The Arrow of Midnight

Chapter 13

The bright sunlight slowly roused me from a dead sleep, causing me to squint and groan in annoyance as I covered my face with the soft velvet blanket. The scent of ocean air and moss drifted on the breeze through the large open archway. My brow furrowed, and I sat up with a start. Ocean? I was miles away from the ocean when suddenly the memories rushed back to me. The war, the battlefield, Tanner's blood on my hands, the lifeless look in his eyes as he lay in my lap. I rushed out of bed as bile rose from the pit of my stomach, and tears immediately stung my eyes. I was taken across the ocean. I glanced around the room as the bile inched closer to my throat. I threw myself down next to a potted plant in the corner closest to my bed before succumbing to the feeling. My head hurt, my body trembled, and sweat formed on my brow as I threw up repeatedly. The blood, the gore, the mud—it all came rushing back. The look on my friends' faces when the darkness devoured me left a hollow feeling in my chest.

As light footsteps rushed into the room, gentle hands lifted me off the floor. I wiped my mouth with my leather sleeve and glanced at the gentle-faced female now hooking my arm around her neck.

"Lady Athena, are you alright?" Her voice was sweet and caring, but she was a stranger. Her waist-length, wavy blond hair trailed behind her, and her off-white dress looked new and freshly washed. My blood-stained arm looked so out of place around her slender shoulders. "Come, let's get you cleaned up." She led me toward the large archway that opened up to the crisp morning air. How long had I been asleep?

I glanced around the large open space beyond the archway, through blurred eyes. Beautiful gold and white marble flooring led to a dais on the left that opened up into a massive pool. The water was a clear sky blue, the sun glistening on the water as it drifted towards the edge of the veranda and dropped off the cliff side. I could hear the waves crashing against the rocks far below, the smell of salt water and moss more intense now. To the right of the veranda, there were lounge chairs placed in the sunlight for tanning, adorned with beautiful lavender pillows. She stopped at the bottom step of the dais and started to fiddle with the straps of my leathers, but I shrugged her hands off.

"I can do it." My voice was strained, sending shooting pains down my throat. She nodded in reply and disappeared into the room again. I lifted my face to the sunlight. It's open. I could leave if I wanted to, so I'm not a prisoner then. I half expected to be thrown in a cell or dungeon when they took me. I flexed my aching wings, readying myself to take to the sky when a shimmering light reflected in the corner of my eye, almost like the dome back on the battlefield. I furrowed my brow and slowly lifted myself off the floor. My hand extended above my head, and cool compressed air met my fingertips. So not entirely free then. I drifted back down onto the marble flooring and sighed deeply before stripping off my leathers. The inner fabric clung to my skin, soaked in blood and dirt, causing nausea to rise again, but I managed to push it down. I kicked the leathers to the side and took a step up the dais, the crisp breeze caressing my skin, causing goosebumps to quickly form in its wake. I glanced at my red-stained hands, the blood still dried and clinging to them. Tanner's blood.

"I brought you some things."

I whirled around at the female's voice, instinctively hugging my arms over my bare chest. She had multiple bottles cradled in her arms and placed them on the top step of the dais.

"There are some essential oils, shampoos, bodywash, and everything you need. Just shout if you need me." With that, she turned on her heels and disappeared through the archway again. I watched her leave. No wings adorned her back, but the tips of her ears seemed longer and curved downward ever so slightly. High Fae? I haven't seen a high fae servant before. I turned back to the bottles on the dais and crouched down beside them. Rose, lavender, and lemon oils with rose-scented shampoos and body wash. I glanced at the large pool again, big enough to fit almost 10 chiropterans or to swim laps in. The steps into the tub were made of soft white tiles that reflected the sunlight. I bit the inside of my cheek as I slowly descended the steps into the cool water, grimacing when it stung the wounds on my legs. I would have thought it to be hotter from basking in the sun, and as if in answer, the water started to heat up a bit. Spelled maybe? I glanced over my shoulder to where the female was now busy stripping the bed of the stained linen. I grimaced at the flaked blood and dirt clinging to the fabric. Taking a deep breath, I slowly lowered myself into the warm water until it caressed and brushed against my neck. The scars now hissing at the clean water and they slowly began to heal. I always loved how quickly we healed, normally faster when we've had time to rest our bodies. A slightly larger gash on my side caught my attention. It will take longer to heal and might leave a small, thin scar, the first of many, I assume. The image of the battle drifted through my mind again—the arrows, the blades, the dead at my feet. I shook my head. I can't think about it. I can't dwell on what happened or worry about whether my friends are okay, or else I might fall apart. I needed to keep my mind clear as I was in enemy territory. I forced myself to focus on the blood now leaking into the water and dunked my head in as well, scrubbing my scalp to get the dirt and blood out. My braid had come undone while I slept, and my black hair now clung to my neck and back as I emerged again. I washed my body and hair three times until no more blood flaked from it. I watched as the remnants drifted over the edge of the pool and down the cliff side.