Savior (2 page)

              The stone lions suddenly morphed into flesh and she yelped and hid behind Marcus as they watched him.

              The lions spoke in unison, "Welcome home Master Marcus, we have guarded it well for you." The massive gate swung open and she followed Marcus into the garden. As the gate closed the lions returned to stone.

              As they entered the forest the angel hung close to his side. Strange creatures were all around them and she felt someone watching her. She searched the trees and shadows like a hunted animal but could not find the source of her panic. Every hair on her body stood on end and her pulse quickened. The forest gave way to an emerald green field. Her racing heart slowed and she allowed herself to relax as a cabin came into view. Though it was smaller than the manor it felt more like a home than anything she had ever seen before. It still reminded her of a cage, but not quite as much. He opened the door and led the way into the living room. The angel smiled softly at the flickering torches that hung around the room.

              “Wait here,” he instructed. She nodded and he disappeared into another room. She inhaled the intoxicating aroma of raspberries and vanilla. The polished stone floor felt cool and comforting to her worn feet. A giggle rose in her throat but she quickly silenced it as Marcus entered the room carrying a white gown. He held it out to her but she did not reach for it. “It’s okay,” he whispered gently to her.

              “I’ll get it dirty,” she protested.

              “It can be washed.” She nodded and took it from him. “The bedroom is to your left. The bathroom is through there as well. I will be in the library when you are done. Take your time.” She nodded again and he walked into another room. As soon as his back was turned she hurried into the bedroom. She shut the door and leaned against it for a moment as she took in the scene before her. As with the living room, this room was also lit with torches.

              A feeling hung in the air that she could not escape. She knew that it was familiar but she could neither remember nor place it. She frowned and shook it off as silliness. The furnishings were well made and though they appeared centuries old they were still in perfect condition. She laid the gown on the pristine white bed. Her mind raced with hundreds of emotions as she saw the perfect white sheets and neatly folded blankets. Although Marcus was not like the other men she had met, he was still a man. And she knew what beds were for. She pushed those thoughts away and suppressed the sob that threatened to overcome her.

              The room was in perfect order and she wondered if it had even ever been used. She went to the large mirror and instantly regretted it. The girl staring back at her was a stranger, but it was also one of the most familiar faces she knew. Her hands and feet were dirty. Her dress was tattered. The blonde curls that she had loved as a child hung matted in clumps around her shoulders. She wiped a single tear from her cheek and turned away from the girl in the mirror.

              As she walked into the bathroom she was instantly left breathless. The light marble bathtub stood in the middle of the room calling out to her. She looked over her shoulder to make sure the bedroom door had remained closed before sliding the thin straps down her shoulders. The golden faucets turned easily in her hands. Steam became thick in the room as the bathtub began filling with water. She stepped out of the dress and slipped into the hot tub. As the water lapped against her shoulders she turned the faucets off with her toes. The water was comforting and she soon found herself up to her ears in it. A small jade jar stood along the rim of the tub. She opened it and inhaled the contents deeply. Rosewater. Without hesitation she poured some onto her palms and then worked it into her hair. She giggled and smiled happily as the tangles disappeared and her hair became as soft as silk. The dirt quickly washed away and her true blonde came through. Her skin glistened and she ran her hands over her body.

              Gracefully her fingers moved through the clear liquid. She could hear faint noises coming from the room behind her. Probably Marcus moving through the library she realized after a few seconds of careful silence. So much had happened in such a short time and now with silence as her only company and a warm bath to hold and rock her she allowed herself to drift into her thoughts. This was a day she had never thought would come. After the first year of living with Ruben after things had changed she thought she would be his prisoner forever. His continual reminding of this wasn’t much of a help either. But he was wrong, she had escaped. But to what?

              This man couldn’t be another master to her, not in the same way that Ruben was. Could he? What if the gentle ways and soft voice he had for her were just a ruse to gain her trust? And then what would happen? Would he use her as Ruben had? It was a miserable existence she had with Ruben, one she did not care to repeat anytime soon. She could run away. Certainly she could try to escape. But where would she go? She was never allowed outside the boundaries of Ruben’s manor and Marcus had taken her far away from that place of pain and silence. If she were to run she would have no idea where to go. She had no family, no friends and no money. She would be lost in this world even more so than she was now. At least now she had a roof over her head and a warm bath. That was more than Ruben gave her most nights.

              The best thing to do for now seemed to be her only option; stay with Marcus. For now at least, she quickly assured herself.

              The water soon lost its warmth, despite her willing it not to, and she stepped out sadly. Her skin dried quickly but her feathers were a little more stubborn. She flapped and shook them until they too were perfectly dry. If they had been their full size, drying would have taken hours. At least Ruben had done one thing to help her, she thought miserably to herself. She ran her hands over the tip of her longest feather and smiled. She could not remember a time when her wings had been whiter or softer.

              The angel found herself again standing in front of the mirror and for the first time in years liking her reflection. She had never been allowed to really gaze at herself nude before and the sight was both amazing and thrilling to her. She had seen a woman’s body before but never anyone as clean. Her skin was glowing and her wings framed her shoulders perfectly. “Hello,” she whispered to the girl in the mirror. The bruises and scars hadn’t gone away of course, but it was as if they were no longer as evident. Against the dark wood walls she appeared as pale as a ghost.

