Chapter 4 Azahara #2
Azahara nodded while he led Moondancer through a minor pathway of bushes towards what looked like a small break of forest. It appeared to have been used by travelers before.
A stack of wood was placed in a rocky circle, indicating a fire had once been had there.
Two logs beside it, one crumbled to pieces but the other intact.
There was a metal-wired basket that was possibly used as a tool for cooking meat on it.
They came to a stop, and Kaed dismounted. He didn’t walk away from her this time, instead giving her his hand immediately to help her down. “Thanks,” she said, taking his hand and slowly slipping from atop Moondancer.
His opposite hand that held hers pressed against her hip, guiding her until she was standing with solid feet on the ground. “Take a seat on the log, I’ll get things set up.” She smiled and did as he said. At this point, trying to help would only be getting in his way.
She sat down and got comfortable while Kaed got their space ready, as he had the night before. The only difference was that she wasn’t flopping around like a fish.
It took a few minutes for him to put out the blankets that would be their beds, and a few tools beside the fire and get Moondancer settled. He’d come to the firepit and rummage through the leftover wood. “I’ll get some newer logs and see if I can hunt a rabbit or something for us to eat.”
“I’ll cook whatever you bring back,” she said, causing him to look her way. “It’s the least I can do. I really don’t want to continue to be the helpless maiden.” A weary smile, but one, nevertheless.
“Sure, I’d hate to run you off with my cooking anyway.” He smiled so widely, his teeth bare, and she could have sworn her heart stopped.
Kaed was beautiful on the inside, and the outside only complemented that. Maybe she was delirious, but the way the orange hues of light that broke through the trees made him glow was nearly ethereal.
Gathering herself, she smiled and let out a gentle laugh. “Deal.”
As he walked away to gather the wood and game, Azahara leaned back on her hands. She stared through the leaves to look for the sky. It felt like forever since she’d seen it. She’d welcome even the storm clouds at this point.
There was no explaining why she felt this way.
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been in the presence of attractive men and women before.
Throughout her lives, she couldn’t recall reading a single instance of being so drawn to someone.
It was as though there was a magnetic force pulling her towards him.
Even in her first twenty-six years of life, she had never experienced such a strong pull toward someone.
It was terrifying.
“Mmm.” A soft breeze passed her, catching her hair in a tizzy. It felt good on her warm skin. It would be another cold night. The fire would be welcome.
While Azahara was alone, she pulled her journal and pencil from the bag she had at her side. May as well get a few words to paper while I’m waiting.
As Kaed returned, Azahara placed her journal back into the bag. “Don’t stop on my behalf.”
“It’s not important.” She sat her bag down on the ground and inspected what he had brought back. An armful of wood and some fish dangling from a string. “No rabbit?”
“The fish was surprisingly easier to get than the rabbit.”
“Food is food,” she responded, slowly moving to stand.
Kaed dropped the logs and found her elbow to assist. “Kaed, I can stand by myself.” The smile across her face would reassure him that she didn’t mind, and she was okay.
He visibly swallowed hard and pulled his hand back. “Right, of course you can.” Dropping the fish onto the metal rack, he busied himself. “Sorry.”
Azahara leaned in, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
He turned his gaze upward to meet hers. “Never apologize for your kindness,” she said sincerely.
She caught a glimpse of a fleeting smile before he nodded in acknowledgment and resumed his task, though she wasn’t quite sure what it entailed.
Taking her time, she walked around the area surrounding their space for the night. She picked up a few mushrooms, plants for seasoning, and rocks, before heading back to the fire, which Kaed had graciously started.
He inquired about what she was doing, and she’d explained they couldn’t eat bland fish. She was something of a cook. The art of making something from nothing was a pleasure she enjoyed having.
The meal was quickly prepared. She mashed the mushrooms with her hands and placed them on a rock to cook and sizzle.
Kaed returned with more water, which she used to aid in sautéing the mushrooms. Descaling the fish proved to be the most time-consuming part.
Her hands still felt weak, and handling the knife and the slippery fish was challenging.
When it was done, she plated his food on a flattened rock. “Enjoy.”
Kaed’s mouth was slightly open. “Do I see drool?” she asked, withholding her laughter. Quickly he wiped his mouth and cleared his throat.
They used their hands to eat, and they both devoured the meal without speaking.
Only once everything was gone, Kaed let out a long, breathless sigh.
“I can only imagine what you can do in a kitchen.” He had eaten crouched, so hungry that he probably hadn’t even realized he was huddled over the makeshift plate like an animal.
She chuckled. “I’m not opposed to you finding out.” There was a bit of a flirty tone in her words. His eyes found hers, and she swore they were feral.
“Don’t tempt me. I may take you up on the offer.”
A wink was all she answered him with before setting everything to the side. Kaed used his foot to move the metal platform to let the fire be free.
He stood and stretched. “Now that I’m full, I have no doubt I will sleep well.” The sun had gone and passed over the horizon at that time, and the darkness stretched across the forest. “Thank you. Seriously, that was delicious.”
“It really is the least I could do for everything you have done for me.”
Kaed was beside her in that moment. Her head craned to look up at him, the fire flickering across his face. There was something in his eyes, and she wanted to read them like a book. Wanted them to tell her what he was thinking and explain to her why he was looking at her in that way.
