"Thy Bonding Rings"
Chapter Two

Malachi followed Josef as he walked down a street that seemed way too familiar for him. The street sent a shiver down his spine, each shudder worse with every step he took. His creepy feeling was to its fullest when he spotted a house he recognized too well not far away. Josef, at his side, was walking next to him, spotting his line of vision.
'Oh, do you recognize that house?'
'Y-yes, in a way I do. I don't know how, but I just recognize it as if it was a house right around the corner of my own street.'
Josef smiled, nodding. 'Ah, right. That's a good sign then.'
'Why?'
'Well, at least you remember the most preserved of houses, the holiest of places, and sacred of all.'
'Huh?'
'Oh tell me you remember that. That house was home to the most gracious of legendary stories. It is the home of the angel and her man.'
The angel and her man, Malachi thought. That sentence seemed so familiar. Why? Oh told me of that story. But. this is the house that they stayed in? But why would such a place seem.'familiar' to me? Malachi shook his head.
The two neared the house, but to Josef's surprise, the usual greeting essence was gone. And to his great shock, the gate was open.
'Who would.' he whispered to himself, approaching the gate and feeling the usual barrier that kept the house in one state through everything and away from everything around it gone. 'The seal is. gone?'
Malachi stood beside him, his brows furrowed in confusion. 'What? What's wrong?'
'The seal! The seal that was set upon the house for protection and preservation of the place, all set by the angel, is gone! No one is able to remove it but the lady herself! But she is dead! So this could only be a bad omen!'
'What?'
But Josef ignored Malachi's question. 'Come! Even though the gods would not like it, we must enter and investigate! We must right this wrong as best we can! Look!'
'What?' Malachi looked where the other boy pointed. 'You mean the house? So what?'
'The door is open! Come!'
With that, Josef ran pass the swinging gate, cutting through the yard and into the house, Malachi not that far behind him. They met with the dark scene of the living room, Malachi immediately catching the after-show of Von's attack. He pushed past Josef and ran up to the now unconscious girl.
'Von! What-' He stopped short as he finally took in that before him. There lay his new friend, a girl, unconscious, curled up in a ball on her side, and on a set of cushions with her skin bruised, tense and sore. Just by looking at her, he could see her pain. What happened to her, he didn't know, but he was certain to find out.
Josef peeked over Malachi's shoulders. 'Hello? What is it, Malachi?' He gasped as he saw Von's horrible state. 'My gods! She's injured! . And by the looks of it, more ways then one... Malachi, do you know this girl?'
Malachi nodded. 'She's the one who I said was with me earlier.'
'But she's in a forbidden house! How could she have ended up here?'
Malachi shook his head, kneeling down. 'I don't know. But first thing's first: we need to get her fixed up and out of here. We can worry about this house later.'
Josef nodded. 'Indeed. Please, gather her up while I take up all these rags and clothing, and then I can lead you to where I stay. Is that alright?'
Malachi nodded, starting to untie the girl's shirt from around her hands while Josef picked up her tattered clothing and examined them with interest and bemusement before moving on to the cloth around her eyes. It only took them several short moments to untie the knots and gather the girl in Malachi's arms before heading back out to the streets, Josef leading the way to his home.
When they came, a woman greeted them with concerned expression. She asked questions about the situation since Von didn't look to well, even in her unconscious state, but neither of the boys could answer them fully. The woman could only lead the two over to an empty bedroom, fixing it up for the naked girl.
All the day, the woman cleaned and fixed the girl, washing her and trying to ease her tense and worn body. She clothed the girl in the end, and updated the boys on her condition. Malachi learned that there were marks all over her, internally and externally. Of course, the injuries were a concern, but it was the internal ones that really worried him. How and why would Von get internal injuries? What happened to her? Apparently a lot, he guessed, from the look of her clothes, her body, and then injuries. He could only hope that nothing else was wrong with her and she could tell them what happened to her while they were separated.
Malachi stayed by Von's bedside, feeling that he could do nothing else but so. Josef was worried for the boy himself, but didn't dare say anything as he kept watch over the sleeping girl with him. It was nearly midnight when he spoke.
'I remember something about what Von said on the house the angel and her. "man" lived in. Wasn't it that when they were first attacked that their house was burned down?' Malachi turned his head to see Josef leaning back in a chair in the corner.
The sunset head nodded. 'Yes, but it was rebuilt shortly afterwards. The angel wanted a home for herself and her man.'
