Candescent (The Opalescent Collection Book 1) (16 page)

“M…M…Marzipanne!”

              In his desperate shout, his dragon heard him. She roared with talons extended to reach the wolves. She held them tight, watched them struggle and bite her. She looked down at her Master’s body, unable to help him, still occupied by the wolves. With one glance, she told me that she would take care of the wolves, and I was to care for her Master. She roared, looked at the wolves in her talons with savagery and disgust and then she flew away. I expected her to crush them before her Master’s face. Instead she only took them away.

“Sebastian.” I crawled over to him.

              A part of me longed for my enemy to finally suffer, but no one, not even I could wish any more devastation on this man. I couldn’t help but be merciful to him, especially since he told me those regretful and possibly truthful thoughts. I pushed my escape plan aside foolishly, telling myself that I would have another chance.

              I grabbed him, brought him to the dying embers and created a fire. In the firelight I could see his scratches, gashes, and ripped, punctured flesh. I didn’t have the power to heal him. Slowly I pried the knife from his hand, using it to cut his shirt. It gave me a whole new view, now seeing his whole torso was covered in blood, masking the wounds it came from. With his shirt, I dabbed the blood away until it became soaked. He bit his lip, his eyes tightly shut in pain.

              I went to gather some snow that was gathering in a small snowy pile in the cave, using it to put on his chest. When it turned to water, it washed some of the blood away and the cold helped the pain too. It didn’t ease enough of his pain. Now it was irritating him. Eventually I found one of his jackets that I used to wipe away the rest of the blood and put pressure on the bleeding wounds. I managed to clean him off as best as I could with the rest of the snow. He only continued to flinch.

“I’m sorry Sebastian. I wish there was something I could give you.”

“My bag.” His eyes rolled to where his bag was propped up against the cave wall, beside the dragon bodies.

I crawled over to it, opened it and found a bottle inside. He grabbed it from me, pulled off its top, and drank down the liquid. I knew the smell was that of the plumeberry juice. It did in fact ease his pain for he dropped the bottle and looked up at me hypnotized, thinking I was some sort of heroic figure. I looked through his bag again to find a cloth. I tore it and used it to dress his deep, agonizing wounds.

He remained quiet after he requested me to sleep beside him. I agreed. I thought I could still have a chance at my escape and started to run the plan over in my head, when Marzipanne returned. She quietly touched her nose to Sebastian, looking at me with what I took as kindness. She stayed beside him to watch over him.

“The wolves are gone…those that could escape.”

“Who were they?”

“They were just a stray pack of wolves, lost and curious that happened to stumble across our campsite. They thought they could pick a fight with us, but they were no match. Isn’t that right Master?”

“Yes,” he mumbled. She gazed down at him lovingly and returned her gaze up to me.

“You saved him. I couldn’t stop the wolves.” I looked down, pretending to act ashamed.

“You were injured, you couldn’t have helped him. I am here to protect him, as I always have been. I am his dragon. You’re lucky the wolves didn’t attack you since your dragon still hasn’t returned.”

“I know. I am getting worried about him,” I replied, playing along.

“Would you like me to search for him?”

“No, it’s all right. I know he will return by the morning.”

I looked at the dragon in awe.
Why is it that she offered to help me? She isn’t wary of me anymore. Perhaps she realized I didn’t mean any harm to Sebastian and that I helped him
. I thought.

She pressed him close to her warm, scaly body, still alert. “I will watch the cave. I doubt those wolves will even think about coming back.” I laid down beside the fire and she saw that I was still hesitant. “Go on, it’s ok. You can go to sleep now Chenille. I am watching the cave now. Get some rest. Sebastian will be just fine.”

