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Darius stood in front of me with a slight upturn of his lips, was that a... smile? I was completely shocked and my mouth fell open in a little 'o'.
I whispered, "So that's why Jade's completely in love with you."
He nodded ever so slightly, "See, I'm not the stone cold ornery person you thought I was."
I stammered, "I never--- thought that."
He waved his hand absent-mindedly in the air, "No, it's fine. I know I give off that impression."
I looked at my feet, ashamed I had ever judged him so cruelly. I thought back to his fingers going through my hair and the gentle touches.. I looked up curiously, "Why did you touch me so intimately?"
He looked at me, "It was the only way I was going to get you to stop. I needed to be completely soft and gentle, just the opposite of what you were expecting -- to shock you enough so that you would slow down."
I looked to the side, laughing in short bursts, waving my hand up through the air, "Right... I knew that.. training whisked away from me for a moment."
A strange sound emitted from him, but somehow I knew it was a laugh, and I couldn't help but smile.
After a brief silence I questioned, "So why did you come for me?"
He looked at me with a raised eyebrow, "Your treatment's not done, obviously. I can't have you traipsing about through the woods with a gash all the way along your spine. Werewolf or no werewolf, you need salve and healing time."
I hung my head, "I wasn't planning on coming back for a while."
He shook his head, "No, that won't do. How about I ban Jasper and Aleyn from your sight until treatment is done? And I'll make sure Jade gives you some peace as well?"
I nodded, "That sounds nice..." I paused, then continued, "Why... why are you doing this for me? I never thought you cared all that much about me."
He looked slightly above my head and smiled, showing incredibly white and sharp teeth, "Jade, the most... achingly perfect woman I have ever met, is your best friend and you, hers. Not to mention what you're doing for our people and your courageousness."
I sighed, "Oh... I don't find myself very brave or courageous... and I wish the fighting would stop."
Darius whispered airily, "As do I. But... I cannot be so, not while most are out for vengeance and blood."
I hung my head with exhaustion, frustration, and sadness and started to walk back towards camp. Darius swept me up from behind gently and carried me all the way back to the now bustling campsite. He set me down a little ways away and motioned for me to stay, "I'll go tell them that you wish to be left alone for the remainder of your healing time."
I nodded weakly. I desperately wanted to collapse on the ground and slip into oblivious sleep. A cool breeze blew and rustled the leaves around me, but when it hit me, it seemed to hit a wall and disappear, like I was dead. I thought it could probably be true, my insides hurt from heavy bruising, blood loss, and the continuous re-opening of my back's wound, not to mention my hanging-on-by-a-string heart.
I watched Jasper and Aleyn leave and Jade sit down in a meditative position. Jasper's eyes rolled over in my direction, sensing someone watching him, but I looked away, closing my eyes. Suddenly the cool breeze dragged across my cheek, but when I opened my eyes, I knew it was not the breeze I felt. My heart throbbed uncomfortably, I wanted him back, but I was still so agonized and depressed, I didn't think my heart could handle it.
Darius carried me directly into camp and Jade looked at me with a mixture of sadness and slight anger. She flung her arms around me, and I caught snitches of what she said, although it was rather fast and exasperated, "I CANNOT BELIEVE----- I'm so glad your--- Oh Sakir..!---YOU ARE SO LUCKY DARIUS FOUND YOU INSTEAD OF ME!!--- I'm so glad he found you though I mean look at you--YOU ARE SO DEAD MISSY--- agh! Sakirrr..."
I mumbled sleepily, and hung on/hugged her, "I know, I know... I'm sorry Jade..."
She looked at me, a small ring of blood forming along her lower eyelids, "Don't do that again..."
I frowned and wiped at the blood slowly trickling down from her eyes, "Hey now... don't cry Jade.."
She sucked in her lower lip slightly and got up, "I'll be in my tent, Darius is giving me the "you're-putting-to-much-strain-on-her" look..."
She hugged me quickly once more and breathed, "Good night.."
I whispered, knowing she was still in ear shot, "Good night.."
Darius appeared behind me out of nowhere and slipped off my shirt. He undressed my back and dripped salve in herbs that he laid over my back in an intricate weaving. My eyes started to flutter close just as he finished and I slid my shirt back on tenderly. He stood up, "Sleep, I'll check on the progress of the herbs tomorrow morning."
He started to walk away then said with a look over his shoulder, "Good night Sakir."
I nodded and mumbled, "Good night Darius."
He turned his back and walked away, a giant midnight blue specter against a twinkling black sky. My back was completely numb as I laid down, and for that I was grateful. I fell into the black hole of slumber as soon as I shut my eyes and my head fell onto the pillow.
...........................
In my dreams bloody monsters haunted me. I ran screaming, slicing and biting at them, but they overpowered me...I plummeted, spiraling down into a fiery pit, slowly burning alive, my screaming swallowed by the fire overtaking my throat.
The same continuous dream was suddenly halted with a cool waterfall splashing onto my face. It was icy and beautiful, my charred skin peeling away to reveal the softest, shiniest, most beautiful skin I had ever seen. I smiled in the dazzling sunlight, my hair was so long it almost touched the floor. I gazed down at my locks and in them were flowers of every kind, blooming and weaving throughout like my hair was a living plant.
.............................
I was woken up slowly by a cool breath on my lips. My eyes opened to see Jasper looking positively heavenly, his eyes closed, bending over my sleeping--- once sleeping frame. He started to move in closer and I moved away, fearing the contact would send me reeling in emotions much to early. When his lips did not meet mine, his eyes opened in confusion and he looked towards me, now awake.
I whispered, "What are you doing here... Darius told you not to come."
His breath was gentle and pleasant, just like I had always known it as he said, "You were having nightmares.." He looked away from me and breathed, "I won't come again.."
I nodded weakly and turned away, closing my eyes. His fingertips brushed over the very surface of my hair and then he was gone, like a breath of air.
I rolled back onto my bed and fell asleep, my dreams only filled with the most pleasant things, even though I desperately wanted my monsters to come back.
 ThaliaSimon · Sat Jan 31, 2009 @ 02:51am · 3 Comments |
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