20
The serenity of the garden stood in stark contrast to the turmoil Nicholas felt inside.
There, on a worn stone bench, sat Alec, his beloved brother. The two men locked eyes, both haunted by the weight of the past and the pain it had wrought upon them. As Nicholas approached, Alec”s shoulders slumped, defeated, and a weariness seemed to etch itself into the very fabric of his being.
”Brother,” Alec whispered, his voice choked with emotion. ”I should have stayed in the past with the Norse. I see now the harm I will cause if I continue to exist in the present.”
Nicholas” throat tightened as he listened to the desolation in Alec”s words. He sat down beside his brother, clasping his hand in his own. ”Over the centuries, I”ve tried countless times to save you, Alec. I couldn”t bear the thought of losing you again.”
Alec stared down at their intertwined fingers, his grip tightening ever so slightly. ”But is my death necessary for everyone”s survival? Have I only brought destruction in my wake?”
”Your place in this world is not a mistake, Alec. Don”t let these dark thoughts consume you.”
”Even with everything you”ve done to save me, I can”t help but believe that I was never meant to be part of this world for very long.” Alec”s voice trembled, seemingly haunted by the visions that plagued him. ”I see death, suffering... I feel like I am always in the ground, and it is pressing down on me, and I must strike out. I feel the dirt on my face, and it suffocates me.”
Nicholas” heart shattered at his brother”s confession. He could not comprehend the depth of Alec”s torment, but he would do whatever it took to help him find peace.
”Please, Nicholas,” Alec implored, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. ”End my life. It is the only way to ensure the safety of those around us. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
The devastation that coursed through Nicholas threatened to bring him to his knees. His breath came in ragged gasps as he fought against the crushing weight of the decision. But he knew, deep within himself, that it was the only way. Alec handed him his sword, and Nicholas took it.
When Sophia entered the garden, he did not raise his head. Nicholas sat on a bench, his eyes fixed on the pile of dust at his feet.
”Nicholas,” she called softly, stepping closer to him.
He looked up, his eyes glazed with pain, and he didn”t even attempt to mask the desolation that consumed him.
”What happened?” she asked hesitantly, following his stare to the pile of dust. He saw the realization creep into her mind. ”Is that... Alec?”
Nicholas swallowed hard, the bitter taste of deception filling his mouth. He knew he must let her believe the worst. ”Yes,” he replied hoarsely. ”It”s done.”
”Did you... did you kill your own brother?” The words were barely audible, carried away by the gentle breeze.
Nicholas closed his eyes for a moment, the burden of his secret weighing heavily on him. ”I killed him a long time ago, Sophia,” he whispered. ”Today, I merely set him free.”
Sophia stared at him, stunned by his confession. She reached out, her hand trembling as it found his, offering comfort despite the shock on her face.
”Nicholas,” she finally said, her voice wavering. ”You had no choice. You were trying to protect us all.”
He looked at her, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. The weight of centuries” worth of guilt and regret lay heavy on his shoulders, and it was only in Sophia”s unwavering love that he found a glimmer of solace.
”Thank you,” he whispered, squeezing her hand gently. ”I don”t know if I deserve your faith in me, but I promise you, I will spend the rest of my days proving myself worthy of it.”
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the garden, shattering the fragile silence that had enveloped Nicholas and Sophia. As they looked up in unison, they saw the Keepers stride towards them led by Connor, their faces etched with suspicion. Elias walked alongside them, his troubled gaze fixed on Nicholas.
”Nicholas,” Connor called out, his deep voice betraying the tension that lingered in the air. ”We need to talk about Alec.”
Julius and Ronan exchanged uneasy glances, both keenly aware of the delicate situation at hand. They moved closer, forming a tight circle around Nicholas and Sophia, their stance protective as if to shield them from any potential harm.
”Where is he?” demanded Elias, his eyes narrowing. ”You”ve been hiding him from us. We demand to know the truth.”
”He”s gone,” Nicholas replied solemnly, his voice barely above a whisper. He met their gazes one by one, holding firm despite the storm of emotions raging within him. ”I killed him.”
”Killed him?” Elias’s expression betrayed disbelief. ”But why? After you brought him here? He was immortal!”
”Nicholas,” Connor implored, his voice steady. ”Explain yourself. We need to end this.”
Nicholas clenched his fists, struggling to maintain control. The weight of their scrutiny bore down on him like a crushing burden, threatening to unravel the precarious facade he had constructed. ”Alec was never meant to be an immortal,” he insisted, his voice wavering slightly. ”He was a danger to everyone around him, and to himself. I did what I had to do to right the wrong that began centuries ago.”
”Is that truly all there is to it?” Elias asked, his piercing gaze studying Nicholas intently. ”Or are there deeper truths that you”re still keeping from us?”
”Enough!” Sophia interjected, her voice filled with a quiet fierceness that silenced their questions. She stepped beside Nicholas, her resolve evident as she met the Keepers” stares head-on. ”I believe him. I know the pain he”s going through, and the sacrifice he made. Our trust in him should be enough.”
