Tempted By Darkness

Guard Duty

Athena sat outside, under the warmth of the sun. It reminded her of Alec, as everything did these days. Saying she missed him was an understatement. She rested a palm against her now protruding stomach and felt her daughter kicking in response.
She wished her King was here to enjoy this feeling of pride with her, but she had been the one to leave him behind two months ago. And despite herself, she did not regret it. She had done it to keep everyone safe after all. 

She had hidden herself in a old secluded and also abandoned monastery, in a unknown land of China. A few years ago, as she explored the beautiful country, she had lost herself in the wild nature some places still had. And while walking up the mountains without an exact path - really, she had been simply enjoying the raw wildness-  she had stumbled across this beautiful empty monastery. Nothing but trees, plants and steep hills surrounded the place. 
It had taken her breath away and she had spent days renovating it. From then, it had become her secret hideout. Her second home, a home she went to when she wanted to relax and forget about everything.

So here she was. Alone in the middle of the mountains and all she wanted was to share this experience with Alec.

She had felt her father try to pull on their bond many times, trying to find her. But she had firmly built a wall around her mind so nobody could trace her. It was better this way. Another three months and they would reunite. 

Athena thought about her Kingdom, she had completely left her people alone. Elly was not there to manage it in her stead, but the Queen had left knowing that her almighty King would keep an eye for her. He was good like that, and she felt most guilty about it. 
She had mourned Elly's death for days after she had regained her mind from the rage, but should she have gone back in time, she would have done it all the same. There had been no other way. That did not mean it didn't hurt, but having lived all those centuries, Athena had seen many people she had considered close to her die. One got used to it at some point. It was just they way of life. And she would honor Elly's death every single day of eternity.

She sighed, standing up and taking a walk around her second home. Her baby kicked again, as if comforting her, telling her that she was not alone, that she should not feel lonely. Sometimes she did, sometimes knowing that everyone was safe was comforting enough.
She smiled, she had probably gone crazy. Well,  exile did that to a person. 

Materializing a cup of hot cocoa she took a stroll, enjoying the soft brush of the wind as she did. It reminded her of Alec's ever so gentle touch. Her King. Always so careful, treating her like a fragile flower.

She heard rustling behind her and startled. She turned around but saw nothing. Most likely a wild animal. She shrugged the strange feeling off and kept on walking.

The sky had turned dark when she came back. 
She settled herself against the big window that faced the valley and materialized a sandwich- yes, a sandwich. Because she craved one and she would eat one.- and a cup of orange juice. Her father would have laughed at her ridiculous dinner and her mother would have judged it unbefitting of a queen such as her. Oh well, they were not there, were they?

------

Her eyes opened as she suddenly heard rustling, her hands grabbing onto the dagger she had hidden under her pillow. The lights turned on under her command but when she stood up to check around the monastery, she did not find anything. She also did not feel any hostile presence with her powers, nor she detected any kind of magic, so she calmed down. Maybe some wild animal had decided the monastery was better than the outside.

So she went to sleep again, and so the days went on. 

At the fifth day that she continuously felt something following her around she decided she needed to do something. If it had been an animal it would have shown itself by now.

When she went to bed this time she feigned asleep and waited. Her windows were always kept open since she enjoyed the soft breeze coming from it. And given the fact that she was staying in an old monastery in the middle of nature she obviously did not fear for her safety. 
She heard silent movement coming come from it. If she had been human, or even less alert, she would not have heard it. Her eyes remained shut, but her body ready - though, not as ready as she wanted to since her stomach was now quite heavy. 
The soft presence stilled at the corner of the room and simply stood there, watching her. She could feel piercing eyes studying her. 
And as she let minutes pass by to see what the person would do, nothing happened. Just plain staring.

What?