'Oh, and another thing. You keep saying "man", but . I'm sure he's more then just her "man". Right?'
Josef hesitated in answering his new companion. 'I. I suppose you can call him her spouse, but they weren't married or even linked to be married soon.'
'No fiancé, huh?'
'.' Josef blinked, not sure of what to say exactly. He didn't know how to explain it.
Malachi turned back to Von who was still, her chest slowly and steadily rising and falling. 'Huh.' he muttered as he took hold of one of the girl's wrists, stroking it with his thumb for reasons he didn't know of.
It was a long time until the two fell a sleep, the woman who cared for her switching places so that they could sleep in a bed instead of in awkward positions in chairs. This went on for two more days, thus resulting in Von being out for three days.
On the third day, the boys were on watch over Von again, Josef being the latter of the two to enter the room as he had much to do before he could accompany his new friend and watch over the girl. Neither of them talked that night, so silence took over. After that long moment, something unusual occurred. It was then while the boys were thinking to themselves that a slight moan escaped Von's lips. Malachi was eager to hear more from her, but just sat at the edge of her bed, holding her hand like she would disappear if he let go.
Another moan escaped her and deep breath was sucked in before the dark-haired girl became silent once more, disappointing the boys in their hope of her waking up.
Malachi sighed, shaking his head. 'Oh well, it was close.'
Josef nodded. 'It's okay, she'll come around soon enough.'
And soon enough she did. The boys slept after their short discussion and when they woke in the late morning, they found a certain dark-haired girl eating breakfast in bed.
Malachi, being the latter of the two who woke, smiled happily, wanting to jump the girl and hug her tightly, but restrained himself. 'Von!'
The girl smiled back, her eyes showing signs of tiredness. 'Good morning, Malachi.'
The boy's smile widened. 'Mornin'! How do you feel? Are you okay?'
Something flashed in Von's eyes but quickly disappeared before Malachi could recognize what he saw. Von shook her head. 'I'm fine. I noticed I was bandaged. Who did this?'
Josef, from the corner of the room, smiled. 'Alaria helped you out.'
'I should thank her then.'
Then, another voice entered the conversation as the door opened. 'Oh, there's no need to thank me, dear. It was my pleasure. I'm just glad you're fine.'
'As am I,' Malachi added, smiling at the dark-haired girl again.
'I'm sorry I worried you.'
He shook his head. 'Nah, that's okay. Just rest up, okay?'
Von nodded. 'I will, but what about you? What will you do in the time being?'
'I can show him around town and get him used to the environment so that when you are able to walk around and such, he can act as your guide.' Josef offered, standing up from his chair and approaching the girl on the bed.
Von agreed. 'Okay. That's fine by me. At least this way, if I am ever to get lost, Malachi here won't get lost himself while looking for me.'
Malachi had a sour expression on his face as the dark-haired girl giggled a bit at the joke. He stopped his string of words that objected hers, when she continued.
'I just hope Alaria can stay with me so I may speak with her.'
Alaria bowed slightly. 'Of course, dear. We can't leave you alone in your condition, can we?'
Malachi squeezed Von's hand. 'No, we can't. I don't want anything to happen to her.'
Von went silent when she heard these words, feeling a sudden aching pain in her heart. She listened, her eyes trained mostly on Malachi as he and Josef conversed a bit more before leaving the room. She stared at the closed door, frowning. Nothing to happen to her.? Was he remembering? Or were those words just out of the blue?
Alaria interrupted the girl's thoughts by clearing her throat and sitting at the edge of her bed. 'Dear, are you sure you're okay?'
Von turned to the gentle woman, nodding. 'I'm fine. Thanks to you.'
'Oh, it's nothing, dear. But. may I ask. Where did you get those injuries?'
The dark-haired girl closed her eyes, sighing heavily. 'I'd rather not say, but if you promise not to tell the boys, I will tell you.'
'I promise, dear. I won't tell a soul if you don't want me to.'
'I don't.' And with that, Von explained all she could about what happened to her last.
'But why were you there? That house is supposed to be forbidden to everyone but the legendary angel. Her and her beloved.'
Von opened her eyes finally after keeping them closed through the whole explanation. She sighed, shaking her head. 'So I heard.'
'This is most strange,' Alaria breathed behind her hand.
The girl before her bit her lip; oh, she didn't want to lie. 'Strange indeed. I don't know why I was in there, and I don't think I could explain it even if I did! Gosh, it's so confusing.'
