The darkness (closed)

Haemon shivered again and focused on the torrent of warm fire that had enveloped his body and pressed it against Haemon as best as he could. For a moment, he thought he heard a scream in the back of his mind, but only silence enveloped around his ears. He was doing his very best to use what he'd felt to fight the ancient Donnelly.

"You can do it, Austin. I believe in you" Ember said softly. She looked to Benjamin, and smiled warmly.

Austin did his very best to fight the 'demon' that was threatening his very sanity. Well, probably not his sanity, but his being. Benjamin smiled over at Ember and flicked his gaze back to Austin. He was worried.

"I have every confidence that Austin will be victorious" Ember said softly. She knew he could do it if he put his mind to it.

Benjamin could only nod, not wanting to break Austin's concentration. Sweat had began to appear on his forehead, plastering his hair to his face for a time before he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He'd stopped shaking at least.

Ember moved the small tornado of snow closer to Austin to keep him cool, and to whip away the sweat.
"Concentrate, Austin. "

Austin was concentrating. He was doing his best to concentrate but he felt tired and weariness fell upon him like a heavy blanket. "So tired..." he managed to whisper, his voice hoarse.

"Then give in to your sleep. I'll look after you" Ember said with a dip of her head. There were other things she could do to help him, and he would be able to sleep through everything.

Austin did just that moments later. He simply laid down and sprawled out into a comfortable position for himself, using his arms as a pillow. "Is he okay?" Benjamin asked, watching from the sidelines as Austin laid down to rest.

"He should be just fine. What we're doing now requires a tremendous amount of energy. For a beginner, he's done quite well." Ember poured herself another cup of tea, and sat back waiting for Austin to fall asleep.

Benjamin watched Austin's chest rising and falling in the rhythm of sleep. The young man had already been fast asleep when Ember told him to give into it. "You can tell tha' he's determined ta no' le' Haemon take over."

"He will be able to defeat Haemon. Whether he cares to admit it or not, he has the strength of the Shays within him." Ember took a sip of her tea, and looked over to Austin. She set her cup aside, grabbed some small pieces of metal, and set them along Austin's body. She moved another metal plate over the ones on his body, and closed her eyes.

Austin shivered and shifted so that his legs were stretched slightly but his knees were curled inward toward his stomach. The metal was cold.

"It's alright, Austin. You'll be just fine" Ember said reassuringly as she stroked his hair. She really wanted him to be alright.

Austin relaxed and shifted enough so that he was using her lap as a pillow. "Stay with me a while, Liz." He muttered, though the voice wasn't his.

"Of course I'll stay with you, Sam" Ember said softly. Elizabeth was trying to come out again, and Ember half wanted to let her out,but she needed to be there for Austin.

Austin shifted a final time before he fell back asleep. Silence filled the room before Benjamin quietly asked, "Is he orrigh'?"

"He should be alright now" Ember said with a sigh, too scared to move incase she woke Austin. He finally seemed calm.

"Should we move 'im ta his bed?" Benjamin asked softly.

"No. The room is having an effect on him. Everything here is helping Austin, as well as making it impossible for Haemon to take control. He must stay here" Ember explained.

Benjamin nodded and settled back onto the cushions, watching the pair. He didn't know if there was anything he could do.

"We should probably also try to get some sleep" Ember said before she curled up on the tatami mat, and closed her eyes.

Benjamin followed suit and stared at the ceiling for a moment before his own eyes closed.

During the night, Benjamin dreamed of his own ancestors, those descended from Ezio and Altaïr.

When Ember woke up the next morning, she cleared everything away, and started to prepare for the day's training. She pulled some equipment from a cupboard, and set everything up before brewing another pot of tea.

Austin stirred slowly and yawned before he stretched away the rest of his sleep. He felt much better and even Benjamin felt good, despite his aching back.