she would soon lose interest in him…
”Now who is the one that is staring?”
He turned away quickly, “I already told you.  Leave me alone.  You wouldn’t want to end up like those people you have heard about would you?”
She was silent for a moment.
Yes, that’s it.  Go away…it is better that way.  For her…for him…save him the heartache, the nightmares, save her the fright, the pain.
”Are you…threatening me?”
”Well, you are not as dumb as you appear.”
She sighed and looked down at her lap, “I only…wanted to talk…or maybe, listen.  I have had my own run with heartache…troubles…” she looked up at him, “nightmares…but, you are not one that wishes to share.  I can respect that.  Good night sir, I am indeed sorry to have…bothered you.”  She bowed her head slightly and stood.
Talk…?  About what?  About nightmares?  She couldn’t possibly begin to fathom what it was to have a true nightmare.  To recall that one fateful evening over and over again in your mind…No…she could not possible fathom what he was going through.  But…what if…what if she could?  What if, for just a little while, she was willing to try?  Would he really throw away his last chance?  But so many others…had tried…and left.  Or…once the knew the truth, ran.  Terrified.  He wasn’t sure if he could handle seeing another set of terrified eyes.  Another deafening scream fill the room.  And watch another once loyal, once loving friend, turn their back and flee.  But what if?  There was always…the what if… No…he shouldn’t.  Not again…Not this time Annette…This time he would save her…by not ever speaking to her…
She was walking away now, back to her previous seat, before he could catch himself, he reached out and called to her.  “Annette wait,” his fingers just passed through the tips of her hair as she walked away.  Silk.  It was the only thing that came to mind.  Her locks were that soft, that soothing.  His hand was still in mid-air when she turned around, “What did you call me?”
”Annette…” the name escaped his lips before he could stop it.  He stared up into her eyes.  Then stood, wobbled slightly, but took her hand, “It is I who should be apologizing…I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you, please…give me a second chance?”
She smiled at him again, “Well…if you insist.”  She returned to her seat beside him, “Though…it is late, and I shan’t be staying long…”
He too sat back down, staring down at the mahogany.  What was he doing?  Why?  What? What was he expecting to happen?  What would be so different about her than everyone else?  “That is fine,” he replied, attempting to mask his fright, his nerves, and quite frankly his slur, but failing at all three.  “Maybe… maybe we can just talk a little…for tonight?”
”Yes!”  She cleared her throat, “I mean…that would be wonderful.  But please, I need to know…what is your name?”
The bar top seemed to sway a little; he was starting to regret having consumed so much liquor.  This was it…once she knew…there was no turning back. If anything went wrong…if she couldn’t…couldn’t accept him…then what?  Not another town to flee.  Another possible life to leave behind…”Sabin...” he whispered.
She leaned forward, her face only inches from his.  She smelled wonderful.  “I beg your pardon?”
”Sabin,” he repeated, “Sabin Duvert.”

 

Chapter Four:

            She smiled to herself, so that was his name.  Sabin…Not what she was expecting.  But then, she wasn’t quite sure what she was expecting.  And after studying him for so long before, it did seem to suit him in some…odd way.

            He seemed…scared.  He kept staring down at the bar top, avoiding her face.  He had called her “Annette”.  Who was Annette?  Lost friend?  Sister?  Lover perhaps?  She bit her lower lip thinking, she wanted to ask, but didn’t want to push too fast…and scare him off.  Then again, it was late, and if she didn’t ask now, she may not get another chance.  Eventually, someone would come looking for her.  Possibly Edmund, god she hoped not.  Anyone but him.
He interrupted her swirling thoughts, “You said you wanted to talk…?”
”Oh!  Yes well…I did.  I do.  I do want to talk.”
”About what?” he turned his head slightly in her direction, but still couldn’t seem to face her.  It was progress she told herself.  He would warm up to her eventually.  She hoped so…
”It doesn’t matter really.  Everyone has something deep inside, that they wish they could just…tell the world…”  Now it was her turn to examine the mahogany, her eyes began to tear slightly…

“Momma!!” 

“Heh, that almost sounded like the voice of experience.”  His tone was mocking.  It stung her slightly, but she shook it off.  He doesn’t know.  “It is…” she whispered sadly.
Finally, he faced her.
There was silence.
  She stared down at the bar top, fighting back tears, he stared at her profile.  Continue…keep talking.  Fight it, ignore the pain.  She took a deep breath, “Yes well…everyone has it.  That something.  They want to share with the world, stand on the highest point and scream it for all to hear.  And just for a few moments, expose who they really are…what they are really like…and not have the fear of being mocked, or cast out, or shunned…”
He was still silent.  Darn…did it already.  He was either scared.  Or bored with her.  She was speaking about things a “lady” shouldn’t speak of.  Let alone let her mind wander to.  Quick, think of something.  Something…a little less profound and a little more trivial…maybe—
”I know what you mean…the feelings that you speak of…but…I can’t… it isn’t easy…”
He seemed to be searching for the right words.  She forced a smile and forced away the tears, “Don’t worry.  It isn’t easy to do.  Not as easy as it sounds, I know.  Maybe eventually we’ll be able to do it.  Stand on that highest point and scream out loud.  But until then, let’s talk of something else…we can work our way to that point.  Slowly…and…over time?”  She added an inquisitive tone towards the end.  She hoped he understood what she meant.  She didn’t want the night to end, not yet.  She wanted to sit here and listen to him speak all night.  His voice, since it had lost its…odd undertone…was soft…and almost… childlike in its insecure manner.  And even if the night ended, she wanted to be able to continue it sometime…
”Yes,” he replied quietly, but she caught the edge of his mouth twitch up into a small smile, “Over time…”

Chapter Five:

            Over time?  But that would mean…past tonight…No…he was looking too deep into things.  Being too hopeful.  Too trusting.  But alas, if he had any faults, any natural faults…his trust would be one of them.  Or, his ease with which he gave his trust rather.  “Yes,” he responded, trying not to sound too eager, too desperate, “Over time…”  He was beginning to regret having snapped at her earlier.  But the way she spoke…it was as though she knew what he was going through, at least to some extent…and that…well it wasn’t possible. 
”Who…is Annette?”
The question had come so suddenly he almost jumped.  He could feel his heart quicken just at the mention of her name.  He could almost taste her lips once again.  Her skin …was so soft…He closed his eyes, he could see her smile…the way she would tilt her head slightly when she spoke to him before they went upstairs…her neck, her shoulders…everything about her was so…so perfect…for those precious moments...everything was perfect.
”Sabin?”
He opened his eyes.  The dull light of the tavern was a cruel reality to the memory of Annette.  “Uhm…I had asked—“
”No one,” he interrupted.
”Oh…”
Her voice had disappointment in it, but, thankfully, she could take a hint.  Maybe…she deserved a better explanation than that…
”She was…a friend.”
”A good friend?”
”A friend by chance…and circumstance…but for the…for the time I was with her, she was a great friend.”
”Ah…”
”It is my turn to ask a question,” he added quickly, hoping to change the subject to something a little less, depressing.  It was beginning to remind him of the reason he came to the bar that night to begin with.
”That sounds fair.  What is it you wish to know of me?”  She smiled broadly.  She was excited to talk to him.  Anyone within a ten-foot radius could see that.  She hung on his every word…even drunk he could see that.  But, should he take advantage of it?  Should he let it out?  Just…talk?  Like a normal person…to another normal person?  Was it possible he could …identify with a human being?  It felt like so long since he entertained that thought…
”What is your name?”
”I-I did not tell you?  Oh, how rude of me, I am sorry.  I must’ve, must’ve got so caught up with actually talking to you,” she sounded embarrassed.  Or was he mistaking it for playful banter?  He wasn’t too sure anymore.  The drowsiness that usually followed all the liquor he had consumed was beginning to settle in.  No…not now…he didn’t think…he didn’t anticipate actually…actually finding someone to talk to.  He had hoped, but didn’t really expect it.  Now what?  If he lost consciousness…it would turn into so many scenes like before…the foyer, the other tavern, all those gamblers, the bedroom…
”Samantha.”
Her voice cut into his worries.  It…chased them away.  “Samantha…?” he echoed.
”Yes…Samantha Lillian …” she hesitated for a moment, “Blaire…”
Samantha…he had heard that name before.  Someone in passing had mentioned it.  She was known around here.  For better or worse, her name was known.  If anything went wrong…he would have to flee again…
”It doesn’t suit you,” he blurted.
”My name?”
”Yes.”
”Well…why not?  I’ve always been rather fond of my name.”
”It’s too big.”
She laughed.  It was a heartfelt laugh.  He hadn’t heard a real laugh…in so long.  “Why…are you laughing?”
”Your answer…it was…it was just so simple.  ‘It’s too big’.”  She continued to chuckle to herself.  She was easily entertained…watching her, he couldn’t help but smile himself.  “Well…it is.”
”How so?” she inquired.
He sighed, “It…just is…you do not seem like a Samantha Lillian Blaire.  Heck, you do not even seem like a Samantha.  It is…too big…too proper…too…it makes you seem like all the other ‘ladies’.  Too…”
”Parochial?”
”Yes!” He jumped slightly, turning to face her with his entire body, “That is it exactly!  Too parochial.  Concentrating only on…on the…the material things.  Things that will not matter in five minutes.  Five hours.  Five years.  They’re all too—“
”Secular?”
”Yes!  Good god yes!”  He could feel an excitement building in him that he hadn’t felt before.  Not for a very long time…the ability to talk to someone.  Someone no less, that would not be expected to be able to hold intelligent conversation.  A conversation worth having…worth remembering.  He hadn’t felt this comfortable…talking with a woman in a very long time.  Not since…Renee.
She laughed again, “You seem as thought you have been waiting to hear that.”
”I have actually…I have.  It is so rare to find someone…willing to talk of things, that are considered taboo.”
”I understand that completely.  It is as though…society seems to forget there is a world out there.  Meant for exploring and discovering and discussing.”  She moved her hands about as she got lost in describing.  Possibly imagining.  He could see it in her eyes.
He smiled at her, “Yes…that is it exactly.  There is more to life than, than getting up in the morning, eating, making a trip to the store—“
”Gossiping in the town square.”
”Yes, yes!  The gossip!  And believe me, men are just as bad as women!”
She giggled in response and added, “And after all the gossip, then you are back in the confines of your home.”
”Studying?  Learning?  Against your will.  Nothing that interests yourself.”
”Etiquette and eloquence,” she muttered with disdain.
He chuckled, “Yes that too.  Then you have your supper,”
”A little more gossip,”
”And you are in bed to sleep.  Just to wake up the next morning and repeat the same mundane cycle—“
”All over again,” they finished the sentence together.  Smiling widely at each other.  He didn’t care anymore.  He didn’t care if she would be able to handle the truth, he didn’t care if she knew or not, he didn’t even care, at that very moment, if they ever saw each other again.  He was enjoying the evening second my second.  He couldn’t afford to dream of the future…and miss the present.
”No…” he smiled, “You are not a Samantha…a Sam perhaps…but not Samantha.”
”Sam?  Ah, but in passing one would think I was a male if they had not yet met me,” she protested lightheartedly.
”So?” he shrugged, “Then I would not have to worry about losing you to someone less worthy.”  He continued to smile at her, but on the inside his heart had stopped beating.  Why did he say that?  What would she think?  It was true. He did not want to lose her.  To anyone.  Deserving or not.  She was the first person he could speak to as a person in so long…
She merely smiled at him, then looked down at the bar top.  Was she blushing?  It was possible.  He silently cursed the dim candle light.
”You know…” she said quietly, “As with everything, there is a way out of that…depressing cycle impressed upon us all.”
”Oh?” he asked, his interest piqued.  “What would that be?”
She looked up at him, her eyes seemed to be filled with even more wonder, more mystery…more hope.  “Dreams,” she whispered.  “In your dreams…you can do anything, be anything.  In your dreams…no one is going to hurt you…or …abandon you.  In you dreams—“
”What if you don’t dream?” he interrupted quietly, his eyes glaring down at the bar top.
”That is impossible, everyone dreams.  You just do not remember them always, but everyone—“
”What if…you don’t dream?” he repeated, this time looking up at her.  His eyes watery, he hoped she wouldn’t notice.
She seemed to understand what he meant, and fell quiet.  She too began to stare at their mutual friend, “If …you do not dream…if you are instead…haunted…then, then you must find someone…someone in the real world, someone to…to hold your hand along the way.  Everyone needs their hand held every once in a while.”
”Once again, you make it sound as though…you have experienced this feeling…” he tried not to sound quite so mocking as he had the first time he pointed that out.
She sighed lightly, “Yes…I have…I do…”
He fought the urge to look at her.  He could hear the hurt in her voice, if he looked at her.  If he saw the hurt in her eyes…”But…I cannot imagine, someone like you…needing help.  Needing support.  Needing…a hand to hold.”
”Sometimes I think I am the most needy.  Then, just as quickly as the thought enters my head, I push it out, it makes me feel selfish,” she tried to chuckle.  To add lightness to the conversation, he could tell.  But they were almost too deep in now.  Definitely past lighthearted laughter.  She absentmindedly played with her fingers, tracing the outline of one nail with another.  He took a chance.  He turned his head slightly to face her.  “You…have not found you’re hand to hold then?”
”No…” she whispered.  “I take it…you have not either?”
”No…and I fear…that I never will.”
”Why do you say that?”  For some reason she was avoiding looking at him.
”I…” he hesitated, he couldn’t do it.  He couldn’t tell her, he couldn’t …chance it.  “Let us just say…I have a shady past.  And at this moment, my future is not looking too bright…there are things that I have done that—“
He nearly choked half way through his sentence.  She had laid her hand on his own.  Nervously, nearly shaking, he looked at her.  Her face was, once again, only inches from his own.  He was too afraid to stare back into that ocean of green that seemed to draw him in.  Instead he let his eyes wander.  Across her face…over her cascading locks…past her lips.  They opened as she whispered to him, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.’”
A reader too?  He couldn’t help but smile. 
“Ah,” she continued, in a faint whisper, “See?  You smile.  If you truly felt so lost…would you find the ability to smile?”
”I was…but…then…” his voice trailed off, as he felt his hand slowly reach up to her face.  He gently ran the back of his hand down the side of her cheek.  She looked down.  This time she was too close to hide it, he could easily tell she was blushing.  She pulled away, and sat back.  “Well… it is late…and I suppose…we both should be retiring for the night.”
No…don’t go…he didn’t want her to leave…not yet…they could easily talk into the morning.  And she knew it…
He stood up, “Yes, madam you are correct it is—“ He wobbled slightly; she quickly stood and reached over to help him steady himself.  Laughing, “Well, it seems you might need a little assistance making it to your room?”
He shook his head, there was something in the back of his mind, something…lingering.  Lurking.  Waiting.  No…it was waiting.  For that quick second.  Once chance.  The moment when the wall became weak, his mental grasp was weak.  He cursed himself for having had so much to drink.  He could hear Sam’s laughter still.  But it was faint.  No…not now…not her too…
”Come good Sir Duvert…we will take you to your room,” she smiled, putting a helping arm around his waist.
”Horse…” he barely whispered.  It was raking at the back of his mind.  Like a puppy, locked into a room all alone.  Scratching.  But this creature did not whimper.  Oh no…there were not whimpers in his mind but his own.  It growled.  It screamed and threatened.
”Horse?” she repeated.  “Ah, you do not live close by?  That is fine.  I will help you to your horse then.”
He could feel a pressure build in his arm.  As though his veins themselves were burning.  Itching with the urge to move.  To be free.  His arm twitched.
”Are you okay?”
”Go away.”
She was obviously taken aback, “Excuse me?”
The muscles in his arm tightened.  His arm became stiff.  He leaned forward slightly.  Fight it…fight it…just a little longer…
”Sir Duvert?” she bent over with him to see his face.
He shut his eyes.  The images returned.  He pushed past them.  Ran…to the back of his mind…crying…don’t do this…not now…not to her…he pushed past his mother, past Annette…faceless names, nameless faces, they all meant so much to him at one point…but not now…nothing was more important now than keeping her safe.  Keeping them both safe. 
”Sabin?”
He forcefully pushed her away from him.  She stumbled back, and grabbed a stool to steady herself.  A few other patrons, seeing his treatment of her, began to stand up and accost him.  Panting slightly, still bent over, his eyes met with hers.  “I am sorry,” he mouthed, and bolted out the tavern door.

