Authors: Eli Harlow
Marcus gasped loudly, “Absolutely not!” With that he dove into the water after her and surfaced right in front of her body. He drew back his hand and sent a wave of water directly at the angel, which completely soaked her wings and hair. He gave a polite little chuckle and dove into the water to avoid any possible counter attack.
Alyssa laughed and dove in after him. She caught up to him quickly and rested her hands on his hips. She swam to his back and wrapped her arms around his stomach as they swam together. Her hands found the bottom of his shirt and slid under it. Soon they were on the top of his pants. In one quick motion she pulled his pants down to his knees and swam to the shore.
By the time that he came up to the surface she was standing on the grass, shaking the water from her wings. “Well it was a fun swim, but now I need to go get changed. Goodbye Marcus,” she called merrily to him as she took off in the direction of the cabin. After a few minutes she yelled back over her shoulder, “You’re welcome to join me if you wish.”
Marcus readjusted his clothing and stepped out of the river. He thought it was odd that she had touched him, but at the same time it strangely made him happy. He retrieved his swords and made the walk back to the cabin. His light clothing had dried quickly, though his skin was still somewhat moist so he went into the bathroom to obtain a towel. He gently tapped on the door to insure that room was vacant; no answer was received so he stepped into the doorway.
Alyssa laughed and smiled as she pulled a clean, dry gown over her body. She walked up to him and ran a finger over his slightly bristled chin before disappearing into the bathroom. She returned with a silver hairbrush and sat softly on the bed. The brush untangled her wet her quickly as she continued to watch him intently, a small smile curving her lips.
Marcus dried his arms and hair and looked over at her curiously. Her eyes followed his movements so he decided to simply put the towel under his shirt to dry his stomach and chest. He hung the damp fabric on a rod and walked over to her. Realizing the brush she was using, a small wave of sadness washed over him. He ran his finger over the brush lightly and walked out of the bedroom.
Alyssa quickly stood and followed him into the living room. She grabbed his hand in her own and turned him around to face her. “What is it Marcus?” she asked as her hands went to his hips. She searched his eyes for some sort of explanation to his pain but found none.
“I'm glad you seem to feel more comfortable around me.”
She smiled warmly at him. “Solara thinks very highly of you, and I have never second guessed a dragon’s opinion of anyone. As long as she says you are a good person, I will think so too.”
“Solara is very kind, I am glad you are getting along well with her. She has been a very good friend throughout the years. Anyway, I apologize for acting a little sad…it’s just that the brush you were using belonged to someone special, that’s all.”
Alyssa wanted to ask question about this ‘someone special’ but quickly decided against it. Instead her mind wandered to something she had been toying with for days. “Why did you come to Ruben’s?” she asked as she led him onto a fluffy couch. She pulled her legs up under her and watched him intently.
“Well, I was due for some more of the unicorn powder, though I suppose that is not the specific reason I had come that day. For a while now I have been sensing a deep…sadness emanating from the manor and knew that Ruben was mistreating some of his creatures. Of course, I had never directly witnessed his atrocities; otherwise I’d have come a long time ago. When he laid his hands upon you that day at dinner, I knew that you were the soul that felt so much pain. I am glad he was willing to sell you, I simply could not let a creature such as yourself stay in the hands of that wicked man.”
She smiled at him and blushed. “You’re lucky, there isn't too much Ruben wouldn’t sell for the right price. You are about six years too late for unicorn powder though. Tiernan was sold when I was thirteen.”
“I am not worried about the powder, I still have some left and besides, I am much more worried about the happiness of that poor unicorn.” He placed his hand softly on her shoulder and was glad to see that she did not shy away from him. “I hope Tiernan has found a better home, no creature should have to endure a person like Ruben.”
Alyssa shrugged helplessly. “I honestly wouldn’t know. I was locked in a room when he was taken away because I was making such a scene. Ruben came to me as soon as Tiernan had left and…” she stopped herself sharply and looked away. “There are other unicorns in the world to get your powder from, but I guess he was the only one that was in captivity anywhere near here. Someday I’ll find him again, and the dragon too hopefully.”
“I hope to really meet a unicorn someday, perhaps even ask one for their powder personally. I have heard that it is quite a sight to see him produce it from their horn. Anyway, the day is still young, is there anywhere you would like to go or anything you would like to do before we lose the sun?”
She giggled at the memories of Tiernan releasing a small amount into her hands and thinking that it tasted like powdered sunrays. “I would like to go to town and ask Angie what is in the cream that makes it work so well,” she said.
“That sounds good to me; I could stand getting a few supplies anyway.” He smiled at her and went into the bedroom to change into his white uniform. He slipped into his golden wrist and ankle bracers and retrieved his black cape. The material always weighed heavily on his shoulders when he put it on, though in reality it was fairly light. The darkness would ever be a part of him, a splinter of black in his otherwise shimmering soul. He secured the cape around his body and walked out of the bedroom to rejoin Alyssa. He took a small purse from a plain chest located in the corner of the room and tied it to his belt. The leather bag held various coin denominations, including gold, silver and copper. “Let us depart then, if you are ready.”
She nodded and wrapped her cloak around her shoulders. Alyssa tied it in the front and pulled her hair out over the back of it. Her white shoes were in the corner and she slipped her feet into them. Out of the corner of her eye she watched Marcus. He was amazingly handsome in his uniform and she couldn’t help the small smile that crossed her lips. He opened the door for her and they left. She matched his stride perfectly as they crossed the field. As they reached the forest though she started to slow down and soon she was a few feet behind him. The strong sensation of being watched was back. But more than that, she could feel the eerie feeling again. “So according to what you said, that weird feeling that I am getting right now is magic right?”
