I Would Ask You To Dance (Mareven)

Part Eight (Cal/Maven)

    I wake up with a start, my mind still recovering from the nightmare I had just awoken from. Thankfully the dream wasn't intense enough to cause me to sweat, but that didn't take away from the terror. The dream was troubling, revealing to me the horrid fate Mare could possibly suffer if left with Maven. Just thinking his name results in a vile taste in my mouth. The pain he caused not only Mare, but so many others, is inexcusable. Cameron had been forced to suffer a fate, which in some Red's opinions, was worse than conscription, and her story was only one out of millions.

    I swung my legs off the bed and my feet landed in a pile of char. I sighed, another rug burned as a result of my abilities mixed with a nightmare. I don't know why I continued to replace them, perhaps it was the feeling of the soft material on my feet that I liked, or the way it reminded me of the palace. Whatever the case may be, I don't think I'll be investing in any more rugs seeing as this is a recurring event.

    Guessing by the darkness of my room, it was around two. I doubt anyone else would be wandering the halls of Notch, so it was safe for me to take a quick jog around the facility shirtless. I dusted my feet off quickly and then slipped on a pair of running shoes. I took one last look at the empty bed, silently wishing someone, anyone, was there to fill it. The door made a low creak as it, opened causing my nose to scrunch up in distaste, and it made the same noise as I shut it. As I turned to my left I was startled by the dark-skinned girl slumped against the wall.

Cameron looked adorable as she slept, her head had fallen over and her hair coming out of her two twin braids. The only thing that had me confused was why she was sleeping against the wall just outside my room. I tried to start my run but couldn't get past the end of the hall without feeling bad for her. I contemplated taking Cameron back to her room, but the problem was I didn't know where she slept. The only other option I had was to bring her back to my room and let her stay there the night.

I ran my hands through my hair and let out a well-deserved sigh. I owed it to the girl, she followed me around for the past day not getting to do anything for herself. I made my way back to where she was sleeping. Unlike before Cameron was shivering violently, and her teeth were chattering. I warmed my body temperature slightly and pick her up. I mentally apologized for being shirtless as her head rested on my bare chest.

I struggled to open the door, seeing as I had Cameron in my arms, but eventually managed to. I laid her down on my bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. She mumbled something incoherent in her sleep before turning on her side, pulling the covers with her. I chuckled at how cute she was right now. I'd never admit this to her, but she was quite beautiful. Tall and lean unlike Mare, but she had the stubbornness to her and with a lot more sarcasm. I shook of the thoughts and left her to rest as I went off to clear my mine

*****

    When I made it back to my room Cameron had somehow wound up back outside my room. I laughed and smiled to myself, stubborn girl. She must have woken up while I was on my run and decided to go back outside to sleep. I made my way over to her and noticed that she was wearing one of my pullover jackets. The jacket was huge in her thin frame, but it kept her from shivering. I brushed a stray hair out her face before kneeling down and swooping her up.

"Sorry once again," I say more to myself than the sleeping girl, "This time I'm sweating."

Cameron mumbled a few things before waking up enough to answer, "Put me down Calore or I swear to God I'll murder you!" her voice was more tired than anything.

"Not happing Cam," I smile down at her and notice that her hand is resting on my chest.

Cameron must have realized this as well because a blush spread across her face and she let her arm fall away, "What about you? You need to sleep."