BEFORE. 

The sun was bright and high in the sky making everybody squint, bar Sinum but that was because Sinum was just too perfect for such mundane things like squinting.

I was with the Patrons, there had been a few sightings of magic on the outskirts of the village Joulinis, a small cluster of houses on the border of Malton's domain. So Sinum, Regil, Dei, Hasther and I were sent out to check out the area. There probably wasn't anything of importance, just somebody wandering around with dark hair, amber eyes and a face just a bit too similar to Anathema's.

But it was early in the morning. Sinum had decided to make use of the journey to the outskirts of Joulinis, as a team bonding and hiking exercise. So instead of taking the horses, we were walking.

It wasn't an especially long trip, just a few hours. But the route was particularly lovely. It was popular with foreigners from lands overseas when they came to visit, but I also enjoyed it because there was one part, nearer to the end where the path took you over a cliff ridge, through two massive jutting pieces of rock that rose from the ground suddenly. It only took you about half an hour to walk through it before you were back into the grassy fields and rolling hills that the Joulinis area was known for.

But that stretch of the road reminded me of my home where Sinum and I had grown up. I didn't know whether it reminded him of home either, Sinum never really liked to talk about Fisi or the goats, or his mother. I tried to not bring it up too much around him because whenever I mentioned anything about the farm he got all quiet and his eyes became sad and distant. Then he would usually try to change the subject.

Right now Sinum was walking at the back of the group with Regil, they were both slower walkers. Regil liked to point out different species of birds or plants as she walked and would sometimes pick flowers as she went. If this had been any normal trip she would have passed them to me and I'd have woven them into flower crowns for everybody.

But right now none of them were talking to me.

Dei was upfront wearing his full set of armour unlike everybody else, his face slightly flushed because it wasn't a cold day by any means. Nobody else was wearing armour, but Dei was relatively new to the ranks and we had quickly found out that Dei always had something to prove.

Hasther was a bit behind Dei, but closer to where I was walking, smashed in the middle somewhere.

She was walking idly, as if she had better places to be but misleadingly quickly. The quiver that she usually had hanging on her shoulder was missing, she had decided not to bring her bow and arrows today as there wasn't going to be any battles. It was peaceful and quiet all around.

We were nearing the cliff ridge when Hasther slowed her pace somewhat, I hadn't noticed that she did until she was walking in step with me.

I pinched my finger and waited for her to talk. Finally, she let out a high-pitched whistle of a sort of fluttery tone, pursed her lips as if considering something, and then spoke. "Dev."

I set my eyes on the edge of the cliff where the path dropped down into Knock-Gedr, a rocky pit filled with dangerous magical creatures and the death and birthplace of the first Faeri. "What?" I said.

"Why did you do it?"

I fought the urge to sigh. I knew exactly what Hasther was talking about, the minute she had hung back to fall into step I had known what she wanted to talk about. "Why did I do what?"

"Why did you deliberately ignore Sinum? We've all noticed that you've been acting weird for months now, like that time with Joni. You were meant to be guarding her, and instead, she almost died!" Hasther's voice rose and grew unpleasant. "You never hang out with us anymore outside of rotations, or quests. You've been arguing with Sinum all the time, and yesterday you deliberately ignored him when he told you to-" Her voice cracked.

"I'm sorry."

"You killed someone, Dev." She spoke in a hushed voice now, as if Sinum would be able to hear her.

"I know."

"But, why?" She looked frustrated and confused.

"I-" I hesitated. I wasn't sure how I should answer. Should I tell her the truth? Should I lie and say that it was by accident? Should I tell her that I didn't regret it? Should I tell her I did regret it?

"It just-" I didn't know what to say, I blinked and bit down on my tongue.

There was a long period of silence. I could hear Sinum's voice, a distant hum in the background, and the howl of the wind as it blew through the Knock-Gedr Gorge.

Finally, she asked. "Do you regret it?"

"I don't know," I replied honestly.

We didn't talk after that. Hasther resumed her quicker pace and was once more walking ahead of me. I could feel Sinum's gaze burrowing into my back, but I pretended I was unaffected and continued my brazen and slightly drunken pace.

When we were nearing Joulinis, Hasther had hung back to talk with Sinum and Regil. Dei was still upfront looking slightly more worn than he had at the beginning of the trek. We were walking in a slightly shaded field, the path was earthy and well-trodden and small lean ash trees lined the path providing shade from the sun high above. Suddenly from around the corner, a young boy came running.

He was probably only around twelve years of age and had long dark hair that fell over his face. When he saw us he came skidding to a stop, his eyes wide and stepped back looking ready to bolt the other way. Dei walked over to him and broke into a run when the boy began to bolt. Dei grabbed his arm gently before he could run away.

"What are you doing?" Dei said.