I rested my head down against the hard floor, moving closer to the fire. I looked up at Marzipanne, feeling strength in her presence. I knew we would not be traveling anytime soon due to Sebastian’s injuries. That would buy me more time to figure out a new plan. Though now the odds were in my favor. Sebastian already liked me and trusted me and now since he was recovering he would be looking for me to care for him. I saw the look on his face when I’d dressed his wounds - it was the same face I’d seen when he was at the top of the stairs looking for me at his ball. I smiled to myself. Perhaps my plan would be easier than I thought.

Feeling the warmth of the fire, I closed my eyes, my hands rested under my head, acting like a pillow to cushion my head from the hard ground. I hoped Minx had found his way back to the hideout. I knew I would be ready to leave soon. My breathing slowed, the warmth getting the best of me. There was comfort that formed around me. Perhaps it was the feeling of a dragon looking over me during the night, or perhaps it was that I knew my plan was set.

This pleasure was what soothed me and for the first time in days, my body relaxed. My mind fell at ease, pushing away the horrid thoughts that once filled my head. The screams and bloodshed was unimportant, treated as a distant memory mistaken for a horrible dream. I knew my time would come again when I could leave easily. I knew now that I could escape from Sebastian’s greedy captivity and soon I would be free. I could feel my dragon waited for me, longed for me, called my very name with such a love, I was sure I had almost seen it through Marzipanne when she looked at me before. I took a deep breath and my mind started to drift. For once in a long time, my mind was clear, and at last, I slept.

I
stayed with Sebastian for two more days, forced with helping him recover. I planned to leave before he got any better. It was getting dark, almost about time to change Sebastian’s dressings. It would be the fourth time that I would be dressing them. I had to remove the old bandages, soak them in hot water to clean and sterilize them, and rip up another clean dry cloth. I would have to then clean and rewrap his shoulders, right forearm, and nearly his whole torso.

He waited beside the fire as I prepared to redress his healing wounds. He sat, still lethargic from the plumeberry juice. He had managed to swipe a few extra bottles from the members of his army who less than willingly gave them to him. The powerful juice created an aroma that filled the cave, turning my stomach. He seemed oblivious at times, indulging as much as he could to later gag it up. I constantly warned him of this, and yet he either rebelled like a child or completely forgot. The juice did ease his pain, calming him and making him friendlier.

I walked up to the fire, gathered the dry pieces of cloth and placed them in my lap. Cautiously I began to unwrap the old pieces of cloth, starting on his shoulder. As I worked he stared at me, occasionally unwrapping another bandage for me. I was patient while I pulled the cloth from the healing skin. There wasn’t a time when the wounds hadn’t bled.

“These bruises are healing nicely.” I said while quietly fumbling with the bandage on his torso.

His body was still a mess of bruises, scratches, and gross, inflamed pink tissue. If only there was a healer in his army, he wouldn’t have these problems or even risk infection. I moved onto cleaning the wounds with warm water. I worked slowly wrapping his torso. His shoulders were always a challenge because of their deep, raw gashes. I started on his left shoulder, cleaned and wrapped it. I wrapped his forearm and then turned to attend to his right shoulder. It was worse than the left with its face-turning wounds of oozing disgust, nearly revealing his shoulder blade, so one would imagine the frustration of cleaning and wrapping it. The moment I put water on the wound to clean it, it bled. The blood spilled over, making me only stare in horror. The cloth was no match for this wound.

Sebastian stared at me confused. I pressed my fingers against his skin, watching as the blood dripped onto my hands. A smile cracked his face in understanding, silently backing away to see my expression. I didn’t realize my breathing had become so intense, my ears hypnotized by his pulse. His eternally beating heart did wonders for my ears. It left me in a trance yet again.

“Sebastian you should go. Please…go outside.”

“No, I want to stay here.” I shook my head, trying to break away from his rhythmic heart. His smile told me he was aware that I was in a trance. His smile beckoned me to come closer. “Chenille, look at your hands. Look at the blood.” I did as I was told. “Don’t tell me that doesn’t look pleasing to you. I know there is temptation running though you. I know you want to finish what we started a long time ago.”

“No,” I hissed. “I am
not
tempted.”

