<span style="font-style: italic">I am beginning to think staying with the Duke and taking my chances there would have been much simpler than coming with thee.</span>Silently, Ichabod was forced to concede that Ruin might have a point.  But neither of them could do anything about that now.<br/><br/>Carefully, Ichabod wrapped his hand around the hair which had been placed in it.  It felt almost impossibly silky against his skin, stirring strange desires.  Ichabod found himself struggling against the urge to follow the strand to its source and lightly brush Ruin’s scalp with his fingers.  Up until that moment, he’d never thought about Ruin as anything besides a companion -- the power imbalance between them, as well as Ruin’s demonic nature, effectively stifled all romantic inclinations.  But now, lost in the darkness, things seemed different.<br/><br/>Fortunately, the twinge of attraction quickly passed as Ichabod focused on survival.  Follow the wind?  That was a brilliant idea!  And although Ruin’s next words sounded less than encouraging, Ichabod still felt a much needed spark of hope.  When Ruin started down the hallway, he followed after the demon, doing his best to keep pace and avoid tugging on Ruin’s hair.<br/><br/>Ichabod’s optimism lasted until Ruin announced that they’d been going in circles.  As much as Ichabod wanted to doubt Ruin’s assessment, the demon’s logic seemed sound.  The maze was changing as they passed through it.  How could they possibly escape from a trap like that?  Unable to think of any good answer, Ichabod busied himself with something he could actually accomplish -- finding the first torch.  Once it had been located, Ichabod retrieved the flint and steel from his pack, striking them together.  Two sparks flashed briefly in the darkness, before a third finally ignited the torch.  Using its illumination, Ichabod gathered up the others, and brought them to the center of the intersection.  But he didn’t light them.  They should be saved for burning when they resumed their exploration.<br/><br/>Ruin’s use of his name hadn’t escaped Ichabod.  Even though the demon spoke it grudgingly, Ichabod still appreciated the effort.  But now didn’t seem like the time to say anything.  So Ichabod focused on setting up a simple campsite -- which mostly involved getting out his bedroll.  He’d almost finished when a soft humming caught his attention.  Glancing over at Ruin, Ichabod saw that the demon had begun his Spell Song.  Instantly, Ichabod abandoned his work, listening with rapt attention.  He’d expected the sound of a demon singing to be eerie, or even discordant.  But instead, it was quite lovely, coming across as something between a lullaby and a prayer.  Ichabod was so enchanted by it that he barely noticed the crackling blue energy or the runes that appeared on the walls around them.  And when Ruin had finished, Ichabod couldn’t keep himself from murmuring his admiration.  “That was beautiful.”<br/><br/>Unfortunately, Ruin’s next words completely dissipated the sense of peace that his singing had created.  “Plans?”  Despite Ichabod’s attempts to keep it out, an incredulous note entered his voice, as if  Ruin had just suggested that they flap their arms and fly to the moon.  They were trapped in a cursed temple, trying to navigate a maze of hallways which changed every time they passed along them.  And if that wasn’t bad enough, something sinister lurked in the darkness -- something hungry.  What sort of plans were they supposed to make?  Funeral arrangements?  “I don’t know.  I usually just blunder around until something happens.”<br/><br/>The inadequacy of his response sunk into Ichabod’s heart like a heavy stone.  How on earth had he managed to survive for so long?  Whenever other people asked him that question, he always gave a cocky response about the universe getting bored without him.  But Ichabod didn’t feel very cocky now.  His body was bruised from banging into walls and his bones ached from the cold.  Resting his chin in his hands, Ichabod regarded his companion with a remorseful expression.  “I’m sorry, Ruin.  This is all my fault.  It’s fine for me to go running around like a damn fool when I’m alone, but I should have been more careful with you along.  I’m sorry.”<br/><br/>Still, it wasn’t in Ichabod’s nature to lie down and die.  Dividing up some of the leftover deer, he gave Ruin his share, as well as offering the demon a few swigs of water from his canteen.  “We should eat and get some rest while the barrier lasts.  Then we’ll use the torches to explore further.  Maybe if I can see, I’ll spot something we missed before.”  There had to be<span style="font-style: italic">something</span>.   It couldn’t end this way.<br/><br/>After they finished their small meal, Ichabod put out the torch and lay down on his bedroll.  For awhile, fear and weariness warred with each other, bringing him to the brink of sleep, only to jerk him back when he heard some small noise in the darkness.  But eventually, exhaustion won and Ichabod drifted into an uneasy slumber.<br/><br/>Or did he?  Ichabod wasn’t sure if he was dreaming when he opened his eyes and saw a figure standing just beyond Ruin’s magical barrier.  Everything felt strange and vaguely unreal.  But if this was a dream, then surely he’d be somewhere other than this cursed temple.  Dazed, Ichabod staggered to his feet and walked toward the apparition.  As he drew closer, he could see the man’s pale skin, long golden hair, bright green eyes and slender pointed ears.  Ichabod blinked.  Inside his chest, his heart stuttered like bashful schoolgirl.  Then, in a voice raw with disbelief and longing, Ichabod whispered a name he never thought he’d speak again.  “Sebastian?”<br/><br/>The figure smiled, extending a hand to Ichabod.  Could this really be true?  Some part of Ichabod knew that it couldn’t be -- Sebastian was gone, forever.  But a much larger part of Ichabod wanted to believe that his former lover didn’t just walk away.  Maybe Sebastian had actually been watching over him all these years.  And now, when Ichabod needed it most, he’d returned to offer help.  Slowly, Ichabod extended his hand through the magical barrier, straining for the touch that had comforted him so many times before.<br/><br/>Ichabod screamed in pain as invisible teeth sunk into his arm.  Frantically, he tried to yank his injured limb back inside the protective barrier.  But something in the darkness refused to let go.  Instead, Ichabod felt the rest of his body being dragged toward the barrier’s edge.  “Sebastian…” Ichabod begged.  “Help me...please…”  However, the smile on his lover’s face no longer looked so reassuring.  Indeed, like all the rest of his features, it had begun melting into nothing.  Ichabod screamed again, thrashing wildly.  Too late, he wondered how he could have seen anything at all in this absolute darkness.<br/><br/>Then, just as Ichabod was about to be completely tugged through the barrier, muscular arms locked around his waist.  Ruin!  Redoubling his efforts, Ichabod added his remaining strength to the demon’s.  For one terrifying moment, it didn’t seem to be enough, and Ichabod prepared to release the demon from his bond before they were both dragged to their doom.  But before the words of unbinding could leave his mouth, he felt himself being pulled backwards.  As his arm slowly passed back through the magical shield, something was forced to let go, snarling in pain and disappointment.<br/><br/>Once he was completely back inside the barrier, Ichabod collapsed against Ruin, desperately clinging to the demon.  The horror of nearly being ripped to pieces was bad enough.  But seeing Sebastian again, even as a brief illusion, had shattered his heart.  In that moment, Ichabod didn’t care what Ruin thought of him.  He didn’t care what punishment he might earn for forcing bodily contact.  He just knew that Ruin was warm and safe -- so he clung to him, shaking like a leaf in a windstorm.