              She went to the bed and ran a finger over the dress. Never in her life had she seen it’s equal. She felt unworthy of such a gown but Marcus had given it to her and she did wish to please him. She traced the delicate gold embroidery and then stepped into it. If her wings had been at their full magnificence the dress would never have fit, but since they were little more than stubs the dress fit almost perfectly. The chest was too small, creating unwanted cleavage. But she shrugged and smiled at herself in the mirror.

              She had never been allowed to wear anything this modest and she found a new sense of freedom within its folds. She twirled in it and danced like the ladies that she had seen at parties.

              The angel giggled and opened the bedroom door. She walked swiftly to the library and knocked. She waited a few seconds, pausing uncertainly as she chewed on her lower lip before letting herself in.

              Instantly she gasped at the sheer immensity of the room. Instead of mold and dust it smelled like leather bindings and antique letters. Still amazed, she slowly came to stand in front of Marcus as he continued reading his book.

              “Sir?”

              “Yes?”

              “The dress is beautiful, thank you for allowing me to wear it.”

              He looked up at her and let the faintest traces of a smile touch his lips. “Yes it is. We will go to town soon to get you some new clothes.”

              “Thank you sir.”

              “Are you hungry?”

              She shook her head no. “May I go for a walk?”

              “Of course.”

              She nodded and gave a quaint curtsey before leaving the room. She stepped out into the cool night air and breathed deeply the scent of freedom. No one was watching her so she could have easily left. But

              Marcus seemed different than the others somehow. Her toes curled in the cool grass. She giggled and gazed at her skin in the pale moonlight. She took one uncertain step and then looked back at the cabin.

              She took another and again looked back. Nothing. There were no guards coming at her with chains, no disgusting master waiting to take her again. She shuddered and pushed those memories to the back of her mind and wrapped her wings around her shoulders protectively. The wind had eased into a cool breeze.

              The once angry sky was now a clear black night. She continued walking and listened to the sounds of the night like a newborn babe. Each new sound was a feast for her ears.

              As she sat in the grass watching a cricket, a flash of light across the field caught her attention. She smiled at the cricket and walked toward the light. The grass was quickly up to her waist. The light moved and she heard a large creature move through the field. “Hello?” she squeaked nervously. She heard a familiar low growl and ran toward the sound. She stopped quickly though as soon as she saw the creature in the clearing.

              “Hello little angel,” the golden dragon said.

              “Hello,” the girl replied.

              “You look disappointed.”

              The angel shook her head no. “I thought you might have been someone else. It is never a disappointment to meet a dragon though.”

              “Or an angel.”

              The girl blushed and smiled at the dragon. She made a small gurgle in her throat followed by a polite curtsey.

              “We’ll I’ll be. The formal dragon greeting. I haven’t seen that done in years.” The dragon said in amazement. “I’m Solara, what might your name be?”

              “Alyssa,” the angel said as she sat down next to the dragon.

              “I have not seen that dress in a very long time,” Solara said with a beaming smile.

              “Where did it come from?” Alyssa asked as she gazed up at the glittering stars.

              “It’s just something I had around,” a voice behind them called.

              Alyssa looked over her shoulder at Marcus. “Hello Marcus,” Solara said. She smiled at Alyssa and rose to her feet. “I will leave you two alone,” she said as she started to walk away.

              “It was nice meeting you Solara,” Alyssa called after her.

              “You as well little angel. Sleep well Alyssa,” Solara replied as she disappeared into the tall grass.

              Marcus sat next to her in the cool grass. “Your name is Alyssa?” She nodded. “How old are you?”

              “Nineteen,” she replied as she watched him out of the corner of her eye. A movement across the field caught her eye and she looked away, missing the silent shudder that went through Marcus as his eyes widened in surprise and understanding. By the time her gaze returned to him though he had once again returned to his normal quiet demeanor. She lay back in the grass and rested her hands on her stomach.

              Marcus looked down at her and tried to meet her eyes but she quickly looked away.

              “You can have the bed and I’ll sleep on the floor,” Marcus whispered.

              “There’s no need for that, I don’t sleep,” she replied sadly.

              “Not at all?”

              She shook her head no and sighed.

              “Why not?”

              Alyssa closed her eyes and trembled slightly. “The nightmares only come when I’m asleep,” she whispered as she turned over onto her stomach. She shut her eyes tightly against the pain.

              “Marcus?” she whispered softly.

              “Yes?”

              “You don’t have to be nice to me to get me to be with you,” she whispered.

              “I don’t want that from you, Alyssa.”

              She looked uncertainly up into his eyes, a few flecks of dirt clinging to her chin. “You don’t?” He shook his head no. “Why do you care so much about me?”

              “How can I not?”

              She smiled weakly and lay her head back down in the grass. “Thank you.”

              He looked at her wings and noticed the difference that not many humans had. “Why is your left wing different than your right?”

              She looked over her shoulder at the deformed wing. “It’s been broken for a few weeks now. It will heal soon though.”

              “How did it get broken?”

              She shook them and then folded them back over her shoulders. “When they clipped my wings last

              I became very scared and accidentally fought too hard.” She propped herself up on her elbows and looked down at her raw wrists. Even in the pale moonlight she could see the dried blood splotches.