The Love of a Dark Prince

Chapter Two

        Argon leaned against Echo’s door frame as he watched his daughter sleep.

        Her flame colored curls lay in disarray about her as she had wrapped herself up in her own personal cocoon of sorts.

        His mind then fell to Arya.

        She had moved into their small townhouse and selflessly helped him raise Echo while Mercy, his wife, had started to ail. Even after Mercy had finally passed, Arya stayed until she knew for sure that she wasn't needed.

        Mercy's soft eyes and loving smile came to him and nearly took his breath away.

        Two years, and he could still see her plain as day in his thoughts.

        “Why didn’t she let me help her?” Argon whispered to himself as he shut Echo’s door and walked into his room down the hall.

        Mercy had refused him when he had tried to heal her.

        “Please Argon; you know that I believe in your abilities. But I’ve been fighting with this for years, darling. I’m ready to die.” Tears filled Argon’s eyes as he gripped her limp hand in his.

        The combination of the cancer and chemo had taken her lovely red locks, dulled her beautiful smokey eyes down to a murky crystal, and had taken the healthy  pale pink of her skin, only to replace it with a sickly gray. 

       “But what am I to do without you? What about Echo, Mercy?”

      “Oh, my Argon. Your heart is so sensitive, so kind. You two will be just fine. Arya has been a Godsend, she will help Echo till you find another to love. Ah, ah.” She said as she saw that he was about to protest that he would never find another. “Argon Sampson O’Malley, don’t you belittle me, especially during our few hours left together. You will love another, and when you find that one and you try and succeed to scare her off, I’ll give you hell when you arrive in heaven.” She laughed.

        Argon shook his head and wiped the tears from his eyes as he pulled the covers up over him.

       “God I miss you Mercy.” He whispered to himself as he turned off his bedside lamp.

      ‘I miss you as well. But you shall not be lonely for long.’

       He quickly turned the light back on as he looked around the room for the disembodied voice.

        A smile soon played at the corners of his mouth.

       She was with him always, maybe not in body, but he could still feel her spirit surround him.

       He once again turned out the light and fell into a deep, peaceful slumber.

* * * * *

        Arya woke suddenly in a cold sweat. 

        "It was only a dream." She whispered to herself as she tried to gain back her composure. Her mind had been preoccupied with the issue with Shawn lately, and Keegan's frustrated attitude unknowingly let her know that Shawn was trying to start things up again.

        But her dream fear soon turned into an uneasy feeling as chills ran down her spine.

        She could have sworn that the French doors leading out to their private terrace had open then shut quietly.

        Warily she sat up in the huge king sized bed and let out a soft scream as she pushed on Keegan's shoulder.

        Keegan woke with a jolt at her cry and saw her shaking.