Black Daylight

Chapter 17

I was laying back on an inclined hospital bed, waiting for the medicine to take effect. Sebastian was sitting next to my bed, silently fuming. My nerves were a wreck and I needed for him to talk to me. "I'm sorry." I said softly, distracting him from his thoughts. "Why?" He demanded, his voice hard. I flinched back and whimpered, "I made you angry." 

"No," He said quickly, his voice softening, "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at Max. He had no right to twist the situation on you like that." His hand slowly intertwined with mine as he spoke. "I'm scared." I whispered, pulling our hands up so that the back of his hand touched my cheek. 

"Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you. I'll be here the whole time, I promise," He whispered, gently leaning forward and kissing my forehead. "Thank you Sebastian." I murmured, feeling the drowsiness of the medicine taking affect. "No problem sweetheart, just go to sleep, okay? Everything will be alright." He said soothingly. "Alright." I yawned, leaning my head into his hand and closing my eyes. He chuckled at me as I slowly blacked out.

Pain. It hurt so bad. I whimpered and shook my head slightly, trying to pinpoint the site of the nerve-racking pain that burned through my blood. "Shh. Hush love. I know it hurts. It'll get better." I moaned again, "Sebastian?" I felt strong, familiar hands engulf both of mine, "I'm here, I'm here." 

I remembered everything that happened and I realized why I was hurting. "I didn't know that it would hurt this bad." I whined. He chuckled and started to rub my hands. "Max is out going to get you medicine right now." I grumbled, "He better be." He laughed again, his hands shaking mine gently. 

"I'm here! I'm here! Don't call the guard!" Max ran in, gasping. "Here, two of these." He came closer, probably addressing Sebastian. "Okay, can you get me a glass of water?" Sebastian asked, his voice was cool, barely missing hostile. He was still upset at Max for tricking him. "Here Maria, open up." Sebastian gently demanded. 

I did, and he gave me the pills and the water. As soon as my mouth was free I said, "I hate you Max. You lied to me." Max and Sebastian both laughed at me, hearing my joking tone. "So sorry Princess, I don't follow you." Max said, a smile clearly in his tone. "This does not classify as painful, this classifies in agonizing. Get your description down right next time." I said, pulling one of Sebastian's hands up to brush my cheek.  

"If there is a next time." Sebastian said coldly, but his fingertips were gently tracing circles on my cheek. "When will the pain stop?", I whimpered, leaning my head back against the stack of pillows I was sat up against. "The medicine should take effect in a minute or two." Sebastian murmured gently. "When will my eyes heal?" I asked, trying to distract myself from the pain. 

"It depends on how well your system takes to the medicine we gave you. They should get better in a week or so with your dragon's healing power. It may even be sooner, since you are a royal." Max explained, walking up to the side of my bed and patting my hand. Sebastian growled and, after a chuckle, he backed away again. 

I could slowly feel the medicine start to work and I groaned in frustration. "Why is it taking so long?!" I exclaimed, flexing my fingers around his for emphasis. Max slowly exited the room with a departing, "Call me if you need anything." As soon as his footsteps faded Sebastian chuckled. "You're so whiny today," He said as he placed his chin on top of our hands, "Its very attractive." 

I couldn't hear any trace of humor in his voice, so I blushed deeply, turning my head away slightly. "That's not something you hear everyday." I chuckled, nervously, trying to draw his attention from where I could feel it resting on my pink cheeks. "It's not everyday that someone likes you comes along.", He murmured as his fingertips caressed my freshly-reddened cheeks.  

"What are you doing?" I whispered breathily. "Going it the old fashioned way," He chuckled gently, rubbing his thumb along my lower lip, "Courting you the normal way, or at least the way you're used to." I swallowed thickly, feeling the coolness of his fingers on my throat. "How is that?" I whispered hoarsely, hating how he could so easily make me melt like this. 

"Wooing you, like normal boys would." He murmured, his voice going a pitch or two deeper, husky. "This is not normal!" I exclaimed weakly when he traced my collar bone over to my shoulder, but we both could hear there was no real emotion behind the exclamation. "Please explain to me," He breathed, leaning forward, causing his breath to blow across my face, "What is normal, for you?" 

My breathing grew rapid when I realized what he was going to do. I held my breath and waited for his lips to touch mine.