The Half-Blood

Chapter Six: Duvessa

Dark... It's so dark here, I could barely see the room I was in. My body felt so weak as I rolled over on what felt like a cloud. Was I dead? No, I couldn't be dead. I was breathing, and I could feel my heartbeat in my chest. It's soft, far softer, and far more comfortable than the cot I was used to sleeping on. Every joint and muscle in my body was sore. My eyes flicked open slightly more, and I thought I could see a face. I blinked a few times before realizing it was a face I was looking at through the darkness. A scream of terror before stumbling backward off the bed. My butt hit the ground with a loud thud, sending a sharp pain straight into my spine. All at once, a ton of candles blinked to life with a bright yellow flame, lighting the entire room. Two bare feet hit the ground moments later. I covered my mouth with both hands in an attempt not to make any noise, but a squeak escaped me anyway.

The male looked straight at me, a glowing orange sword in his hand. My eyes grazed up his legs, to his chest, and then to his face. His head was turning in every which direction, searching the room for something. My breathing became harsh as I watched him. He's gonna kill me. His short brown hair was a mess on top of his head. He gripped the shiny orange blade tight in his hand as his eyes searched the room once more. His body relaxed slightly as he looked back at me. He quickly put the blade somewhere out of sight before crouching in front of me.

"Are you hurt? What happened?" He asked in a surprising, gentle tone.

I dropped my hands from my mouth as I watched him. All I could do was watch him. He examined me with tender eyes, and I couldn't help myself. I reached out and grazed my fingers over his jawline. A light stubble covered his chin, making him look almost scruffy. He went stiff under my touch, and I pulled away quickly.

"Um... Who are you?" I asked, holding my hands close to my chest.

He smiled softly at me before taking my hand in his. He curled our fingers together. My heart skipped a few beats, and my breathing slowed. I stared into his eyes. They were dark orange with golden flakes mixed within. They were memorizing, and I had never seen anything like them before. 

"Zane... call me Zane." He said, his smile fading as I shifted my weight and winced at the pain in my butt.

"Are you hurt?" He asked.

"Where am I?" I asked, ignoring his question.

The last thing I wanted to do was tell a stranger I hurt my butt. Especially after waking up face-to-face with him in the same bed. The realization hit me at that moment. I was in the same bed with this man, who I had never seen before in my life. I pulled my hand away and went to stand. Wincing from the pain in not only my butt but my legs as well. He stood and moved forward with his hands outstretched to me, but I waved him off. Grabbing a shelf behind me, I forced myself to my feet. My eyes locked on the door, and I tried to walk toward it to get out while I still could. My leg buckled underneath me, and I practically fell into his arms. This stranger's arms. I tried to pull away, but he was far too strong and gentle at the same time.

My hand gripped his bicep to find hard, round, and overall perfectly formed muscles. My body reacted to that single touch instantly. Heat flaring in my chest and spreading lower. I hated how my body reacted to a stranger. Before I could react, he picked me up into his arms and cradled me against his chest. Which had just as much muscle as his arms, I noted before squirming slightly.

"What are you doing?" I squealed as I tried not very hard to get free.

"You are hurt... I understand you may be frightened, and I will answer all your questions, but only when you are resting." He said, I went still in his arms.

My brain flooded with questions. How was it so dark? Where is this place? Why is my body so weak? Why is he pretending to care for someone he has never met before? Where is my mother? I opened my mouth to speak, to ask anything. But no words come out. My eyes were locked on his. His eyes were memorizing. I couldn't look away like his very soul was calling to me. He placed me gently on the bed. The sheets were so soft that I almost fell back asleep.

It wasn't until my back was resting against the fluffy backrest of the bed that I snapped out of my trance. He was bending over me. His body was so close to mine. My body reacted instantly to him. His face was only inches from mine, and I couldn't help the feeling. The thought that I could lean in. I could close the small gap between us, but no. I can't. Not with a stranger. He hovered over me for a moment longer; his breaths were slow and heavy before pulling away and sitting on the edge of the bed. I almost missed the warmth of his body near me.

"Where am I?" I found myself asking.

"Leaving you in the village would have been a death sentence for you, So I brought you to my home... I brought you across the border." His eyes never left me as he spoke.

"Across the border!?" I said, a little louder than expected.

A long time passed with complete silence filling the room. He lowered his eyes to the bed as my breathing picked up. The border. I crossed the border and left my mother behind. I left her in the village where she is hated. Who knows what they would do to her when I'm not there? What have they already done to her?

My hands were shaking as I lifted them to my head. A strong hand grasped mine, pulling it away from my face. I looked up at him with one eye to find his face far too close to mine. I watched the shine of his orange eyes as he examined me. I couldn't stop the tears from falling. My thoughts ran miles a minute, and the memories of everything I had done came back to me. It was my existence that made the others turn against my mother. It was me who attacked the hunters when they entered our home. I was the one who was hated, not her. I'm the reason they went after her. None of this would have happened if I hadn't been born. Before I knew what was happening, strong, muscular arms wrapped around me. He pulled me into his chest, and I nuzzled my face into his shoulder. My tears turned into sobs as he caressed the back of my head with a gentle hand.

"It's my fault... It's my fault," Were the only words I could get out between sobs.

I heard him mumble something into my eye, but I couldn't hear him. I didn't want to hear anything. I should have done something. I should have helped her. I should have left when I realized the trouble I was causing her.

I should never have been born into the light.