Chapter 27: Brotherhood & Shelter

Rylan was still wary as he sat back down and Jakob followed him.

“I'm not interested.” Rylan said quietly but his tone made the finality of the answer clear.

“Hold up now, you don't even know what it is I'm offering.” Jakob said with his hand thrown up and a welcoming smile curving his lips. Rylan stared at him for a moment, analyzing him for any sign of hostility but there was nothing, he looked like just another man you'd find in the woods but something didn't add up, He was too well put together, his clothes were fresh and his hair was well maintained while Rylan looked like his problems. It would be impossible for just a normal guy to be this put together in the middle of the insanity that the world had become.

“What are you offering?”

“Brotherhood and shelter.” Jakob answered cheerily, his southern accent making every word sound more poetic than it should be. Rylan shifted and turned back to the burning fire, it crackled and sparks flew out.

“I'm not interested.” Rylan didn't like to move with people, the only reason he'd even indulged Maerik was because of what he knew, what he could gain and of course the name that accompanied but he didn't know who this man was and there was something unsettling about his presence, Like an overly friendly police man, No matter how wide the smile, they still had the ability to end your life.

Rylan's answer made him chuckle loudly, like he didn't give two fucks about what would hear them, Rylan ticked but remained calm when he saw that Peter was still undisturbed by this Strangers noise, Jakob followed his line of sight and landed on peter.

“Your brother?”

“None of your business.” Rylan replied coldly.

Jakob raised his hands in mock surrender. “Calm down Mr, I'm just tryna get to know ya.”

“Why?”

“Simple really. This world's gone to shit, we oughta stick together if we all gon survive.”

“I can survive just fine without your help.” Rylan countered with his eyes fixed on the dancing embers of the dying flames.

“That's a mighty high assumption.”

“How?”

“Survivin this long just means you're lucky…..and unlike that kid over there, ain't nobody protecting you.” Jakob spoke with a cold shudder, he stretched his hand toward the fire and let out a groan.

“I don't need protection.”

“Another assumption.”

“How so.”

“Well let me give you an example, this flame was bright when you first lit it, you kept feedin it and feedin it to keep it burnin but eventually you ran out of stuff to feed it, Now the wind threatens to snuff it out and all you can do is seat back and watch, hoping it'll last long enough till the sun comes up, But, We both know it won't.” He paused then placed an unwanted hand on Rylan’s shoulder. “You're like this flame here, ain't nothing to protect you from the wind, sooner or later you're gonna burn out, you keep thinkin your strength will be enough to keep you alive but Let's face it Rylan, you ain't getting any stronger draggin around that boy.”

Rylan shifted slightly and Jakob took it as a cue to retrieve his hand.

“You're right, but here's something I don't understand.” Rylan said in a measured tone and he picked up a stray twig and threw it into the flames, the flames grew but only for a few seconds before it returned to its dying form.

“Which is?”

For the first time, Rylan looked at him, a vacant stare into Jakobs devil green eyes. “I don't remember ever telling you my name.” Arkana began building up in Rylan, hand hovering over the hilt of the blade waiting for Jakob to make one wrong move but after seconds passed, Jakob just smile and let out a humored breath and shifted slightly so as to not set off Rylan, it didn't look like he was paying attention but every single move he made was calculated, the way he moved to convey complete vulnerability to Rylan and the way his eyes stayed fixed on Rylan's.

“I fucked up now didn't it.” He chuckled once he'd giving Rylan the perfect amount of distance. “Well, you would have found out eventually so why not just tell you now.” His words were gentle, too gentle. “I've been watching you.”

“How long?”

“Guess?”

“You don't want me acting on impulses right now.” Rylan words and Jakob laughed again, his behavior was disarming, Rylan felt himself involuntarily relaxing in this man's presence, He checked again for any inconsistency in the flow of Jakob’s Arkana but it was the same, He could feel it but the sensation was dull, it wasn't like his that had been compacted to control his presence, Jakob’s was just plainly weak.

“Not very long, before your first interaction with Maerik.”

“You know Maerik?” Rylan asked, failing to hide his surprise.

“Everyone knows Maerik.” Jakob corrected. “He's good, he got to you before I could but I have been giving a second chance with you and I ain't planing on messin it up.” His eyes gleamed with determination.

“If you've been watching me then you know —”

“Of course I lost track of you when both of you went into the unmapped zone.” Jakob admitted.

“Which means you don't know nearly as much as you think you do.” Rylan realized calmly then turned his focus back to the fire.

Jakob sighed then said. “That would be true if I hadn't run into a friend of yours.” a knowing smile curving his darkened lips as he looks upward, into the heavily veiled sky, what would have once been a star filled night now a deep purple sheath of blurry lights.

Rylan stared, Friend? Who could he possibly be talking about, it couldn't be Maerik cause then he would call his name instead and other than him Rylan didn't interact with another player that would be significant apart from—His eyes widened and his thoughts made an abrupt halt as fear flooded through him, Memories shot through his mind with unfocused intensity, Blood stained daggers, disheveled silver hair, that unforgettable eerie smile and that power craved look in his violet eyes, his blood cooled as the image formed, Vrey.