Page 19 of A Soul to Steal

“What do you mean?”

Admittedly, once he paid attention, the human looked much smaller than before. If Aleron had wanted to, he could have placed his elbow on his little head – especially since it only came to the centre of his sternum.

“I’m pretty tall. I was happy when I hit five foot eleven, even though I didn’t grow any taller.” His lips pushed forward as they stiffened, before he tilted his head side to side, making his fringe sway. “But standing next to you, when you’re at least a foot and a half taller than me? I’ll have to crane my neck while talking to you.”

Aleron dipped his head forward to inspect Gideon’s expression. He didn’t understand enough about humans to accurately decipher it. “Is this a bad thing? I can change back.”

“You can do what you like. It doesn’t bother me.” The male cast him a smile, and he was unsure if it was sincere or not. Then he folded his arms, only to lift one hand and tap a knuckle against his chin. “Have to ask, though. What’s the weather like up there?”

“The weather?” Aleron sharply reared his head back so he could dart it around the dense but sunny patch of forest. “It is the same as before.”

“Really?” Gideon’s brows furrowed deeply, as though troubled. “It’s pouring down here.”

Aleron’s sight shifted to white when a distressing tangle of emotions coiled in his chest. He didn’t understand what he was talking about, as he saw no rain clouds floating around his head.He even released a small whimper, unsure of why he couldn’t see them.

The laugh that exploded from the human was deep, loud, and sounded more like a cackle. “I’m joking, Aleron! Remember when I told you of sarcasm? If it doesn’t make sense, then I’m probably being sarcastic.”

All Aleron could do was give a fake chuckle to hide his embarrassment, his orbs morphing to a reddish pink because of it. His wings drew in tight against his back in apprehension, the very tips of them dancing against the leafy dirt.

The negative swell of emotions dispersed when Gideon reached up to pat his biceps. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll get you used to it.”

He hoped so, and soon, if he continued to do it.

Gideon silently mulled over everything he’d learned as he sat back against Aleron’s side. He glanced over his shoulder to take in the sleeping Duskwalker, whose quiet but deep snores were tranquil and oddly calming. His massive lungs slowly waved Gideon’s entire body back and forth.

He found the repetitive motion and noise... soothing.

He wished they would make his own eyes droop and lull him into sleep, but they didn’t. Not once did tiredness or exhaustion come over him. His lack of needing to truly breathe, or eat, or have any normal human functions bothered him at first and made him feel morose. It was just further proof that everything he did, everything he thought, his entire existence... was pointless.

That had faded over the many... Fuck, had it been days or perhaps weeks since he’d woken up? He wished the sun would move, would rotate, would do anything but just sit there in the sky like a useless, taunting ball of nothingness.

This was Aleron’s second time resting, and he knew the big guy had truly exhausted himself. It seemed the longer they travelled together, the more... anxious the Duskwalker became of sleeping.

He eventually sat in the middle of the forest, and just claimed he couldn’t move anymore. The Duskwalker’s body quaked, but he forced himself to kneel rather than truly collapse.

“Do not leave without me. Do not fall back asleep. Do not... forget me.”Those were the words he’d uttered.

It was only once Gideon promised he’d lean against him the entire time that he laid down andimmediatelypassed out.

I’m a little jealous of him right now,Gideon thought, despite lacking any envy in his chest.What I wouldn’t give to be able to have a nap and just blank out for a few hours.

His mind constantly working, looping back on itself as he replayed his life and what was currently happening to him, was... bothersome.

There was a lot of good there too, but the fact that everything he once knew was gone overshadowed it. He would have been content with being in the afterlife if he’d been given the opportunity to live life to the fullest. To have met his goals or learn the answers to the many questions he’d had.

But...He peeked at the Duskwalker’s sleeping form, taking in his bat skull, his twisting horns, and his blackened orbs, watching them swirl like vortexes.I guess it’s not too bad here.

The world sucked, but at least his companion was agreeable.

He snorted a silent laugh.I’m pretty, huh?

He fingered where Aleron had caressed his cheek with the back of his glossy, curved claw.

Gideon was used to such a compliment. He knew what his face looked like, as well as his physique. He was broad, but not overly muscular. He became strong from years of hard labour, and much of him was covered in a bronze tan due to extensive exposure to the sun.

He’d been called pretty, handsome, beautiful, and even lovely. His features, despite them being quite masculine, were soft. His lips weren’t full, but his nose, cheeks, and jaw were sculpted in pleasing curves and angles. Even his full eyebrows added to his charm. Most people complimented the light colour of his green eyes, comparing them to emeralds.

Gideon had received attention from women and men alike; he only found it strange because a monster had uttered it.

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