Marcus smiled and nodded at her. “Yes, what you feel now is magic. There are…words that protect this forest, some are of Elvin make, and some are of my own.” He reached out his arm and encircled her wrist with his hand and guided it to his heart. “What you are now feeling is the magic that exists within me, just as I feel it within you. One day, you too will be able to reach inside of yourself and direct your gift, and when you do, you will not be afraid of people like Ruben any longer.”
Alyssa took her hand back quickly and pulled her cloak around herself. She matched his pace again and pulled her hood over her head. It concealed her perfectly, allowing only her mouth and chin to be exposed. Since she did not understand magic she was frightened by Marcus’s words. Alyssa walked faster through the forest and was quickly ahead of him. The gate opened for her before she had a chance to tell it to. The urge to run away from Marcus and his domain was strong within her.
Her fear willed her legs to walk faster than before and soon she was almost running.
He had not meant to frighten the poor angel, only show her the gift that dwelt inside of her. Sighing to himself, he let her go, figuring they would meet up again somewhere in town. Her company had been a welcome reprieve from his longstanding solitude; her loss began to grow on him as he walked down the dusty road.
Alyssa did not stop walking until she was safely inside Angie’s shop. As she door closed behind her, the angel let out her inhaled breath. The chair that she had been in before stood empty and she quickly ran to it. She could hear Angie and a customer talking behind an opaque screen.
“Oh no this just won’t do. I want to impress him, make him melt for me, not scare him half to death. I look like a prize pig in this dress,” the customer whined. Alyssa felt sorry for Angie as she heard the woman rifling through fabric in an attempt to please the customer.
“How about this one? Purple would look so nice on you,” she heard Angie offer.
The customer uttered a muffled response that was too low for Alyssa to hear. Angie again tried to appease the woman but it was no use. Finally the customer emerged with a dark blue dress folded in her arms.
Alyssa’s blood ran cold as she recognized the woman as the one who had been watching Marcus from before. Her fine cheekbones and impossibly small waist made the angel jealous. The gown the woman had chosen was beautiful beyond compare. “Really Angie you should have a better selection. I was hoping to buy something in white. Something to make him think of marriage. Be a dear and get some long white dresses in,” the woman said as she handed Angie a few silver pieces.
Angie nodded and put the money away. “I’m sorry Lady Kathryn, all my white dresses that would have fit you were bought the other day.”
Kathryn scoffed, “By whom?”
Angie looked to Alyssa, deciding whether or not to reveal the secret but Kathryn caught on. She turned toward the outstretched angel and glared at her. “You are the brat that’s living with Marcus aren’t you?” Alyssa stared coldly back at the woman and nodded. “Listen missy, buying white dresses and acting innocent won’t get you Marcus. He’s mine and you’ll never have him. You’re just another conquest; I’ll be the one marrying him and all his money.”
Alyssa stifled a laugh as the woman lifted up her skirt and walked out of the shop with an upturned nose. The angel was content as she lay in the chair and smiled at Angie. But then her skin crawled as she heard Lady Kathryn yell, “Marcus darling, wait up!”
An immense feeling of jealousy washed over her, this time more intense than any she had ever felt before. “That woman has no idea who she is dealing with,” Alyssa whispered darkly.
“Honey?” Angie called after her as she stormed out of the shop, cloak flowing wildly behind her.
The angel ignored her friend and headed straight toward Lady Kathryn, fully prepared to confront her. Suddenly though, every hair on her body was standing on end and her insides felt like someone had scrambled them. The scent of dogwood and ivy overcame her and she recognized the person immediately, even before he spoke.
“Hello Alyssa,” he said. The man was barely a foot from her. As she turned around to face him, the memories of her encounters with him quickly overcame any other emotion. All she felt was panic and a deep-seated fear.
“Hello Mr. Hawthorne,” she said meekly. The man took a step toward her but she hastily backed away.
He frowned and reached a callused finger to her face. “That hurts Alyssa. We had some fun, you and me. I’ve missed you,” he said as his finger grazed her soft cheek. He took a step toward her. While her mind screamed at her to run away her body stood paralyzed. The man smiled cruelly at her and ran his hand over her smooth stomach. Alyssa trembled lightly and shook her head no but her legs refused to budge. He ran his finger upward from her belly button, over her ribs, to between her breasts. “No, we will wait for that,” he whispered in her ear as tears began streaming down her face. “I haven’t seen you for months; I’ve missed having something as beautiful as you my dear.” Her body shook violently as she sobbed into her hands.
The man reached up to grasp her neck and in one quick motion she had been startled out of crying. She stared up at him, her eyes a mixture of fear and hatred as the pressure on her neck tightened and he brought her closer to him. He was watching her lips. His own mouth quivered in anticipation as he pulled her toward him.
Their lips almost touched, but suddenly his body stiffened and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Marcus’s hand tightened its grip on the man’s neck as more rage poured though his body. He made sure the man could not move any of his muscles, even the beating of his heart had ceased. He held on for a few more seconds before throwing the disgusting thug into the side of a building where he left a trail of blood while sliding to the ground. He walked over to his crumpled body, “You will not touch her or anyone else again you worthless coward, or the next time I find you I shall give you a swift journey to the underworld!” He left the crippled man and walked over to Alyssa, making sure she was all right.