Encroaching Darkness

Chapter 2

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was the glow of the twin moons. The view was so similar to the first one she woke up to in the dungeon, that it made her stomach clench and her breathing became rapid. The blankets around her body felt like the restraints made of red magic, and she thrashed about, forgetting that thrashing had only made the restraints tighter. But the blankets weren't restraints, and all her thrashing did was throw her to the floor, where she laid in a crumpled heap and groaned. Her arms, legs, and chest felt like they were on fire, and every breath seemed to freeze her lungs in place.

The man on the other side of the room heard her fall, and he jumped out of his chair and lurched towards her. She screamed, scrambling away from him until her back hit a cool surface and she couldn't go back any farther. She stared at him in fear, thinking that he was a guard, coming to take her away. Away from... from what? From... From Darkness? No, that wasn't right. What was the guard trying to take her from?

Her daughter. Blasa. He was trying to take her away from Blasa. He was trying to kill her so that he could take Blasa. She would never let that happen. Never. Blasa was too important; Blasa was the most important thing in her life. She was worth it. Worth what? Killing. Blasa was worth it. Blasa and Once and...

"Tam...?"

A light appeared in the doorway into the room, a small, handheld light that cast deep shadows on the face of the old man carrying it. He flicked on the light switch, bathing the entire room in a soft, warm light from the lamp on the bedside table.

Adelia sat on the floor up against the wall, staring at Tam with wide, fearful eyes. Tam was sitting on his knees on the floor, several feet away from her. Once was standing in the doorway, though he didn't stay there for long when he saw Adelia out of bed.

"Tam?" She asked again, hesitantly reaching up to touch his cheek.

"Oh Del," he breathed, moving forward and wrapping his arms around her. "I thought we'd never get you back from the darkness," he said, purposely avoiding the word 'death'.

There was a thump down the hall, followed by the rapid pattering of footsteps, then Blasa pushed past Once's pajama-clad legs and stumbled into the room and barely stopped herself from falling by grabbing the leg of Tam's bed. She righted herself and looked around wildly, staring at Adelia once she caught sight of her mother sitting on the floor.

"Mama!" she cried, flinging herself into Adelia's arms. "You're awake! I thought that you were never ever going to wake up! Daddy said you would, and Basil and Chell and Once all said you would, but it was so hard to believe them because you've been asleep for so long! I couldn't do anything to help because my magic isn't working, and Daddy and Once couldn't help you 'cause they don't have white magic! And... and... oh Mama, I'm so happy to see you!"

Adelia cradled her sobbing child in her arms, rocking her back and forth, not saying much herself. "I'm happy to see you too," she whispered. It was all she could make herself say.

Tam reached out to gently touch Adelia's cheek. She looked up at him through her hair and smiled softly.

"Someone missed you," he whispered.

Adelia looked down at Blasa's messy blonde hair, combing her fingers through the wild locks with a tiny smile on her face. "Yeah," she agreed, "looks that way."

Once sat down on the floor next to Tam, patting the young man on the shoulder as he did so.

"How are you doing, Once? You were looking pretty rough the last time I saw you," Adelia shifted Blasa in her arms, wincing as the child's weight moved and landed on the slow-healing wounds all over her body.

"I am mostly healed. My wounds were slight. You, however, were in a much worse state. How are you recovering?"

"I'm awake," Adelia said simply, wincing again as pain shot through her body from the deep slashes on her arms and legs. "That's about all I can say. All of me hurts like hell though."

"Well, they aren't exactly shallow wounds you've got, Del," Tam said sadly. "We did what we could, but we aren't doctors."

"Thank you," she whispered, smiling at him and gently touching the side of his face again.

Tam smiled in silent reply, glancing briefly at Once.

"You should get back to bed, Adelia," Once yawned. "We all should," he corrected himself, setting his lantern down on the floor. He knelt down and held out his arms to Blasa. "I will carry you to bed, Blasa, if you would like."

Adamantly, the little girl shook her head, clutching tightly to the shirt Adelia was wearing. "I want to stay with Mama," she sniffed. "I don't want anyone to take her from me ever again."

"No one will," Once promised. "Tam and I will protect her. Now please, let us go back to bed."

Blasa shook her head again. "No," she stated, resolute, her eyes glowing a faint white.

"She can stay with us," Tam told Once, standing to help the old man to his feet. He picked up Once's lantern and held it out to him, walking the old man to the bedroom door. "G'night Gramps," he said.

"Goodnight, Tam," Once returned kindly, then turned his gaze to Adelia and Blasa. "Goodnight, Blasa. Goodnight, Adelia. I am glad that you are back."

Tam shut the door after Once had disappeared down the stairs and the bobbing glow from his lantern had vanished. He picked up Blasa and sat her in his chair, ignoring her whimpers when he lifted her away from her mother. Tam picked Adelia up off the floor like she weighed nothing, laying her back in his bed and being especially careful not to hurt her anymore than she was already hurting. Putting on a brave face to hide her pain from her face, the only clue Tam had that he was causing her pain was a barely concealed, sharp inhale as he laid her down. Tam looked down at her in concern, but she shook her head, telling him without words not to worry about her.

Tam sat down on his bed next to Adelia, leaning back against the wall. He motioned to Blasa that it was okay for her to come over, and the little girl bounded off his desk chair and over to him. He picked her up and laid her down next to Adelia, tucking her in and kissing her on the forehead. Blasa snuggled into Adelia's side, her small form curling to fit against the curves of her mother's body. The little girl drifted quickly off to sleep, a gentle smile on her angelic face. Adelia looked down at her daughter, a soft smile of her own playing across her own lips. Tam laid down next to the two, brushing the golden bangs off of Blasa's forehead. He looked down up at Adelia and smiled sadly.

"Someone missed you," he whispered again, nodding at the little girl.

Adelia wrapped her arm tighter around her child and pressed a kiss to Blasa's forehead. She nodded, but she didn't verbally respond. She tucked her chin under Tam's chin, gathering Blasa more into her arms. She winced as the girl's weight settled on her wounds again, but refused to let go of the child.

"I missed you too, you know," Tam whispered, kissing Adelia's head.

Adelia hummed, closing her eyes and feeling at peace. Her breathing took a few minutes to even out, but eventually her lips fell open and soft snores started to escape her. Tam sighed, wrapping his arms tighter around the woman he loved and her daughter. Blasa felt tiny, cuddled against his chest, and Adelia felt thin and fragile pressed against his side. His grip tightened protectively, and he sighed, laying his cheek on top of Adelia's head.

"I'm never letting go," he told the silence within the room. "Never again."