The sun shone through the blinds and Malic woke slowly shaking off the soreness from sleeping in the hospital chair Malic rubbed his eyes then scanned the room to see if anything had changed. It didn't look like it had, he noticed the vase of flowers Rose brought in late yesterday was still sat on the window sill over looking the carpark, Kate was awkwardly curled up in the chair near the door with a woollen blanket wrapped about her. It looked like the nurse on duty had already been in and left a small breakfast, nothing special just some toast and what would have been hot drinks.

Standing to stretched Malic looked down on Layla as she slept, she had always been a stunner, confident and outgoing, now she looked frail. In his heart he hoped she would be ok after all this but he expected her to be a very different person. Deciding to grab a fresh coffee he walked toward the door before a soft voice stopped him before he could leave, he turned to face the bed and Layla was there eyes open smiling at him.

"Going somewhere?" She said as he closed the door.

"Not now." He replied crossing to the bed and sitting beside her. She moved her hand onto his, she was shaking but she managed it.

"I want to tell you something." She began, realising her throat was more dry than she expected she coughed. Malic handed her a glass of water and she drunk it all in a few seconds. "I love you Malic." She said once he had put the glass down after taking it from the shaking hands. "I have always loved you since the day we met. I have just been too afraid to say anything incase things changed between us." She smiled at him and Malic smiled back.

"Remember that silly tattoo we got, the matching one?" Malic nodded he sure did remember it, it was awfully painful, and he had no idea what he was having done at the time, he had agreed to a blind tattoo one Layla had designed. "Well you've always asked what it meant, so I think it's about time you knew." She laughed a little before the cough caused her to choke. She struggled to sit up a little bit more as the cough subsided then she looked at Malic. "The numbers are not random, six numbers, the date I first moved into the house, I never understood how you didn't realise."

Thinking about the numbers in his head it clicked, he felt rather silly for a second before Layla tapped his hand with hers softly. "And then the Key, it doubles up with where it was done, I picked it deliberately hoping you would one day realise the symbology of it all." She coughed again. "Malic, the day I moved in you gave me a key to your home, I wanted the key to your heart because I wanted you to have mine." Malic smiled and it all made sense. He had so badly missed the signs, she hadn't had a boy friend since moving in, he thought she might like other women, she had always cuddled up with him on the sofa, he thought she just liked being warm.

He was speechless so he simply leaned over and kissed her on the cheek then rested his head on her shoulder, putting his arm over her. "I'm so sorry I didn't notice the signs sooner. We would have been so good together." He looked into her eyes.

"What do you mean would have been? We have always been awesome together." She smiled at him and he smiled back agreeing with her.

"About bloody time." Responded Kate as she sat up in the chair. She stood up and stretched a little then walked to the bed. "We hoped you two would eventually sort yourselves out." She said looking at the dry toast on a plate near her chair. "For me?" She asked pointing to it, Malic nodded. "Good I'm starving."

There was a light knock on the door and as it slowly opened Kandra popped her head around the door. Seeing everyone was awake she stepped inside and wished everyone a good morning.

"I dropped by earlier but everyone was still asleep." She said looking at Malic and Layla on the bed. "Shall I go?" She asked feelig awkward.

"Malic sat up slowly "No not at all, what brings you here?" He said without sounding too conspicuous as he had a good idea why.

"Came to have a word with you actually." She looked at the woman in the room, both had shot Malic a look. "It's only about last night, I think he might have taken my phone by accident in the confusion." She smiled softly not wanting to raise suspicion and tried not to give Malic the evil look she was famous for. "I'll wait outside." She moved back out of the door into the corridor and waited.

It didn't take Malic long to join her, he looked nervous. "Why are you really here?" He asked quietly.

"I went to see a friend last night, he wants to meet you. After what happened yesterday he just wants to know you can be trusted." She shifted uneasily which he noticed.

"A family friend I take it? Someone well versed in your Necklace and its killer requirements." He had hoped it wasn't just about the necklace, he had enjoyed meeting her despite the killing bit.

"We could grab something to eat later if you fancy it as well." Added Kandra trying to soften the rather abrupt request.

"Ok sure give me ten minutes and I'll meet you in the car park." He left her in the corridor to say good bye to the others. Then once he had he headed down stairs. Kandra had already left. Once he found her outside she was almost in tears, unsure what to do Malic simply put his arm around her. "What's going on?" He asked.

"This isn't my first harvest or even my second." Kandra blurted out. "I can't tell you how many but just know I have never failed." Malic let go of her and could see the pain in her eyes. "My friend does want to talk to you but we must also try and find another heart before tonight and it's not as easy as picking out some random person on the street." She began to shiver as if cold but her skin was flushed, it had been the only colour beside the sore eyes he had seen on her face.

As he looked at her a very tall man in a long flowing brown coat had materialised from no where and was walking straight toward them with some unknown determination. Moving closer to Kandra, Malic shifted to get a better look at him, but he thought something was wrong with his sight as the strangers face was all ablur. Within seconds the man was right next to them putting his arms out as though to hug them both. "You two are coming with me." He said and in an instant the carpark and hospital were gone.

