Dragoon

Part III

Why did Thatz have to drink so much? Now we have to wait till he gets over it and wakes up with a major headache. Rath and I were carrying him to an inn we hope to find that is available. His arm was just hurting me alone because of the bruise there. We finally made it into one and got the last two single rooms, since there's something big here tomorrow people decided to stay for the night. Rath helped me place him on the bed and covered him to his shoulders with the blanket. I placed a bowl of cold water on the nightstand. I dipped the small towel in and dabbed it on his forehead before folding it into a rectangle shape and let it sit there. I saw Rath watching me from his post next to the door.

I figured that it was time to go to sleep. I left the room with Rath following behind me. I didn't like this. I don't want him to know the nightmares I suffer through almost every night. Oh well I guess I'll just have to stay awake then, if I can. I can still feel his eyes on me. Oh, this is so hard.

No matter what I do or say, I still can't get him off my case. Now I'm just letting him do whatever he wants. He could. He's stronger than I am. I…never have a say in the matter. I'm too weak. I lied down on the bed facing away from him. There was only one bed so we have to share since I didn't want to argue about it. This was going to be hard. I need to stay up. I can't fall asleep and let him discover anything. He knows too much.

"Rune?" he said placing his hand on my shoulder. I flinched and brushed his hand off.

"Please Rath, not tonight, I don't want to talk about it," I said doing my best to sound and look like I'm sleepy. Maybe he'll leave it be this time. I felt him shift and stilled as he found a comfortable spot. I sighed softly in relief. I'm glad he's backed off, for now.

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I woke up to some shifting beside me. I think my back is abused by now. I turned just in time to catch Rune's hand before it smacked me in the face. In turn it just made him struggle more. A nightmare? I glanced at his facial features. They were in pain. He was having a nightmare. I called out his name and tried to shake him awake.

"Rune? Rune, wake up!" I said desperately. I shook him harder but it just made him try to get out even more. This was harder than I thought. I pinned his arms and legs down so I won't get hit.

"Stop it! Please! Let go! No, don't! It hurts! Stop it! Please!" Rune cried out. Oh I need him to wake up now!

"Rune, wake up! It's me Rath! Rune? Wake up!" I said to him. His eyes snapped open and I saw the look of fear in them again. Tears were in his eyes. They spilled down his temples. It hurts me to see him cry. I bent down and licked them off. I heard him gasp in surprise but I didn't mind and just continued.

"Rath?" I heard him say in surprise. I guess he should be. I looked at him. He looked so sad. I wish I could take his pain away but he won't let me. I moved off him and sat on my side of the bed facing away. I was surprised when he threw his arms around me and began crying again. I hesitantly placed an arm around him and rubbed circled on his back. When he calmed down, I took a deep breath and sighed.

"Want to talk about it?" I asked. I needed to get some answers from him. I needed to get to the bottom of this. Rune shook his head. I guess that means he doesn't. But it won't solve anything.

"Look you need to let it go. Otherwise you'll never get over it and it'll keep coming back. It usually helps if you talk about it," I said trying to make him open up. Rune shook his head again. This isn't really going anywhere.

"In your sleep you were yelling at someone," I started as he gasped, "You yelled 'It hurts and stop it'." I finished. Maybe he'd finally open up. He started sobbing again. I rubbed his back to calm him down.

"I…I couldn't stop him. He was too strong. I tried but I couldn't…and he…" Rune said softly and in between sobs. He didn't need to finish. I know whom he was talking about. I can't believe this! Next time I see him I'm going to make sure to separate his head from his body and chop it into pieces so he won't come back ever!

"It could be different," I began. I tried to stop myself but I guess my body was talking all on it's own.

"It could be gentle," I said as I brushed my lips over the bruise over his neck. I should stop!

"Rath…what are you…doing?" he asked as I lowered his back on the bed while I towered over him. I leaned down.

"Showing you." I said softly over his lips as I pressed mine against his. I know I should stop but he just taste too good for me to stop.

