Phases

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

   Marianna opened her eyes to soft yellow light. Blinking a few times to clear her vision, she noted the small flame flickering in her bedside lantern. She sat up with a slow stretch, attempting to puzzle out the chain of events that had led her back to her bedroom.

        We were in the library, weren't we?

   She shoved the covers off her legs and swung around until her feet touched the rug.

        Me and Jimin and .... Oh! And there was a mage. He helped me after...

   Marianna paused. What had happened?

        He helped me after I woke up. I fainted? Was that it? There was a pulling and...and something, something in my head. Everything was spinning. Then Jimin was there...

   She plopped her bottom back onto the edge of the bed as she remembered all that had transpired.

        Gods. It's like a nightmare that never ends.

She buried her face in her hands and let out a shaky breath.

        "Move slowly. Yoongi said you would still feel weak once you woke," a soft voice spoke from the shadows.

   Marianna let out a shriek as she jumped to her feet and backed against the wall.

        "Easy," the voice was closer this time. 

   She relaxed against the wall, hand against her heart as she willed it to stop racing in her chest.  Disorientation had her head spinning as she fought to center herself in the present moment.  The events of the day had taken their toll on both her mind and body.  She despised how weak she felt. 

        "By the gods, Jimin! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Marianna gasped out a breath. "Fucking hell! You can't just creep about in a lady's room in the dead of night!"

         "No lady I know has a mouth like that," he smirked, stepping into the light. 

    He reached and turned the knob to lengthen the wick of the lantern, causing the flame to jump higher. The planes of his jaw and high ridges of his cheek bones shone starkly in its glow. Marianna's hand slid up from her chest and rested at the base of her throat. She could feel the pounding of her pulse increase once more as Jimin kept his silvery eyes fixed on hers. She swallowed thickly as he took another step towards her; plump lips still upturned in a slight smirk.

        "Piss off," she managed to mutter with far less rancor that she had intended.

   Jimin chuckled quietly. His eyes never wavered as his arm reached out towards her. Marianna attempted to shy away but could only go so far with the wall still at her back. His nimble fingers plucked at the strap of her chemise and slipped it up her arm and back to her shoulder. His whisper soft touch sent chills down her spine.  With a start, she realized she stood before  him in only her chemise.

        "Oh, my gods!" She crossed her arms over her chest and turned her back to him. "You undressed me?"

        "You are hardly naked, Marianna."

        "I am in my undergarments! This – this is not appropriate!"

   Jimin's laughter pealed out like a bell. "Says the woman who curses more than some of my most seasoned soldiers."

        "Better that than being half naked before a man in my bed chambers alone at night!"

        "Yes, heavens forbid I see your shoulders," his laughter continued.