Instead of the carpark Malic could feel the cold soft snow below his feet, he looked around in shock as the snowy peaks of some unknowm mountain range stretched as far as he could see in all directions. The sky was clear blue and the air was mild not cold as he expected. He could hear the sound of steady running water then stepping forward he looked down and saw the lush green meadow, the flowers in full bloom with a rainbow of colours, clear spring waters glistening in the sunlight. Animals of many kinds grazed on the lush green grass as birds sat in the trees. As Malic watched mesmerised by the beauty he could see a hand came to rest on his shoulder.

"This is Edania the garden of beginnings, or life if you believe in the bible. This is where life began and will eventually end, or at least that was the original plan. From here the world is populated with every kind of animal, insect, bird, fish and so on." The stranger removed his hand "This is the fabled Ark of Noah, don't buy into the whole large boat thing. Noah was not saved to play the ferry man, but a shepherd to lead life back into the world." The stranger looked at Malic. "It's beautiful isn't it Malic?" He asked.

"How do you?" He began before he turned to Kandra, "I suppose this was the friend you were talking about."

Kandra shook her head frantically "No this is Alexicus he is..." The stranger raised his hand to silence her.

"I am someone you will not accept exists until you understand yourself, but for now I have a grave warning for you both. Come lets take a walk in the garden." He stepped out over the ledge and Malic was surprised that he didn't plummet to his death, reaching out his hand to Malic, Alexicus smiled. "Trust me Malic, your world will not end here." Malic slowly took his hand then stepped out and found himself standing on a marble step at the top of a stairway leading right down into the garden. "Shall we?" Prompted Alexicus.

As they walked down into the garden Alexicus began to speak. "So Malic, do you believe in fate? Never mind I know you don't. You are the man who for four years hasn't realised that his house mate was undeniably in love with you, says it all really. You weren't looking and that begs the question why... ah don't answer because I already know the answer. Fate my friend is why the loyal and devoted Kandra behind us found you at the bar and not the guy on the other side of her. Fate is the reason your friend Layla was attacked and Kandra was able to show you the Necklace in action. Fate Malic is why when the deadly Kandra tried to snap your neck you did not die."

Malic looked back at Kandra. "I did try and tell you." She said as she shrugged her shoulders.

"So you know about the necklace?" Asked Malic while he had a chance.

"Know about it, you really do not remember anything do you, I was there, I watched every strike of the hammer blow during its forging, I watched as the worlds soul stone was smashed into thirty pieces and worked on until they were small smooth round orbs to dangle on the necklace. I watched as the God Tyther wrestled with the heart of a black sun so it could be forged to drain life away. I was the one who carried the only thing keeping his planet from destruction into the hands of Nefi and watched as she handed it down to her bloodline to act as guardians of life on earth. There is so much you have to rediscover but now is not the time or the plae, I suspect Kandra will take you to see Yanko, a good man is Yanko, slightly crazy but he is a good man."

Totally confused Malic simply listened and took in the tranquillity of the garden.

"Listen both of you, you are not safe, the Sons of Oris have been capturing Nefilites ready to sacrifice on the last day of the harvest. They have three of the last ten already, they must never get the necklace or be allowed to slay the last of Nefi's bloodline. The Gods are angry but due to the promise tied to the necklace we cannot directly intervene. So I am taking a chance here, be careful. Malic you have a lot to catch up with and I hope it happens sooner rather than later. The fate of the World rests on your shoulders until the emd of the month. Make everyday count and if you encounter any of the Oris bloodline do not use the necklace on them, kill them another way. Now get on with it."

Suddenly the garden had vanished and the two of them were stood outside the library with the clock reading eleven thirty, they had been gone all day and were left with thirty minutes to find a victim. They quickly decided to head to the river bank and began to run.

When they arrived it was all quiet, nothing moved on or around the river. After walking almost a mile along the river bank they came across a lonely fisherman. They slowed down and walked passed him looking at what he had, they would have to dump all of his stuff which would lead a clue for someone. So they walked on a little further, the night had turned cold and their breath was clearly visible as they breathed in and out.

A red flickering glow appeared as they turned a bend in the river and an old man sat beside a barrel he had turned into a fire. They sat with him to get warm and he was very welcoming.

"Come sit, I don't have much but I have coffee." He said as he lifted a jar of a cheap brand of instant coffee. Malic and Kandra sat quietly as the old man openly talked about himself, happy to talk about his mistakes and how he ended up living on the river bank, it was a heart rending story and they couldn't help but feel sorry for him. After he handed them mugs of hot black coffee he reached into his pocket and offered packs of sugar you find in cafés. 

"It's not much I know bit it is all I have and need. Live is too busy these days." Commented the old man looking at his guests then at the black garbage bag he had found earlier in the day in one of the rtrash bins nearby. After adding two packs of sugar each Malic and Kandra began to drink their drinks. They watched the old man feeling really sorry for him, he had been through a lot and ended up on the streets with nothing and no one. "Are you hungry?" He asked as he got up and walked toward the bag.

Kandra glanced at the time and they had five minutes remaining. She pointed to her watch and Malic instantly knew what she was hinting at. Malic stood up and walked around the fire, he old man was busy rummaging through the garbage bag for something to eat, grabbing a large rock Malic hit the old man over the head and Kandra went to work.

The bells of the church rang out at midnight as Kandra rolled the old man's body into the river.  They had only just succeed, they couldn't risk cutting it that close again, so they decided to head to the other side of town and look for another victim.