Chapter 8 - One Half of the Whole

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As Jinx and Krista had sat in the forest clearing, training and honing their skills, Chase and Sylas had been wandering down Essex Street towards home. Sylas was in his human form. His silver hair carefully styled into a more modern, spiked look.

“I cannot believe it has been the better part of three centuries, old friend,” Chase said, breaking the silence that had permeated the night. Sylas nodded silently, his brow furrowed as he kept an ear and eye out for danger. “Three centuries, and the other pair has just now shown themselves.” Chase shook his head, slightly annoyed, as they crossed North Street. “I hope they are all they are prophesied to be,” he added, muttering.

“Chase!” Sylas scolded, with a bit of a wolf-like growl. “Not out in the open, please. Do you want to be caught and burned at the stake again?”

Chase made a face at his friend. “You and I both know I could escape that with a snap of my fingers.” He emphasised the word looking seriously at Sylas.

Sylas growled at him again. ”That may be so, but we need to keep under the radar if we are to effectively train and fulfil our destiny with Krista and Jinx. You know that.”

Chase let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine, when we get home. But ” he hissed, just loud enough for Sylas to hear.

Sylas rolled his matching blue eyes. “Yes, Chase. Yes.”

The pair walked in silence the rest of the way to Ropes Mansion where they had managed to weasel lodging out of the confused caretaker. Just as they started up the front path however, the crescent moon high in the sky, Chase doubled over in pain suddenly clutching his left shoulder. Sylas also felt the mark he bore burn, but as he had a much higher pain tolerance, he was able to grit his teeth and bear it. He immediately looked around to ensure they were quite alone before putting a long arm around his companion and friend, helping him the rest of the way up the path, and after placing a hand against the door, into the house.

Once the door was closed he turned to his friend catching a glimpse of his left ear glowing brightly in a mirror. This was mirrored on Chase’s left shoulder blade once he exposed it. The mark that they had both been born with had turned silver-white on their first exposure to the moon after being matched together. It had never burned since. Knowing all he could do was be there for his friend and wait till the event passed, Sylas gritted his teeth against the irritation in his own ear and kept his arm around Chase’s back to comfort him, keeping his friend’s shirt away from the mark.

No one knew why, but such events always affected the witch in question more strongly than the familiar. Sylas had theorised that the sheer size difference between the birthmarks likely had something to do with it.

Meanwhile Chase, on his hands on his knees, panted slightly as his flesh burned, images of a younger witch and her familiar flashing through his mind. It had happened; what he and Sylas had been waiting for since their first defeat at the witch trials hundreds of years before. Those who they were destined to join to put a halt to the persecution of witches once and for all had not only revealed themselves but had established the connection to Sylas and himself. As individual pairs, he and Sylas and Krista and Jinx, were powerful in their own right, and individually, for that matter, but when the four of them came together it would be unlike anything the world had ever seen.

Chase’s thoughts trailed off as he heard Krista and Jinx’s voices. He screwed his eyes closed at the noise. He sensed confusion and a certain amount of awareness; awareness in particular from Jinx. Slowly standing back up and blocking out the young pair’s conversation to give them privacy, Chase looked into Sylas’ eyes.

Sylas nodded in understanding, “Yes, I heard. I felt,” he replied in answer to Chase’s unspoken question.

“It’s starting,” Chase said, finally finding his voice.

Sylas nodded. “Yes, it is. However, you and I both know we have a long way to go before whatever this is heading towards culminates.” He paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. “A long way to go, and much to do to in preparation.”

Chase nodded, massaging his still burning, rather sore, shoulder. “We have much to discuss with the young ones,” he said, in a tone that showed the wisdom beyond his assumed years.

Sylas smirked. “Young ones? You are not so old yourself, my friend. You may be older than them, indeed, but you are far from as seasoned as I,” he teased.

Chase rolled his eyes. “I am in my Solyu years,” he muttered, glaring at Sylas.

Sylas laughed, tossing his head backwards. “And I am in my Auchyu years. You are but a pup to me, or don’t you remember you are only just beginning your Solyu years?” he asked rhetorically. Chase stuck out his tongue in response, crossing his arms stubbornly across his chest, and Sylas just laughed harder. He clapped a hand on Chase’s right shoulder and gave him a shake. “Cheer up, my friend, you are still wise, but you are far from old. You haven’t even begun to show it yet. You still look like you’re about twenty-five.” With a meaningful look he added, “Savour your youth, my friend.”

Chase glared at him for a moment before running a hand through his sandy-blonde hair. “Regardless of who is older than whom, we need to meet with Krista and Jinx now that this connection has been established.”

Sylas nodded, leaning against the bannister. “Are you sure about this meeting location? It is safe?”

Chase sank into a nearby armchair to unlace his shoes. “Yes, it’s perfectly safe. It is very isolated, if what I read from Krista is accurate.” He pulled off a shoe and set it aside, unlacing the other one. “Trust me, old friend. When have I ever purposefully lead you astray?” he asked, inclining his head just enough to survey Sylas, grinning like a fool before adding, “Even if I’m still not certain how I was able to read her so well…”

Sylas rolled his eyes in annoyance. “Yeah., Maybe not on purpose, but unintentionally?” He arched his eyebrows. “You can be a bit reckless and childish at times.”

Then, “Ah, that is curious… I hope you’re not wrong.”

Chase chuckled as he picked up his shoes and placed them on the nearby shoe rack. “Me? Reckless? Never! Perish the thought! But seriously, I hope so too.”

Sylas rolled his eyes again. “Of course.”

Chase chuckled at Sylas’ response before yawning. “I think I would like to get some shut eye. How about you?”Sylas responded by transforming back into a wolf.

Chase patted his companion, his friend, lightly on the top of the head before ascending the staircase. He could barely keep his eyes open, and although his shoulder still burned, he collapsed fully clothed on top of the covers as soon as they reached their bedroom. He was asleep in an instant. Sylas shook his head as he followed Chase into the room and hopped up beside his friend on the large, four-poster bed, curling up beside him and falling asleep himself.