Haode looked up at the sky and saw the smallest shadow flick across the full moon. He watched it soar across the moonlit sky. His horse fidgeted, resisting as he urged it forward. It had to be Styzia's lightningfisher. He'd looked ahead, seen the path of its flight, and knew exactly where it would land.

Kolo would be there too. And his boys. He was so close, but he knew his time was running out. His mind had already begun to slip back into old habits. His power was starting to fail him again.

He tried to look just far enough ahead that he couldn't see the horror that awaited. He tried to tell himself the promise of agony was not necessarily true, and even if it were, it could never compare to how much he had suffered in life. He tried to convince himself that nothing could happen tonight that would hurt more than how he had lived.

Haode broke into a shivering sweat as he sped his horse to a gallop. He'd never been much good at deceiving himself.

Cold wind stung his face. He forced himself to focus only as far ahead as he needed.

The horse nearly threw him as it leaped over a fallen tree. The trees were getting far larger now, far older, and the understory darkened beneath their oppressive shadows. His mount slowed, as if unsure of where to put its feet. "Walk on," Haode growled, digging his heels into its sides.

The horse stopped and let out a loud, frantic neigh.

"Shhh!" Haode snapped the reins. "Quiet! Someone might..."

Someone had heard them. He knew at once. His mind darted ahead and showed him that someone might come.

He saw Dakko slipping away from the assembly of monsters, seeming horrified by whatever he had witnessed. Then Ido followed him a moment later, calling out for him to stop.

Ido, that traitor...

Haode dismounted. He was close enough now that he could walk, and the horse would only draw more attention. His eyes illuminated, broadcasting a soft red light that showed him the trees thinning ahead. There was a clearing farther out, likely, and that had to be the clearing where the valley's eldest tree grew. Where the pack had gathered.

A quick glimpse ahead showed him where he should wait.

Haode found another fallen tree, this one twice as big around as the first one, black and crumbling with rot.

His sight did not lie, but the minutes he spent waiting for the event he knew would happen were the longest of his life. Haode dug his nails into the wet rotten bark. He jumped at the sound of someone stumbling toward him. Dakko seemed equally startled when Haode lunged out to grab him.

"Quiet!" Haode hissed, clamping a hand over Dakko's mouth to stop him from screaming. "Look, it's me."

Dakko's hands latched onto him with an icy, desperate grip. Cold tears spilled down his cheeks. He sobbed.

"You really thought I wouldn't come back for you?" Haode lifted Dakko into his arms. Weeks ago, he would have thought Dakko was too big to carry and would have screamed at him to walk on his own. Now, he was overcome with joy at being able to hold his boy again, just like he had before everything had gone wrong. He pulled Dakko into a tight hug. "I'll never let you go again."

Dakko leaned into him, weeping. "Are you...really back?" He reached up and brushed cold fingers against Haode's cheek. "The real you?"

"Yes." Haode felt tears well up in his own eyes. "I'm really back. Now let's get you somewhere safe."

"But..." Dakko looked back toward where he'd come from. "Haode, I..."

For a moment, Haode thought Dakko might be having second thoughts. He refused to entertain the possibility. "We'll get you somewhere safe and then Ido and I will come back with Kolo. All right? I have some allies waiting for us. They'll take care of you."

"Haode, I can't just..." Dakko reached back toward the thinning trees.

"Don't be afraid." Haode picked Dakko up and started walking. There would be time later to discuss this. "I've missed you so much, my boy."

"I've missed you too," Dakko whimpered. "But...you don't understand, you can't just..."

Haode stayed quiet as he blazed ahead, waiting for Dakko to get his words out.

"Haode." Dakko's tone shifted. "Why did you hurt me?"

A knot formed in his chest. It almost made him stop, but he pressed on. "I did what I thought I had to in order for all of us to stay alive."

Dakko's head turned. Then he whined. Then lightning cracked behind them.

"Stop right there!" Ido shouted.

Slowly, Haode turned around. "What's the matter, Ido?"

Ido stood quivering; his fists clenched tight. "What's the matter? You know damn well what the matter is."

Dakko clung tighter to Haode's coat.

"I understand you're upset." Haode spoke in a firm, unyielding tone. "But let's talk about this later. You're scaring your brother."

"Like you didn't do that every day and night for so long. It was hell, Haode!" Electricity sparked in his fingers.

Haode took a step back, patting Dakko. "You won't attack me." It wasn't even a question. "If you do, you'll hurt him too."

"Please, Ido, stop!" Dakko cried.

Ido took a step forward. "Why won't you fight back, Dakko? Haven't you had enough?"

"He doesn't have a choice." Haode resisted the urge to raise his voice. "Your brother doesn't have the luxury of being picky about who keeps him warm. He needs me."

