Chapter 64 The Tombs Embrace (1/2)

Seeing Rassa in the state he was in was truly a highlight of how little Aegin knew about his somewhat ally. Is that what they were? Allies? Aegin didn't feel like they were close enough to be called acquaintances, let alone friends. Allies was the best that Aegin could come up with. Yet he didn't think allies sold each other out to the enemy. It was complicated, and in all honesty, Aegin wasn't sure why he cared as much as he did. What he did know was that he felt a connection with Rassa, one that he'd never had with anyone else before. One that had led them on their short journey together to an understanding.

Still, regardless of their relationship, or whatever understanding they had...seeing Rassa in that state that appeared to be like something worse than death. To know that he had been put into it forcefully by someone who had no concern for his well-being other than to keep him alive. It made Aegin angry. Very angry.

When the doctor made to leave, Aegin wasn't entirely positive what possessed him. It was instinctual. He drew his blade and placed it at the nearest guard's throat, then his sliced it across, and shoved the guard at Rassa.

It happened so fast that no one knew quite how to react. Then, as the blood hit Rassa's decaying body, and fell into his open mouth, Zaroth growled his anger.

”No!”

The Doctor turned on Aegin, but Aegin merely glared back at the Doctor, ”You were hired to study him, not to torture him. You will feed him as much as he requires or I will do it for you. The difference being, I don't much care where the blood comes from. Even if I have to sacrifice you in the process. I can't say it'd be much of a loss”.

”The Duke hired me to-”

”The Duke is not here, and I very much doubt he would deign to come to a place as forsaken as Jerrica,” Aegin replied, ”Not again anyway”.

The audible sound of Rassa's skin, muscles, organs and bones repairing themselves as the blood nourished him cut through the darkness.

From his tomb, Rassa felt the taste of blood, the one thing that could bring him out, and he grabbed onto it readily. He knew it was likely he would be sent right back to the depths of his soul as soon as possible, but until then, he much preferred the world outside. His eyes opened, and as he drank, he struggled to think of little else but quenching his thirst. It wasn't until there wasn't a drop of blood left to drink that Rassa acknolwedged it was the body of a guard and not a slave. As he attempted to throw off the oaf whilst still chained to the cot, he caught sight of the assassin boy he'd met previously. Aegin was glaring at Zaroth, and the doctor was glaring back.

”Now, are you going to get a slave, or am I going to have to slice another throat?” asked Aegin.

Zaroth looked at the guards who were backing out of the line of fire. After a moment's hesitation where he looked towards the still healing Rassa, Zaroth snapped outloud as he left the cell.

”Get some slaves down here!”

The guards filed out, Aegin ordering one of them to leave a torch behind. As Aegin put the torch into a holder on the wall, he looked back to find Rassa staring at him with a confused expression. The boy's voice was incredibly raspy as he spoke, ”What are you doing here?”

He coughed afterwards, taking deep breaths as the last of the skin that Aegin could see healed.

Aegin sighed, ”I've been instructed to report on the Doctor's progress. This...your state...was not what I had in mind”.

Rassa chuckled, lying back down to stare at the roof of the cell, ”I think the only one who really desired it was Zaroth, and that's hardly surprising considering his particular calibur”.

”I...” Aegin didn't know how to start, then decided it didn't really matter how he said it, ”I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to-”