“Era. Era, wake up.”
Era was vaguely aware of someone shaking his arm gently. Stirring slowly, he opened his eyes to find Jarred waiting for him to get up.
“Good, you’re awake,” he said sleepily, following up with a yawn. “You took quite a bump to the head.”
“It feels like it,” he said, chuckling.
“Anyway,” Era continued, “did you need something?”
“Yes. Have you seen Crisilla?”
Adrenaline suddenly flooded Era as he began to panic. How do I tell him? What do I tell him? What do I do? “Jarred… you’d better sit down.”
Jarred’s grin faded as he sat on his cot. “What happened to her?”
Sitting up, Era did all he could to avoid Jarred’s gaze, taking a moment to gather his courage. “Jarred, Crisilla… didn’t make it.”
He blanched. “No,” he whispered, “no, you can’t be serious.”
“I’m sorry.”
Stunned into silence, Jarred sat perfectly still for what felt like ages. The silence hung in the air around them like a cloud.
Eventually, he stood up, walking towards the window. “How did he do it?”
“What?”
“How did he kill her!!” he screamed, snapping Gabriel out of sleep.
Era bit his lip. “He… he asked me if I remembered her, asked me if she was important to me. I tried to stop him, but… the sword, it went through both of us…”
Jarred slammed his fist on the windowsill, silencing Era. His expression was twisted with pain. “Her blood,” he whispered harshly, “is on your hands. I hope you realize that.”
“Jarred,” Gabriel warned, “you need to calm yourself. It wasn’t Era’s fault; he tried to protect her.”
“But he led us into this stupid mess!! He’s the one who led us right into a trap for that mad-mage to kill her!!” he shouted, venom lacing his words. “She was nothing to you, but she was everything to me!!”
“How can you say that!?” Era pleaded. “How do you know!? Jarred, I loved her, I loved her so much…”
“What!?” he screamed, whipping around.
“Jarred, Crisilla… she was my sister.”
He went silent, staring at Era. “She never told me she had any siblings.”
“Everything is different now,” he explained quietly. “I didn’t know either, not until… right before she died.”
“It’s a long story,” Gabriel explained, “but something tells me you’re not in the mood.”
“No,” he said, turning back around, “no, I am not.”
The three of them sat in silence for a long while, Jarred at the window while both Era and Gabriel stayed glued to their beds. Eventually, a medic came in to check on them.
“Good to see you’re all up and about,” he said. “Is there anything you need?”
“Yes,” Jarred said. “Is… is Crisilla’s body here?”
The medic nodded gently. “Yes, she is in the morgue nearby,” he said quietly. “Do you wish to see her?” Jarred nodded.
“Hey,” Gabriel said, “do you want us to come along, or do you need a moment?”
“I’ll go alone, thank you,” he replied icily.
“This way,” the medic said, leading Jarred out of the room.
Era hunched over, his hair falling in front of his face. “I feel horrible,” he said, “and I know you don’t want me to think like this, but it is my fault.”
“He’s grieving,” Gabriel said. “He’s pissed as hell and he wants a face for his anger. Don’t let him get to you.”
“It’s hard not to,” Era said, smiling weakly.
“I know. But you have to try. It’s not your fault, no matter how much it feels like it is, and you’ve got enough on your plate already without worrying about someone taking out their grief on you.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Era conceded.
“So,” Gabriel said after a moment, “what will you do now?”
“I’m not sure,” he replied. “I suppose I could go back with you, but I feel like I’ve intruded quite enough on you.”
“I wouldn’t mind having you around,” he said, “but remember that people are going to start recognizing you now. People will remember you.”
“You’re right.” Era thought about it for a minute before responding. “I suppose I’ll stay with you until I figure out what to do next.”
“That works for me,” Gabriel replied. “You know you’re always welcome at my place.”
“I appreciate it,” he said, smiling. “I really, really do.”
“No problem, kid.” He smiled, crossing his arms behind his head. “You’re like a son to me, you know? It’s good to have you around.”
Era blinked in surprise. “Really?”
“Really,” he said, nodding. “Why do you think I said I’d look out for you, huh?”
Despite it all, Era beamed. “And I’ll always consider you a father figure. Thank you, Gabriel.”
“You’re welcome, kid,” he said. “We can be a weird little dysfunctional family, even if you have a real family out there somewhere too.”
“That would be wonderful.”
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