My mind cannot focus. As I sit here at the desk within my private study, I find my thoughts straying from the ancient text upon the surface and turning towards sandy brown hair as it sways in the cool night breeze, memories of beautiful slate grey eyes as they sparkle in the moonlight and a voice that should belong only too an angel sent from heaven. She has become like an addiction to me, I cannot bare the idea of a day where I do not see her. My perfect Valora, My light that guides my once bleak existence.
"You seem distracted, dearest brother"
My eyes flicker briefly towards Caius, his sneer stretched across his face as he glares at me. He is in another foul mood, rejected by Athenadora from her chambers after he angered her yet again, and now looking to take his rage out upon a new victim to ease his tension.
"You would do well to remain clear of my business and my private thoughts, lest you wish to suffer the consequences"
My threat is subtle but makes an impact as he rears back slightly on the subject. But Caius has never quite been one to avoid a fight, or back down from an argument, too stubborn and quick tempered to realise when he is treading upon thin ice and at risk of losing his head.
"Per chance is it the little human that you have been rushing out to see? Jane has heard you muttering her name on a number of occasions this past week and Demetri has tracked you down to the same spot each night for the past three weeks. Valora, I believe? Perhaps I should pay her a visit myself if she can rouse such changes in temperament within one such as yourself"
I cannot hold back the snarl that rips past my lips, my body moving of its own accord at the notion he would dare step foot towards my blessed angel. My hand is upon his throat, my eyes deranged as they meet the horrified gaze of Caius. He should look fearful, I would not hold back in my actions if he dared hold ill intentions towards Valora. I would kill any man or woman that dared to harm her. I cannot fully understand how I am feeling towards her, yet I know that if she were ever to be injured or if I were to lose her from my existence, I would never quite recover. Is this what they call love or is it that I simply wish to protect her?
"You will not go near her Caius. If I discover that you have seen her then I shall kill you without a second thought. Are we understood? I shall bring her amongst us when I decide that it is time and she is ready"
My gaze moves towards Marcus as he makes a small noise, like he is clearing his throat, staring between both myself and Caius as he speaks, his voice as soft as usual.
"You should not make jest Caius on matters such as these. Aro is still coming to understand what is happening... But, from what the bonds are telling me, he would gladly kill to protect this young woman"
I drop Caius, refusing to meet my fair haired brothers eyes as I turn to leave the room. I cannot tolerate anymore of either them, the childishness of Caius or the silent melancholy of Marcus. All that I wish to see and hear is her, and it is coming to the time, the time of day where she will be singing for all to hear. Ii can think of nowhere I would rather be.
She is not here.
Her post beneath the street light is empty and I see no sign of her anywhere. I feel my mind begin to panic, what if something has befallen her and I was not there to protect her? I begin to look around for familiar faces of the past few nights, others that seem connected too Valora in hope that I may discover what has happened in the past twenty-four hours.
"Excuse me, Mia Cara?"
My hand ghosts across the bare shoulder of a young woman as she walks past, I have seen her a few times in my visits. She listens occasionally and sometimes speaks with my angel before leaving her to pack up. I catch glimpses of my sandy haired goddess, but nothing gives me clarification, only makes me question further. I know that something is wrong, yet I know not what.
"Oh? You're Valora's friend. Are you here to see her?"
I can only nod my head. There is a saddened gleam within her eyes that robs my ability to form words. What has happened!?
"She's not been so well today... a bad day with her sickness... Give her a few days and Ii promise that she'll be back"
She seems to be trying to reassure herself more than me and, as she begins to walk away, I hear her utter the words 'I hope'. What does she mean? I cannot help but to scan my eyes once more around the small area and, for the first time, I begin to notice that other local people are also looking for the absent singer, knowing frowns upon their lips as they bow their heads and walk away.
I do not understand what is happening or what has happened in these short twenty-four hours... Yet I realise that, although perhaps they do not know her on a personal level, all of these people know of my Valora, and in their own way love her songs each night, offering a silent prayer for her to return from whatever has drawn her away. And in that moment, I can feel nothing but the purest of love radiating towards my absent angel, and hope that she would soon return, all from the hearts of strangers.