“Oh, I think you are. You’re as tempted as I am to this bottle of juice.” He lifted his bottle. “You know you want my blood.”

My instinct sent me crawling over to him at the very word. His pulse rang in my ears, ticking in my head like a time bomb the closer I came. It rang louder and louder until I found myself counting down the time, counting down the seconds until I would give in to my instinct.

“Come on.”

I felt his hand on my arm pulling me closer to his shoulder. My lips touched his burning feverish skin, flinching from it for only a second. I felt strength return to me and I knew the same was happening for Sebastian too. The pain in my leg subsided and power flowed through me. I
felt
Sebastian, his pleasure and happiness in obtaining strength. But as soon as I felt his muscles beneath my fingertips relax, I lifted my head.

“Why have you stopped?”

I put a hand to his chest and shook my head. “I’m hurting you.”

“No you’re not.”

“I can feel it,” I lied. I tied the cloth over his bleeding wound as fast as I could.

“You’re not hurting me. I feel better. It’s ok.” He reached out a hand toward me, attempting to coax me back.

“No it’s not. I can’t…I can’t.” I stumbled back, the strength in my leg enabling me to stand on my own.

Sebastian reached out, trying to grab me. I took a step back and my eyes darted to the mouth of the cave - my escape. His hand flew to his shoulder and he uttered a groan of pain. My hands flew to my face, while I stepped back.

“I
have
hurt you.”

“No, wait.”

I turned away and ran, despite his desperate calling. I was out of the cave with unexpected strength in my leg. This was good. I knew I could get away. I knew I had my chance.

“Chenille!” I had forgotten that Sebastian also acquired strength. He already had strength in his legs, so with my injury I was sure he could outrun me. The falling snow didn’t help either. Fresh snow crunched beneath my feet, leaving a distinct path of footprints with one foot larger than the other because of the cast.

“Chenille!” His voice was already closer. My hand flew to my Dragon’s Soul to warn Minx that I had escaped. I told myself I could get out of these woods and I
would
. I would get to the hideout. It was just a matter of getting rid of Sebastian.

I scanned the woods, struggling to get over the brush and branches in my way. My feet sunk in the snow and something grabbed my ankle. Something was around my ankle and I tried to break free from it. I looked down, catching the glare of a metallic shine. I was sure that it was the chain that once bound Minx’s wings. I tried to pull my ankle free with Sebastian now in my view. I tugged in panic until it finally dropped. I caught myself from stumbling over the pile of chains.

“Chenille! Chenille!” He was right behind me now. I tried to pick up speed with my eyes still focused ahead of me. I knew I was going the right way and I had to keep up my pace.

“I’ve…got you!” Shocked, I felt him grab me from behind. I made my eyes well up with tears when I looked up at him.

“Let me go! I have done nothing but hurt you!”

“No, no.” He shushed me, now seeing my tears. He turned me around to face him. “You didn’t hurt me. You gave me my strength back.”

“No!” I screamed, pushed him back into the snow and ran. I didn’t have the chance to see his astonished face.

“Stop running!” There was anger in his voice now. I couldn’t stop, I needed to get to the hideout and I would do anything to get there.

              He caught up to me, nearly behind me again and this time I ducked away from him when he tried to catch me, throwing myself into the snow. I pushed myself off so I rolled away from him. He launched, managed to grab onto my arm, his force sending both of us sliding. It was Sebastian that suffered the impact from the tree that ceased our sliding. With Sebastian preoccupied by the new bruise the tree had caused, I moved away. I thought I was free until I felt a tug on my cast, holding me back. In attempt to break away from his grip, a game of tug-of-war had begun. My strength could not match his and I moved my leg until the cast ripped. As soon as I started to back up, the cast unraveled itself and Sebastian was left with the old dragon skin.

