Saving Me

The silhouettes of bodies fell on her, as did the screams of many pained voices. She could only lay there, unable to twist or turn away. With each body that fell it was even harder for her to move and with each scream it got harder and harder for her to breathe. She choked and wept, feeling so helpless, for there was nothing she could do but let the bodies fall on her and bear the sound of the horrible screams.

So much pain!

So much death!

Such hopelessness!

"Someone..." She sobbed weakly, only a tiny whisper. "...Someone please save me...."

She felt something grab her hand and her heart froze. For a split moment, a glimmer of hope raised her spirits. Was someone there? Would someone pull her out? However, feeling how strong the other hand's grip was on hers, she got the sinking feeling that maybe she was not safe. Maybe the worst was yet to come...

"Wake up." A voice spoke in her ear, drowning out the screams. That voice alone was able to clear the dead weight off of her chest and silence the screams. Darkness filled her vision, only to part and reveal a room.

Azmaria slowly looked around, her small chest rising and falling quickly like the breast of a bird. Sweat covered her brow, which glittered in the moonlight. She slowly looked up and beside her bed was a tall figure. His hand reached out from the shadows beyond the curtain of moonlight and held hers firmly, but kindly. In the shadows she could just see his fiery gold eyes staring down at her. Like an adder's, his eyes did not blink as they stared, but she could tell that he was smiling.

"Are you all right?" He asked, a whisper from the dark. Azmaria's other small hand crept up to her throat, moving her nightgown's collar away to allow her some breathing room. "Yes." She choked, her throat dry. Another hand came out of the darkness, offering her a glass of water. She sat up and sipped from it gratefully, but not without a small cough afterwards. Her emotions still choked her and she found it hard to drink.

She looked up at the figure once more and back down at is hand. Her grip tightened, silently conveying her thanks to him with her slender fingers. Her thumb caressed his knuckles, moving up and down with a slow rhythm. Her hair now veiled her face, like a pale curtain glowing in the moonlight.

"Are you sure you are all right?" His voice caressed her ear. She couldn't help but smiling hearing the sincere concern in his tone. She nodded slowly and looked up at him, her hair parting before her face like the wings of a dove. "I feel much better now. Thank you." She said, her voice now tight with another, warmer emotion.

She has never had a male figure in her life, or to be more correct, a good male figure in her life. All she had were her adopted father and Viscount Lerajie, two men who were far from being anything like a father to her. But when she looked up, into the pair of golden pools of light looking back down at her, she felt safe. She felt like it was okay for her to be small, to be scared, because she knew that in those eyes she would find safety.

"Yes. Thank you, Mitsukai. Thank you very much."

The pair of eyes closed and a soft chuckle filled the room, which made Azmaria feel like a warm blanket had wrapped around her. The hand squeezed hers a little before loosening, followed by his voice once again. "You're welcome, Azmaria."

She felt his hand loosening and her heart gripped in fear. Her hands joined together to keep his hand from slipping into the shadows. "D...don't go. Not yet." She whispered, looking up at him with nervous eyes. She watched his eyes as they widened a little, reflecting even more light than before. They nodded as the bed creaked from something sitting on it.

"As you wish." He whispered.

She gave a bright smile and laid back on the pillow. The sheets and blankets ruffled invitingly against her small frame as she got herself comfortable. She held onto the man's hand as she closed her eyes. Something cool tickled her forehead, moving her hair from her face. She opened her eyes and giggled in surprise watching his other hand tuck her bangs behind her ears.

"Sleep well, little one."

Azmaria watched his eyes as darkness soon claimed her vision once more. Though the world of dreams beckoned her once more with gentle hands, she was not afraid. Because his hand was still in hers as she made the journey, and his eyes were the last thing she saw before they, too, turned black.