Say Something

Chapter 16

My eyes slowly fluttered open, I held my hand in front of my face to shield the brightness of the gray clouds outside. My eyes immediately caught sight of the sleeping angel lying beside me.

I turned towards Draco and touched his chest lightly with one finger. My finger moved in rhythm with each of his steady breaths. We had been sleeping on and off for the last few hours, it was obvious that Draco needed the rest. I wasn't sure of the last time he actually had a restful night's sleep, he seemed to always have terrifying nightmares that kept him from sleeping peacefully.

I removed my finger immediately when I noticed Draco beginning to stir beneath my touch. I hadn't intended to wake him, but his eyes fluttered open slowly as he adjusted to the light as well. He closed his eyes again and gently rubbed his hand up and down my arm, his hands felt like silk against my skin. I leaned my head forward and pressed my lips against his neck, he shuddered beneath my mouth.

I reached my hand into Draco's hair and fiddled with the stray stands that had fallen in front of his eyes. "Should we go back to your house and get some clothes for you?"

Draco's eyes snapped open, he looked horrified by that idea. "Are you mad? I'm not going back, I don't know what I'd be walking into."

"I'm sure your mother is very worried about you, your father too, if he was under the Imperius Curse as you said. I think we should at least let them know you're alive, don't you? Maybe the others will have gone."

"Highly unlikely Melody, I'll send them an owl."

"You're afraid to go back, aren't you?" I asked hesitantly.

"Melody..." Draco said sternly, even without being able to hear his thoughts, it was clear he didn't want to talk about it. And I didn't think he would ever admit to being afraid of anything, he was much too proud.

I reached for Draco's marked arm and touched my lips to his Dark Mark. I jumped at how much warmer it was now.

"That mustn't be pleasant."

"Not at all, they're looking for me."

"How do you know?"

Draco glared at me, not wanting to talk about it whatsoever. I grimaced as I heard his thoughts, it wasn't fair that he only allowed me to hear what he wanted me to, it wasn't normal for me to have someone who could choose. Draco touched my furrowed brow and smiled gently.

"This mark has a funny way of communicating to me, to all of us. The burning is a way to summon us, if he really required my presence it would be scalding hot, completely unbearable."

"So how does it feel now? It's warmer than last night."

"Well, I'd say I'm on his radar right now. But I don't think he cares one way or the other, if I lived or died."

"I'd care, and I'm sure your parents would too."

"My damn parents are the ones that got me into this rubbish in the first place. My father is such a coward that he needs his son to resolve his problems for him. And I'll be killed if I don't do exactly what is expected of me."

"Maybe I can help, I'd--"

"No!" Draco shrieked and jumped out of bed.

Draco was shaking with frustration as he pulled his clothes on. He began to pace my bedroom. He was so anxious.

"I chose this Melody. I thought it was such an esteemed honor to be chosen at such a young age. But now I fully understand what horrors I have become involved with. I can hardly stand to look at myself in the mirror. I know exactly what kind of suffering my decisions are going to cause. And you actually think I would be willing to yield any of that onto you? I'd rather just kill myself right now."