She tossed in her sleep, the sheets balled up around her feet. Her heart raced as her skin became hot. It was difficult to breathe, she was back in that coffin, only this time her magic wouldn't work. She was only seconds away from death and only one word escaped with her final breath. "Glitch."
He'd been walking down the hallway when he heard her scream. He knew no one else would come, they were all blissfully asleep. But he hadn't been able to rest. He didn't bother knocking, just ran to her and scooped her up in his arms. He pressed his lips to her hair, rocked her as her muffled screams turned to sobs. Usually unsure of his actions, it was like second nature to him. "It's alright." He whispered in her ear, holding her against him. "Nothing's going to hurt you now."
She threw her arms around his neck and clung to him as she cried. After another minute she'd regained some of her composure, found the will to look him in the eyes. "I thought you'd gone to bed."
He shrugged, smiled a little. "Couldn't sleep." The smile faded as he brushed the hair from her damp cheek. "Do you want to talk about it?"
She nodded slowly, was silent for a second before she spoke. "I never told you what happened after Az got the emerald. I was too distracted with the fact that she had it, but now." She stopped and shook her head before continuing. "She said something about the fact that I looked good in marble and the next thing I knew I was stuck inside this coffin. There wasn't any air and I couldn't think."
He sucked in a breath, bit back the oath that sprang to the front of what was left of his mind. He knew she had to get it out, had to finish.
"In reality I was able to use my magic to unscrew the lid, it was so natural and I'll forever be amazed by it. But in my dream I couldn't, it just wouldn't work. I died, I suffacated because I was powerless. It was way too real."
"Well, your here now and you did escape, that's all that matters." He pressed her to him, it killed him to hear the fear in her voice.
"Glitch." She pushed back to look him in the eyes for even a second. "Can you do me a favor? Just please, don't leave me alone tonight, please."
He layed back on the bed, held her as she curled into him. "I won't go anywhere, I'm here as long as you need me." He waited until he was sure she was deep in dreams before letting himself drift off after her.