Chapter Six:

            What happened?  Everything was going…great.  She didn’t care anymore about what she had seen.  She was even beginning to doubt that she had.

            A few men approached her.  Intoxicated as well but they meant well, “Are you okay?”
”Do you want us to go after him?”
”No, no,” she replied hastily, still staring out the open door.  “No it’s okay…he’s…ill.”  She thanked them once more for their kindness and left the tavern.

            He was scared of something.  She knew she wasn’t imagining that.  What was it?  What, after they were able to talk together so well, to communicate so easily, could make him run suddenly?  Physically push her away?  He didn’t seem like the type to do that…She found she didn’t have to go fart find him.  He was just outside the tavern.  He stood off to the side, leaning against the wall.  Hiding in the shadows.  She very nearly missed him if it weren't for his hair.  He seemed to be staring up at the sky.  Mouthing something.  Talking to himself perhaps?  She was always told that was a sure sign of mental ailments.  She always knew it was a sure sign of loneliness, insecurity, and his case, possibly desperation.

            She took a quick survey of the area; no one was around.  She was not yet sure if that was good or bad.  She turned back to him.  He was doubled over clutching the back of his head.  His mouth open as though he were screaming in pain but no sound came out.  She rushed to his side, placing a hand on his back, “Sabin?”  He was shaking violently.
”Go…away…” he growled at her.
She took a step back, what had she gotten herself into?  Maybe…she hadn’t imagined things back at the tavern.

            He yelled out suddenly, wrapping his arms around himself, “No…not here!”  His voice seemed to be phase…between a normal…human voice and that of something else.  “I’m sorry Sam,” his voice was normal, but quivering.  “Please …leave me be…it’s for your own good.”  He turned and stumbled away, around towards the back of the tavern.  She sighed and looked around once more.  When had she ever kept her curiosity in check?  Willingly?  And she wasn’t about to start now…besides he looked as though he could really use some help…

            She followed him around the tavern.  Behind it was a black horse.  She assumed to be his.  So he didn’t live in town, either that, or he was a traveler.  Halfway to his horse he fell to his knees, screaming into the ground, “GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!”  Sam once again rushed to his side.  She wrapped an arm around his back and placed the other hand on his chest, attempting to coax him into sitting up.  They had to get out of that area.  It wouldn’t be long before someone else heard his demented screams.  “Sabin…come…we have to go...”
”No…” he shook his head, puling away from her, “No…you are the only one…that has to go …please…”
”You’re tired…and honestly, drunk.  Is this you’re horse?”
He only nodded his head in response.  He began mouthing to himself something about holding on…about losing consciousness.  Holding on long enough to lose consciousness?  That didn’t make sense.  She stood up slowly, “Come Sabin, we have to go.”  He stood up as well, just as slowly, shaking all over.  He wobbled slightly.  “Please…Sam…you don’t understand…I am …not normal.”  That, she knew already.  “What is it?  What makes you so different?”  He shook his head and looked to the side, “Just trust me…please…you don’t want to get involved.”  He was fighting a war…with himself.  What personal demons he had, she wasn’t yet sure.  But there was no reason why he should do it alone.  Her heart pounding, she took a step towards him.  Why was she being so persistent?  He had pushed her away, several times already.  He was staring down at the ground still.  Arms down by his sides.  His knuckles were white from clenching his fists so tightly.  What was it?  What could he possibly be fighting so hard?  No.  She decided.  He didn’t have to do it alone.  She could see it in his eyes; he didn’t want to do it alone.  She took two more steps towards him, and gently placed her hands over his fists, “That is a decision…you have to let me make for myself.”
”But you can’t, you don’t understand I—“
She placed a finger against his lips, “What’s so great about normal people any way?  They are boring.”
He was refusing to look her in the eye.
”Is that your horse?” she asked again.
”Yes,” he replied quietly, “But you may…you may as well leave him.”  He spoke slowly.  As thought his thoughts were elsewhere; and he were concentrating on something else.  “Why?” she asked.  Keep him focused, at least long enough to get on the horse and say where he lives.  Then he can let the sleep claim him. 
”Because he won’t go near me…”
She couldn’t help but chuckle, “What kind of horse will not go near his own master?”
”He just won’t… no right now any way…not when I am…”
”Drunk?” she added.  She knew that wasn’t the answer.
”…Yes,” he replied after a moment. 
He sighed, whatever it was that he was fighting so desperately, he seemed to overcome.  At least, for the time being.  He slowly unclenched his fists.  “Look, there is no point in you staying here with me—“
”Oh do shut up,” she replied.  H looked at her, a little surprised.  Her back was to him as she headed towards the horse, “I’m helping you.  End of discussion.”  She grabbed the horse’s reigns and stroked his face gently.  “Hey you,” she had almost forgotten what it was like to be in the company of someone who’s friendship you could never doubt.  “I have nowhere to go,” he finally added in a low tone.
”You do not live around here?” she inquired, bringing the horse over to him.
”…No.”
As the horse got nearer to Sabin it began to kick and try to move away.  Sam turned and pulled down on its reigns slightly, “Hey… Hey relax…”
”I told you…” Sabin muttered, his eyes were half closed and he was swaying slightly.  Sam ignored him, Please…Stop.  The horse immediately came to a standstill.  It stared at Samantha, seemingly a little confused, but it obeyed her none the less.
”Well…” Sabin giggled, “that's never happened before.”
”Come on Sabin, let’s go.”
”I already told you…I don’t have anywhere to go…”
”That can be easily remedied, for now, can you just trust me?” She held out her hand to him.
Sabin sighed, then shrugged, and stumbled over to her.  The horse pulled back slightly as Sabin got closer.  Sam glanced up at it, looking in its eyes, Stop.  The horse stood still.

            It took Sabin, along with Sam’s help, and a great amount of effort to get on the horse, without falling back over the other side.  Sam climbed on behind him and wrapped her arms around him, holding onto the horse’s reigns.  Sabin giggled again, “You have soft hands,” he slurred out.

            Sam tried not to laugh.  He had gone from screaming and pushing her away and evidently fighting some horrible memories, that probably the liquor brought about, to being a silly drunk.  Sabin twisted around slightly in an attempt to look back at her.  “Well hello there Samantha…Lillian Blaire,” he said smiling at her.
”Hello Sir Duvert,” she replied as she got the horse going on its way.
”Would you care to know a secret Milady Blaire?  Because you know…I…” He looked around confused, then, “Oh yes, I have many, many secrets.”
Sam fought back a grin, “Why do you not wait until you are home, and have rested before you reveal any of your ‘secrets’ to me?”
Sabin twisted back around so his back was to Sam, “Ah, but I know that if I wait until I am sober, I will be more hesitant to tell you.  I also know that you know that I know you really want to know, you are just being polite about it.”
”Erm…if you say so Sir Duvert.”
Sabin sighed and leaned back against Sam, “I can feel the shadow fingers of the night that accompany the realm of sleep creep into my mind…they poke and pick and prod at me…I have not yet figured what it is they want…what response they wish to elicit…but, that, I suppose, is all part and parcel…when you’re, possessed by a shadow of sorts…”
Possessed?  Possessed??  No, he does not realize what he is saying.  The man is drunk, in the morning he will laugh it all off.  But…that would explain …a lot…Sam tried to shake the thought out of her head, No…that is not possible…only in stores…fairy tales…She forced a laugh, “Sir Duvert, I think you should rest now, I will take care of you when we get home.  Sir Duvert?”  Sam glanced down at him; he was already unconscious in her arms.

Chapter Seven:

            The light stung his eyes at first…

He was lying in a bed in a small room.  The curtains were drawn back and the morning light seemed to be attacking his bed.  At least, he assumed it to be morning; he really had no idea what time of day it was.  Groaning, Sabin sat up and leaned against the wall.  The room was smaller than he first thought; the bed in the center, a window on the wall adjacent the bed to his left, a chair and small table to his right, and the door across from his bed in the right side corner.  Also on the wall across from his bed, but in the left side corner was a small chest of drawers.

            Had Samantha taken him to her house?  Or did he pass out in the tavern, and dream it all?  He wasn’t too sure yet…more importantly…if he hadn’t dreamt it all…what did he tell her?

            Sighing, he rubbed his forehead, the only side affect to being able to sleep through the night…hangovers.  He was still fully dressed, minus his boots and cloak.  He swung his legs over the right side of the bed; there was a small mirror on the table that he hadn’t noticed before.  He had grown to loathe reflective surfaces, especially mirrors.  He quickly looked away and down at the tan sheets.  Don’t run away…don’t run away…why should he?  He had lived his entire life, amazed and interested with the unnatural.  Fantasy.  The monsters that supposedly lurked under his bed.  So why should he run now?  Slowly, Sabin peeked up at the mirror.  All he saw was his reflection.  No…wait…behind him… he spun around.  There was only the window, with its beige curtains pulled back.  But…in his reflection…He turned back to gaze into the mirror.  His face and body were normal enough, but behind him, there was no window, there wasn’t even a room.  Only bitch black.  It seemed to wisp and move about.  Like…a fog.  A thick, dark fog.  Sabin glanced towards the door, it was closed.  He looked back to the mirror.  “What…are you?”
The fog seemed to throb a little more.  Nervously, Sabin glanced behind him, at the rest of the room, then back at the mirror.
”I know…you can hear me.  I think…you can understand me…can you understand me?”
Slowly, behind him in the reflection, a pair of red eyes appeared.  Sabin moved back slightly, away from the reflection.  Then, four more eyes appeared, one pair above the other.  Sabin could feel his heart beat quicken, nerves?  Fright?  Curiosity?  All of the above more than likely.
”Can you understand me?” Sabin repeated.
The fog shifted.  Seemed to be re-working itself.  It formed a lopsided shape of a head around the eyes.  After a moment, the figure nodded.
Amazed Sabin leaned forward closer to the mirror, “You can understand me??” he asked excitedly.
The figure nodded its head again in response.
”What…what are you?  What have you done to me?”

            The bedroom door opened suddenly, Sam entered the room humming to herself.  Sabin nearly fell off the bed he was so startled.  Sam stopped in the door way, “Oh…you are awake Sir Duvert.”
”And you are real,” he found the words slipping through his lips, instead of staying in his mind where they were intended.
Sam chuckled, “Yes, yes I am.”  She came further into the room, carrying a silver serving tray, on it two tea cups and small tea pot, both white with small blue flowers.  Also on the tray, a knife and a small, rectangular plain cake.  “I had one of the servants prepare it for us,” she explained.
”I am…”
”The servants quarters of my home,” she replied setting the tray down on the table next to the mirror.
”Why did you—?“
”Bring you here?  You said that you had no where else to go…and well, in all honesty,” she sat down next to him on the bed, “I am curious about you Sir Duvert.  You seem to have a lot about you…that is a mystery…and sometimes I think it is even a mystery to yourself.”
Sabin could feel that feeling of hope return once more.  Maybe…anything was possible.  Just one last chance?  If everything failed again, if…she too abandoned him…then he would give up all hope.  Everything.  He would give it up.  But for now…maybe one last try?  But he wouldn’t fall in too soon…no…get to know her a little bit more…what is her past?  Why would someone like her be so interested in someone like him?
”So you’re curious then?”
”Yes,” she replied, handing him his teacup.
He sipped from it, awkwardly at first, he was used to beer mugs, not dainty teacups with saucers.  “You are so curious about a stranger, that you brought him into your house?”
”Well…heh, you did seem as though you could use the help.  And you said you had nowhere else to go.  What was I to do?  Leave you out in the streets?”
”Anyone else would have.”
”Well I am not anyone else, and I am thankful for that.”
He sipped more of his tea, looking at her form the corner of his eye.  She was even more beautiful in daylight.
She stood up, “Why don’t you eat some more of this, and I will gather some clean clothes for you and have one of the servants run you a bath.”  She leaned over to remove the cake from the tray and set it on the table. 
“Curiosity killed the cat,” he whispered in her ear.
She smirked and turned to face him, “Yes, but satisfaction brought it back.”  She stood carrying the tray, with the teapot and her cup and headed out of the room.  As she left the room, “I will send someone in to tell you when the bath is ready.”

Chapter Eight:

            Samantha sat in a large room, one of the studies of the house.  Each wall was adorned with two bookcases, covered in books, mostly educational, historical, and the like.  But Samantha had managed to accumulate a small collection for her own personal interest.

