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The Arcane Order |
| Melyanna smiled as she snuggled against
Azeron's chest. It had been a long, exhausting day. But the evening had
more than made up for that. She purred contently, feeling like the cat
that ate the canary. Heavy lidded eyes battled to stay open as Mely
fought against her need to rest. Beside her, Azeron's rhythmic
breathing, combined with her own exhaustion, lulled her into reverie.
A soft breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the songs of the tropical birds throughout the island. Melyanna sat on the dock, dangling her bare feet in the warm water. This is wonderful she thought, leaning back against a stack of ropes. The sun's rays warmly kissed the exposed flesh of her belly, lulling her into a nap. She was startled awake by the sudden, painful grasp on her upper arm. Let go! she gasped, her eyes looking from the fingers up into Azeron's infuriated blue gaze. What are you doing here, Melyanna?! he snarled, enraged. He yanked her up, his fingers tightening cruelly and painfully about her arm, bruising the surrounding skin. Fear filled her eyes as she looked up at her enraged husband. Mela?! What is it? What did I do?! she cried, terrified of this man before her. This was not the kind, sensitive man she had fallen in love with and married. This was some monster….and she had angered him. I told you to stay put! he raged as he dragged her through the streets of Jhelom, past the cheering crowds that egged him on. They passed a kindly looking old man and Mely looked at him pleadingly Please help me…don't let him do this!? A touch of red flared in the man's eyes as he answered You should have listened to your husband, you ungrateful chit! Azeron tugged cruelly at her arm, dragging her past the guards, who did not seem to notice them at all. You made me do this! If you had just stayed where I told you to, I would not have to do this! he continued to rage at her as the Jhelom cemetery came into sight. And still she wasn't sure what he was doing, she fought against his hold as he dragged/carried her along with him. Mela please…. Azeron dragged her through the cemetery gates, past row upon row of weather worn headstones towards a small crypt at the back of the cemetery. The gates stood open, thick cobwebs hung in the corners. A layer of dust at least an inch thick coated everything inside the small crypt. The smell of death was palpable in the air. Azeron dragged her into the crypt, sat her in a dusty chair and stormed out, slamming the gates behind him. Melyanna watched, stunned and terrified as the gates slammed, closing out almost all the light. She scrambled out of the chair, her heart beating frantically and grabbed the handle on the gate. Sobbing, she shook the handle trying to open it and begging Azeron to let her out. Please…please don't leave me here…I love you, Azeron! she sobbed looking through the slight cracks in the gate. If you had only listened to me Mely, I wouldn't have to do this! He snarled through the gates, backing away. As she looked up, she thought she saw his eyes flicker red, before he turned and walked away, leaving her locked in the rotting crypt. NO!! Azeron Please!! She screamed as he disappeared from sight. Don't leave me here!! Melyanna tossed and turned, fighting the blankets that covered her face, whimpering. Don't leave me here… |
| Melyanna tossed and turned, fighting the
blankets that covered her face, whimpering. “Don't leave me here...”
Her face pressed hard into Azeron’s chest, her arms clinging
desperately. And through the haze of restful slumber, Azeron suddenly
felt the the sharp cries of desperation in his thoughts at the same time
that he felt her clutching and weeping next to him.
He was awake with a start, his own heart racing. Instantly his arms were wrapped around her, shaking her gently, trying to tear her from whatever terror had once again disturbed her slumber. “Melyanna... wake up!” Azeron was becoming practiced at this, his own sleep suffering as a result of the tortured rest of his bond-mate. He knew that she could not endure much more of this. He felt it in her thoughts. He dared not think what that meant. When Melyanna finally awoke, they held each other quietly for a long time, both of them sharing tears of fear and exhaustion. She trembled against his side for a long time, clutching more desperately than he had ever seen her, her heart racing whenever he shifted or moved in the slightest. Azeron did not know what she had seen in her nightmare, and he did not want to upset her by asking. Even now, she would surrender to staccato breaths and half-sobs every time her mind returned to the thoughts. So they simply lay quietly side by side, drawing what comfort they could from the closeness. But eventually, he knew, she would fall asleep again. And the terrors would return. |
The
Library Arcane: The Lord of the Dead