As the group fell silent, the tension in the garden reached its peak. The Keepers exchanged uneasy looks, each grappling with the knowledge that Nicholas had, yet again, evaded punishment. After all, if Alec was dead, there was no crime. There was a palpable sense of unfinished business hanging in the air like a thick fog, but the truth remained shrouded in mystery.
”Very well,” Elias said finally, his tone measured. ”We will accept your explanation, for now. But know this, Nicholas: our trust in you has been shaken. We will be watching closely to ensure that no more laws are broken.”
The Keepers reluctantly accepted Nicholas”s story. As they turned to leave, the atmosphere remained thick with tension and unresolved conflicts, like heavy clouds threatening a storm. Nicholas sensed the weight of their doubts as they retreated, leaving him standing beside Sophia, who held onto his arm for support.
No sooner had the Keepers vanished from sight, than Elias strode towards them, his face an unreadable mask. His eyes were fixed on Connor, who lingered nearby, his tall figure casting long shadows over the garden”s immaculate hedges. A glint of metal appeared in Elias”s hand – a coin that held a promise made long ago. Nicholas heard Sophia draw in a sharp breath.
”Connor,” Elias said, his voice tight. ”I once gave you this coin, expecting you to fulfill my demand when the time came.”
Nicholas could feel the anger bubbling beneath his skin, but before he could react, Sophia placed a gentle hand on his arm, grounding him.
”I was going to ask you to make Sophia immortal, regardless of her wishes,” Elias continued, his gaze flickering briefly to meet hers. ”But I realize now that it is not my place to make such a decision for her.”
As astonishment registered on Connor”s face, Elias handed the coin back to him. ”Consider our debt satisfied,” he said firmly. ”Instead, I ask you to ensure that Sophia leads a long, happy, and safe mortal life.”
The immortal turned to Nicholas then.
”Good luck, Time Walker,” Elias said, extending his hand. The formality of the address struck a chord within Nicholas, prompting him to respond in kind, ”Good luck, Immortal.” They shook hands, sealing the end of their acquaintance.
Elias nodded politely at Sophia, and as their eyes met, Nicholas felt the last vestiges of fear and doubt dissipate. He knew Elias posed no more threat to them. With a final glance at the couple, Elias turned and walked away, his departure leaving a sense of closure in its wake.
Connor hesitated for a moment longer, studying the pile of ash that marked the spot where Alec had supposedly met his end. His gaze met Nicholas”s, and although his expression remained stoic, there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes. Without a word, he followed the other Keepers, leaving Sophia and Nicholas alone.
As Sophia and Nicholas looked at each other, the last vestiges of sunset fading into twilight, Nicholas”s thoughts wandered back to the earlier confrontation with Alec. The memory seemed to play like a haunting melody, echoing through his heart.
”Nicholas,” Alec had said, his voice strained with emotion, ”I”ve been lost for so long...You need to end this.”
”No, Alec,” Nicholas pleaded, feeling the weight of his brother”s torment. ”You cannot ask it of me. I will not do it.”
Nicholas reached inside his pocket, withdrawing a lanyard with a Bloodstone pendant wrapped in copper. ”Take it. I made it for you. This will take you where you need to go.”
Alec stared at the pendant, understanding the implications of his words. ”Nicholas...”
”Go, brother. Go before I beg you to stay,” Nicholas replied.
Alec held out his arm, offering it in the traditional Viking farewell. Nicholas hesitated for a moment, then clasped his brother”s forearm, their eyes locking with sorrow. ”Farewell, Alec,” he whispered.
”Goodbye, brother,” Alec replied, before disappearing into the shadows.
Back in the present, Nicholas knew that protecting Alec meant taking drastic measures. He had lured a captive mercenary into the garden and killed him, leaving his dust pile as evidence for the Keepers. It was a desperate attempt to deceive them, but one he deemed necessary.
The wind rustled through the leaves above, bringing Nicholas back to the present. He looked at Sophia, her trusting eyes filled with love, despite the painful revelations she had endured.
”Nicholas?” Sophia”s voice broke through his thoughts. ”Are you alright?”
”I’m fine. I am here, with you, and that is what matters.”
Sophia moved to sit down on the bench, her delicate hands folded in her lap. Her eyes seemed to pierce through Nicholas”s soul as she looked up at him. Staring at her, he had no doubt that she knew the truth.
”I understand why you did it, Nicholas,” she said softly. ”And I love you, no matter what. There is nothing you could ever do to change that.”
He sat down beside her, reaching for her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. ”Thank you,” he whispered.
They sat in silence for a while, their hearts heavy with the knowledge that they had forever altered the course of time. They understood the consequences of their actions, but they also knew that sometimes, the hardest choices were the ones that mattered most.
As the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the garden, Nicholas knew in his heart that those words were more than just a promise - they were an unbreakable bond, forged by love and tempered by time. And though the future remained shrouded in uncertainty, one thing was clear: together, they could face whatever it held, and emerge stronger for it.