            She sat in a large chair by the two double windows.  The burgundy curtains were pulled back, to let in the afternoon light.  She had her hair pulled back with a blue ribbon to match the dress she was wearing.  She was contently reading a small book on fairies and the tales that were told of them over the globe.  It was something she had…acquired from a bookstore a few years ago.

            There was a knock at the door.
”Yes?” she asked, not looking up from her reading.
The door creaked open and a servant peeked in, “Madam, your gentlemen friend is looking for you.”
She looked up, “Oh, uhm, well send him in.”  She closed her book and set it in her lap.  Sabin entered the room, looking a little uneasy.  He wore a loose white collared shirt, and a pair of black pants.  “I’m sorry if the clothes are a little uncomfortable.  It was all I could get my hands on.”
Sabin shook his head, “No…no they’re all right.”  He looked around the room, at the books.
”Is that all Madam?”
”Oh yes, yes it is.”
Nodding her head, the servant shut the door as she left.
”Please,” Sam gestured to a seat across from her, “Sit down with me.”
Sabin sat across from Sam; he seemed to be studying her face.  Thinking; probably accessing.  That was fine.  She had expected that to some degree.  She probably came off as very suspicious.  What would some wealthy woman want with a stranger from a bar?  His hair was still pulled back into that messy ponytail, the tips wet from his bath.  She smiled to herself, she liked that messy ponytail of his.
”What do you want from me?” he asked suddenly.
”Want from you? Nothing.”
”Then why did you bring me to your house?  Why did you even bother talking to me at the bar in the first place?”  He waved a hand to gesture the room, the house itself, “You seem to be pretty well off, what business have you with some drunken traveler?”
”I do not view you as ‘some drunken traveler’ so much as a possible friend.  I believe you and I have a lot in common, Sir Duvert.”
He doesn’t trust her…of course not.  What had she been expecting?  He’s right, in all appearances, she has no reason to have any interest in him.  She would have to help him understand.
”Some things maybe…a lot I doubt.”
”Hnn, well let’s find out.  Tell me, do you like to read Sir Duvert?”
”Nothing you would be interested in,” he replied, just as he glanced at the book in her lap.
”Oh, well, I like to read about…magick.  I know it sounds odd.  But they intrigue me.  Tales of mystery, fantasy, the dark… and unnatural sometimes.”
He looked up at her face, she was smiling at him as she spoke.
”Now, what is it that you read, that I wouldn’t find interest in?”
”I’m beginning to wonder if you are even human Miss. Blaire.”
She laughed aloud, “Why would you say a thing like that?”
”Because…it is as though you know all about me, yet we have never met.  As though you know things, everything, you’re just waiting to hear me say it.”
”Ah, call it instinct.  So tell me, what is that you read?” She pressed.
He pointed to the book in her lap, “Well…not necessarily fairies, but…the darker side of things to say the least.  The stories we were all told as children, to scare us from the things that lurked under our bed, scare us into behaving…they merely succeeding in intriguing me.  Behind every tale, every story—“
”Is a little bit of truth,” she finished the sentence for him.  “Everyone knows it, but they prefer to turn a blind eye.  Do you believe in the stories Sir Duvert?”
He sighed, “I have no choice to…I’m …I’m looking for the line.”
”The line?” she asked.
”Yes, the line where it stops being fantasy, where it stops being an interesting tale to tell, and becomes reality.  Where is that line?  And when and why does it get crossed…”
”I believe…” she said quietly, “that it can be crossed for a multitude of reasons…sometimes…just being in the wrong place at the wrong time is enough…”
He didn’t respond, but merely continued to stare at her.  He was probably debating whether or not he should inquire any further.  If she was going to do anything, tell him anything, if she had any intention of gaining his trust…now would be the time to do it.
”You said…that it seems as though I know things about you…”
”And you said to call it instinct?”
”Yes…what if…what if you and I really are a like?”
”How?” the doubt in his voice very apparent.
”I…I’m not sure.  I just know that…” she moved forward to the edge of her seat, “you and I have…we’ve tasted what has always fascinated us.  I can tell with you because…you…you don’t look at me like I am some deranged woman.  Someone that speaks of things that ‘proper ladies’ shouldn’t let enter their minds…a person’s eyes can tell tales Sir Duvert…yours tell tomes.”
Sabin looked away, “How am I to know I can trust you?  I have a pretty shady history…I can think of a few people that would like to get back at me …for things beyond my control but—“
”Because I can prove it to you.”
Sabin looked up.
Samantha nodded her head and sat back in her chair, closing her eyes.

Chapter Nine:

            Prove it?  How?  What did she mean exactly?  Sabin’s mind ran with a million questions, a million possibilities.  It wasn’t possible for her to be experiencing the same things he was.  No…part of him hoped she was, but part of him didn’t want to wish that kind of pain, that kind of confusion on someone like Samantha.  At this point, he would settle for anything.

            Literally sitting on the edge of his seat, he watched her.  She was sitting back in her chair, her eyes closed.  After a moment, she pointed to the plants in the windowsill, with her hand closest to them.  Sabin’s eyes immediately went to the plants.  But he didn’t understand, what was it that she was trying to show him?  He opened his mouth to speak, but found his voice left him, as he watched the vines of the plants slowly grow longer.  They reached the ground and seemed to crawl across the floor towards him.  Sabin pulled his legs up into the chair while he watched.  The vines crawled up the chair and began to wrap themselves around him ankles and up his legs.
”Okay, okay, I get the point,” he managed to squeak out.
Sam let out a deep breath as though she had been holding it all that time, and put her hand to her forehead, “Oh….”
The vines began to recede back.  Sabin climbed out of the chair and went to Sam, kneeling by the side of her chair, “Are you alright?”
”Yes…I am…it takes a lot of concentration to do that though…”
Sabin glanced back at the vines as they continued to recede back to the plant box, “How…where did you learn…to do that?”
She sighed, “I didn’t learn anything…my …abilities were forced upon me…”
”Forced?  I can understand that…”
”Can you Sir Duvert?  I would not know, you have yet to tell me anything of yourself.”
Sabin looked around uneasily, “What of your servants?”
”They knock.”
He thought.  What?  What could he show her?  How could he prove anything to her?  There was a small chuckle in the back of his mind.  No.  Not that.  Whatever it is.  Not that.  He wasn’t sure what it was that…dwelled in his mind.  But he knew what it was capable of when released.
”Why are you so hesitant Sir Duvert?” Samantha inquired quietly.
He looked up at her; she seemed to have regained her composure.  “I…have my reasons.”
”I would like to know them sometime…we all have our secrets…things that keep us awake, staring into the night….”
Again she had that voice, that voice of experience.  With the utmost stealth she would sneak into the inner caverns of his heart and tug at every emotion all at once.  He stood up, and sighed, “Close the curtains.”
”Oh, no one can see us in here, we’re—“
”Just do it please.”
Samantha quickly rose and began to pull the curtains closed, “Darn,” she mumbled half way through.
”What is it?” Sabin asked, his back was to Sam, but he turned his head to the side slightly.  Samantha was on tiptoe tugging the other curtain gently.  “Nothing.  The foolish thing is stuck or something.  It won’t close all the way.”  That’ll do.  A little light will help anyway…Sabin turned around and approached Sam.  He rested his hand on hers, “Leave it.”  “Shall I close the curtains of the other window?” she asked.  “No,” Sabin replied.  Only one curtain of the window they stood in front of had been pulled over.  Ironically, Samantha stood in the shadow and Sabin in the light.  “Are you ready?” Sabin asked.  Samantha glanced around, “Uhm… I am not quite sure I know what it is I should be—“
This time Sabin rested a finger on her lips, “Shh.  Just watch.”  Sabin kneeled down and reached over by Samantha’s foot.  She took a step back as he grabbed seemingly nothing.

            Sabin could feel the soft airy shadow between his fingers.  The ability to manipulate shadows.  Every time he did it he felt an unsure excitement he can’t feel at any other moment, yet at the same time a chill runs up and down his spine.  He tilted his head up towards Sam.  She was obviously confused, probably wondering if she had possibly missed what he was trying to show her.  He stared deep into her eyes while he tightened his grip on the shadow.  Not out of necessity, but nerves.  Slowly he brought his fist back to his side, bringing the shadow with it.  Sam gasped slightly and took another step back.  “What…what did you just do?”
Sabin stood, letting go of the shadow.  “I—“
”Do it again,” Sam interrupted.
”I—what?”  HE asked, not sure what he had just heard her say.
”Do it again,” Sam repeated.  “Or,” she added after a moment, “Something different.”
”You…aren’t scared?”
”I am not even sure what is I just saw.”
”Shadow ...manipulation…I like to call it.”
”You can…control shadows?”
”In… a way…yes…”
”Show me something else.”
Sabin sighed.  What?  What else could he show her?  He knew for sure to...to just see something, after a while…one’s mind begins to wonder if one actually did see it or not.  No…he would have to …involve her some how.  How could he…?  Maybe…just maybe.  Sabin looked up at Samantha, in her eyes.

Chapter Ten:

            She stared wide-eyed back into his own nervous eyes.  Why did she ask him to do that again?  Yes…she was scared…her heart raced, with nerves…and excitement all at once.  He was debating again.  Debating, and thinking, and weighing the good with the bad, or possibly the bad with the worse.  Stop thinking Sabin, just do it.  Whatever it is...do it.  She opened her mouth to speak her thoughts to him, but stopped herself.

            His eyes, his eyes seemed to flash red.  No…no she was seeing things.  Then again, had she been hallucinating that night at the bar as well?  Her eyes snapped down to his hands.  His fingers were spread out apart, his palms facing his sides.  She looked back to his eyes; he was still staring at her.  Almost…forcibly…staring her down.  “Sabin what—?“
Samantha found herself choking on her words as the shadows behind Sabin seemed …to grow.  The shadow across the floor crept forward slightly, and behind, further across the room.  Then, a thin, thread-like grey…mist seemed to fall from his fingertips.  Slowly it seemed to pour from his fingertips towards the ground, just as the mist got within two inches of the floor, it shot up suddenly.  All ten grey, shadowy like mists, became as solid as wire, and went straight towards Sam.  Panicking she took a step or two back, or attempted to rather.  But found she was unable to move.  The grey shadows wrapped around her wrists.  They were solid yes, but felt more like silk.  They tugged on her wrists, moving her arms up, over to the side, around.  Sam felt like a helpless puppet.  Sabin’s eyes flashed red again, only this time, the red tint lingered for a little while longer.  It was the look, the far off demented look in his eyes that frightened Sam more than her being controlled by shadows.  “Sabin please…”
Just as suddenly as Sabin had generated the shadows, he fell to the floor on his knees; the shadows almost instantly reverted to their normal size.

            Samantha sat down in her chair; still unsure of what she had just seen…what she had just felt.  He had touched the shadow…no…beyond that, he had moved it and used it.
”Are you frightened?” he asked, still on his knees.  He faced the floor, but was sneaking peeks at her face from the corner of his eyes.  Samantha too stared down at the floor.  Where the light from the window cut into the shadow. “Yes…and no…my…my mind is racing with so many questions.”  Sabin sighed, “Ask them.  It is like you said, we have so much in common…there is no denying it now…you and I are two…very different people in comparison to the rest of the world.  And well…I’d like to know all there is to know about you Sam.”  Samantha continued to stare at the floor.  “It’s a confusing feeling isn’t it?”  Samantha looked up at Sabin; their eyes met.   His eyes were pleading for her confidence, her trust, her…companionship?  No…she was confusing her thoughts and wants with his.  “What do you mean?” she asked, returning her gaze to the floor.  “The curiosity,” he explained, “the inexplicable need to know more, but the mortal fear that holds you back.”  She looked up to his eyes again, “Yes…it is a confusing feeling.”  Sabin arose from the ground and knelt by her chair.  He took her hand.  His hands were like ice and he was shaking.  “You…are the first person I have ever shown my abilities to…please I—“  “You will not regret it Sabin.”  Sam placed her hand on the side of his face.  How much courage it must have taken…how much strength to show her what he had.  Who knows what kind of past he had?  Who has left or abandoned him?  She knew what it was like…to know people feared you…to know they avoided your gaze, walked on the other side of the street just to avoid you...she knew.  She understood all too well the trapped, suffocating feeling.  All the tales, all the dreams she conjured up, all the characters and stored, and untold truths, and mysterious persons, all of it…was some how slowly beginning to manifest in front of her.  She knew…by his revealing his secret to her, by her showing him a bit of her abilities, she knew they had opened a door to a world only the two of them had dreamt of.  Now…they would travel it.  Together she hoped.  “You won’t regret it Sabin…I am not going to abandon you.”
Sabin smiled and closed his eyes, letting his head rest in her hand.  After a moment, he re-adjusted himself so that he sat on the floor, resting his head on her knees.  She quietly ran her fingers through that messy ponytail of his.

Chapter Eleven:

            They sat, in silence for hours.  Both letting their minds wander.  Silently asking each other questions.  Both petrified to know the answers.  Mortified that what if, what if that last bit would be too much?  And they had frightened yet another person away?