              I was up and running by the time he realized he only had my cast. This time he didn’t even give me a chance to break into a sprint. He picked me up and held me tightly against his bruised body. I struggled for a moment, testing his strength to find he had me. I couldn’t look at him. I knew my plan had been ruined and I would have to come up with another in hopes that there wasn’t any suspicion on Sebastian’s part. He trudged through the woods, following our footsteps back and I made myself cry in hysterics the whole way. He looked down at me with compassion.

“How can you look at me that way?” I asked through sobs.

              He held his head up, still following the same path from which we came. “I know you didn’t mean any harm. I know you
think
you hurt me, but you didn’t.”

              After a while of silence, I heard the familiar sounds of the camp. I looked up at the sky and for the first time I cursed our moon. Its milky blue shine casted a light as if it was day. Without it, there would be darkness. That was what I needed, which only came at a new moon. A new moon wouldn’t come for a while, for the moon wasn’t even full yet. I didn’t have that kind of time. I needed to leave since I already warned Minx that I was coming. There was no way to tell him that my plan had been interrupted. I was still crying when Sebastian took me into the cave and I moved away from him when he put me down.  

“Come here. Don’t act that way.” He patted the space beside him to signal he wanted me to sit beside him. I didn’t say anything to him. I didn’t even make a remark. I pretended to be ashamed, while I was really sitting thoughtful, devising another plan.

“You’re giving me the silent treatment huh?” He laughed to himself. “You know that won’t last long. You shouldn’t feel ashamed to show your face to me or speak to me. Come, I will show you that you didn’t hurt me. Would that make you feel any better?”

              I shook my head. I wished he would just be quiet so I could think, even though I knew he wouldn’t make it easy for me. “Chenille you’re going to have to talk eventually.”

              I shook my head wondering if I could escape when he fell asleep. That was the riskiest plan other than just running back out now. I knew I would be faced with avoiding the members of Sebastian’s army. There was also the fact that I had to be extremely cautious traveling at night, no matter how bright it seemed because creatures still hunted, especially that stray pack of wolves.

              I broke my thoughts, acknowledging that Sebastian was still talking, still trying to coax me over. I didn’t move so he finally stopped his blabbing and came over to me. He caught my arm and pulled me over to the fire. I wanted to smack him, but I remained silent and controlled myself.

“Chenille please say something.” He begged. My refusal to speak was killing him, for his wishing turned to a plea. I shook my head, just trying to think.

“Sebastian, please leave me alone. I don’t feel like talking to you.”

At last there was peace and quiet. After that, he didn’t say a word to me. When I turned to look at him, he was asleep by the fire. I smiled to myself as I looked over his injured, tired body. I was ready to leave. I would have to take my chances and leave now. The advantage of having the moonlight was that I actually
could
see through the woods and avoid any possible injuries.

I checked Sebastian over to make sure he was asleep. I touched him, even pressed my hand to one of his scratches to see if he would flinch. When he remained still, I smiled happily to myself. He was asleep. I went to Sebastian’s bag and took it. This time I would escape the right way. It wouldn’t matter if Sebastian found things missing when he woke, as long as I was gone.

I went through his bag and took out the things I wouldn’t need so it wouldn’t weigh me down. I looked at the gargoyles Galena and Narooma who were hiding behind the bag.  They started to open their eyes from their deep sleep and I covered them with one of Sebastian’s shirts. I stuffed them into the bag where they were content with having his scent around them. I would take them with me. I would show them to my father and he could decide what to do with them. Regardless, anything with resistance to fire and ice would be useful to us.

I checked Sebastian over one last time, went to the back of the cave where I found the last of the stored meat and stuffed it into my bag. I put the bag over my shoulder, cautiously eyeing Sebastian as I backed out. Surprisingly the gargoyles remained quiet and I was glad they were or I would have left them.

I sneaked by the army and even Marzipanne, who was sound asleep. I went into the woods, thankful for the falling snow that would cover most of my tracks by the morning. I looked up through the thick of the woody canopy to see the moon. I was free at last.