Hours dragged on endlessly. The vampiric venom was getting stronger every minute. However, Aaron was managing to fight it off. He showed no signs of turning on the outside, which calmed both girls down. They let him sit in the corner without being chained up. Thankfully.

When it was Godvia's turn to guard him Aaron decided to ask "How come you are still here?" His voice sounded uncertain.

Godvia smiled "Because you are one of the people that saved me. Ava is helping out because you protected her and Leah... Well, I think she just wants to help out." Godvia was a very open person it seemed, and she did not treat him differently in any way. Despite the circumstances.

Aaron huffed saying "Well, whatever then." His prickly personality never dies down so even when he was the one starting conversation he would, in the end, be the one to end it.

"Are you feeling anything?" She asked. Her voice was still gentle but with a hint of worry in there. She might have been kind and caring but she was careful too. Aaron knew exactly what she was asking and he shook his head. A lie. He did feel different. Leah's scent became stronger during those hours. He felt stronger too. However, it was better to keep it all a secret before either of them goes into a panic.

Aaron eyed the stairs which were ahead of him. He wanted to go out, check on Trutan. See what time it is. How long would he have to wait until his brother returns? His eyes travelled around the small basement. Even when he was stuck there for a few hours he was already sick of the place.

His eyes stopped on Godvia who was sitting down against the wall, looking up. Being a guard must not have been fun for her. However, that must have been better than to be locked down in a prison by her own father. Aaron did have some compassion left in him. He did experience many different types of pain in people. One of which changed him completely. He could sense the girl was feeling conflicted. Anyone would. She just lost a father who was the only person in her life and yet, shed no tears. Physically weak as she might have been she made up for it with her tough skin.

Being able to relate to her in some way, Aaron sucked up his pride asking "Is it alright if I go see Trutan?" This was at least one of the things he could do to distract himself from the approaching death.

Godvia looked at him. She seemed surprised at first but then nodded "If you feel like you can manage I don't see why not. But I will go with you." She stood up and dusted herself off. Her clothing was ragged, she must have been stuck in a cell for a while to get to this point. Her hair and face were dark probably from all the dirt there too. Yet she still smiled. Something Aaron was slightly jealous of.

She started to climb the stairs first and Aaron followed behind quietly. He observed his surroundings as he usually did. It was a common thing between the brothers. While getting higher he almost slipped on one of the stairs which was chipped away. Mumbling a quiet curse under his breath he caught up with the girl who was already at the top.

 As she opened the flap sun rays entered the little passageway, blinding Aaron. Along with his strength, there was the hate for sunlight forming in him already. It seemed as though the venom was stronger than he suspected. Three days, he told himself, he can manage, but anything beyond that was a mystery.

Aaron stepped out into the old shed floor. He also thought it looked more like some sanctuary rather than just a plain old shed. He looked up at the sunlight which poured into the place through the empty holes which should act like windows in the past. It was most likely evening time but the light burned his eyes as if it was the middle of the day. He growled slightly dropping his head. The sensation was as if he entered a very hot fireplace and decided to sit there for a while. Godvia only gave him a small glance and started to head out. Aaron followed looking at his hand which, he could have sworn, was smoking.

As soon as they stepped outside Trutan came running. He almost rummaged into the boy. Aaron patted him affectionately and let him nuzzle up for a bit. However, the sunlight was getting unbearable so he quietly went towards the trees to get some shade. A relief. Trutan was behind Aaron all the time trying to poke him to get the attention. Meanwhile, Godvia followed behind and watched the two with satisfaction.

She and Aaron sat down under one of the trees while she asked: "He really is close to you."

Aaron looked up at the bear looming above him menacingly. A small smile broke his hardened expression as he mumbled: "We have been together for a long time." He responded as he let the beast lie down right next to him.

Then a voice called from behind "What are you doing here?" Leah seemed to be awake. She was an archer. Those were gifted when it came to sneaking around. Far from assassins but it was no wonder she sensed that Godvia and Aaron left the basement. She walked up to them sending a small glare at Aaron. It was not a hateful one, rather a worried one. Like a mother worrying about her child. Godvia could have been right, Leah might have stayed purely because she wanted to help.