            No…She said she wouldn’t abandon him.  It was true, he had no reason to put all of his trust and faith in her.  Yet, he had no reason not to.  They must’ve sat there in silence… for hours.  The sun was beginning to set.  He wanted to say something.  Several times he had opened his mouth to speak, to ask her…something.  Possibly to even tell her about himself…of his past.  Anything.  But he always wound up closing his mouth again.  He couldn’t take that chance.  No.  If she knew...if she knew about what he has done…she would leave him for sure.  Throw him out of the house he was beginning to look at as his sanctuary.  Then the silence was broken.  Not by either one of them however.  There was a light knock at the door.  Sabin could feel Samantha jump slightly; had she been sleeping?  “Yes?” she managed to squeak out.  The door creaked open and a servant peeked in.  A different one than the one Sabin had met earlier.
”Dinner is going to be served soon Madam.”
”Oh…I am not very hunger…are you Sabin?”
It was the first time she had spoken to him in hours.  And the third time she had referred to him by his first name.  Had some sort of…bridge been establish between them?  “No…I am not,” he replied.  “Very well then,” the servant left the room.  Again they were in silence, only know there was a slight awkwardness to it.  Both wanted to speak, each knew it, therefore half waited for the other to speak first.  “I…uhm...”  Samantha broke the silence.  “Yes” Sabin asked eagerly.  He hoped it wasn’t too apparent in his voice.  HE looked up at her, for a moment, they stared into each other’s eyes searching for that reassurance.  The signal that everything was still okay.  She smiled, it wasn’t forced.  Something, maybe some thought that occurred while she stared into his eyes made her smile.  “I suppose it is my turn to continue then.”  He sat up slightly, “Oh?  You have…more to show me?”  “Well…yes but, I thought that maybe we could …speak of our pasts.”  He quickly looked away.  God no…anything but that.  “I mean…I am even more curious to know about you...as I am sure you are even more curious about me.  I am…wiling to go first if you like.  I will tell you…how … I believe I acquired these abilities.  And…” she fell silent.  He fought the urge to look up.  He could hear the sadness in her voice.  He couldn’t bear to see it in those emerald green eyes of hers.  “And?” he whispered.  “And…I will tell you of…what it is that keeps me awake at night.  Sadly...they are one in the same.  Do…you want to know?”
Sabin didn’t immediately respond.  He wanted to know so much about her…but that would mean he would have to share his side…it would only be fair…
”You don’t have to if you do not wish too, you will tell me when you are ready…I wish to get my side of things out into the open at least.”
Sabin nodded.  He would decide after she had told her story, what he would do.
Samantha sighed, “It’s hard to know where to start…well… my parents…my mother Lillian and father…George…we took a trip to London once.  We lived in a small town just outside of it…well, we took a trip to the market, and, heh, my father, he insisted on using one of his foolish maps.”  She chuckled as she said it; she was fond of her parents.  He could see this already.  “One of his own maps?” he inquired.
”Yes…my father…well I suppose he was just never satisfied with one thing, so he had many, many things to do to keep him busy.  One of which was making his own maps.  There were of course, ridiculously inaccurate.  But he insisted on using them just the same.”
”To go to London?”
”Yes, he said he had a shortcut.”
Sabin chuckled.
”Well, as one can imagine…we were soon very much lost…we found a clearing…in the woods.  Uhm…I…”
Her voice trailed off, as she finished her sentence she started to sound further and further away.  Sabin twisted around to look up at her.  She was staring past him, remembering.  She seemed to be locked in a memory somewhere in her mind.  “I…” she continued, still however, staring off into the distance, “I am sorry…things remain a bit…unclear…as one gets older, their childhood memories tend to fade…only those the of utmost importance, or for some reason, had a prominent affect on your mind…seem to stay…”
Sabin understood entirely.  There were times, when the only memory of his mother that crept into his mind was the bloody pile of shredded flesh that lay at his feet that horrible night.  “What is it you do remember?”
”I remember…my parents went out to look around the area…make sure it was all safe I suppose.  I wanted to look around as well, but it was getting late…and a helpful child is better appreciated…so I decided to help take things off our traveling cart while they looked around….”
Sabin’s mind ran with all the possibilities.  Were her parents attacked?  Was she attacked? He hadn’t seen any prominent scars on her.
”Yes?” he inquired further, he hoped he wasn’t pushing to far.
”Well…this…fog began to settle in….”
”I thought you said you set up camp in a clearing …in the middle of the woods?”
”We did, yet, this fog, I didn’t understand then, and I probably never shall, but it began to creep over our …little area.”
Sabin stared up at her, into her eyes with that far off look.  She was frightened.  Not of confided in him the way she was, but her memories were haunting her as she sat there and recalled them for him.  He could not help but wonder if he would get that same glazed, far off look in his eyes if he recalled his past…
”I got scared…and started to call for my parents.  I did not know where they were.  They began to call back to me.  But we still could not find each other.  I decided to climb to the top of the cart, I should be able to see better from atop there.  I could…but then the fog got thicker and I could not have seen past my own hand had I held it up…my parents continued to call out to me…but there was something else…”
”Something else?”
 ”Yes…had it just been a fog, then I might not have been so frightened.  But it felt as though there was something in the fog.  Something more to it.  I could hear…I think they were whispers…as though—“
 ”The forest itself were talking to you?”
 She snapped out of her memory lock and looked down at him.  “Yes…as thought the forest itself…” she trailed off.
 Sabin got up to his knees, facing her; he took her hands, “What happened Sam?”
”I…I’m not sure…the fog just continued to get thicker and thicker…and then…something …slammed into the cart, and knocked me from it.”  As she spoke her words were more and more sporadic, like she wasn’t sure how to phrase it or even of what she was saying.  Sabin waited for her to continue, at her own pace.  He didn’t want to push her any further, she looked as though should would break down at any moment.
”And…I could not hear anything after that…except for the whispering…if that were even what it was.  I do not know anymore…but I heard it…I screamed for my parents again…but they did not respond…I kept calling for them…” her voice started to break.  Sabin searched the depths of his mind for some comforting thought, some soft words he could say to her.  But came up with nothing.  And so he kneeled there, holding her hands, without saying anything.  Only gently squeezing her hands to show his support.
After a moment, Samantha cleared her throat and continued, “ They uhm…they finally …screamed back.”
Sabin looked up, hopeful, “Yes?”
”But they were not screaming my name...they were not screaming anything intelligible…” tears began to stream down her face, “they were screaming in pain.  Such horrible, torturous pain…”
Sabin looked away, the pain he felt in his chest he couldn’t fight.  For a moment, his mind wondered…her parents were killed in a forest…he was…possessed it would seem, in the forest, was it possible that their two incidents…life changing incidents as they were, were connected?
Samantha forced herself to continue on, “I…I went underneath the cart and hid there.  I tried to block it out… to block out the whispers and the screaming…but I couldn’t…I, I…”
Sabin stood up, “Shh, please, say no more.  Do not put yourself through it anymore.”  He held her close to him, her face against his stomach, she sobbed.  Sabin let his fingers wander through her hair.  Again, silk was still the first word that came to mind.

Chapter Twelve:

            She didn’t want to collapse in front him like that.  She wanted to be stronger.  For him…for herself.  But when he held her like that she couldn’t help it…he was the first person she had ever told what happened that night…She forced herself to stop crying.  Pulling away, she wiped her eyes, “Uhm…yes…so that is my story….”
Sabin looked down at her, “How did you get out?”
”I woke up ….in the morning…and there was a wolf by me.  He was licking my face.  I was so scared, but had nothing else to lose…I followed it…and it took me back to my village.”
”I do not understand…how is it that you—“
”Got the abilities that I have now?  I am not too sure myself.  But when I left those woods, I had marks on my shoulders…soon these marks…well they expanded.”
”Expanded?” Sabin asked. 
Samantha nodded and pulled off a glove, then pulled her sleeve up about half an inch so her wrist was visible.  Sabin leaned forward to look.  There were intricate, almost a brownish gold, markings across her wrist.  “They first appeared on my shoulders, then expanded across my body.”
”And…” he gently held her wrists, turning it over examining the markings, “you think it is from these markings that you derive your abilities?”
”I am not sure what to think,” she said truthfully, reclining back in the chair while Sabin still held her wrist, “all I know, is that when I awoke, I had these small markings, and as I got older they got bigger.  And my abilities also grew.  In strength and spectrum.   But as for their origin…I do not know… something could have...tainted me while I slept… or possibly incited something deep within me.  I do not know, and I probably never shall…”
”Can you show…or even tell me of your other abilities?”  Sabin seemed to linger, holding her wrist, he no longer examined it, but looked into her eyes, was he doing it on purpose?  Holding her wrist?  Or had he forgotten?  His hands were rough, yet…gentle at the same time.
She smiled and leaned forward, taking his hands and looking at them.  For the first time she noticed, what looked to be scars from being burned around his wrist.  She quickly glanced at his other one, and saw the edgings of the same marking.  She wanted to ask him where they came from, some sort of failed suicide attempt?  No…that could not have been it.  “You have the hands of a…creative destroyer,” she commented.
”What do you mean?”
”The hands of an artist…that would create something so beautiful, and for some reason…destroy it afterwards…”
He did not reply; her words seemed to have an affect on him.  Had she said something that made him think of some point in his past?  “I think,” she instead continued, “that it is your turn Sir…Sabin…to tell your tale.  That is, if you so wish,” she added after noting his hesitation.
It was now that he pulled away from her grasp, and returned to his own seat across from her.  The distance only a few feet, felt more like miles to Samantha as he settled in the chair.  She stared at him, longing for him to return to her side. His eyes were sad as he avoided her gaze.  She also noticed for the first time the color of his eyes.  She had been waiting for that red tint to appear again she never noticed the true beauty of them.  A grayish …blue…they were piercing and begging at the same time.
”I am not sure what you will think of me afterwards,” he blurted out quickly.
”Come now,” she said lightly, trying to make him feel a little more comfortable, “there is nothing you could have done that would be so bad that—“
”I have murdered people,” he quietly whispered.
Samantha blinked, and stared at him, her mouth open slightly, still waiting to voice the rest of her sentence.  Surely he was jesting?  Some…morbid joke?  To test her.  Her responses.  Yes that is what it was.  She sighed, and looked towards her the plants in the windowsill, “My Sabin…you do choose odd moments to decide to be in a jocular sort of mood…but I understand what you are trying to say—“
”No!” he interrupted her again.
She couldn’t help but look at him, not after that outburst.  He was leaning forward now.  His hands on the arm rests, gripping them tightly.  “There is nothing that I am trying to say Samantha…I am in all earnest when I tell you this…I have…killed…”
After he spoke his shoulders seemed to relax slightly and he slumped back once more into his seat.  Sighing he placed his hand to his forehead, covering his eyes.  “Are you sure you really want to know my horrid past?”
”Yes,” Samantha replied without hesitation.  “More than anything else Sabin.”
”I…heh…now I am not sure where to start….”
”Anywhere will do…”
Sabin sighed once more, but didn’t respond.  Samantha waited patiently.  She knew how hard it was to just pick a point in your past in tell the story from there.  But he had killed before?  Why?  For some reason it did not seem to Samantha that Sabin was capable of cold-heartedly murdering someone.  Defense.  That is what it had to have been.  How?  Samantha found herself more curious than frightened with the thought of him killing someone.  How would he murder someone?  She tried to imagine it.  Him, with those deep eyes of his, taking someone’s life.  It was scary, exciting, enthralling and enticing all at once.  Would he think her horrid for entertaining the thought rather then condemning him for the action?
”When…I was younger…” he started.
Samantha sat up, eager to hear.
”I would spend a lot of time with my father in the forests, helping him out…I…I used to hear things in that forest…whispers…my, my parents,” he adjusted himself, sitting up, “my parents used to tell me stories at night.  My father’s tales of excitement only intrigued me, my mother thought not well of that, and told me tales of horror.”
”Horror?”
”Yes…of monsters and demons, ghouls and goblins that would lurk in the forest.”
”Why would your own mother tell you such tales?”
”To frighten me away.  She was superstitious, and did not fancy my interests.  Yet, her stories only whet my appetite for my knowledge.  I wanted to know if they really did exist.  If I could find them, see them, touch them.  I am not sure why.  It was a sort of morbid fascination I suppose.”
”No…not at all…”
”Well…heh, it is like you said, as you get older the memories begin to fade…I realized that I had a sort of inherent ability…to control shadows….”
”Such as what you showed me?”
”Yes…and more…”
”When did you—“
”Realize this?  There was a point where, whenever I went to sleep, I would hear things…see things…they would become slowly and slowly more vivid…it got to the point I was eager to sleep just to hear or see some more.  Yet I was so excited—“
”That you could not sleep.”
”Yes.  I had lit a single candle to light my room.  And entertained myself by attempting to grab the shadow from the base of the candleholder…to my surprise…I actually succeeded.”
”Then what did you do?”
Sabin laughed, “I hid.  Under my covers.  As exciting as it was, it was frightening…and I was in shock I suppose.  I could not believe what I had actually just done. Well, over time, I began to work on those new found abilities of mine.  Until—“
”Until you go to the point you are now?”
”No…something happened…something that amplified my shadow abilities.”
”What?” Samantha inquired.
”In my dreams…I started to hear…directions almost.  Instructions to do something.”
”To do what?”
”I assume…assumed…I am not even sure anymore now…but then, I thought it would be something that would enable me to see what I had always dreamt of.”
”But…it had not?”
Sabin sat back in the chair once more.  “I went deep into the forests and did everything my reveries had instructed me to…then, I passed out.  I had assumed it did not work.  I awoke later of what I thought to be the same evening.  I found out later I had been unconscious for several days.  I went back home, still very distraught that it, whatever it was, had failed.”
”I-I do not understand Sabin, I thought—“
”I should have known something was wrong when my mother saw me and began to scream…I thought, thought that possibly some animal had followed me out of the woods.  But there was nothing behind or around me.  God I was such a fool…”
Samantha watched him, waiting for him to continue.  What happened to him in those woods?  Would he tell her of who or why he killed?  She wanted to be patient, but the curiosity bubbling inside of her was becoming too much, “Sabin?” she asked after several minutes had passed.  “She…started to attack me.”
”Your own mother?”
”Yes…I had begged her to stop, to explain what was wrong.  I was so confused.  Every time I spoke these sort of…ethereal piercing whispers flooded my mind.  I couldn’t’ hear them, I could feel them.  Permeating through my mind.  I should have realized they were not whispers of another; it was my own voice.  That was why my mother attacked me…I was not even speaking French, or any other human language.”
”But…why?  Was…was that an ability bestowed—?“
At this Sabin laughed aloud, “Bestowed?  Bestowed??  Bestowed is hardly the word that I would choose to describe what has been done to me Samantha.”  He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, “She wouldn’t stop screaming at me and hitting me…until…I could feel it…feel it simply snap…that mental sort of…barrier.  The gate between right and wrong.  And as that snapped…I could feel something else rush forward…again I blacked out.”  Now he leaned forward again, opened his mouth, the closed it.  Sabin stood and paced in front of Samantha.  “W-when I awoke,” he finally continued as he stopped pacing and faced the window, “I was in another daze.  Light headed and even more confused.  Somehow, I had found my way into the foyer of my home while I blacked out…and…there was…there was blood,” he chocked on the word, but audibly forced himself to continue, “across the floor and the closed front door…”
”Blood?” Samantha whispered.  His mother?  He killed his own mother?
”Yes,” Sabin said suddenly, “Yes,” he continued, “there was blood sprayed on the door, pooled on the floor, and at my feet…at my feet was a trial.  A dragging trail of the vile substance.  Samantha looked away from him and down at the wooden floor.  “Who…” she knew whose blood it was but she had to be certain, maybe, hopefully, she was wrong, “Whose blood?”
”I asked myself the very same question.  I had never seen so much in one place at once…and to find my answer, I let my eyes follow the trail…”
Samantha continued to stare at the floor.  Her mind supplied the horrid images to supplement his words.  As well as, for some reason, the screams of her parents.  The, “twisted, mangled,” she looked up, she had not realized he had continued to speak, “lump of bloody flesh…that was my mother…”
Samantha whimpered, placing a hand over her mouth.  Sabin bowed his head, and held his hands out in front him; examining them.  “After the initial shock subsided, I looked down at my hands…and they were…they were not of this world Sam.  They were black, and clawed.  The blood still dripped from them.”  Samantha whimpered again, shutting her eyes.  She found the fault in that for her mind ran amok with images.  Her parents screams, Sabin’s mother’s body, they all mixed into one.  Her eyes snapped open, and she fought the urge to cry again.  “I…I am a possessed man Samantha.  I do not now if that was the intended result of what I did in the forest that night…somewhere in the back of my mind I can feel…fell its anger.  So no, it must not have been what was supposed to happen; I do not know what was…but either way…I am possessed.  There it is…you wanted to know my past…that is just a taste…when it all began…I …I have killed others.  Never, you must understand, never intentionally…it just would happen…I do not know why or how…but I would awake…to horrors.  There Sam.  That is it all.  Tell me now that you still wish to befriend me,” his voice rose with each syllable, “tell me now that you want to provide me with shelter and food.  Tell me now…” his voice became a whisper, a choked out cry, “you can still look at me…and see a human being.”
            Samantha kept her hand clasped over her mouth, for fear if she removed it she would either scream or bawl.  He murdered…his own mother…Her mind went back and forth, arguing with itself.  While yes, he had murdered his own mother, like he said, it was not intentionally, and he is possessed.  But…if he is possessed, what is to stop him from hurting other people that he cares for?  What is to stop him from hurting her?  What had Samantha gotten herself into?  Yet…while she was becoming increasingly frightened…she still felt a strange attraction to him.  To him as a person, and as something more.  She wanted to discover everything about this …possession along with him.  She wasn’t thinking things through…she knew this.  There were so many possibilities…if she…if she went to him now, there would be no turning back.  She couldn’t.  It would not be right to string him along with hope, and then leave him crushed.  She tried to quickly go through all the negatives…everything that could possibly happen, but it was too much.  There were too many loose strings.  The worse?  She could die.  The best?  She could live the life she had always dreamed of.  Full of excitement, adventure…romance?  Nothing would ever be droll or mundane again.  Should she pass that chance up?  If she decided to accept him…for who, and what, he was, it would not be easy.  She more than likely would get seriously hurt…but then again, nothing in life was easy.  And if she were to stay?  Willingly condemn herself to a life of misery with a man she does not love?  Samantha slowly removed her hand from her mouth, and turned to look at Sabin.  He was standing still facing the window.  His arms wrapped around himself.  He was probably crying.  As she watched him, stand there, alone and forsaken, she made her decision.  Nothing was worth…she stood up and slowly walked towards him.