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This is so wrong. I can't be doing this. But I can't help but respond. It was soft and gentle like he said. I gasped as he began touching my skin under my shirt. I should stop him otherwise he'll get hurt and I don't want that. But I'm powerless to stop him. I can't stop either one of them. I'm always forced to surrender. If he gets word of this…

"No!" I yelled pushing him away. I backed up away from him. I got up and fled the room. Tears were falling from my eyes. I can't believe I almost let him. He's just like Nadil. He's no different.

No, he is different. He would never hurt me.

I made it outside and just ran blindly. I didn't care where I was going as long as I was somewhere I could think. Then when I stopped I noticed trees surrounded me. This would be a good place to rest. I climbed up one tree and sat on a branch with my back leaning against the trunk. I hid my face in my hands.

Oh my god. Why is everything so complicated? Why is Rath acting like this? Why am I letting him?

I looked to the bottom. It was a long way down. I stood up and tried to keep my balance on the branch while leaning against the trunk. I looked down again. I could end it. I'll be gone before anyone finds me. I took deep breaths and shut my eyes. But before I could someone took hold of my arm preventing me from going. The grip was tight. I'd recognize this grip anywhere.

"Ngh," I gasped out as I was shoved painfully to the tree trunk. My back was going to be sore now. Nadil's hands encircled my neck almost squeezing the life out of me. I grabbed his wrists trying to make him let go knowing it's futile to even try. He just stood there not even fazed, looking amused. I dug my nails in his wrist but he still wasn't fazed. Oh no he's going to hurt me even more.

"I do so love it when you struggle. But I'm deciding to be generous tonight. I'm just going to remind everyone, especially that fire knight, just who you belong to."

I cried out as fangs pierced my skin at the juncture of my neck and shoulder. It hurts. I fought to hold my tears from falling, fear that he might try to hurt me and lose his generous mood. But I couldn't and my tears trailed down my cheeks. I felt him lap up the blood that managed to get out form his mark.

"Do you really hate me that much?"

I gasped in surprise. Rath said the same thing. I'm supposed to hate him for what he did to me. I'm supposed to hate him. But I can't, no matter how much I try. I can't hate him because I want him. I need him.

My body moved on its own accord. My hands came around his neck as my lips brushed across his cheek. I should stop. I should pull away and run. Instead I didn't listen. My body was taking control on it's own. His hands ran up my sides and around my back pulling me closer as we continued this dance.

He pulled away and pinned me back on the tree trunk.

"You want it now? Before you resist and now you're willing. Is there something you wish to forget?"

"Yes. You." I stated as I glared at him. I was thankful that he stopped me otherwise I would regret it when I wake up tomorrow. He just laughed.

"Oh my daring little elf, you can never forget about me. I'm the one who haunts your dreams every night you don't see me. You can never forget."

I pushed him away as he leaned closer. I never counted on him letting go and I lost my footing. I fell. I reached out trying to grab a branch but I was short of reach. I shut my eyes; I guess this is really it. But as I stopped falling, I realized, I never hit the ground. I slowly opened them to see his face. Oh no. I think I was better off being interrogated. I struggled for him to let go but I couldn't get out.

I never counted on him letting go. I fell on my side. I hissed as the pain worsened. My bruise didn't heal yet. I shakily stood up the best I can. He took a step towards me but I ran past him. I didn't care where I was going and I didn't bother to see if he was following me.

I ran. I ran until I collapsed. I tried getting up again but only succeeded to fall down. I was breathing hard. I couldn't get up and I couldn't move my limbs. So I just lied there and closed my eyes. I never thought of any trouble that I'd get into.

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God what the hell was I thinking? I looked towards the door Rune just left through. Why the hell did I even do that anyways? I sighed and lied back down. I couldn't go back to sleep now with all that guilt piled up on me.

I didn't know where Rune ran off. He could be somewhere lost or otherwise sleeping in a tree just outside of town. Or worse with that bastard. I tried to sleep but I couldn't. I waited until dawn. Still Rune never came back. I guess I better go look for him. I grabbed my sword and his and set off. If anything happened to him, I'll never forgive myself.

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Kinshin: Thanks to DemonandGoddess for reviewing!

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