"I-" The boy stuttered with wide eyes, glancing back to me and the rest of the group behind me. "There's demons. They-they came and they're attacking everyone. They want-"

I stopped beside Dei once I reached them and the boy paused mid-sentence staring at me. "You're the Patrons." He said.

I looked over to Dei beside me, he narrowed his eyes at me. "Yes," I said.

Dei turned back to the boy. "What do they want?"

The boy only looked at him.

The demons." Dei encouraged. "What do the demons want?"

"Uh. You, they were asking for you guys."

~

By the time we reached Joulinis, it was already too late.

The buildings and houses were in flames, it was completely deserted. There was no sound but the crackle and hiss of flames, and a crash as another wooden beam fell to the ground. Five or six goats stood at the edge of the remains by a small patch of grass nibbling and chewing. They looked up as we approached, but didn't cast us a second thought.

Sinum was ahead at the front now, his face etched in concern. I started gravitating towards his side almost subconsciously, but stopped short and just stood at the back behind everyone else.

"Split up and search the place." He said, his face was grave and calm. "If you find any demons, find out what happened and what they want."

Dei immediately took off down an alley towards the other end of the village, drawing his sword and pushing down his gleaming golden visor. Hasther followed him, and Regil went in the opposite direction.

Sinum stood still for a moment, his face doing something complicated. I stepped over to him cautiously. "You alright?" I said.

He didn't reply for a moment, refusing to look at me. "I'm fine."

I didn't say anything. I drew my sword, the familiar weight in my hand calming me somewhat. "Well. Be careful."

He looked up at me finally, his mouth tight. He drew his sword, the embezzled hilt shone in the sun as did the sweat on his forehead. For a moment I imagined that he would smile and tilt his head as he used to when we used to wish each other well in battle.

But he hadn't looked at me in days, and when he looked at me there was no warmth in his eyes. Sinum had always been a complicated person. He had his own set of strict morals and a bold line between right and wrong. Back when we had been kids, still in Fisi, there had been times when we had clashed. When our morals had fractured slightly, mine ever so unnoticeably disjointed from his as if I was a reflection that didn't quite match up.

In Fisi we had been the best of friends, I had helped him through his grief when his mother had died, and I had been there for him when he had decided to join Malton's ranks, and I had been there, right by his side, when he had become a Patron. It had always been Sinum and I. Dev and Sinum, ready to take on the world.

Now, though. His expression was anything but warm. It was empty, he had looked at a sheep with more emotion than he did right now. "Dev-" His voice was quiet and pained. It made my chest tighten, something pulled and my throat sort of closed up. Tight and all. I didn't say anything.

He turned away.

I took a deep breath and wiped the sweat on my face. My eyes were damp.

I didn't bother hanging around, I saw a wide cobbled path in between two charcoal crusted foundations. The embers glowing hot and a few stray flames flickering uselessly in the grave. I went that way, I bent down and brushed my fingers through the charcoal, the black coating my fingers, I kicked a few embers and continued down the path.

It was quiet. I couldn't hear Hasther, Dei, Regil or any of the others. Only the burnt wood creaking, and the wind whistling down the street eerily. The path opened twisted to the left, and then the right until finally, it split into two branches.

Up until this point the cobbled road had been dirty and trashed. But on the smaller path branching to the right, back in the direction of the forest a set of charcoal black footprints tottered down the road. I paused.

The feet were abnormally big, bare, and four-toed. A demon. I hefted my sword. It was still quiet. With quiet footsteps now I followed the footprints.

The path became smaller and narrower as it went on, the building became sparser, and the foliage and hedgerow became thicker. Finally, it branched out into a small picket-fenced field. The fence was falling apart, the wood rotten and mossy, and the fence only coming up to my thighs.

Inside the fenced area were headstones. Mossy lumps of rock rising from the ground and long uncut grass as tall as the fence, if not then taller. A few sprigs of flower dotted the field and some spiky un-named plant. None of that was important though. What caught my attention immediately however was the lone figure standing by one of the gravestones, a large mound of earth beside them.

They didn't turn around immediately. I walked over keeping my footsteps careful and light and stepped over the small fence easily. They turned around then. "Devarion. Pleased to meet you."

Her expression was open and calm. I looked around but we were alone. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I'm here to pick something up for Anathema." She gestured to the empty grave in front of her. I tensed when she mentioned Anathema, things never ended well with her involved. The last time I had heard her name was when she had been trying to kill Malton and had succeeded in murdering half of Malton's court.

Then the demon smiled, her fanged teeth showing. "And to talk with you, of course. I have a very important message for you. Anathema sends her regards, and I suggest that you listen if you want your friends to survive the night."

___

___

This was originally going to be just one chapter, but I've decided to split this part into two. 

Please comment ,vote , and whatever. 

<3333

-be gay do crime