Chapter Thirteen:

            What was she doing?  What was she thinking?  She was still in the room; he had not heard the click of her shoes run across the floor.  So she was still there.  Why?  Why had he told her so much?  Why had he told her anything at all?  He should have kept his mouth shut.  As all the instant regret filled his mind, Sabin fought the urge to call out to her; his voice had left him anyway.  He contemplated turning around to face her but that too seemed impossible.  Even if he could force his legs, waist, neck turned stone to twist around so that he may gaze upon her, he was afraid of what he would see.  The heinous acts he had confessed to, the despicable one had very nearly described in as much detail as was readily available in his memory.  He had lost her.  The one being to share her kindness.  Even animals turned their heads to him.  She had not spoken since the few times she gently inquired for more information.  She only whimpered twice.  Possibly fighting back tears or screams.  Dammit, why?  What was he thinking in telling her all that?  He began to feel he wasn’t thinking at all.  His vision came into focus again, and he could see his hands once more. He had to blink a few times to erase the image of bloody claws.  He clenched his fists as they came into focus, silently cursing himself.  After a moment he wrapped his arms around himself, gripping his shoulders, a desperate attempt to comfort himself possibly?  Physically hold himself together?  Or fool his mind into thinking his scarred murderous arms for the frail and gentle touch of Samantha’s.  He was not entirely sure.  All he knew was that he had done the worst thing possible by telling her.  It was too soon, assuming that he should have told her at all.  The only thing he could do now, was hope for the best... Heh, the best?  He had received the muck from everyone’s shoe since—wait, she, she stood up.  She was coming towards him now.  Her shoes clicked gently across the floor.  Even her steps were like silk.  After a few steps she stopped.  Why?  Was she hesitating?  Hesitating to do what?  Maybe she was picking up a weapon of sorts?  To attack him?  If that be the case she would not succeed, this he knew.  He half hoped she would, to put him out of his pathetic misery.  Sabin tightened his grip around himself and closed his eyes.

A moment…two moments passed.  The click of her shoes resumed.  She was behind him now; he could feel the soft heat of her breath on his neck.  His heartbeat quickened.  A part of his mind screamed to prepare to defend himself, but he pushed it away, and concentrated on her breath.  Her warm, alluring, comforting breath that seemed to—he jumped as he felt her arms wrap around his own.  His eyes snapped open and he began to turn around to face her but she was already holding him tightly.  Her arms gently slid down so that she held him around his waist while his grip on shoulders tightened from nerves.  He tried to control his breathing, “S-Sam…?” he managed to squeak out in a whisper.  She rested her chin on his shoulder, probably standing on tip toe, “Yes Sabin?”
”What…what are you doing?  I do not understand… did I not--?”
”Frighten me?  Immensely…however…I cannot do it.”
”Cannot do…what?” he continued to whisper.
”I cannot abandon you Sabin,” her grip around his waist tightened as she squeezed him gently, “I promise you Sabin, I will stay here by your side.  I will not leave you or forsake you…there is nothing you can do Sabin…to force me away from you.  I promise you this…on my very soul…I will always be by your side.”
Sabin opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t find any words suitable to express his thanks, his…jubilation.  She was not going to abandon him.  While it was true, he had frightened her, she admitted so herself, she wasn’t going to turn her back on him.  He half wondered why.  Was there something else she had in mind for him?  Was there more to it?  No…not with Sam.  If she said she wanted to be by his side, it was for that reason alone…that she wanted to be there.
”Does my decision not please you?”
”Yes!” he nearly shouted, then cleared his throat embarrassed, “I…I mean yes…yes it does.  I had thought for sure…I was positive that—“
Samantha removed her right arm from around his waist and placed her index finger against his lips, “Shhh,” she whispered into his ear, sending a tingle down that entire side of his body, “let’s not speak on it anymore.  Well on the negative side, I know how frightened you must have been, and probably still are, but I am here now Sabin, you can put that all behind you, and go forward…with me.”
Sabin closed his eyes once more and smiled to himself, he forced himself to release his grip on his shoulders and slowly placed his hands over Samantha’s.  And for a moment that seemed to last forever, but when it was over, not long enough, they merely stood there and held each other.
”Come,” Samantha said suddenly, “why don’t we go back down to the tavern?  This …this place depresses me.”
”Why?” Sabin found himself asking.  “You are well off, have servants, and whatever you could ask for.”
She let go of him and stepped back, ”As well as a thing or two that I did not ask for, and could do very well without.”
”Such as?” he inquired further, turning to face her.
Samantha hesitated, “I…it does not matter.”
Sabin placed his hands on her shoulders, “It matters enough to disturb you, please tell me.”
Sighing, Samantha looked away, “I am…engaged.”
Sabin could feel a sharp pang in his chest.  He wasn’t at first sure why.  No…he knew why.  He was just trying to deny it…hide it…engaged?  What did it matter to him?  Yes, that’s right.  What did it matter to him?  It would be better anyway; this way there would be no chance of her ending up like Annette.  But …how would her soon to be husband feel of her …relationship with him?  He knew things were too good to be true…
”Please,” Samantha interrupted his thoughts, “please let us not think of these things, I would much rather not…shall we head to the tavern?”
Sabin nodded his head quietly, and followed her out of the room.

The trip to the tavern was long and quiet.  They walked in silence.  Sabin wanted desperately to say something but he couldn’t think of what to say.  Ever since Samantha had admitted to her betrothal he was no longer sure what to say to her.  It felt as though so some sort of wall went up between them, but he didn’t mean for it to.  He didn’t want anything between them.

He held the door open for her when they got to the tavern.  She thanked him politely and headed in, towards a table in the back.  Just behind where she had been sitting the night before.  Sabin noticed several glares he received from patrons that he recognized from the previous night.
”Ignore them,” Samantha commented as she settled into her seat, “they are just leery of you because of how you behaved last night.”
Sabin pulled out his own chair and sat down, still looking around, “Yes well I had good reason for my behavior.”
”They do not know this, ignore them.  Give it a small while, when they see that you mean no ill intent, they will leave you be.”
Sabin nodded his head in agreement.
”Hmm,” Samantha mumbled, looking around, “it would seem that we are not going to receive any service tonight.”
”That too may be my fault,” Sabin replied, looking down at the table.
Samantha chuckled, “Do not fret.  We will simply go to the bar then and get our wants straight from the barkeep.”
”Can you control water?” Sabin blurted out...
Samantha was obviously confused, “What?”
”I am sorry.  You were able to control the roots of the plants…I was curious if you are able to control all things of the earth.”
”No,” Samantha smiled, shaking her head, “unfortunately not.  At least not that I know of.  I am still learning.”
”Ah…”  She had more abilities, Sabin was sure of it.  He now wished they had remained in the house so that she could show him more.
”Sabin, would you care to ask the barkeep for our drinks?”
Sabin looked up at Samantha, then twisted around slightly in his seat to look back at the barkeep.  He was on the other side of the bar, as far away from them as possible, staring out into nothing.  “Erm…” Sabin sighed as he turned around again to face Samantha, “I think you should do it…last night…well…I do not think the barkeep would be too…willing to tend to my wants.”
”Oh yes yes!  That is right.  My apologies Sabin, I had completely forgotten.”  She stood up, “I will retrieve it myself.”
Sabin reached out and gently grabbed her hand, “It is I who should apologize.  You should not have to wait and serve on someone such as myself.  This is the second time you have retrieved food and drink for me.  Thank you.”
She smiled down at him, “Do not worry my dear Sabin, you will have your turn to wait on me.  Who knows?  I am a frail thing, perhaps I shall twist my ankle sometime.”  She continued to smile as she walked away towards the bar.
If Samantha did such a thing, she would have her precious fiancé to tend to her needs, Sabin thought bitterly.  Why was she flirting with him if she is in love with another man?  Perhaps she was not flirting, but just being a kind soul.  Was he that desperate that he mistook kindness and playful banter for genuine interest?

A chair slid in under the table suddenly.  Sabin looked towards his right, a tall and slender woman stood by it, one hand on the back of the chair the other holding a tall mug.  She smirked down at him.  She had straight black hair that was not done up in a particular fashion, but rather was loose about her head.  Small curls here or there.  Two small hairpins were clipped above her left ear, pulling her head back.  They were red flowers.  Red to match her…. attire.  She wore a low-cut red dress, small white lace around the collar.  Her sleeves belled out at the elbows, white lace underneath.  A white ribbon crisscrossed on the front of her dress in a mock corset.  Sabin took a moment to examine her before his eyes wound up at her low cut top once again.

She leaned forward, “Hello there handsome.”  She had a heavy French accent.  Sabin tried not to stare at her bosom that was, evidently nearly being shoved into his face.  “Good evening,” he replied curtly.
The woman moved the chair over so that it was closer to Sabin, then she sat down.  “I could not help but over hear your conversation…or at least a bit of it…you have interests in those that can control…the elements hmm?”
Sabin looked up at her, “You can do that?” he asked eagerly.  Was it possibly there were more people out there like him or Samantha, and he just did not know it?
The woman smiled and took a sip from her mug, “Of course I can.”  She set the mug down on the table, and held her hand over it, palm down.  She turned to Sabin and smirked, while she was facing him, the contents in the mug shot up and swirled around her hand.  Sabin stared wide-eyed, then motioned for her to stop.  He looked around, “Should you not be more careful with where and how you flaunt those abilities of yours?”
She chuckled and shrugged, the water splashing back into her mug, “No not really.  I can take care of myself.”  She leaned closer to his ear, “I can also control fire as well, heat things up a bit.”  She ran her hand down across his leg under the table, “Would you care for a demonstration hmm?” 
”Ahem!”  Samantha was standing at Sabin’s left, holding two mugs.  “And who might you be?”  She set the mugs down.
The woman stood up and held out her hand to Samantha, “Marguerite, pleased to meet you.”
Samantha raised an eyebrow and stared down Marguerite’s offered hand; she glanced at Sabin, “Well that makes two of us apparently.”  She took her seat across from Sabin.
Marguerite shrugged and sat down again, still leaning rather close and on Sabin.  Was it his imagination or did Samantha seem…jealous?  What should she care though?  She has her fiancé.  Someone to be with and cherish…
”Marguerite can control—“
”I saw,” Samantha interrupted, “most of the tavern saw it.”
”Well do you not find that interesting, that someone else can…well…has abilities like—“
”Like what Sabin?” Samantha interrupted giving him a warning look.
Sabin stopped speaking, it was apparent she did not want anything about her to be revealed.
”Hmm,” Marguerite moved away from Sabin, “It would appear your,” she eyed Samantha, “companion, is not comfortable around me.”
”You are very observant,” Samantha replied.
”I only came over to share some interesting information.”  She turned to Sabin, “Since you seem to be intrigued by the not so normal side of things, I heard of a house…not too far from here, about half a day’s travel by horse...that is supposedly haunted.”
Samantha sneered, “Ghosts?”
Marguerite stood, “I would not know, myself personally have no interest in it, I am merely spreading the gossip if you will, trying to start…conversation.  Ghosts, goblins or ghouls,” she waved her head dismissively, then picked up her mug, “makes no difference to me, it does not affect me, but there cannot be something quite right about a house completely covered in shadows, day or night.”
”Shadows?!” Sabin nearly shouted. 
Marguerite chuckled, “Yes, shadows…though now that I think about it, it does not seem quite as intriguing as it once did.  Some weary traveler trying to cover up own pathetic cowardice by spreading stories I suppose…ah well…so that is…good night then?”  She asked leaning on her hand on the table, leaning into Sabin’s face one more.  “Hmm handsome?”
Sabin’s mind amazingly, was only on the shadowed house, “Is there anything else you can tell us about that house?”
Marguerite pouted and stood up, “No, I do not know anything about the house, it is probably a rumor, I only mentioned so I could get to know you.  Enjoy your evening children.”  She strutted away from the two, and headed towards a man sitting by himself in a corner.  Her sultry, “Hello there handsome,” could still be heard.
Sabin turned to Samantha, “Why did you do that?”
”Do what?” she replied sipping from her mug.
”Why did you have to treat her that way?”
”I did not treat her anyway, she merely said I felt uncomfortable around her and she was correct.”
”Well…we could have missed out on some valuable information,” Sabin said sadly, and slightly annoyed.
”I do not really think so, she said so herself that the existence of the house was the extent of her knowledge about it.”
Sabin sighed.  He was correct, but for an engaged woman she sure did get jealous rather quickly.  Even if she didn’t realize she was doing it.

