Chapter 9

Ana

I tried my best to keep a poker face as we walked out of the coffee shop and through the street. He was such a strange man who seemed completely oblivious to the number of stares he was receiving due to his unearthly look. Any man his age would have taken that attention to his head or at least acknowledged it and yet here he was absolutely unbothered.

The sun paved the walkway for us whilst we strode upon its golden rays. The scent of vanilla and bread tickled my nostrils as we walked past the local bakery. There was a steep little hill to the left that caught my attention. I felt as if I was being called there. “What is up there?” I asked, stopping in my tracks.

Yuri turned and followed my gaze up the hill. “The stone temple.” He said dryly.

“Do you think,” I paused hoping he’d agree, “Do you think we can stop by for a bit?”

It didn’t seem like he was too fond of the idea. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had just walked away from me at that moment. He frowned deeply. “You are wasting your time praying to these Gods.” He said with a distasteful scowl.

I hated when he kept saying things like that. It troubled me. My faith was all I had left with me after everyone else abandoned me, whether they wanted to or not. I wasn’t going to let some pessimist soil my perspective. With a scoff, I began walking up the hill, leaving him behind. I was very sure he wouldn’t have followed but he found himself next to me, deeply displeased.

It was a cobblestone hill staircase with golden railings on either side. Two large marble pillars greeted us as we arrived. Gemstones decorated the small walkway. “It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

“Hurry up.”

I ignored his rush and entered the opened temple door. A large altar sat before us with a line of gemstones each for different Gods. This place made me feel emotional. I sat before the purple stone of Mathias as he always called out to me the strongest. Yuri stood observing the stones in deep thought. I wondered what he was thinking about. Finally, he sat near me. His demeanor was cool and aloof, and certainly ready to leave. I touched the gemstone around my neck. My grandfather had made a small pendant for me with Mathias’s stone and instructed me to always wear it, since then I never took it off. I closed my eyes in prayer, asking God to show me the reason why I was here in the first place, to aid in understanding my purpose. At the corner of my eyes, a subtle light reflected off Yuri’s necklace. I hadn’t realized only until now that he had been wearing a stone as well. Due to my grandfather, I had been quite educated with the Gods, and yet I’d never seen a worship stone to be of that colour. It was a dark black marble with a streak of deep silver cutting through. My eyes fell upon it and I found myself transfixed upon its exquisite aura.

“What is wrong?” he suddenly asked, noticing my stare.

“Your stone,” I spoke softly in the quiet of the peaceful air, “I’m not familiar with the God who possesses that gem.”

“Most aren’t.”

“It’s beautiful,” I admitted

He gave a subtle little smile, “Beautiful things can be dangerous.”

“Tell me about him.”

Yuri looked at me, slightly surprised by my request. He stared at Mathias’s stone in deep thought. “He was banished from the highlands a long time ago. The Gods stripped him of his dignity and respect and turned him into a demon before his brother. They thought he was too wild and reckless.”

“Was he?”

“Perhaps. The Gods too have their faults.”

“It doesn’t seem right.” I whispered to Mathias’s stone and back at Yuri’s, “It’s too harsh a punishment. Regardless if he was wild or reckless, no one should be banished and abandoned like that. At least not forever.” I lowered my eyes and back up to him, “He must have felt so alone.”

His expression softened a bit. “You seem to think too highly of the God. You’re forgetting he was turned into a monster. Demon-God they called him.” He chuckled, “It was said that he ate the hearts of attractive women to maintain his beauty.”

“What nonsense.”

“No need to worry.” He smiled, “You’re quite safe from him.”

Really? I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

“We should go.” He instructed, “We’ve spent way too much time here anyway.”

I silently nodded, knowing that we should be heading back. We walked back to the train station in silence. I thought of the God that was damned. My mind never left him. Yuri still wears his stone around his neck I noticed. He must have believed in some form of goodness still in the God regardless of his actions. It warmed my heart a little knowing that. He looked so aloof as he sat and stared out the window.

“Yuri?”

He turned to me tiredly.

“Where did they banish him to?”

“A place worse than hell.” He stated dryly.

“No place can be.”

“Oh believe me,” he muttered whilst tilting his head back on the seat, “You are wrong.”

“Then, where is he?”

“Who knows? He could be right next to you and you won’t even know it.” He turned a bit irritated. “Now enough questions. I am tired.”

Yuri left me with the bags as we walked into the house. As soon as we entered, he headed towards the room while I helped Lou unpack. Tomai, with a smile, ran towards me with a hug, “You’re back!”

“Well of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Oh nothing!” he laughed while rubbing the back of his neck nervously, “I was just worried if Master Yuri would have left you alone back here.”

I thought of Yuri’s interactions with me today. He hadn’t left my side at all. It had been a long time since I felt safe in someone’s presence. I placed the fruits into the large bowl while Lou began wiping the countertop.

“I forgive him by the way,” Tomai spoke with a smile. “It’s not his fault Master Yuri isn’t that affectionate. He just wants me to be stronger.”

His words caught me off guard yet pleased my heart. Not many persons could forgive without receiving an apology. I touched the side of the child’s cheek gently, “You have a heart of gold, Tomai.”

A sudden thought crossed my mind. “Tomai?”

“Yes, Lady Alois.”

“That stone your Master wears around his neck. Do you have any more?”

“I have my own.”

“May I borrow it?” I asked politely.

“Of course!” he beamed happily and ran off to get it.

Tomai returned with the stone in his hand whilst I sat in the altar room. “Place it here,” I told him, pointing next to Mathias’s stone. He paused.

“Lady Alois.” He spoke sadly, wanting to say something yet unsure how to say it. Yuri must have already told him the story hence his hesitation.

I spoke calmly, taking the stone out of his hand and placing it on the altar. “They say the altar is a reflection of what you hold in your heart.”

“But praying to a demon is considered taboo…”

“I don’t know Tomai, but when I held that stone just now, it felt so heavy as if it was in pain.” The boy sat next to me. “Don’t you think his punishment is long enough?” I asked with a smile, “Shouldn’t we at least forgive him?”

Tomai stared at me and back at the stone in awe. “Like the demons gain their power from all those who fear them, the Gods gain their powers from those who pray to them.” His eyes became glassy, “You might be the first human to even pray to him.”

“Well, I don’t know about that,” I said with a soft laugh. “I just feel like it’s the right thing to do to keep the stone here at least.”

 I turned and noticed Yuri standing at the door. He stared at the stones placed on the altar with a cryptic expression on his face. I couldn’t describe what it was but his usual harshness was slightly softened almost as if he was subtly stunned to see the image before him. His lips slightly parted to speak but he held himself back and walked away.