When Darkness Begins by Tina O’Hailey

Author:Tina O’Hailey [O’Hailey, Tina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781684334957
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2020-05-27T22:00:00+00:00

***

“—agg?”

He struggled to open his eyes. Someone from far away shook him. A powerful ringing impaled his ears.

“Aithagg?” The voice was insistent and started to cut through as the ringing diminished to a loud thrumming.

He tried again to open his eyes and found they would obey if he insisted.

Catha hovered over him; her long hair brushed his face. Absently he touched a long dark lock then he touched her face almost in wonderment.

“Dreaming?” he whispered.

“Not that I am aware of. You appeared back here seconds after you left. Except that you were asleep or unconscious at least.” Catha brushed her hair behind her ears.

Sitting up was a struggle and Catha assisted him to an upright position. She eyed him then ventured, “Eterili saw you.”

He nodded his head. “I found no answers—only more questions.”

“I feared as much.” She held his hand in hers and they sat in silence.

“I have no formal gift to give you.” Aithagg turned towards her in a rush, intensity in his voice.

She frowned slightly, anticipating his thread of thought.

He pulled the shell from his pocket. Its double square etching was visible in the lantern light. “This is from one of your first siblings.” He held it out to her. “I promise myself to you if you will have me.”

She stared at the shell for a long moment.

Aithagg hesitated. “I should go carve a totem myself and bring it to you.” He paused as if to leave and she stayed him with a hand.

“Do not.” She took the shell from him and turned it over.

He explained the origin of the shell as she inspected it, her eyes never leaving the double square etching.

After a moment he fell silent waiting for her answer. She had become still while gazing at the ancient totem.

“Stay and we will face the ritual together. I cannot tell you what will happen or how to prepare for it. I will stay with you and protect you.” He smiled, hopeful.

“To promise yourself to me is short sighted, Aithagg.” She held the totem up as proof. “I will die like the rest.”

“You do not know that.” He tried to take the shell from her saying, “I was not thinking. This is a wrong gift of promise. I should.”

She cut him off by hugging him tightly. “No, it is perfect,” she whispered into his shoulder. “It is the truth of me and only you have ever risked everything to show me the truth. I do love you.”

Surprised at the turn of events, Aithagg held her as she broke into tears. He was unsure of what to do and merely held her while she cried on his shoulder. Eventually, the tears dried.

She placed the shell in a bag tied at her waist. She patted it as if content on its placement. “I will have to find a Linear tribe in this time that I can be with or get through time to a Linear tribe.

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