The two sat in silence for a several minutes, before someone else’s shouts broke it.  “Hey get back here you little thief!”
Sabin twisted around in his seat to see a small boy duck and dodge around a rather large man, and escape out the front door of the tavern.  His light brown long coat swishing around the doorframe after him.  The man he apparently stole from and a few of his companions followed him.  “I think,” Sabin turned around again to face Samantha, “I think it is time we headed home.  It is getting late…perhaps tomorrow…erm….”  He stumbled for the words.  He wanted desperately to go in search of the supposed haunted house, but he was not sure how to ask Samantha about it.  Assuming she would even be interested in joining him…
”Yes?” she asked standing up, “Perhaps tomorrow?”
Sabin too scrambled to his feet, “Erm well…perhaps tomorrow we could…uhm…take a look for…or at…the uhm—“
”Haunted house?”
”Yes,” he replied meekly.
”I would like for nothing more,” she replied smiling.
”Really?  I thought that you were not interested in—“
”Oh I am, come Sabin, let’s go home.”
Sabin hesitated before he responded, for some inexplicable reason, to hear Samantha say those words; it sent a pleasant tingle throughout him.  Instant hopes and thoughts filled his head of a future with her. A pleasant, if anything, friendship.  Taking her arm, he led her out of the tavern.

Chapter Fourteen:

Samantha slowly walked down the hall towards the servants’ quarters where Sabin's room was.  It was early morning the next day yet she was still reprimanding herself for her behavior the previous night.  She wasn’t sure why she had gotten so uncomfortable around that Marguerite.  Perhaps it was her closeness with Sabin, and her obvious profession.  Samantha could feel herself frown as she recalled the woman’s attire.  She considered apologizing to Sabin but she wasn’t sure how.  Besides, ever since she had mentioned her engagement with Edmund, Sabin seemed to …be different around her.  Slightly distant.

Samantha looked up as she realized she had reached his bedroom door.  If he mentioned it she decided, she would apologize.  She knocked lightly on his door, “Sabin?”  There was no response, yet she could hear movement inside.  “Sabin?  It is Samantha…uhm…it is about ten o’clock if you still want to get going…Sabin?”  Again, no response, only the dull sound of movement on the other side of the door.  “Sabin?  I am going to open the door.”  Samantha slowly turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.  The room was empty.  Puzzled she called for him once more, “Sabin?”  “Madame?”  Samantha jumped at the unexpected voice.  One of the servants was behind the door sweeping.  “Oh lord Susan, you scared me half to death.”  “I am sorry Madame.”  Samantha stepped into the room and looked around again.  “erm, Madame, if you are in search of your erm…gentlemen friend, he left just over an hour ago.”  “Left?” Samantha asked.  Susan nodded, “I am not entirely sure where he went.  Possibly in search of better fitting clothes?”  “Are you sure he will be back?”  Susan gathered her things and began to leave the room, “Yes.  Well, I believe so, there was a note left on the night stand, I assumed it was for you, I did not move it.”  Samantha quickly turned to the nightstand and noticed for the first time the small folded piece of paper.  She sat on the side of the bed and slowly opened it; Susan hesitated a moment then left.  The paper was small, as was his handwriting.  It was written quickly as though he were afraid he would lose his thought, or nerves.  It read:
            Samantha, I merely stepped out for a moment to see if I could gather some more information on the haunted house.  If I have not returned by—“

                “What are you reading?”
Samantha jumped, nearly falling off the bed, crumpling Sabin’s note.  She turned to see Sabin sitting down beside her, grinning.  “Sabin that is the second near heart attack I have had this morning because of you.”  She sounded more stern that she had intended.  Sabin’s smile faded slightly, “ I am sorry…I had only stepped out to—“
”Gather information, I read,” she said holding up the crumpled note.
”Ah,” Sabin replied quietly.
”I am sorry if it sounded as though I were angry with you, you merely startled me is all.  Did you get any pertinent information?”
”Not much,” he sighed, lying back on the bed.  Samantha noticed he was wearing new, more fitting clothing.  A pair of black slacks and an older fashioned white collared shirt.  There was a black long coat draped across the foot of the bed that he must’ve put there when he came in.  He also had on new high black boots.  “Just some general directions, and more speculation.”
”Such as?” she asked, trying not to stare at his body too obviously.
Sabin sat up again, “Well, everyone pointed me to the East.  They say it’s about a quarter to half a day’s travel by horse carriage, and that is when you get to a small bridge in the road.  From there you have to walk about half an hour on foot into the woods and—“
”The woods?”
”Uhm yes, well the, the house is a little ways into the woods, but you can’t miss it, it –“
”Do we have to go through the woods?  There is no…no way around it?”  Samantha was starting to regret having agreed to journey to this house with Sabin.  She had not entered woods since she was a child…even though she was still more in tune with nature than she had ever been, it scared her.  Those whispers that night…the sudden fog and silence…and the screams…
”Sam?  Are you alright?”
”Hmm?  Oh yes... I am fine…just…thinking is all.”
”Does the thought of going into the woods make you uncomfortable?”
Samantha considered admitting the truth, she partly wanted to stay as far as way from woods as possible, yet she didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to experience some adventure.  She also convinced herself that she had to be strong, no matter what, for Sabin.  “No,” she finally replied, “no I will be fine.”  She forced a smile.
”If you are sure then we should get going soon, before it gets any later.”
Samantha stood up, “Yes…yes we should…allow me to just run to my bedroom and retrieve my cloak.”
”Of course,” Sabin answered smiling, “I will meet you outside.”

Samantha quickly headed upstairs to her room, closing the door gently behind her.  She went to her closet and retrieved her cloak then laid it across her bed.  Squatting down she reached underneath her bed and slid out a small box.  Glancing towards the door, she moved quickly.  Opening the box, and putting the note that Sabin had left her inside.  She took out a small book and a pencil and jotted down some thoughts quickly.  Her handwriting was more smooth and contoured than Sabin’s.  She had had lessons of course.  She wrote:

This is something I am not used to at all…the feelings that I have for this man.  This, in all reality, stranger…When I think back to two nights ago, I still cannot fathom what it was that possessed me to bring him to my home.  Funny that I should use the word possessed.  There is so much to say about him yet I cannot not go into it right now…what I find most intriguing almost as much as the stories he tells me…are these feelings welling inside of me.  I partly, I must admit, feel guilty.  After all, I am engaged to Edmund.  That is no longer any secret.  Yet…even though at one point I thought I loved him, and he I…I now know that is no longer how I feel.  And never how he felt.  But oh, Sabin.  Sabin Duvert.  That is the stranger’s name.  He has a way about him I have never encountered before.  A sort of almost, innocence.  Yet I am sure, once I can get him to open up to me completely, once that barrier, that distance that seems to have grown between us, which I may fear is my fault for mentioning my engagement, if I can get that barrier to dissipate, then I am sure there will be no secrets between us.  We are going to travel now.  The two of us.  Not a long travel.  To investigate a haunted house.  I laugh as I write this, that is one sentence I never thought I would say, to investigate a haunted house…I must go now…hopefully I will be able to overcome my uneasiness in the woods, and get a taste for some sort of real adventure.

Samantha placed the book back in its resting place and quietly slid the box to its own.  She grabbed her cloak and rushed out her bedroom door.

Sabin was already downstairs in front of house, by his horse, looking very distraught and annoyed.
”What is wrong Sabin?” Samantha asked, wrapping her cloak around her.
Sabin sighed, “I intended to retrieve the horses for us, but, well, yours refused to go anywhere near me…”
Samantha glanced toward the stable, “Oh…uhm well I will get him then.”  She had forgotten about Sabin’s complication with animals.
”I am sorry Sam, I did want to be helpful.”
”No, no, it is quite alright,” she called back to him.  “I did not really expect my horse to be so willing to go with you,” she added as she approached him with her horse.
Sabin looked down, “Yes…”
”Oh well, it, it is not just you, or anything about you,” she stroked her horse’s face, “he can be very protective, as well as stubborn.  He only takes orders from me, of if it is to help me.  Do not fret.”
Sabin nodded his head in response but did not reply.  He climbed atop his own horse.
Samantha did so as well, sighing, “Just give him some time to get to know you, as I am sure your own needed time to adjust as well.”
”That is true,” Sabin admitted.  “Are you ready?”
”Yes.”
”Good, then let’s get going!”  Sabin seemed to recover his positive attitude, for he was already grinning again as they headed east.

They traveled at a steady pace, and spent most of the journey in silence.  Samantha wanted for anything but silence.  Once they left the town, the road turned from gravel to dirt and sticks.  It was a bumpy ride indeed.  At first, they were surrounded by open fields, nothing but grass as far as the eye could see.  After about a half hour or so into traveling they could start to see trees on the outskirts of the fields.  Another hour later, they were surrounded entirely by trees.  Ranging in size, but the majority of the woods had tress at least five to six stories tall.  Samantha rode a little closer to Sabin, looking around her every five minutes.  Behind her, up into the trees.  To hear a bird or any sort of woodland animal was rare.  And every time they did it made her jump.
”Samantha?  Are you sure you’re okay?”
She wanted desperately to turn around and race home.  But instead she nodded her head and said, “Yes Sabin…I am fine.  But…it is a little quiet why do we not talk about something?”
”Ah well…uhm…what do you think we will find in this house?”
”If it exists at all you mean,” she replied glad to have something to take her mind off of the silence of the woods.
”Well I am hoping it does…just think…an entire house covered in shadows,” the excitement in Sabin’s voice was very apparent.
”I am not sure I entirely understand Sabin, what is it that you hope to find out or discover in this house?”
”I do not know honestly…I just know that there is an entire house enveloped in shadows, day or night, I can control the shadows, and whatever it may be that has possessed me amplified those abilities.  So…maybe …I do not know…”
”I think I understand what you mean.”
”Yes…at the very least it could not hurt to at least look.”
Samantha nodded in agreement, and then they were silent again.  For the life of her she could not think of anything else to talk about with him, her mind was only on the suffocating woods around them.
”Tell me of some of the other abilities that you have,” Sabin said suddenly.
Samantha got the impression he did not want to travel in silence either.  “Well, heh, I can do a various things.  Uhm…heh,” she tried to think of something simple and not too mentally or physically draining to show him.  “I really cannot think of anything on the spot to show you, what about you?  You go first and then I will think of something to show you.”
Sabin leaned his head back looking up at the sky, “Okay…oh I know.  Something I found to be useful when traveling and I need to store items, rather than carry them around.”
”Store items?”
”Yes, look we are at the bridge, we can take a quick break before walking and show each other a bit more of our abilities,” Sabin said as he bought his horse to a stop and hopped down.
Samantha looked in front of her, it was true, they were at the bridge already.  She hadn’t realized how far they had gotten, or perhaps the distance was not as far as everyone said it to be.  Either way she could feel the pit of fright and worry build up in her stomach.  Reluctantly she too stopped her horse and climbed down.

The ground was soft and wet, though it had not rained for several days.  There were a few birds chirping, a couple of insects flew past her face, and the rustle of the small creek that ran under the bridge.
”Sam!  Come let me show you!”  Sabin was sitting down on a large rock by the bridge.  Just past him Samantha could make out a thin beaten trail into the woods.  Sighing, she went over to him.  She stood on the entrance of the bridge and leaned on it. 
“Yes?”
”Alright…do you see your shadow?”
”Yes.”
Sabin leaned over and grabbed the edge of Samantha shadow.  She shuddered slightly.  If it had been anything but her own shadow it may not have freaked her out so.  He pulled a chunk of it away and stretched it, balled it up, and stretched it again.  Then he placed it on the ground, stretching it out into a large circle.  Since it didn’t seem as though Sabin needed to concentrate, Samantha asked, “What…are you doing exactly?”
”Watch,” Sabin replied as he picked up a small rock and tossed it into the shadow.  Not onto the shadow, not onto the ground, into the shadow.  It fell in much like a pebble would a body of water.  The shadow rippled slowly, and then smoothed out again.  He had tossed a rock into shadow. 
“Where-where does it go?”
Sabin chuckled, “Heh, I have not exactly figured that part out yet.”
”But, you said that you would use this as a means of storage, how do you retrieve the items you put in there?”
He shrugged, “I merely stick my hand in and it’s there.  Sometimes I have to feel around for it, but usually it’s right there.  Come to think of it, the only times I have had to really search for an item I put in there, is if I had really thrown it in.”
”That’s…amazing…”
”Yes well,” Sabin began pushing up the edges of the circle and gathering it into another small ball.  “I cannot leave this here it is not safe.”
”What would happen if a human were to fall in?”
”I do not know…I do not know what happens to living matter…I have a theory though…”  He sat up as he rolled the shadow ball around in his hand until it was extinguished.  Then he used both hands to demonstrate while he talked, “I have a theory that-that the shadow …well I call it the shadow realm, is something similar to possibly the dream realm.”
Samantha squatted down, it sort of made sense, yet she wasn’t too sure how.
”Oh Sam do not squat like that, you will get your dress ruined, come sit here with me.”
”There is not enough room on that rock Sabin.”
Sabin looked around, “Oh…erm…well…sit on my leg.”
”On your leg?” she laughed, “That is hardly lady like.”
”Well not my lap, but my leg.”
Samantha laughed, even though part of her wanted to be as close to Sabin as possible, she did not want him to think her…an easy sort of woman.
”Sam, I am serious.  You are going to get your dress ruined across the bottom, and your legs will hurt within a few minutes.”  He gently tapped his knee, “Come on.”
Samantha stood up as she could not help but laugh out loud; it reminded her of a father beckoning his child.  “You are being absolutely silly Sabin.”
A gust of cool wind blew suddenly and Samantha bought her cloak around her tighter.
Sabin sighed and stood up, “If you insist on being stubborn, then take my seat.”
”No,” Samantha shook her head, she had thought of something she could demonstrate to him, a bit of her abilities.
”Oh?  You would rather stand?  We are going to start walking soon so maybe you should get all the rest you—“
”No, no, I meant, I am going to stand because I thought of something I can show you.”
”Oh well then, I am sorry, by all means go ahead,” Sabin took his seat once more on the rock.
Samantha took a deep breath and closed her eyes, after a moment she opened one eye, “You might want to brace yourself Sabin.”
He laughed, “No offense Sam but I hardly think there is anything you can do that will shock or frighten me.”
”That is not what I meant but if you insist,” smiling, she closed her eye again and took several deep breaths.  She cleared her mind of everything, any thought, any sound, even her own breathing, until all she could sense was the movement of the wind past her face.  The wind was coming towards her, slowly, it was a cool breeze.  Samantha focused on the breeze, as though she were collecting it.
”Sam?” Sabin asked.
Samantha could just barely hear his voice, but it was just what she needed to exactly pinpoint his distance from her.  She opened her eyes suddenly and as she did a gust of wind came from behind her, around her, and towards Sabin.  Before he could respond he was knocked off of his rock, backwards and into the small creek below.
”Sabin?” Samantha called out as she went towards him, helping him out of the creek.  “I am so very sorry, I did not intend for you to fall into the water.  Please forgive—“
Rather than being upset, Sabin seemed pretty exciting, he interrupted her with, “You can summon gusts of wind as well?
She chuckled, "You can?"
Sabin shook water off his arms, "Yes! Well, I cannot really show you because...for some reason whenever I do it...it destroys things. As though, there were tiny shards of glass inside the wind, ripping anything it hits to shreds. There have been times when it has only been wind but I have not yet figured out how to control and separate the two."
"Oh...well then no, do not demonstrate that to me."
Sabin shook his arms and legs one more time before he turned to the thing trail behind him, "Well I suppose we ought to get going then?"
Samantha sighed heavily, "Yes I suppose so..."
"Sam, if you do not feel comfortable I understand...we do not have t go."
"No, no, I want to, I do. I want to be there for you Sabin as you figure everything about you and this possession there is to know."
"Well...it is your decision, and if you are sure," he took her arm, "then let us go."