His lips parted to say something, thought about it, and decided to forgo it.
Instead, he placed his hand against her shoulder.
Her head leaned toward him, closing her eyes and smiling.
When his hand would move, it wouldn’t go far.
The back of his fingers brushed gently against her cheek.
The action was intimate, and while it surprised her, she didn’t shy away.
“Get some sleep,” he said before stepping away from her. Instantly it was cold, and she wanted the warmth back. Even with the fire, it wasn’t the same.
She took a deep breath in and bit her bottom lip. Why do I feel like this? He’s just a man. One that you’ll forget in a few months. Stop acting like this can be anything but a rescue mission for you and him.
She only sat there for a few more minutes before she stood up and made her way to the bed he’d made for her. They were side by side, close enough for him to feel her if she moved, but not close enough for them to touch.
She wondered if it was also possible that all his actions and words were born out of kindness. Perhaps she was the only one feeling this strange tugging sensation, making her feel peculiar in their dynamic.
With those thoughts, she slipped between the blanket and rested on her right side. Facing his back, she stared at his golden hair as fire danced across it.
It hadn’t taken long for sleep to claim her. Even with the nap earlier, she was exhausted. The darkness was welcomed, and so was the warmth that shortly followed.
The only memory of sleep was darkness. Never dreaming has its pros and cons. She wanted to remember her past, but feared what it might show her. The journal entries were traumatic enough. Did she really want to see them playing in her mind?
“You should give yourself to me.” A familiar, horrid voice plagued her sleep. “Become Dikos Mou to me, Azahara, and we can enter this realm into a new era.”
No. The answer will always be no, Goddrick. It was then, and it’s the same now. Never. Five hundred years from now, it'll still be a no. A million times, no!
“Typical stubborn woman, will you really make me wait a million years?”
There was no response on her side. The darkness of her mind dripped with the echoes of his insatiable laughter.
“Fine. All I have is time.”
Please let me go. I’m begging you. She could have sworn she was crying. She was screaming out for freedom.
“I like it when you scream, little mouse.”
Her eyes shot open, accompanied by a gasp as she woke up. “Hey.” Kaed spoke softly, his hand resting on her shoulder. “Shh, it’s just me,” he whispered gently, moving closer to her. Her body tensed as he approached. “What’s wrong?” His tone carried concern. “Was it a nightmare?”
Breathing heavily, she brought her hands up and rubbed her eyes. The fire had burned out, allowing the darkness to envelop her, much deeper than the previous night.
She strained her eyes to locate his face in the darkness, but her vision failed to adjust, leaving his features obscured.
The sense of panic intensified within her.
Her hand reached out, searching for him in the darkness.
Her fingertips brushed against the contour of his lips and then traced along his cheeks.
A sigh of relief. “Was… what happened?”
He took her hand into his. “You were screaming.”
Mortified, she bit hard on the inside of her lip.
“Are you okay?” She could feel him hovering over her. The opposite hand came to her forehead and then to her cheek, likely checking for a fever.
“I-I’m so sorry.” He tightened his hold on her hand, steadying it as it trembled.
“Don’t apologize. You’re safe with me.” It felt like he was placing the last piece of the puzzle together, filling her with a serenity she had been lacking for as long as she could remember. “Nothing is going to happen to you while I’m here.”
She couldn’t understand why he was so caring to her. Nothing she had done since meeting him had warranted such kindness.
“I’m—” She didn’t know what to say. Apologizing was the only thing that came to her mind, but she didn’t want to repeat herself.
Taking her by surprise, he said, “I can hold you.” She didn’t feel any underlining meaning behind his words as he continued, “to help you sleep.”
Although she couldn’t see him, she looked up at where his face was. Somehow, she could still see his outline as if she’d been looking at it for years and not days.
Nearly indiscernibly, she nodded her head.
Taking her gesture as an invitation, he swiftly slid his arm under her neck and drew her closer to him. Her head found a comfortable spot between his shoulder and chest.
He took her hand which had been awkwardly trying to find a place to rest and put it at the core of his chest. His hand came on top of hers and held it.
“Comfortable?”
Imagine if I said no. “Yes.” It felt highly intimate, but he made no moves to touch her in any other way. His hand stayed on her arm, his thumb brushing gently at her skin.
He hummed a gentle sigh. “Good…” There was a pause, but he quickly continued, “Can I ask you something? It’s terribly rude.”
Due to the drowsiness, she didn’t think much of it. “Sure.” Her voice was a mere whisper.
“How old are you?”
Her eyes opened then, and she swallowed before responding. “Twenty-seven this year. What about you?” She tried to pull away from the discussion on her.
“Two-hundred and sixty-three this year.”
A soft, almost nervous chuckle escaped her lips. “Old man.”
She felt his chest rise as he let out a gentle laugh. “Little girl.” His fingers moved to her hair and gently played with her scalp. “Let’s try to get some more sleep.” His calm and gentle demeanor was comforting. She was beginning to feel more of a burden than anything.
She felt his heartbeat begin to slow down. Was it racing before?
Was he just as nervous as she was? It sure didn’t seem like it.
Fighting the sleep dragging her under, she nuzzled her cheek against his chest.
His heart was a lullaby, singing her a song to edge her to the other side. She wanted to stay in that moment for a bit longer, but sleep had other plans.