Alaria looked sympathetic, patting her on the hand. 'That's okay, dear. Why don't I get you something to keep you busy and then you can sleep again so that you'll be up when the boys come back?'
Von smiled, her expression showing great fatigue. 'That sounds great.'
Nodding, the woman left, glad she could get the girl to relax and ease her in such a simple way. When she came back with a book, she was even more pleased to see the girl looking about her, admiring the work of the room.
'Here. You can read this book. Maybe it'll help you some,' she said, setting the tray down near the girl. Then, with a smile, she left the girl to feed herself, leaving the room quietly.
Von took up the book and almost laughed. It was the same book she found in that person's house with a tree in the backyard where she woke up. Ah, a story of the angel. How convenient.
'Who knew?' she asked jokingly to no one in particular.
She turned the book over to the back and saw a beautiful portrait of the angel with her hands clasped under her chin, appearing almost in prayer. She couldn't help but chuckle this time. She was accurate to some point on her appearance, but not quite.
'Oh well.'
And with that, she picked up some bread from her tray of breakfast and ate while she opened her book and read the words of poetry that was the book, revealing the story of the angel's life with her man and what they went through.

Malachi stretched his arms over his head, holding in a yawn. Josef, beside him, smiled.
'Not enough sleep?'
Malachi shook his head. 'Not nearly enough.'
The other boy laughed, his voice a pleasant ring in the air. 'I see. Well, I'll try not to bore you with my tour and then we can head back, okay?'
Malachi smiled, nodded. 'Sure thing.'
So Josef started his tour, showing the young man around to the amazing places of Asuge, adding the boring places in between to keep him interested while still learning. ('Gosh, but this tour was better than school!' Malachi thought aloud. Josef only smiled.) He left the most sacred place of them all for last. He had many reasons for leaving the Holy house last, but mostly, because that was where they found Von in a cruel state not but a few days ago. So, when they got there, silence was stretched.
Malachi poked at the barrier that had somehow been placed back on this place, surrounding this house. The ripple in the air and the weirdest of noises echoing in his head gave him something to think about. Thoughts, theories, and strange memories swam in his head, crashing together and making no utter sense. No matter how he tried, nothing could be put together.
Sighing, he removed his hand from the barrier and let it fall to his side. 'Amazing.' he muttered and he looked around the place again.
Josef heard the softly spoken word and glanced at the awed young man at his side. 'Isn't it?'
Malachi nodded. 'Yes. Not only is this the home for the most miraculous couple of history, but the scenery gives you. peace and so much more.'
Josef laughed. 'Those probably aren't the best words you can think of for such a place, but I can assume what you really meant. And yes, I understand what you mean.'
'Yeah.' He smiled, sighing with newfound comfort and relaxation.
'Well,' Josef said, breaking the silence after a long moment, 'I think we should get back already. The day has flown past us and rest would be best, especially for you since you have barely slept since your friend has set foot-excuse me for the pun-in our home. I guess that you will not do any better now that she is awake and can now voice her feelings and thoughts, so tonight should be a good start in regaining your strength. Come.' He gestured for Malachi to follow and started toward his home.
Malachi gave a last glance toward the sacred home before following the other boy back down the road, not missing how another male was not far off, leaning against a fence and staring at the house with a faraway look in his eyes. Malachi felt strange just by looking at him, but suppressed a shudder and continued walking.
He followed Josef until they came to the house, greeting Alaria who was quietly minding her own business. He smiled at the woman, asking: 'Is Von still up?'
Alaria smiled back. 'I think so.'
'Thanks,' he said and disappeared behind Von's bedroom door, out of sight.
Josef chuckled when he saw Malachi's eagerness and set across from Alaria at the table. 'He's very fond of her, isn't he?'
'He seems very protective, though I don't think he realizes what he shows. Von must be so happy around him.'
'Yeah. With how he's acting around her, and how she reacts, they must be quite close.'
Alaria smiled, sighing almost to herself. 'It almost reminds me of Yvonne and Xavier. They were such lovebirds.'
'Yes, everyone knows of those two. Who could not? .But-' He paused, rubbing his chin. 'What about their house? The sacred house. The seal was broken and in its place was that girl in bed.' He glanced in the direction where Malachi disappeared. 'It's strange, isn't it?'
Alaria pursed her lips. 'What I wonder is why now? Surely this is an omen and a sign, but what and why now? I am one of crazy suspicions, but I don't know.'
