Darkness and Hellfire

Chapter 35 Potato Potato.

Everyone experiences loss. Loss is like an evergreen tree that one passes on their journey. Almost everyone in the world has walked, rode, or driven by an evergreen tree at some point in their lives. Even those that live on tropical islands have trees that show their leaves all year around. Loss is the one thing that everyone inflicted with the mortal condition can relate to. Some people have a harder time consoling others than most. Some seem almost made for it. Isaac was the former.

The most Isaac could really do was to be available for Lenna to talk to or cry on. He hadn’t really known Macken, so he had a hard time talking about him, and he knew that grief hit him differently then it did most people, which made it hard for him to know what to do for her. Maybe there was something wrong with him mentally but that was for a different time. For now, Lenna needed him so he did his best to be there.

After Lenna’s fitful sleep throughout the night it was once again the tenth of the month. By the time Isaac awoke, Lenna had been awake on and off for a few hours. “Do you want to go see Sera?” Isaac asked. They were supposed to meet with Sera for tea just after lunch but Isaac doubted that Lenna would want to go, though he really wanted her to. Isaac knew that his consolation abilities were lacking and he was sure that Sera’s were better. Also, he thought that some amount of normalcy might do her some good.

“Not really.” Lenna replied, the depression was heavy in her voice.

“Alright, I guess we are sneaking in today.” He told her and sat up in bed. She turned her head and gave him a very half hearted scowl. Isaac brushed her hair out of her face. “Let’s go sit in Sera’s garden and drink her tea. It’ll be better than laying in bed all day.”

Lenna took a deep breath and then sighed it away. “I don’t want to get dressed.” She told him.

“I’ll help you.” Isaac told her, though if Isaac was going to help it was definitely not going to be something easily damaged like one of Jessica’s fancy dresses.

“I don’t want to walk the whole way there.” Lenna continued.

“Then I’ll carry you.” Isaac replied simply.

Lenna was silent for a long moment before she put her arm over her face. “Can’t I just go back to sleep?” She pleaded.

Isaac laid down right up against her and pulled her towards him in a tight embrace. “For a little while.” He conceded. “But staying in bed all day isn’t going to help.” He explained. “Sera is our friend and I’m sure she wants to be here for you but she can’t exactly walk around without drawing a bunch of attention to herself.” As it turned out, she could.

An hour later Isaac was helping Lenna get dressed in a simple long sleeve shirt and pants when there was a knock at the door. “It’s me. Can I come in?” They heard from the other side of the door.

Lenna abruptly sat up a bit straighter and ran her fingers through her hair. “I look like shit. Tell her to wait a bit.” Lenna told Isaac abruptly.

Isaac gave her a warm smile. “No.” He replied and teleported to the door before Lenna could do anything about it. He opened the door and was met by a sight he never thought he would see. There, in front of him, stood a pair of women who were familiar but different. The one closest to him had dark brown hair and pale skin. She looked to be in her forties with a few streaks of gray sneaking through. Her eyes were a brilliantly blazing blue that almost seemed to give off their own light. She was wearing a simple brown dress that looked both new and cheap. Her simple dress was accompanied by a pair of traveling boots that appeared well taken care of but older than Isaac. “Sera.” Isaac greeted her with a smile and a nod before he turned his attention on the other woman with her. The second woman looked exactly like the first except she appeared to be two inches shorter and twenty years younger. “Marie.”

“Hello, Isaac.” Sera said and peered past him to see Lenna trying desperately to fix her disheveled hair. “Oh dear, let me help.” She said and all but pushed past Isaac to get to his mate.

Marie stepped closer but stayed out in the hallway. “I feel like I should wait outside.” She told Isaac.

Isaac glanced between Marie and Lenna before he shrugged. “You do what you feel is best. I am not either of you.” He replied.

Marie nodded. “I’ll stay close but out of the way then.” She said.

“Actually,” Isaac began. “Can you get the roof ready? I’ll go get food and meet you up there with Lenna and Sera.”

Marie nodded in agreement. “Yes, that sounds like a good idea.” She agreed and the two left Sera to be with Lenna.

A while later the four of them were on the roof sitting around a circular table eating breakfast for Isaac and Lenna, and lunch for Sera and Marie. Lenna was visually better than she had been even though they were only a few dozen steps away from her bed. Being sedentary was not the best way to handle unfortunate things. Oftentimes it was best to simply keep one’s body moving so their mind could progress through it as well.

By the time the day was almost over Sera and Marie had had two meals with Isaac and Lenna, finished an entire bottle of wine between the four of them, played a few card games, and talked for hours. Lenna was noticeably more herself than she had been and Isaac couldn’t have been more grateful for Sera and Marie’s company. The friendship and companionship of the women had been a blessing beyond any a deity had given them. After the women had left, Isaac had insisted on Lenna taking a hot bath before he let her get back into bed. By the time she flopped onto their bed it was solidly nighttime but still far earlier than when they usually went to bed.

“Isaac?” Lenna said calmly. Her sorrow was still tagging along with her words like a barnacle on a merchant ship.

“Yes, my love?” Isaac replied.

“Thank you.” She told him. “And thank Sera and Marie for me.”

Isaac chuckled. “Why don’t you thank them yourself?” He asked.

Lenna shrunk back like a turtle retracting into its shell. “Can you?” She requested.

Isaac chuckled again. “Sure, if you want, I can thank them for you.” He agreed. He brushed some of her hair to the side even though very little of it was actually in her face. “I will always be here for you.” He told her with a warm smile.

“Does that mean that you agree to fusing our strands of fate?” She asked immediately.

Isaac realized that he had just stepped on a bear trap. He had no choice but to agree. If he didn’t then she would start to spiral back into depression as the thoughts of eventually losing him compounded with the recent loss of her first friend. Isaac leaned over her so they could lock eyes. “If you have truly thought through all of the consequences, and still want to do it, then yes.” He agreed. “Under a few conditions.”

“Oh?” She asked. “What conditions?”

“You never once regret it and…” His voice trailed off in thought.

“And what, Isaac?” Lenna questioned.

“I’ll think of something, give me a minute.” He replied.

Lenna snorted a laugh. “You sounded so sure at the beginning.” She commented. Her laugh brought a smile to Isaac’s face. He was afraid of how long it would take to hear it again and at the wonderful sound he felt like his heart had just melted like butter.

“I’ll make sure to think of something else before it’s time.” He assured her. “There has to be something else that I haven’t thought of.”

Lenna shook her head. “Fine, fine.” She waved him off. “I think you are the only person who wants to put stipulations on extending your life.”

“That part is fine, great even. It’s the other part that is the reason I am putting stipulations on it.” Isaac explained.

“Potato potato.” Lenna replied.

Isaac started laughing. “What?” He asked. “You said it the same both times.”

Lenna smirked. “I know.”