CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Nine: I Swear I'm Not A Creep

*KINDLE'S PoV*

I really never thought I was the type to watch a girl while they slept. That's weird. That's creepy. And while Faye has called me both of those things more times than I care to count, I'm really not. 

And yet there I was, watching Blondie sleep for the second time since I brought her here. Not in a pervy way, of course. I was supposed to be monitoring her to make sure she didn't try and escape. Although, I doubted she could even escape if she wanted to. She was kind of pathetic.

This sleep seemed more disturbed than the first time, even though this time she wasn't chained up. She tossed around a lot, and murmured things I wasn't close enough to pick up on. Her facial expressions changed as well. She would go from frowning to smiling and back again. It was actually quite funny, and I had to hold myself back from laughing at her so that she wouldn't wake up. 

With a tired sigh I turned my attention to the candle on the table next to the chair I was occupying. The flame flickered calmly, arching toward me. I pinched it between my index finger and thumb, transferring the tiny flame to my hand. I moved the fire from finger to finger before setting it loose to dance around the room. 

I leaned my head on my hand, the other hand controlling the tiny flame with bored motions. In my boredom I started to think. Thinking was dangerous for me, it never worked out well. I thought about the last thing Blondie said before she fell asleep. 

"I'm not a slave."

What caused her to say that? Had she heard me talking to Lydia in the hall? I sincerely hoped not... that would be horrible to try and explain. But then again, that would explain why she was crying. Perfect. I'd be lucky if she ever spoke to me again. 

The smell of something burning caught my attention and I looked up to see that my little flame I'd left unattended in my distraction had found itself a home on Blondie's blankets. 

"Crap!" I hissed, leaping out of my seat to extinguish the fire that had already started to spread. Here I was, supposed to be keeping an eye on Blondie and I'd almost let her be cooked. She continued to sleep soundly, although her blankets were a bit singed. At least she didn't get burned. With a yawn I walked back over to my chair and settled down with my head on my arms. I highly doubted she would wake up and try to escape as I slept, so I figured it was safe. 

It was late, everyone else was probably asleep or falling asleep. With the exception of Faye, who I was pretty sure has never slept a night in her life, at least that I've seen. Lydia was most likely cuddled up with Seraphim, assuring him that she would "always be his queen" and Seraphim, blinded by her as he was, probably took that as an expression of love for him, instead of what it really was: A love for the power being queen provided her. I was nearly positive that given the chance Lydia would kill her husband without a second thought, or even a hint of remorse. 

That's what he gets for thinking he could trust a fairy. But then again... the same could be said for me. I was a slave to her, pure and simple. I was nearly as blinded as Seraphim, though obviously for different reasons. And whether I trusted her or not-- which I didn't --I couldn't get around that fact. But there was one thing I had to make sure of: Lydia could not gain power over Blondie. She had it hard enough here already, add into that the effects of a trickster fairy and the poor girl would shatter. 

I made a silent vow to myself to keep Lydia away from Blondie, and then I allowed myself to sink into the dark, poisonous, painful slumber that came with fairy venom.

The next morning, I found that it was I who was being watched. Blondie was sitting up in bed, staring at me with wide eyes. 

"Good morning, Sunshine!" I exclaimed, my words somewhat muddled by a yawn. "Hm, Sunshine, I like that. Goes with your hair. I think I'll add that to your list of nicknames." I figured maybe if I talked more and acted like nothing was wrong, she would forget what she heard yesterday. The things I'd said about her to please Lydia.