Forgiven

[Caira Ayryn]

Slowly, quietly, and during the early twilight of the morning, Merik was lead through the desolate down and into the quaint setting of the Daniels' household. Morning dust had settled on the polished wooden railings of their ranch. The door squeaked open, but caused no alarm to those who were encumbered by the all-powerful veil of sleep.

Daniels thought to bitterly himself, though he know his "visitor" could hear him, Can't believe I have to let this wretch into my house. Again. The man was especially worried about waking his wife, she was not to know that Merik had returned, for surely she'd either faint or have a fit- or both. The old croak groaned outwardly to express his dismay, and finally sat in the quietest corner of the house, the kitchen. They say across the dinner table, Daniels' eyes bearing down at Merik's.

Make sure to keep yer voice down. He thought at Merik in warning.

Merik suppressed a smirk, this would be an interesting conversation. He merely offered a nod and waited to Daniels to explain why he was holding Merik here. What are you doing here? the man let his thoughts speak simply.

Merik pondered this, and he was about to speak, yet Daniels interjected (whether he had meant to or not, was a mystery), And how the heck did you get out ?

Merik's eyebrows raised, Oh jail, that had been fun. Had this fool really thought that he'd let them chain him down there forever? No, surely he had to know that a Prime's freedom, no matter how long it took, was inevitable. Merik spoke in a soft murmur, "Oh, do you mean how did I become free? I actually had a lucky break, you see one of your buddies unshackled me for a couple of bottles of rum." The sarcasm was filled in every word.

Daniels grit his teeth, but Merik, curse or not, had not been able to help it. Word on the street is, that is NOT what happened. Someone helped you. Gonna offer a name?

"I'm no narc, John, so please, let's stick to asking better questions..." Merik warned.

Oh but you are Merik, you forget after all these years that I know the curse, you simply must betray anyone who gets close to you. You can't help it. You're a danger to this town, now why are you here? And better yet... Who?

Merik blinked, he did not think that the telepathic conversation would have immediate leeway on his new version of free will, but just like the crimson color that stained his eyes, his curse had not been lifted yet completely from his soul. Merik felt his eyes bulge as the name formed on his lips. He spoke it, though with much protest, "Caira," and in defeat thought only, Damn.

Hm, that's a new name. Could it be the true name of the girl I housed here the very night before your escape? on the man's mind, a thought sprung forth, first silver, then violet eyes gleamed as they swam with the gentle yet vanishing movement of the memory.

"Enough already, that is not why I am here. I was sent by someone, a Prime, to make amends with my son. I think, it is time to tell him the truth, the real truth. As well as... Other things." Merik concluded, his eyes covered in the clouds of his own past.

You're not welcome here, nor near MY son. I let you see him, as a traveler and friend while you were here for a short time, but that was my own mistake, his interest in you was almost immediate, whether it was because you're a prime, or perhaps he felt the instinctive draw of his own blood. I don't care. You don't belong here, not in my town, not after everything you've done. Daniels spoke out of anger, and, a twinge of grievance could be heard in the pain of his expressive thoughts.

"I do not need to tell you that a Prime in this world does as he pleases." Merik seemed bored now, his eyes were on the ceiling. His brow furrowed as Daniels began again.

You could slaughter my family, you foul, evil man, even to get to your own, but the other guards would suspect, they'd know, just like I'd warn them if you left my supervision during your little... Stay. Daniels had now threatened Merik's priceless freedom again.

"Ah, but you see, even the towns people do not know I exist, you'd think you would have told them a dangerous prisoner escaped, or some other convoluted story, after I got sprung. If you truly thought I was dangerous, you could've even supplied a picture. But no," his lips coiled into a smile, "Your fear prevented that. And while your thirst for justice was strong, your fear for any more death coming to this town was even stronger. You do not have the strength to kill me, and for the same reason Daniels, you sure as hell don't have it in you to protect a town from my wrath. Perhaps you thought you were sparing people of the same fear that is rushing through your blood now. But I think that your judgment has withered over these years, meanwhile, my own remains in pristine condition." The blaze of Merik's unyielding gaze bore down on Daniels, the Prime had obviously won this round, using his accursed immortality as a buffer to defeat the mortal man.

Daniels sizzled helplessly like a hot pan atop fire, this was the same reason he had hated the man. It wasn't enough that the telepathic Prime won every conversation, every challenge, and had dropped and disowned his own son off with Daniels. And to top it all off, Merik had inadvertently let Daniels believe that he had killed his only daughter. Talk about a reason to hate a man.

Of course Merik knew all this and more. And it didn't exactly help his chances of finding his son, and though he had gained back some of his willpower, there were still crucial fragments missing. And Daniels was doing well to hide the answer Merik wanted from his mind.

Still, the stalemate remained, Merik had nothing to sweeten the pot for the old man, and the old man could not see how Merik's so-called 'truth' would effect the his coming-of-age son. "Come now, we're both the boy's father, myself in blood, and you more than any man has ever been to me. You must see my reasoning at least a little, he must know the truth, later on, it could devastate him, at least now I have the chance to right it with him."

Daniels frowned and growled He's MY son now, Merik, your truth isn't welcome here, he's had a fine upbringing with me and my wife, and though it wasn't alway easy financially, nor answering all of his questions about why he didn't look like either of us. But he's our kin now, and since you renounced him as yours, I am the one who must decide what is right for him.

Merik gulped nervously. This wasn't going how he had planned at all. And to top it off, he was actually beginning to sympathize with the man! Emotions were so last century, or so Merik thought, until they wobbled on his face in a shape of an empathetic frown, which seemed to shock the man. He asked, What the hell is wrong with you? And what happened to your eyes?

But before Merik could answer, movement stirred on the creaky floorboards and moved toward the stairs, and a slight look of panic thrilled his eyes, "Your wife has awoken. And is coming down the stairs."