Page 111 of A Soul to Steal

As much as he blamed the Duskwalker for his turmoil, if Gideon had truly given his permission to bring him here... he couldn’t fully blame nor hate him for it. He was obviously hurting Aleron, but he couldn’t do anything else but march forward until he collapsed to his knees to sleep.

“I want to go find Ingram,” Aleron requested, as he had many times.

“Then go find him,” Gideon calmly said back, refusing to look at him.

“It may help. You may remember your time in Tenebris if you meet them.”

Gideon opened his mouth to state that he didn’t want to remember, but then shut it. It would only be hurtful to the Duskwalker if he said it. He wouldn’t needlessly dish out hurt when it did nothing to aid the situation.

“I do not know how to help you, Gideon.”

He shoved a branch out of his face, snapping it, rather than walking past it like he had the others. “I don’t need help.”

Stating he needed help meant something was wrong with him. Which, obviously, there was, but it also meant that he lacked the ability to helphimself. He felt like prey, when he’d rather be strong and resilient. Level-headed and sound of mind.

He’d like just a small amount of time and forgiveness until he achieved it. He could be patient, considering he apparently wouldn’tdie. Four days, that’s all he’d been given so far.

How was that fair?

“If you really want to go find them, go do so. I’m not stopping you,” he coldly bit out.

“But I cannot leave you by yourself,” Aleron rebuffed. Yet that was exactly what he wanted. “I do not want you to come to harm in the forest. A Demon may come.”

“I’ve already been eaten by one.” Gideon kicked a rock, hoping to release some of his anger. “What does it matter if it happens a second time? I’ll just return to you, right?”

“I do not wish for you to have to ‘return’ to me. You are my bride, and I wish for us to stay together.”

Gideon wanted to deny being called anything like a ‘bride,’ but as he glanced over his shoulder and saw his own soul floating between Aleron’s horns, he couldn’t deny it. Apparently, he was a bride, and his soul lookedawful, blackened like a dying coal.

He wished Aleron hadn’t told him what it was. It made it harder to deny everything, harder to swallow. He found it even more difficult to look at his skull, knowing his own soul hovered just above it.

Maybe... maybe it would be better if I knew everything.

Up until now, Gideon had been ignoring Aleron, and what had apparently transpired between them.

Staring at his soul, though, it made it impossible to deny something had happened. He’d be a fool to. Had been one.

Would it be better if he knew?What if it brought back those perverse memories?He hadn’t wanted to remember them, averse to the idea, but if he didn’t do so, would he be stuck in this wandering state for the rest of their lives?

He’s never hurt me.No matter what Gideon said, how he acted, or how he ignored him, not once did this Duskwalker treat him cruelly.I guess... he doesn’t seemthatbad.A bit weird personally, and definitely freaky physically, but he hadn’t been a villain.

He hated that he was being forced into this, but there was no other way, was there? Either he accepted Aleron, or their future would be steeped in pain and sadness.

What do I want?He needed this constricting pain to end.

He didn’t really want to be his friend, but maybe he could try, regardless?

“Hey, Aleron,” Gideon grumbled, as he lowered his head and chewed on the inner flesh of his cheek. “Can you tell me about our time in Tenebris?”

Maybe... it would be better to just give in and remember.

If he didn’t... If hecouldn’t, he may truly become an apparition.

He was already halfway there.

I do not know if he is getting better or worse,Aleron grumbled as he begrudgingly followed his little human.

Every second that passed, he wished to snatch Gideon from the ground and take off into the air. Weldir informed him that Ingram and Emerie had been close by when they first arrived, but that was days ago.

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