Atherian Tales: The Blood Slave

Chapter Thirteen

I watched as the battalions of men left for their journey with Elias at the front of the pack. He left without saying a word to me. He didn't even acknowledge what I said. Even if he told me he hated me I would have been satisfied with it more than the silence I was given. I wasn't entirely sure if It was right to say anything like that. Something was brewing inside me and that was the only conclusion I could come up with. Was it foolish of me to think such a thing?

I stood in the courtyard watching the men take their leave. I watched until I couldn't see a single one. The part that had feelings for Elias was reaching out to him. It was trying in vain to grab ahold of the disappearing image of the man that planted these emotions inside me. I could feel it tearing apart beneath my skin as if it were trying to rip its way to the surface and run after Elias. I pushed it down to the depths of my soul where not even a flicker of hope could reach it. I decided, as the last row of men finally escaped from my view, that I would drown these feelings until they were nothing but lost memories to me.

Through the remainder of the day, I was silent. I didn't speak much to the lord or Anna and any nasty looks that Perscilla may have given me went unnoticed. I was a stone figure to everyone else, only nodding when asked questions as I focused on pushing out my emotions. When it came to evening, I was ready to retire to my room before anyone else. I bathed myself and put myself to bed. The dream that followed felt as if the hidden part that wanted Elias and my subconscious were battling each other, both trying to win over my emotions and persuade my feelings for the very man I was trying to hate.

     I was in the garden again, sitting on the bench in the clearing. I was alone, enjoying the slight breeze that swept past my face and ruffled my hair ever so slightly. The smell of the beautiful onyx and green roses created a sense of familiarity that made me believe my troubles were behind me.

As I sat, I closed my eyes and let the sun engulf my skin in its warmth. It felt like a welcoming hug from a loved one. When I opened my eyes, I was blinded by a bright golden light but it didn't belong to the sun. The man from a previous dream was standing in the garden clearing in front of me. He was smiling his sweet smile until suddenly he looked up from me. His brows furrowed and his his nose crinkled in disgust. Before I could look behind me to see the source of the golden man's disapproval, he swept me up from the bench and pulled me close to his chest wrapping both arms around my body and holding me in my spot against him. He placed a small kiss on the top of my head and began to spin us around to walk away from the figure.

"Stop, please." I heard Elias beg.
"I need her." He said but the golden man wouldn't listen. "Don't do this." Elias begged again.

The golden aura around the man spread out to envelope us both like a shield against Elias when he walked closer to us. Elias' red aura was shining brightly and breaking against the golden aura. When he went to reach for me, he couldn't get through the golden shield. I looked up to the man holding me as tears began to cascade down my cheeks.

"Please let me go to him." I said through quiet sobs. The man stared at me for a moment before he released me. His golden shield retracted and Elias engulfed me. He held me tightly, a hold that ensured he wouldn't let me go.

"I'm sorry Amily." He said, starting to cry himself. I didn't understand what he was sorry for. He was sobbing when he cradled me tighter against himself. I started to feel a warmth between us. It started at my chest and made its ways down my body. I was beginning to struggle just to breathe and felt a sharp pain in my heart.

I pushed myself away from Elias. His expression was still shadowed in sorrow as he looked from my chest back to my face. I followed his gaze to my chest and saw a whole where my heart should reside. Once I realized what I was missing, I returned my eyes to Elias only to finally notice him holding my heart in his hands. He whispered once more, an apology before he sank his teeth into the still beating organ. I collapsed to the ground and closed my eyes.