Re-cap:
An ominous cloud covered the moon at the precise moment the stranger leapt towards Shea’s quivering body, but before he could make contact the sound of a gun went off and a grunt of pain ricocheted off the alley walls.
******
Slumping forward on his knees the stranger groaned, gripping hold of the dark stain that was rapidly spreading across his shoulder. A chill ran up Shea’s spine as the new comer gracefully landed on the puddle strewn ground beside the anonymous man, her gun still in hand. The black cloud steadily rolled past the silvery moon, revealing every diamond shaped raindrop that clung to her leather clad body.
Grasping a handful of ebony hair, the new comer pulled the man’s head back, only to propel it forward onto her uplifted knee. The sound of his nose breaking was almost deafening in the silence that followed, even the wind dreaded to release its chilly breath for fear of the reprimand that may follow. After letting go of his tangled mane, the man fell face first in the puddle that lay before him, collapsing into a heap whilst the blood still flowed through the wound in his shoulder. The woman knelt next to his body, feeling around his neck for something while Shea just stood perfectly still.
Maybe if I stay silent she won’t see me. Shea desperately hoped, watching as the unknown woman pulled a beaded metal chain over the strangers head.
Two dog tags were attached to the end with his identity punched into them; one held his last name while the other had a four – digit number.
“Vediamo All’ Inferno” (Translation – “see you in hell”) she murmured, crossing her hands from head to chest, and from right shoulder over to her left one, kissing her index knuckle before gesturing to his body.
As she turned round, Shea finally saw her face; Short raven hair framed her pixie-like face, accenting her small sloped nose that lead upwards to two elegantly arched brows. Her electric blue eyes held small violet flecks, and the woman’s Snowberry coloured lips were in a slight frown.
“We need to leave. Now.” her silky voice commanded as she paced towards Shea.
Gripping hold of the small white-haired girl’s waist Desari wondered why she was of such importance to the council; The High Chambers didn’t send an Omar after just anyone. Leaping back over the high wall she almost didn’t hear the squeal of protest as she picked her up bridal style and sprinted off down the long winding alley.
A scream was lost inside Shea’s cotton dry throat as her head bobbed back and forth in the woman’s grip. The rain was relentless and the speed at which the woman carried Shea caused the raindrops to feel like little blades slicing at her delicate flesh and the icy wind whipped her hair into frenzy around her face and neck.
The waves of fear that radiated from the white-haired girls body beat at Desari’s newly awaken conscience. Slowing down to a more human pace, Desari cradled Shea’s head in the crook of her neck, holding her more like a mother holds a precious child instead of a sack of potatoes.
“Don’t worry cara piccolina, you’re safe with me.” Desari whispered in her ear.
The woman’s sudden change of posture and pace helped her warm words seep into Shea’s cold body like the sweetest honey. Her frozen muscles relaxed the slightest bit at the small amount of comfort the strange woman’s words brought.
Endless twists and turns down run down alley ways was becoming tiring to Shea, and even though she tried desperately to cling on to her consciousness, her body was just too tired from all of the days ordeals and Shea’s mind was too overloaded with unprocessed information.
Feeling the small body in her arms become limp and her platinum head loll to the side of her shoulder, Desari resumed her supernatural speed reaching the desired location she seeked. The large twenty storey building loomed above her, many windows had been shattered and the steel that encased the building was rusted in various places. Jogging around the corner of the building Desari knelt down beside a basement window-entrance, delicately placing the unconscious woman against the side off the building.
Desari brought her own wrist closer to her face, inspecting the lock on the window as she did so, bending her ring finger into her palm and flicking her hand back on her wrist to reveal a small leather contraption that wound around her finger, encased the palm of her hand, encircling her wrist and coming three-quarters of the way down her upper arm. The motion caused a thin 5” silver blade to thrust upwards, which she then snaked into the heavy lock, expertly jiggling it till the lock’s system unlatched inside, freeing the padlock from the glass.
Quietly sliding down the window Desari turned back to the sleeping beauty beside her. Hooking an elegant arm around her waist and another under her legs she lifted her through the small window and onto the bay-window cushion before slithering in the small space beside her. Closing the window back up and drawing the dusty half-curtain across the raven haired woman closed her eyes, using her other senses to scan their surroundings for possible threats; Two elderly women were on the floor above them sleeping soundly, a young squatter was taking refuge on the fifth floor trying to start a fire for warmth and three stray dogs were on the sixteenth floor fighting over scraps. Other than a few cockroaches and other creepy crawlies, there were no other living life forms that Desari could detect. Unless someone was cloaking their presence from them there was no real danger for at least five blocks.
Re-opening her eyes Desari paced the floor around her, searching for a make-shift bed and some beverages for the human that still lay on the bay-window seat. Spotting a washing machine and a tumble dryer at the far end of the basement, the raven haired woman stalked towards it with high hopes that she could find some dry clothes for the soaking wet girl. Almost tearing off the door of the tumble dryer with her haste Desari stuck a cautious hand inside. Grimacing at the feeling of her hand passing through thick cob-webs she made her search quicker. Coming across a thin ripped sheet and a large black hoodie she moved her search to the washing machine. Placing a hesitant hand inside the drum she came across a damp towel and a pair of gloves.
Feeling quite proud of herself at her find Desari searched for the switch to turn on the tumble dryer so she could warm up the clothes for the little white haired beauty. Turning the dial on the front of the machine 90 degree’s to the right the ancient technology hummed to life. Double-checking on the petit figure behind her she sighed in content.
I finally found you. You truly exist. Desari sighed, stroking a strand of stray hair from the innocent girl’s face.
Shea faintly heard the sound of mechanical humming, a comforting sound that reminded her vaguely of her elderly friend Anna. Feeling her eyelashes gently flutter open she tried to take in her surroundings, feeling slightly disorientated when she didn’t recognise anything. A swarm of memories from last night bombarded her mind causing her to feel nauseous.
Sitting up abruptly she flicked her eyes around the room to see her strange dark angel sitting in the corner by the tumble dryer.
“Salute cara piccolina” she greeted, a small half smile adorning her lips.
Feeling a little bit better that her saviour hadn’t abandoned her she smiled in return.
“Who are you?” Shea asked, quickly slapping her hand over her mouth as the words slipped out her mouth without permission.
The woman looked down to the floor almost in shame at the question, but just as quickly as she looked down she looked back with a determined look in her eye.
“My name is Desari Dragonseeker. Your new protector.”
YOU ARE READING
The Faith
Romance"Have you ever dreamed you were falling? Ever been in that state between consciousness and deep sleep were your legs are running but you are lying in bed? It's a survival instinct triggered when your mind let's off warning signals, engrained in our...