From the moment they stepped onto the trail, everything seemed to get darker and quieter around them. They had only been walking for about fifteen minutes before every sound around them dissipated. There were no birds, no insects, they had out walked the sound of the running creek. Nothing was audible around them but the sound of their feet hitting the soft wet ground.
"How long of a walk is it again until we reach the house?"
"Well...between all of my sources, I would say about 15 minutes. It is not along walk at all...and everyone has told me that we cannot miss the house itself. For the forest itself nearly goes pitch black."
"...pitch black?"
"Do not worry Sam," he smiled slightly, "I can see in complete darkness. Much like a cat can."
He was only trying to console her, she knew it. But somehow the thought of him being able to see in the darkness did not help any. Her concern was would he be able to protect her?
"Well...traveling always goes faster if you have some interesting conversation...talk with me Sabin."
"Watch where you step Sam," Sabin replied as he led her around a fallen log. "The ground here is really sinking in for some reason, please be careful."
"Yes," Samantha leaned on him as he lifted her gentle over the log. "Thank you."
For a moment Sabin lingered with his hands on her waist, staring down into her green eyes. Samantha fought the urge to wrap her arms around him and just hold him and be held. "What is it Sabin?"
"Oh! Uhm...nothing, nothing." He turned quickly, taking her arm once more, leading her down the path. "So...tell me about this man...that you are engaged to."
Samantha's heart skipped a beat; that was one question she had not expected him to ask. Or had hoped he would not.
"His name is Edmund..."
"What is he like?"
"Sabin...I do not think you understand, I do not have any intention of--ah!" As Samantha placed her foot down on the soft earth, it continued to sink in. "S-Sabin!" She grabbed frantically on his arms, he in turn pulled her forward and out. Breathing heavily she clutched onto him, "What happened?"
"I do not know...quicksand? No...not here..."
"Sabin....I cannot see anything, it is too dark."
"Do not worry, just hold onto me, you will be fine. I am going to kneel down for a moment to take a look at what you tripped on."
"Okay..." Samantha held her hand on the back of Sabin's neck as he squatted down, "I-I did not trip," she informed him as she tried desperately to see in the dark, looking around her, "it was as though my foot sunk into the ground...it sounds insane I know, but as though something grabbed me..."
"Not as insane as you may think Sam," Sabin replied as he stood up, "you stepped into a shadow hole, like what I summoned up earlier by the bridge."
"But...how did it get there?"
"I do not know..." Sabin said as he looked down at it again, "Come let us move forward."
"But I cannot see Sabin...how much further is this house?"
"About...oh my..."
"What? What is it?" Samantha asked holding onto him again. She was beginning to panic, and every second fought the urge to turn and run back to their horses.
"The house...we are...in front of it."

Chapter Fifteen:

Sabin held one arm around Samantha's waist. He considered for what must have been the millionth time turning around and going back. It was obvious that she was very uncomfortable, probably reliving memories of her experience in the woods those many years ago. Sabin knew more than well what it was like to relive memories of that sort. Yet, he wanted as well more than anything to get inside that house. A house completely covered in shadows, there must be something in there that would be able to help him. Help him figure out more of his abilities, how to better control them, possibly even the thing that had possessed him.
"...how much further is this house?"
Sabin turned to Samantha, he could see her as clear as though they were in broad daylight. She was petrified. She constantly looked about her, never staring off into the same spot for more than a few moments. Her green eyes wide with fear and confusion, her eyebrows furrowed with worry. "About..." Sabin glanced around him, and was shocked by what he saw, even with his ability to see in the dark he had not realized they were standing in front of the house. The front steps only several inches away from his feet. "Oh my..." he found the words escaping his lips.
"What? What is it?" Sabin could feel Samantha tighten her grip on him, the pain in her voice even more apparent.
"The house," he replied as he surveyed the area, looking the edifice up and down, "we are in front of it."
"We are? Where? I do not see it, only darkness."
"I-I know...it is as though it were painted black."

The house Sabin stared up at looked to be about a two-story house, two and half if an attic was counted. Sabin and Samantha stood at the base of a small flight of steps that lead up to the front porch. The steps looked to be wooden. As the handrail and small framework around the porch. There was a balcony as well, shielding by an over extending roof. The windows were large. The house jutted out slightly by the front steps, an extension of the living room possibly. Human sized bay windows were across the second floor. The same framework that outlined the front porch outlined the upper balcony. As well as decorated where the attic would be. A basic pattern of crisscrossed wood.

Sabin placed a hand under Samantha's elbow, "Come let us go in."
Samantha put her other hand on Sabin's shoulder, "S-Sabin wait..."
"Yes Sam?"
Samantha's hand gently patted across his shoulder, neck and up to his face. She let her hand rest on the side of his face, "I...I am putting my trust in you Sabin. It feels as though...my life."
Sabin smiled and took her hand, kissing it gently, "You will be safe with me."
"Then we shall go in..."

Sabin led Samantha to the front steps and paused.
"What is wrong?"
He studied the steps, they appeared to be wooden, but a black substance covered the steps, dripped from the banisters, and the sides onto the ground. It looked like tar yet moved like mist. "I am trying to decide the safest and easiest way for us to travel through here since you cannot see. Ah, here." Sabin moved in front of Samantha with his back to her, he took her hands and placed them on his waist. "There...I will moved forward, stepping places safe for you and I both and you can follow this way. Is that good for you?"
"Yes," she replied quietly.
"Does it make you uncomfortable to be so close to me?"
Samantha chuckled lightly, "Heavens no....it...it makes me happy. It makes me uncomfortable to be near this house, in these woods for so long. Please Sabin, I want to be there for you and help you, but can we do this as quickly as possible?"
"Of course Sam, of course. I am going to start going now, okay?"
"Yes."
Sabin could feel Samantha's grip on his waist tighten. He smiled to himself as he thought of her hug back in the library of her home, he enjoyed her touch.

Sabin placed his right foot on the first step, it seemed sturdy enough. The shadows that oozed and draped across the steps immediately wrapped around his foot, attempting to pull him down. He bought his left foot up and onto the next step, the same thing happened there. Quickly, Sabin ripped his right foot from the shadows, in mid-step he warned Samantha, "We have to move quickly,"
"Why what is wrong?"
"Nothing as far as this house is concerned, just keep up with my pace."
The ascended the steps as quickly as was possible in such an awkward position. Once they reached the top they were faced with the porch.

From where they stood to the other end of the porch, was covered in black tar like mist. On the frame around the porch were several plant boxes. The remains of old, rotten flowers were still visible, as the shadows jumped and slid and oozed from one spot to the next. Randomly across the porch shadows would bubble up from the woodworks. Shadows dripped from the roof above them.
"Sabin, why are we still? You said we must keep moving."
"I am sorry...I was merely...taking it all in..." Sabin could not feel the shadows grabbing for his feet anymore, he looked down at them. The shadows bubbled and swished around him, but as though he were commonplace to the house itself. He twisted around slightly to look at Samantha's feet, the shadows covered her feet, and ran across them as though she stood in a river, but they did not seem to be pulling her in any further. "It would appear what ever it is that has...in a sense possessed this house, has for now, accepted our presences. The front door is not but a few feet away, come." Sabin took a few steps forward and felt a sudden light-headedness come about him. He swayed slightly.
"Sabin? Are you okay?"
"Y-Yes I think so, just feeling a little...a little light-headed is all."
"Are you sure you will be okay?"
"Yes, we will continue on." Sabin took another step forward and swayed for a second time. He could hear that same airy whisper he had heard the night he performed the ritual. Sabin spun around, causing Samantha to lose her grip on his waist.
"S-Sabin?! What is it??"
"Nothing...nothing..." he said as he calmed down. Those whispers...they were the same he knew it. Could it be...the shadows themselves talking to him?  He had to push forward, get inside the house.  Maybe there was someone…or something, inside that could help him.  He turned back to Samantha; her arms were out in front of her as she took a few small steps forward, “S-Sabin?”
He took her hands, “I am right here Samantha, I am sorry.”
”What happened?” she asked, holding his hands tightly.
”I heard a sound—“
”I-I did not here anything,” Samantha said nervously, looking around her.
”No…in, in my head Sam.  It is like…a guttural whisper.  It is very hard to explain, it sounds harsh yet airy at the same time…I think it may be whatever it is that possessed me…trying to talk to me.”
”Sabin…do you really think …that we will find something to help you in this house?”
”I do not know Sam, let us go in and-and at least check out the first floor.”
Samantha was quiet for a moment then, “…Okay…”
Sabin took her hand and led her to the front door.  It was hanging on one hinge, the top one was broken and decayed.  The door swung slightly in a wind that wasn’t there, it would creak with every swing, but only for a second then it would seem as though the sound of the creak itself was sucked up into nothingness.  Sabin gently pushed the door open.

Despite Samantha’s inability to see in the dark, even she could see the inside of the house.  It was as though…the stepped into another time and place all together.  Another dimension.  The walls, the floor, the ceiling, everything was moving, swirling and oozing as it had been on the front porch.  To the extent that it was impossible to tell there were walls or floors, or even a stairwell to their right.

            Samantha gasped as she stepped inside, “Oh my god…is this real…is it even possible?”
”Apparently so…” Sabin replied as he looked around him in awe.  “Come, I want to go in a little further.”
Samantha squeezed his hand and followed him in.  Sabin had not made it a few steps in when his head began to buzz with the same guttural whisper.  It was louder and stronger than ever before.  He let go of Samantha’s hand and bought both hands to his head, bending over in pain.
”Sabin?  Sabin what is it?” Samantha put her hands on his shoulders as he fell lower to the liquid like ground.
”I do not know…” he groaned out, “I think it is …it is the shadows...because I am surrounded by so many shadows…it is having some sort of affect on me.”
”Why?”
”I …I am not sure.”
”HELP ME!!”  Samantha looked up at the sound of the unknown voice.  “Someone… is in here Sabin…trapped…”
Sabin merely groaned in response; he was on his knees now.  There was a feeling in his stomach, as though he was being sucked inside out.  His arms began to shake violently and his muscles burn.  “Sabin?  Sabin?!  What is wrong?!  What is happening?!”
”HELP US PLEASE!!”  This time there was more than one voice, it sounded to be at least two, a woman and a man, somewhere above Samantha.  “Please, please help me.”  A child’s voice now, to their right.  Samantha tightened her grip on Sabin’s shoulders, “Sabin please, I am frightened, please let us go.”
Suddenly the floor a few feet in front of Samantha and Sabin ruptured up into a small wave.  It rippled towards them; Samantha took a step or two behind Sabin.  “Sabin, Sabin please get up.”
As the ripple became closer, something started to come out of it, once it was within a few inches, Samantha could recognize what it was to be fingertips.
”SABIN PLEASE!!”
The ripple came to Samantha’s side, and a child’s arm burst out.  Grabbing around until it landed on her leg.  “HELP US!!”
Samantha’s scream ricocheted inside Sabin’s head.  He pulled his hands away from his head and looked down at them; they were turning black and his nails were growing longer as he stared down at them.  Suddenly Sabin could feel him being pulled up; Samantha had grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him up as hard as she could, “Sabin please!!  We have to go!!”
Sabin stumbled to his feet.

