Short-ish Stories

Trust Me

"Trust me..."

The man whispers softly as he brushed the back of his palm on my cheek. His voice is very rich, calm and smooth, very much like chocolate. His hands are very soft as they brush across my skin, no sign of scars unlink mine, laced with cuts and crevices.

"I only wish to protect you..."

My sightless eyes blink as I try to picture him in my mind. Strong. Very tall. Handsome. Square jaw and dark eyes. Long hair. I reach up and run my own dry hands over his neck. My fingers tangle in his hair. My rough palms pass over his shoulders and chest, trying to get a feel for his appearance. He does not stop me, he allows it to happen. Allows me to study him. He bends over slightly and I stand on my toes to allow my hands to run over his horns and down to his face. I frown when I feel a pair of fins on the sides of his face. He is one of Them. He must have noticed my expression, for I hear a slight sigh. He takes my hands off his face by the wrists, not in a harmful and rough way, but a gentle and soft way.

"You do not like my kind..."

He sighs. He knows he is correct, but to confirm his statement, I nod. I feel sadness drop off of him, like the tears that are associated with it. I greatly dislike this feeling. Sadness makes me remember. I do not like remembering. My ears droop. He sighs again.

"I do not like your kind either... but I shall make an exception for you... I hope you will do the same..."

It hits me. That simple phrase tells me who this is. The man I see in my visions, killing my fellow lowbloods with no remorse. My eyes widen with fear and horror as the realization dawns on me. I open my mouth to say something, but no words come. He can tell I am scared. I know that as a fact. That's when I feel the wave of fear rolling off of him... why is he scared of me...?

"I knew you would react that way when you learned who I am... but I do not wish to harm you... I would like to serve as your protector... please listen to me... trust me..."

I no longer trust him. I no longer want to trust him. Yet a part of me still does. Yearns for him. His touch. The feeling of his joy. How it makes me feel. But I cannot make this decision today. I tell him that. I believe he understands.

"Understood... I shall return to this spot in twenty-four hours..."

He leaves my cave and I instantly regret what I said. I crave him now. He makes me feel like I can see. He seems to show me the beauty I have long forgotten. And I crave that feeling again. I want to run after him, to call for him, but it is too late and he has vanished into the fog.

~~•~~

He is excellent at keeping his promises. Exactly twenty-four hours after he left, to the millisecond, he has returned. I bow low. He pats my shoulder, telling me I do not have to do that. I quickly stand up straight and lead him back to where we were. I feel at ease with him back, my mind is calm and my visions are not as sporadic and startling when he is around, and the ones I do have are very brief, how I prefer them. Something about this man...

"Have you made your decision...?"

I nod respectfully. I reply to his question with a yes. I take on his offer. His offer to protect me. I am sure he means to protect me from the outside world, but in reality he is protecting me from a much greater enemy: myself. My own mind. He asks for nothing in exchange, yet that does not feel right. But I have nothing to give. He refuses everything I offer.

"The only payment I require is your safety"

I walk over to him and wrap my arms around him in a hug. He leans over and does the same.

"Trust me..." he whispers.

"I do..." I whisper back.

~~•~~

"Trust me..."

I murmur to my scared friend. The one who cares about me. The one I care about. But I feel he is more than a friend... more than a companion... more than a simple server. Part of me hopes he drowns, hopes he perishes against the sharp crystals, hopes he goes under and never emerges so I can put these emotions behind me. But the rest of me disagrees. Wants him to live, wants to hear his melodies tones, wants to look deep into his eyes and know that someone cares. That side wins out.

"You'll be fine me fella..."

I levitate myself to his height and rub his shoulders. I can tell he is tense. I do not see why, the ocean is his territory after all. I find it strange how even I know how to woofbeast-paddle and he, an ocean dweller, does not know how to swim. I sigh slightly and shake my head. I wonder why he never learned... now is the time. He looks over at me with a scared look on his face.

"Don't worry, it isn't murder.... you'll be fine..."

He looks over at me and frowns slightly. His disbelief is clear. He opens his mouth to speak, but I put my finger over it. I stare into his eyes, unblinking. His are scared. Fearful. I sigh slightly.

"You will not drown... I will make sure of it...."

His gaze drops slightly. I lower myself slightly and wrap my arms around his neck in a hug.

"Trust me..." I whisper.

"I do..." he whispers back.

~~•~~