Ido raised his hands higher, building a charge between them. "I hate you!"

"You might think so," said Haode. "Nevertheless, I love you. I've loved you every step of the way." His heart raced. "Even when I was falling apart, I was there for you. Do you think I'm proud of it? Any of it?" Sadness crept into his voice. "I...I'm so sorry, boys. I'm sorry I brought you to a point where you look at me and expect pain."

Ido lowered his hands and discharged them. He looked absolutely devastated. "That's the thing." He sniffed and wiped his eyes. "I also love you. Are you...actually...?"

"Yes." Haode set Dakko down and stepped toward Ido. "From now on, I swear, I'll do what I promised the day we met. I'll take care of you, I'll protect you, and I will never hurt you again." He meant it. "But Ido, please...trust me. Come back to me."

"What about Kolo?" Ido asked.

"For now, just come back to me," said Haode. "We can figure it out from there. All right?"

Ido nodded. "All right." Without making eye contact, he reached out to take Haode's hand. In the instant before they touched, though, Haode jerked away.

There was a terrible tingling sensation down the back of his neck.

Ido met his eyes then. "Haode?"

Haode's breaths came fast and shaky. Mortal terror surged back like a dam had broken. "Both of you, run." He took a step forward, pushing Ido to the side. "Go, now!"

Ido rushed to pick Dakko up, but the freezing boy struggled to stand. Haode turned around and yelled. "You have to go!" His tone was panicked. The tingling in his nerves intensified. "Now!"

"I'm not here for them."

Haode recognized the cold, calm voice immediately. Only now, it wasn't in some strange vision. It was real. It was right behind him.

Xigon grabbed Haode before he could run, locking an arm around his neck and shoulders. Haode grappled against the restraining arm, but he wasn't strong enough to free himself. "No," he begged. "Please, no!"

"Great progenitor, lead him gently to the darkest shore." Xigon spoke his prayer with icy resolve as he revealed the dagger in his other hand. "Your mercy is not lost to us."

When he saw the blade, Haode thrashed and cried out, pure terror seizing control of him. Somehow, he tore himself free from his assailant's grip. As he scrambled to escape, Xigon grabbed him by the collar of his coat and yanked him back. Haode stumbled backwards, but caught himself at the last second. Then he spun around and managed to catch the dagger. The sharp blade sliced his hand right down to the bone as he fought to disarm Xigon. The pain was enough to make him howl, but he kept on fighting with the ferocity of a wolf caught in a snare.

Xigon yanked the dagger free from Haode's blood-slick fingers and buried it in his shoulder, ripping through the tendons and grinding against bone. A scream tore from Haode's throat. He staggered backwards, clutching his now entirely useless arm. His eyes darted to Dakko and Ido. "Help me!" he begged. "Please!"

Xigon silenced him with a sharp blow to the head. Haode's ears rang. Though his vision was blurry, he still saw the master's spine-chilling glare. That once-expressionless face was now taut with rage. Stunned, he could not defend himself any longer. He knew what was coming, but he was entirely powerless.

The icy blade pierced between his ribs and into his lung.

His scream choked off into a small, pathetic noise of pain.

Xigon dug the blade in a little bit deeper, twisted it around until blood began to spurt, then pulled it out soaking red. Haode coughed, splattering the snow with vivid red froth. The sight and the realization of what was happening horrified him beyond measure. He whined, suddenly feeling lightheaded as he fought for each sticky rattling gasp.

Xigon sheathed the dagger and grabbed Haode to lay him down before he could fall. "Don't be afraid." All traces of anger vanished from his voice as he cradled the dying man's head. "It's over. It's all over."

Haode squirmed and wheezed. The blade had done its work brutally well; he was choking on blood. Tears blurred his vision. "No...no!" He coughed, spewing bright bloody froth. "I can't...I can't...!"

"Shhh. Stay still." Xigon pressed a steady hand to Haode's punctured chest. "Calm down."

Haode swatted feebly at the master's hand, then tried to reach for his boys. They seemed so far away now, so untouchable, but he was desperate. "Please, I..." he whimpered. "...I need..."

Xigon pulled Haode's arm back to clasp his hand. "I'll watch over them, I promise."

The master's touch was powerfully soothing. Haode let out a weak wet cough and relaxed. Tension swept away in waves, spilled out like sand from a cracked hourglass. His injured body was cold, but the hands holding him were warm, perhaps even kind. For a precious moment he felt safe, even as the last of his blood drained into the hungering snow.

"You have nothing to fear." Xigon's voice gave the tiniest crack, pity laid bare. "Peace be with you."

Haode lay there still and helpless, shedding his final tears as the demon tenderly closed his eyes. He waited for nothing and nothing came.

[32] Haode: No Horizon

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