Henry Perrin's Arc

Chapter 3 of 6

That night, Henry sat by the hearth with a small cloth bundle in his lap. Inside lay a new ring, silver and etched with climbing vines. He had blessed it that morning at the temple. He waited for Alexander to come down from the loft, listening to the slow creak of the boards above. Alexander stepped into the firelight in his pale sweater, bracelets dim against his wrists. Henry held out the ring. "For you," he said softly. Alexander's hand lifted, then snapped back. His eyes went flat. Something behind them slid sideways, cold and wrong, like a shutter closing over the boy Henry knew. The moment held. Then Alexander shuddered. His blue eyes returned, wet and frightened. "Give it," he whispered. "Please. Before I can't." Henry placed the ring in his palm. Alexander's skin hissed. A thin curl of smoke rose. He did not drop it. He pushed it onto his finger and held his hand against his chest, breathing hard. "I don't want it either," Alexander said. His voice broke. Henry pulled him close and felt the boy tremble against him, the burned silver pressed between them. The darkness had not gone. But now they were fighting it together.