Melody of Blood and Night

Nineteen

Aedlyn awoke to soft light and damp air, a consistent dripping echoing through the darkness. Squinting, she groaned attempting, in vain, to try and sit up straight as an unimaginable, soreness gripped her.

Her eyes travelled to the small source of light, surprised to find out that it was a wide, jagged opening. Surveying her surroundings further, she concluded that Aedlyn was in a place with rocky, ragged walls. Sheltered under an arching, fissured roof from which hung numerous pointed structures, extensions of the ceiling.

Her hands explored the surface she lay upon, discovering coarse fabric scrunching up beneath her fingers. Mustering up courage, she tried again to lift herself into a sitting position. Hot white pain shot through her abdomen, radiating outwards from her core as she gasped, black edging her vision.

"You're awake." A voice asserted, causing Aedlyn to whip her head towards its source.

Her breath caught in her throat as she beheld him, standing at the entrance of the crude aperture, his cerulean eyes gleaming like sparkling water under the midday sun. For a second, before he rushed to her, she could swear he looked like an angel. Divine and pure. Unattainable.

"Hey. Hey, take it easy. You're still sore." He instructed, fussing over her like a nursemaid as he helped her sit up. She bit down on her lip, hard, to keep herself from screaming in agony.

"Yeah, no kidding." She panted, feeling sweat beginning to collect onto her forehead despite the coolness that hung in the stale air, "Where are we? A cavern?"

"Yes."

"How did I get here? What happened?"

Aedlyn watched his eyes darken, brows furrowing as his mouth turned into a grim line, "You tell me."

"What...what do you mean?" She asked, confusion creasing her forehead as she followed his gaze, fixated on her torso. Looking at him hesitantly, she rolled up the hem of her linen shirt.

"Wait." She paused, "Who the Hel changed my clothes?" Aedlyn clenched her jaw, pinning him with a murderous stare, nostrils flared.

His face changed, turning beet red in a matter of seconds, "I didn't see anything! I swear!" He burst out, shaking his head so vigorously, she thought his neck would snap. In his widened sky eyes swirled a mix of fear and uncertainty.

"Caelan! Are you seious!?"

"I had my eyes closed!" He paused, pinching his throat, "Swear on my life." Aedlyn shot him a dirty stare, before resuming her task of folding up the shirt, still not quite sure how to feel over the fact that her best friend had not only undressed her, but changed her garments too! Thankfully her leather pants were the same as before.

"What the fuck." She said, staring fixedly at the rows of perfect, black symbols inked into her flesh, on one side of her abdomen, disappearing down into her trousers. The skin surrounding the three columns of letters, swollen and red.

"Apparently its a sigil." Caelan asserted. Then, raising his head he looked her right in the eyes, his stare, unwavering as he questioned, "What is it Aedlyn. Why is it covering half of your body?" His voice, steady. Almost too calm.

Her heart jumped as she answered, "Proof."

"Of what!?"

"A deal."

"Proof? A deal!? Stop talking in riddles for the love of Eos!" He fumed, the veins in his neck, so distinctly visible. His chest heaved, eyes flashing like lightning in the rolling thunder, "You think this is a joke!? Do you have any idea of how afraid I was!?" He raked a hand through his honey-gold hair, bracing a hand on his waist, blowing out a frustrated breath.