Fallen From Grace (#Wattys2017)

Chapter XIX

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Apollyon lay with his head on Eleanora's chest, his arms wrapped around her slim figure as they were loosely draped over his shoulders, both of them sleeping. Sighing in his sleep, Apollyon snuggled closer to her, tangling his legs with hers. Suddenly, his head jerked to the side a small grunt escaped his lips. He tightened his hold on Eleanora as he seemed to convulse in pain.

A scream tore through his lips as he rolled out of her hold, gasping in pain he grasped at the sheets as another scream tore through him, writhing in pain. Climbing on top of the bed, Eleanora straddled Apollyon's waist as she tried to pin him down.

"Apollyon!" She called out in urgent panic. "Apollyon! Wake up! Wake up! It's just a dream!"

Eleanora shook him awake as he gasped in horror, bolting upright. The sudden movement surprised her as she fell off him, tumbling onto the bed. Apollyon wheezed uncontrollably as his face was scrunched up in pain, his hands shaking.

"Shh..." Eleanora soothed as she kneeled in front of him. "It's alright, it was all a dream."

"Eleanora..." He gasped as he shut his eyes, and tried to calm down his breathing. "It burns..."

"What does?" She inquired softly as she stroked his cheek. "What burns?"

"M-my back." He gasped as he shook slightly.

"Okay, let me get some ice." She told him. "Just calm down, I'll be right back."

Getting off the bed, she made her way into her kitchen as she grabbed an ice pack from the freezer. Rushing back to her room, she made Apollyon remove his shirt as she settled down behind him. The stitches had healed, and now they were long pink scars remaining. Gently she placed the ice pack against his scalding back as he hissed at the sudden cold sensation.

"It was just a dream, Apollyon." She spoke softly while shifting the ice pack around his back.

"It felt so real! I swear he was right there!" Apollyon exclaimed. "It was so vivid."

"Was it Michael, again?" Eleanora asked gently.

"Yeah..." He nodded softly. "It started from the part where he cut my wings off."

Eleanora grimaced as this was becoming a day to day occurrence. The dreams of the time he lost his Grace, with Michael cutting off his wings. Sighing, she knelt down in front of him, and stroked his cheeks, brushing a few strands of hair out of his eyes.

"Let's get you to the shower, you're covered in sweat." Eleanora spoke as he stood to his towering height. "I'll make you a cup of tea."

"Okay." He nodded as he lent down and placed a kiss on her cheek, extremely close to her lips, much to her surprise. Straightening, he made his way over to the washroom as Eleanora stood stunned for a second, her heart hammering in her chest. Shaking her head she went into the kitchen and prepared a cup of tea for him, taking it back to the room with her.

The moment she had entered, he had exited the washroom in his sweatpants as he was towel drying his hair. She handed him the cup of tea, while taking the towel away from him. He took a sip of the tea as she placed the towel into the drier. They both sat silently on the bed as Eleanora traced random shapes onto his back with her fingertips.

Apollyon sighed softly at the touch as he finished the warm beverage. Turing around, he lay down on his stomach and looked towards Eleanora, who also got under the covers. She continued to stroke his back as he looked at her with soft, desire filled eyes, but there was fear lingering in them too. Slowly he closed them and moved closer to Eleanora as he allowed her touch to lull him back to sleep.