Trail of Ashes

| 7 |

Sensations of warmth to frigid cold on my skin. 

Feelings surge through my body.

I travel through time in a pocket of darkness.

 Memories playing like short movie clips in my mind. 

There is no sound.

A revolving carousel of my past flashes before my eyes.

A presence breaks through the barrier.

I am no longer alone.

I feel his heat down to my core.

A feather light touch.

A whisper in my ear.

"You are mine..."

My eyes flutter open. I feel the heat of a body against my back. A warmth on my belly where a hand lays. My body is curled onto it's side. I feel no sadness. The emptiness is no longer there. No black cloud of depression hides at the recesses of my mind. I feel a fullness from deep within that cannot be described in words. I turn my body to find black eyes staring back at me. Flames dance in those beautiful  eyes. My lips turn up in a smile on their own.

"Mortem."

"How do you feel?" His deep gravely voice asks. I ponder my answer for a moment. Thinking of how to explain the wholeness I feel.

"I feel like something was missing but now I'm whole." Mortem smiles. Beautiful white teeth and a dimple I did not know existed. My belly flutters at the sight of his handsome face.

"I am a part of you now. You never have to feel alone and empty. I am with you always." Mortem shifts and moves off the bed. He stands and holds out his hand to me.

"Come."

I stare into his eyes and see a surge of excitement. My eyes trail down to his sculpted naked chest before I quietly climb off the bed and place my hand in his. He pulls me into him. Warm hands roam my back and lower. He pulls away after a few seconds and brushes his lips against my own. The kiss is over too soon. He keeps me in his arms as he walks me backwards into the closet. Finally he stops and moves his hand gracefully to cover my eyes. my body is turned. I feel his body moving behind me and then...he removes his hand from my face.

I gasp aloud at what I see before me. I stand in front of the mirror again but this time my reflection is hardly recognizable. I am still me but my once dull brown hair is a richer, soft looking chocolate brown. My face is bright. No blemishes or dark circles. My eyes wander to my perfect flat belly. The once scared skin is now completely whole. No signs of puckered skin that was once a knife wound.

"You were beautiful to me before but now maybe you can finally see yourself as beautiful." Mortem says while running his hands up and down my arms.

"Thank you." I turn into his arms and gaze into dark swirling eyes. "How long was I asleep?" 

"The transformation only took about an hour in total."

"I feel...different but in a good way. What do we do now?" A wicked smile turns up his lips before Mortem breaks contact with me. With a wave of his hand I find myself dressed in another floral dress. Only this one is a deep blue and shorter. I have decided that Mortem likes me in dresses.

We make our way through the house and for the next hour we work together at putting furniture in each empty room. It's oddly mundane but strangely satisfying. I think of a style of chair in my head and while Mortem holds my hand he is able to grab the image from my mind. Then, he does his little magic hand motion and the chair I envisioned appears.

When we finish the house, Mortem says he has to leave again. In a world full of sickness, violence and aging, people will die. Mortem is death and souls will forever need him. I nod that I understand and he leans in for a kiss that takes my breath away. Then, he is gone.

I sit in a chair near a large window. I watch the sun set behind the mountains. Darkness takes over the forest beyond the glass.

I test out my feelings and emotions. I find no sadness. I think of my father and still feel a slight mix of fear and hatred. I'm still affraid he could find me. But I don't think he can hurt me anymore. I absorb that thought.

"What are you thinking?" I jump out of the chair at the deep rumble of Mortem's voice. I turn to find him in the dinning room. The feast and dirty dishes are completely gone.

"Just wondering...can I be hurt or injured?" Instead of answering me, Mortem walks toward me with a silver pocket knife appearing in his hand.

"Do you trust me?"

"I do..." I say wearily. Before I can protest, Mortem is an inch from me. Knife tip poised at my forearm. My heart races wildly.

"Don't flinch. The pain will be gone almost instantly." His hand moves in a quick slice. I watch blood seep out of my skin in a thin line. The pain hits me and in a breath it fades away. The knife disappears and I watch in amazement as he wipes the blood away. The skin is unmarred.

"So I can be injured but I heal instantly. That's amazing." I catch the hint of a smile on his lips. His hand links with mine.

"There is so much more I want to show you. Close your eyes and think of a place you have always wanted to go." I try to picture what I think the ocean might look like. I imagine a sandy beach and palms trees. His lips touch my forehead in a gentle kiss. I open my eyes. He stares at me with a smile on his lips. His dimple in full view. Before I lose my courage. I rise up on my toes and kiss that dimple. I pull back to find black eyes swirling with flames. I see the desire within them. Heat travels up my neck as I blush. Mortem remains quiet as he lifts me into his arms. His hands under my knees. My hands lace behind his strong neck. I rest my cheek on his chest. There is no beating of a heart. Only silence.

"Close your eyes and hold onto me." I close them and everything goes dark. I feel my body moving. A light breeze blows at my bare arms. The smell hits me first. Fresh and soft smelling. Then heat warms my naked arms and legs.

"Henley. Open your eyes."

What I see has my jaw dropping. Mortem brought me to a deserted beach. I look out at the rippling waves.

"It's beautiful."

He walks me to the waters edge and sets me on my feet. With a wave of his hand, we are in swim suits. Mine is a pink bikini. Of course Mortem wears his color of death. Black.

We walk hand in hand into the ocean. The feeling is amazing. I turn to Mortem and see him watching me with hooded eyes.

"What?" I ask.

"You're beautiful. My Henley." His voice is husky.

I shake off the blush and take off into the water. My hand breaks contact and I jump in. The water pulls me under and I let it. It wraps me in it's embrace. I let me body float in the salty liquid and relish in that feeling. Freedom.