Sword of Stars

Chapter Twenty Three. Pasts and Futures.

Garek awoke to a soft sobbing. He quietly threw his blanket off and attempted to find the source of sadness. The camp was cloaked by the darkness of night and the glow of both moons high above, piercing the deep dark. Garek could see three covered lumps snoring away and he knew that Jon was on watch as he never needed sleep. Aeryn’s bedroll was empty.

Garek heard a sharp sniff from the trees. He handled his blade and slowly drew it from the scabbard. A hypnotic rasp melded together with the soft snores.

They had made camp in a sparse wooded area with dry and dusty earth. Dying trees scattered among the plains through the bush and huge rocks protruded from the ground like big earthy boils.

As Garek got close to a nearby boulder Aeryn’s sobbing got louder. “Aeryn?”

Her sobbing cut off with a whine.

Garek rounded the corner to find her sitting with her back to the boulder and her legs pulled close. She cocooned further and hid her face in her knees when she saw Garek. He knelt down next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“What’s wrong Aeryn?” Garek asked.

“I don’t know,” She said with frustration. Her face was red and her cheeks soaked.

“You don’t know?”

“I feel… Like something’s wrong with me… I…” Aeryn became overcome with tears and placed both hands on her head and grimaced.

Garek pulled her into his arms and held her close while gently stroking her back. He had no idea what to do in this situation.

“It feels like I don’t exist, like there is a hole in my heart, no emotion, no feeling, nothing. It’s hard to explain…” she said after her tears had stopped flowing.

Is it something that Khaos did when her hand pieced Aeryn’s chest? The power of Chaos? Garek wondered.

“Hey, you’ll be fine. It’s just a side effect from the near death experience you had I’d say. You’re very much alive,” he said with a squeeze of reassurance.

“You really think so?” Aeryn said as she wiped her hand across her tear stained face. “What if Khaos did something to me?”

“But what could she have done?” Garek asked. “If she wanted to kill you she very well could’ve.”

“That seems preferable to how I feel at this moment…” Fresh tears welled up. Her hand went to her chest and gripped tightly at her shirt as if her heart were being crushed.

Garek didn’t know what he could possibly say to make her feel better. He wondered whether he should tell a lie just to make her feel even the tiniest bit better. “Look Aeryn if we defeat Khaos the emptiness you feel will dissipate.” Garek laid a hand on her shoulder and squeezed again. She looked up, her sad emerald eyes looking deep into his. “I promise you that I will kill Khaos and set you free.”

Aeryn suddenly smiled. “I trust you Garek,” she whispered.

Their gazes lingered and Garek could feel her hot breath coming from her slightly open mouth. It began pulling him in as if a force of its own. The sudden desire couldn’t be ignored. It blossomed and burned so abruptly that his head swam. He leaned in and kissed her wet and salty lips. A small moan escaped her lips and she pressed harder against his. Garek pulled away.

“I’m sorry.” He said with an awkward smile. He didn’t feel right taking advantage of her in this state. Yet somehow he had still kissed her. He frowned.

“Don’t be,” Aeryn said as she licked her lips. “It was a good kiss.”

“I…I can’t…”