Josef patted the woman's hand and smiled. 'It's okay. We both suspect something-especially form those two-but we cannot say or do anything until something happens on its own. Whatever that would be.'
Alaria nodded, staring in the direction of Von's room.

As soon as Malachi slipped into the room, he found Von propped up on her pillows, reading some book that was obviously not hers. He smiled at her and sat at the edge of her bed, greeting her with a light touch on her arm.

'Hey. How's it going?'
Von closed her book. 'Fine. I feel better then I did before.'
Malachi nodded. 'Yeah. And I'm glad you're better.'
Von laughed, her eyes dancing. 'Well, thank you, but who knew that in such a short time, you would say something like that to me: someone you barely know?'
'Ahah! Yeah. But it's better then fighting or anything like that, right?' Malachi answered with a grin.
'It certainly is.' She paused to think if what she was about to say was wise. She said it anyway. 'Um. remember that ring I placed on your finger?' Malachi nodded. 'Um. do you have it?'
Malachi frowned. He hadn't once thought of the ring since he landed on Dataisa, and now being reminded of it, he searched his pockets to pull out the same ring that he was given. 'Right here,' he said as he held it out to the girl.
She smiled. 'Good. Just keep it with you always. Either wear it on your finger, or string it and place it around your neck. Please don't lose it.'
Malachi shook his head as he pulled out a chain form around his neck and unlatched it. 'Don't worry, I don't think I would think of taking this thing off. Somehow, it seems that if I did, I would be as good as dead.' He paused to laugh. 'Silly thought, isn't it?'
Von shook her head. 'Well, whatever you may think, just don't lose it.' She smiled as she watched him string the ring onto the chain and replace it around his neck. The ring looked as if it belonged there, which didn't surprise her. What did was Malachi's next sentence.
'Hey, what about you? Do you have yours? I mean-you can do the same with yours. If you'd like, if you feel that wearing yours on your finger is a burden, I can make a string or chain for you to use.'
Von laughed. 'I have mine, and thank you. Do what you like. But until the chain comes, I'll keep it with me on my finger.' She held up her hand that had been under the covers the entire time. The ring there shined, causing her to smile. And to her surprise, Malachi smiled at it and her as well. She tried not to flush under his smile and stare, but it was hard with him being who he was, and she as who she was. Man, but he still had his affect on her, and he didn't even know what he was doing to her at that moment.
Malachi noticed the hint of redness to her face even though she tried hard to hide it, and his smile widened. 'You don't have to be embarrassed about it.'
Von wrinkled her nose. 'I'm not,' she said defiantly, which only made the male laugh.
He patted her head, tempted to ruffle it, and laughed more. 'Alright then.'
Silence stretched between the two and they could stare into the depths of each other's eyes while a smile played on their faces. And when their muscles got tired, they laughed, Malachi finally leaving after their fit to rest in another room that Josef let him borrow.
When he vanished from her sight, Von sighed sadly. 'Oh, he does not know what affect he has on me. And oh how I still act the way I do after so many years and more.' She paused to laugh behind her hand. 'Well, it's nice to have him back.' And then, without another word, she shifted into a lying position and took one last glance at her book on the nightstand beside her bed before dosing off.

While she was asleep, she didn't notice the figure that crept up to her window, grinning like the Cheshire cat from a cartoon movie back in the other world. The figure absently fingered the earring on his left ear that was in the shape of a cross, black wings flanking it. There was no earring on the right ear for there was no need for one. The symbol was good enough.
The figure smiled even more when he saw Von glow a deep red, almost the shade of blood, in her sleep, something unnoticed by everyone but him. To him, the color of blood was the most beautiful color out there. All dark shades of red pleased him-it even affected his attire. But what did that matter? No, his attention was focused on the girl in her bed, sleeping her life away while he had so much freedom, something she would detest as soon as she knew. Oh, life was good again, and he planned on enjoying it. Especially with that girl he was fond of. couldn't leave her out, could he?
He watched from his post by the window as two shadows of black wings appeared around the girl, enveloping her in a protective manner. With those shadows of wings she looked much like her previous; and oh how her previous was such a treasure. It would be great and truly wonderful for him if this girl was just the same.
Oh yes. he couldn't leave her alone knowing and seeing all he did up until now, could he? Oh, no no no.
The grinning figure outside Von's window grinned mischievously, knowing he would enjoy the next few days.