Chapter Sixteen:

            Samantha frantically kicked the arm away off of her leg, eventually it let go and sunk back into the floor.  She grabbed Sabin by his shoulders; they had to get out of there.  She was not sure what they had stepped into, or what they were about to get themselves involved in, but whatever it was would only hurt her and Sabin, not help them.  She pulled him back by his shoulders, “SABIN!  Please!  We have to go!”  She yelled at him.  Sabin stumbled back and onto his feet.  He swayed for a moment, then turned to face her.  Samantha moved backwards, away from him, tripping over the rippled floor and falling down.  Sabin stared back at her, his eyes blood red, his skin black, and his hands large, his nails longer and clawed.  “Samantha….” He spoke to her.  His voice started in a light whisper, but by the time he reached the last few syllables it was a low guttural growl.  This happened every time he spoke, by the end of his sentence he was speaking in a growl.  “Please…it is still me…I …this, this is what has possessed me…please do not be afraid…”
Sabin reached out to Samantha as she backed into a wall.  “HE IS ONE OF THEM!! A SHADOW CREATURE!! IT LURKS IN YOUR DREAMS!!  HELP US!!  KILL IT!!”
The voices overlapped each other; they seemed to come from every corner of the house.  The wall rippled a few inches from Samantha’s face and a young woman’s head slowly crept out.  “Help us…”  Her skin was as pale as the full moon, her eyes sunken in, shadow creeping down from her sockets across her face, her hair was black and the same substance as the shadows; it wiggled like worms, falling and hopping back onto her head.  The wall rippled once more, as her pale fingertips slowly poked through.  Her fingernails were black, two fell off as the hand reached for Samantha, “Help…us…”
Screaming, Samantha lunged forward and grabbed Sabin’s clawed hand.  “Sabin please!  We must leave!!”
Without speaking Sabin ran towards the front door.  Where ever he stepped the shadows on the floor spread out and moved away.  As though they were running away from him.  Sabin bounded out the front door and down the porch steps, nearly dragging Samantha behind him.  Samantha stared at his white hair in front of her as they ran down the trail they took to get there.  Tree branches and twigs whipping at their faces. 

Once they made it to the small clearing by the bridge, Samantha was out of breath.  She fell onto the rock they had sat on before, breathing heavily.  Sabin took a few steps towards the horses and they reared up and ran.  One headed across the bridge, the other back towards town.  Once Samantha had sufficiently caught her breath she examined Sabin.  His ponytail had worked it’s way out now, his hair was loose and about his face.  In the daylight it was easier to see his features, his face had a black tint to it, it was not entirely black, as she had first thought it to be.  The entirety of his eyes were, however, red.  Pupil and all.  Sabin glanced in her direction then looked away.  He must feel so ashamed and embarrassed.  Why did he change that way?  Is that what the creature that possessed him truly looks like?  Samantha decided not to keep these questions inside.  “Sabin?”
”Yes?”  His voice was still oscillating between the airy whisper and guttural growl.
”Why…why have you…changed this way?  Is this…part of the creature that has possessed you?  It’s…true form?”
”I do not know…” Sabin said quietly, “I only know I do not know how to change back.  I cannot do it.  I have tried, I have thought of everything, tried to concentrate, but I cannot go back to my normal self.”
Samantha got up, “It is alright, we will get you back to my home and see what we can do from there.  I have an idea or two, of a library we can go to, to look up some information.”
”Information?  What kind of information?”  Panic was rising in his voice.
”Did you not hear what …what those poor people said?  They mentioned the shadows and the dreams being related.  Perhaps we can find some information that will help you.”
”But we cannot do anything until I can at least look human!!”  Sabin shouted.  His growl echoed across the edge of the woods.
”Relax,” Samantha said as calmly as she could, “here use my cloak to cover yourself.”  She took her cloak off and draped it over Sabin’s head.  He held it closed around his face, from the inside.
”How do you propose we get back before dark?  Or only way back has run off.”
Samantha sighed and looked in both directions the horses ran.  “Yes well…that is true.  I suppose…”
”Suppose what?”
”I suppose you get to see another bit of my abilities.”
”What do you mean?  You can conjure up another two horses for us?” Sabin said jokingly.
”Well…not two,” Samantha said absent-mindedly as she searched the ground, “that would prove to be very taxing.”
Sabin’s mouth hung open slightly, “Sam…what are you talking about?”
”You will see,” she answered as she surveyed the ground.  Unfortunately, she couldn’t find anything that might have been useful.  Either way, she needed an animal that would not run from Sabin as soon as it laid eyes on him.  “Oh!  That would work!”
”What would?”
”Sabin, I need to borrow something from you, so that we can get home faster.”
”By all means, go ahead.”
Samantha approached Sabin slowly, as she did, she could not help but look deep into his eyes.  She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but she was indeed surprised at what she saw.
”What is it you need Sam?”
”Oh erm …this,” she replied as she plucked a strand of hair from his head.
”Ow!!” Sabin yelped, “What in the world would you do that for?”
”So we can get home,” Samantha replied matter of factly.
”Sam…you really have lost me here.  What do you mean—“
”Shhh.”  Samantha held her arm out, holding the strand over the ground, and closed her eyes.

Chapter Seventeen:

Sabin watched curiously as Samantha stood there.  He even forgot about his humiliation and shame of having transformed in front of Samantha, and not being able to revert back.  She seemed to be muttering something to herself.  At first it seemed as muttering, after a moment, it seemed more like chanting.  Samantha let go of the hair and it floated down a few inches then stopped in mid-air.  Next, it seemed to grow in length, then in width.  Then several more strands of white hair sprouted from it.  Until it was a large swirling ball, that slowly took the shape of a horse.  Once the shape was established, the swirling slowed down, and settled so that within a few moments, a white stallion stood before them.
Sabin’s eyes widened as he watched the horse flick it’s tail and breath and put about like a real one.  “How-how-you can—“
”Yes I can, but it will only last for a few hours…then it will revert to it’s original form, so we must get moving.”
”But will it go anywhere near me?  You know how animals react to me.”
”Yes but this one was created from a piece of you, it has no reason to fear you.”
No reason to fear him?  Sabin had his doubts.  Samantha was the only creature on the entire planet that did not fear him, for reasons beyond him.  Slowly, he approached the horse.  It whinnied and snorted at him, but otherwise stood its ground.
”You see?” Samantha asked, “Now please let us get going.”
”Ah yes, yes,” Sabin agreed as he climbed atop the horse.  Then held out a clawed hand to help Samantha up.  She took it without hesitation, something that took Sabin by surprise.  She was not afraid of him even while he looked like this?  She held back only once, and that was when he first saw him.  That was initial shock, something he had expected.  But not this, she treated him like he was the same Sabin she had sat in the library and talked with.  While Samantha took control of the horse, Sabin held her cloak close around his face.

As they neared the entrance of the town, Samantha bought everything to a stop.
”What is wrong?” Sabin asked.
”Nothing, but this creature is going to revert soon, and we should walk into town to avoid too many questions about a mysterious white horse that will be gone by morning.”
Sabin understood, he too climbed down.  He stroked the horse’s face before he turned his back on it and followed Samantha into town.

Chapter Eighteen:

“You know,” Marguerite said as she sat closer to the young man, “they say there is a haunted house not too far from here.”
”Haunted house eh?”
”Oh yes…something about it constantly being shrouded in darkness.”
The young man shrugged, “Eh, those sort of things don’t particularly interest me.”
”Really?  It seems to be of interest to everyone else,” she replied tracing a finger across the back of his neck.
”Yes well, I tend to mind my own damn business about things unnatural if I can help it.  There’s a haunted house over there you say?  Well it can stay there I say.”
Marguerite chuckled and continued to say something but the young man’s attention was elsewhere.  Two men walked past talking loud enough for him to eavesdrop without making too much of a deal out of it.
”Did you hear?  Apparently the young niece of William is sending off servants left and right.”
”Well that is nothing to talk about,” shrugged his companion, “if you happen to be laden with a useless servant, then get rid of it.”
”No, no, you see, she has sent off all but the ones of utmost importance.  The head cook and such, they are still around, yet all the others have been sent off.”
”Well, if you ask me, the woman has been acting a little odd sine she left the tavern that night with that—“
”Tavis?”  Marguerite whispered in his ear.
”Hmm?  Oh, oh, sorry.  I have to go now.”
”So soon?” she pouted as he stood up, putting on his brown long coat.
”Yes so soon.  Duty calls.  Perhaps next time eh?”  He said as he headed out the tavern.

A young woman sending off all but the necessary servants?  That would be too good a chance to pass up.  If there are that many servants necessary to tend to the house, then it must be large.  And if it is large the odds of someone finding him once he snuck in were very slim.  Tavis grinned to himself as he made his way towards the house he figured the two men were talking about.  After all, there were still servants leaving with packed bags.  It was early evening, local establishments would be closing for business within the hour as the sun set and Tavis would be covered in darkness if need be.

As he got to the house he immediately noticed an open window on the first floor.  He walked backwards toward the window, taking in his surroundings, when Tavis bumped into the window, he quickly turned around and climbed in.

He found himself in a small hallway, a flight of stairs to his immediate right, and several doors to his left.  He took the stairs.  At the top of the stairs Tavis was faced with another long hall.  There was however a door to his immediate left.  He went inside.  It was someone’s bedroom.  Not a servant’s, he knew this much.  It was too ornate.  Tavis started emptied drawers and going through the closets.  As he was sliding the chest of draws away from the wall, a voice startled him.
”What the hell do you think you are doing?!”
Tavis jumped, knocking over the kerosene lamp, extinguishing the fire.  He spun around; there was a tall, but frail looking man standing in the doorway.  He must have been old as well; his hair was white.  “Look old man,” Tavis warned, “I don’t want no trouble, just let me be on my way and nothing will have to happen to you.”
The stranger in the door way laughed and advanced towards Tavis.  Who, in turn, pulled a dagger from his boot.  He started moving sideways, towards the window, “Now look, I’m warning you!”
Suddenly the old man was in front of Tavis, in a matter of seconds it seemed.  He grabbed Tavis’ right wrist, squeezing it.  Tavis tried to wiggle his hand away, but the old fool was too strong.  Tavis clenched his fist, he was a horrible punch with his left hand but it would be something at least, as he looked away from his squirming right hand into the face of the stranger, he dropped his dagger.  The stranger was not old…nor human.  Tavis stood petrified as he stared back into glowing red eyes.  Then the creature spoke, “Now who says I am the one that should have to worry about anything happening to me?”  Tavis could feel a panic well up in him, and slowly the room went black.

Chapter Nineteen:

Samantha came into her bedroom as Sabin was laying a body in the corner of the room.  “Sabin?  What happened?” she asked as she ran to his side.
”Some kid came into the house; he must have seen all the servants leaving and thought the place to be empty.  He was going through your things.”
Samantha stared down at the young boy.  He had light brown hair, and was very slender. His clothes were old and dirty, and either brown or tan.  “I suppose, we can send him off to the police come morning.”
”Yes,” Sabin replied as he moved towards her bed, “How did everything go at the library?”
”Good and …bad.”
”What happened?”
”Well, like I said, they had a lot of interesting books there that I felt could really suit our needs.  I managed to sneak into their restricted section.  There they had a lot of books on the occult, on monsters, demons, and the like.  Whomever owned that library seemed to have a personal interest in that sort of thing.”
Sabin sat down on the bed, “Are you sure it was wise to sneak into the restricted section of the library?  You could not have found anything useful in the rest of the place?”
”No,” Samantha replied as she too joined him on the bed, “but now that you mention it, someone did discover my presence, and they were not too happy about it.  They asked me to put down the book I had, but something in my gut told me it could be useful, so I refused.”
”What did they do?” Sabin asked eagerly, he sounded excited to hear the tale, but worried as well.
”They chased me.  I managed to trip them up and push them back long enough for me to get out of the library.”
“Are you alright?”
”Yes,” Sam replied smiling, “My ensnaring vines come in pretty handy.  What about you?  Are you alright?”
Sabin laughed, “Give me some credit my dear Sam.  That scrawny thing over power me?”  He asked as he gestured toward the sleeping lump in the corner.
”No, no, I meant you, your state of mind.  You were able to change back I see, but how?”
”Ah, I am not sure, shortly after the boy fainted, I just…reverted back.”
”Hmm…we have got to get some answers to this.  That is why I suggested that library.”
”Yes, what of that book you said you, borrowed?”
”Ah, yes I retrieved that from the occult section of the restricted area.”
”Occult?” Sabin asked skeptically.
”Yes, after what I saw in that house, I am willing to try anything.”  Samantha uncovered the book she had been hiding under her cloak, “This, I think may be of some use.  I am not sure what it is, or what it says even, but it was under the section for dreams.”
”You still feel that the dreams have something to do with what has possessed me?”
”Yes!  Even more so now than before.  While I was in the library, I found another book, a Bestiary, it contained information on various monsters.  In that I found an entry on something called an Anju, it was written by a man called Dr. Phinneas Belltran, who lives north, in York.”
”Yes?  What of these Anju?”
”Well, I am not sure I understand, but they are interesting little creatures.  They feed off of fear, and dwell in the world of dreams.  There are many different kinds, one that is in control of the fear of, of the dark say, or the fear of filth or anything like that.”
”And you think it is that that has possessed me?”
”I am not entirely sure…but I think it is a better lead than anything else we have so far.  I also think that…well maybe…we should try and find this Dr. Belltran, the one who wrote that entry, and see if he can give us any more information on it.”
Sabin sighed, “Yes I suppose so…I have spent too much time in this town either way.  People are starting to get suspicious about my presence…Samantha…” Sabin was absent-mindedly running his fingers over the book she had passed to him, “I…I want you to come with me.”
”Yes!” she said eagerly.
Sabin was obviously taken back by her immediate answer, “A-Are you sure?  What about your engagement to Edmund?”
”Sabin…that was what I was trying to tell you before…I have no interest in marrying that man.  I thought…I thought he honestly cared for me, it turns out he was only interested in my wealth.  I would give anything to get out of it, to get away from him, to get away from here.  I want to go out into the world Sabin, as much as the events of today frightened me, I want to have more days just like it.  I want…I want to explore, and learn, and be amazed, and I want to do it with you.”
Sabin couldn’t help but smile as he listened to Samantha say those words, “Are you sure?  I mean…that is a huge step to take, a-a huge decision to make, to throw everything behind?  You have a decently easy life here Sam, you have or can have anything you should ever want or need.  If you come with me, life will not be easy…”
”I understand that Sabin, believe me, it is what I want.”
Sabin took Samantha’s hands as he stood up, bringing her up with him, “If that is what you truly want…”
”Yes, yes, yes, yes!  My mind is made.  I want to go with you.”
Sabin smiled broadly as he hugged Samantha, “In these past few days alone, you some how have managed to make me happier than I have ever been before…” Sabin lingered for a moment, holding Samantha close, then he pulled away, “Well then the owners of that book will come looking for you, quickly you must pack some of your things; we need to leave right away.”
”Yes, yes, of course,” Samantha agreed as she immediately began to retrieve some of her belongings from the closet and floor where the thief had dumped them, she too had a broad smile across her face.

~*~*~ To Be Continued….~*~*~