Aaron shrugged "Checking on my mount." He responded curtly not giving it too much thought that he should hate both Godvia and Leah since they were women.

Leah pointed her glare at Godvia who only grinned in response. She then sat down with the two mumbling "Alright then." She sighed giving up the argument. Then the two girls started to talk. Aaron turned to his bear petting it with affection not bothering with the two girls next to him.

The sunlight started to get unbearable despite Aaron sitting in shade. He grimaced but did not want to go back to the basement yet. Being outside made him feel safer. That small dark room had some strange feeling to it which he did not like. Wizards generally could pick up on the past of the place. If something terrible happened there they could feel it. That basement was a mystery, however. It felt both right and wrong for Aaron. His eyes travelled to the building in front of him. There was something off about it. It looked like a grad place once so it was strange it was just abandoned. Aaron heaved a deep sigh, from both the displeasure of the sun and the annoyance that he could not figure the shed out.

Leah noticed it and asked, "How are you doing?"

Aaron turned to her not letting anything show on his face "I will live."

Leah smiled saying "Always so rude..." She leant her head down into her hand as he asked: "Why are you so mean?"

Aaron shrugged letting his gaze fall back on the fluffy head next to him. He did not feel like replying to her.

Meanwhile, Leah pushed "There had to be something which made you this way. No one is this annoyed all the time."

That was true. Aaron sighed saying "Many things." He decided to answer because Leah seemed to be one of those people who doesn't just drop the subject.

"Like what?" She continued. She was really stubborn.

"My magic for one." He responded with the safest option. There really were many things that changed him. The most painful ones engraved into his brain, and weight heavily on his heart. He did not like to speak of those.

Godvia then asked curious "What do you mean magic?"

Aaron sighed, he looked at the two girls who both had their eyes on him. He knew he will not get out of this conversation easily. "My magic gets out of control if I feel too much. So if I stay annoyed I can manage it."

Leah nodded as if she understood. Which could not be further from the truth. No one could understand. "I see, it must have been rough on you when you were a kid then. Children cannot keep emotions at bay most of the time."

Aaron raised his eyebrows in surprise. That was true. His childhood consisted of a lot of painful memories.

Godvia then asked still curious "So, how come you two are travelling? I thought assassins like to keep to their whole family." That was a shot to the heart.

Aaron gritted his teeth mumbling "None of your business."

Leah frowned "Don't be nasty." She shook her head in resignation. Then mumbled "We all went through our own hells. There is no reason to try to be all mysterious about it."

Godvia smiled sadly. Her story was obvious. Nate did share what Ava told him about Godvia.

Aaron's anger dissolved slightly as he felt pity towards her. That happened to him once before. He usually was detached but there were a few times here and there where he just couldn't. Leah dropped her gaze saying "Godvia just lost her only family, and I lost mine years ago." Godvia nodded quietly while Aaron sent her a questionable look, he did not realise was on his face.

She sighed looking up "It happened when I was little. My village was burned. No one knows what the cause of it was, but everyone there burned with the exception of me and Ava." Godvia dropped her head while Leah continued with a pity smile "She was the only priest there, and she was a kid. There was not much she could do but she did save me at least. She was weakened too back then."

Aaron went silent. So all three had some reason to travel. They lost people and were alone. Aaron had his brother at least so the blow was lessened. Giving up his facade of angriness he mumbled "My father is dead. And we left our mother to protect her."

Both girls looked up at him surprised he spoke. Aaron decided to talk to them. Nate always made some extra amnesia potions which he also carried around in the saddle, so it was not a problem to make them forget as soon as he spoke. However, sometimes even with that knowledge, it was good for Aaron to talk anyway.

Godvia said, "I'm sorry to hear that."

Aaron frowned "Don't. He was a monster."

That surprised both girls. Leah being the braver one asked, "Why?"

Aaron sent them a cold, unemotional stare as he spoke: "He would torture Nate physically, and me mentally." A bitter taste was left in his mouth as he turned around looking into the forest.