Chapter 15:
Miyo shot up in bed with a scream, and sweat pouring down her face.
Her breath came in short gasps as she whispered to herself, "It was only a dream but it seemed so real."
She tried her best to ease her breathing to no avail as she closed her eyes. Miyo sat in silence for a moment before slowly opening her eyes. Her hands were shaking as she removed herself from under the covers, and stood on the cold stone floor. Putting a hand to her head she walked slowly to the large mirror, and looked at her reflection. To Miyo she did not look any different, but she felt different. There was as unmistakable fear running through her. A fear so terrifying that it shook her to the core of her being.
"I must be loosing my mind." she said to her reflection.
A knock came at her door that made her jump.
Her voice did not quiver like her body did when she answered, "Come in."
Miyo expected to see Abel walk through the door or even Prince Blake, but instead the cloaked man she had seen the first day walked in calmly.
"Oh, it's you." Miyo said nervously.
She had not seen him since the incident in the courtyard her first day in this land, and his sudden appearance frightened her a little. The man did not talk at first. He just gazed around the room for a while taking everything in.
When the man did answer he talked calmly and did not look at her, "Forgive me, my princess, for not talking with you sooner."
A sigh escaped from Miyo before she could silence it.
The man turned to her and she apologized, "I'm sorry. Everyone seems to be calling me princess lately."
Miyo could not see his face, but she could see his lips as they drew into a slim smile. Strands of his black hair fell out from the corner of his hood.
"To me you are a true princess." he said, as his smile grew wider.
"I don't understand," Miyo began as she leaned against the wall, "I'm not from this land and I don't look like a princess."
"What makes you think that you do not look like a princess?" he asked.
Miyo smiled at him and replied, "Princesses are supposed to be pretty, and I most certainly am not."
Miyo could not see his body tense when she smiled at him, but she could see his smile vanish when she spoke her words.
He took several steps closer to her and stated, "I think you are very beautiful my dear."
Miyo blushed slightly which made the man's body rigid, and his eyes gleamed. He was wining her over with every word and motion he made.
"So," she began, "what brings you up here?"
The question caught him off guard, but he pulled himself together to answer her, "I wanted to see how you were. You sustained serious injuries in the battle, and I wanted to make sure you were healing properly."
"Oh," Miyo stated in surprise, "thank you. I'm feeling much better."
The man nodded, and regained his smile. They were silent for a moment. Miyo was gazing out the window, and the man was gazing at her.
"Would you let me see the wound? Just to be sure that it is healing the way it should." he asked in anticipation.
Miyo regarded this for a moment. She hardly knew this man, but he only wanted to make sure she was on the road to recovery.
"Well I'm not sure. It hurts a little bit but I don't want to be a burden to you." she replied a little nervously.
The man held out his hand and stated, "Trust me my dear, you could never be a burden to me."
Miyo smiled at him and took his hand lightly. He walked her over to the bed, and sat beside her.
"I hope this doesn't seem forward to you." he stated as he tried to keep his eyes on hers.
Miyo shook her head and replied, "No, it's fine."
She turned and rested herself on her stomach facing the wall. Her heart was still beating fast from her dream. The man was till for a minute watching Miyo's back rise and fall with each breath. His own breath came fast to him. Taking a deep breath the man reached for Miyo's back, and pulled up her gown. He pulled at it very slowly, being careful not to hurt her but also so that he could take in each moment he saw more of her skin.
"I am sorry my dear, but can you life yourself up a little? I won't be able to fully see your wound." he said as calmly as his voice would allow.
"Sure." Miyo replied.
Grabbing the top blanket to cover herself she put her arms under her for support, and lifted off the bed. He worked fast and lifted her gown fully away from her. Now Miyo's heart was beating fast not only because of her dream, but also for the odd feeling of danger she felt from the cloaked man. She was about to ask him if taking his hood off would help, but forced her mouth to remain closed.
"This might hurt a little. I need to remove your wrappings." the man said.
Miyo nodded, and waited for the pain she knew that would soon come. She gritted her teeth to stop herself from crying out once her wrappings were off. The man's face hardened as he looked at the wound. The poison was making a come back.
He did not want to frighten Miyo, and after considering the outcome he told her, "It's almost completely healed now. I'm going to say a spell so it will heal all the way."
He was swift with his spell, and he made sure it eliminated the poison, and completely healed the wound.
He brushed his hand down the length of her back and remarked, "There, it's all healed up. It didn't even leave a scar."
"Really? That's amazing!" Miyo said with sheer joy.
Her happiness made him smile softly. He had made her happy, and he alone. Miyo sat up brining the blanket with her. Her eyes were shining with happiness. Without thinking she got up, and walked over to the mirror. Turning she looked at her back making sure not to reveal anything to the cloaked man. The man, however, did not need to see anything to make his imagination run wild with thoughts. The want he had been feeling ever since he set eyes on Miyo Richards was slowly turning into a need.
Miyo turned her attention to the man and beamed at him, "Thank you so much. There isn't even the slightest twinge of pain."
Her green eyes were melting him. He wanted to reveal himself to her. He had to. He knew what her reaction would be once she saw his face, but he did not care. He needed to see her fully with his eyes.
"It was no problem at all," he said with a forced smile, "I'm glad to see you so happy."
Miyo nodded at him and walked back to the bed.
"Well I should get dressed." she said with a smile of her own.
"Of course," he said standing up, "you should get something to eat as well to gain your strength back."
"Yes," she said, "that's where I'm going."
He gave her a nod of approval, and turned to leave, but stopped at Miyo's words.
"Wait, I don't even know your name and you've been so kind to me."
The man went cold. It was time for the moment he had been both dreading and anticipating.
"My dear Miyo," he began quietly, "you already know my name."
"What?" she questioned.
The man turned slowly. He did not want to do this to her, but he needed to.
"You don't recognize my voice, not even a little?" he asked walking slowly toward her, "But then how could you? You never heard my voice the way I heard yours, and you've never seen me the way I see you."
As the man drew nearer to Miyo she slowly dropped down to the bed. She was sitting when the man was standing over her. His voice did sound familiar, but she could not place it. It was a kind voice, but it was also cold and full of desire. The man placed a hand on her shoulder, and to her dismay it felt like it was on fire.
"What are you…" Miyo began, but she could not force the words out of her mouth.
She knew now how he saw her, and cursed herself for not seeing it sooner. The hand on her shoulder hardened, and tried to force her back but she caught herself.
"Stop." she said sternly.
"Miyo." he whispered.
So he knew her name, but she still did not know who he was. He brought his left leg up beside her. The movement caused her to loose concentration, and she was forced onto the bed. As Miyo clung to the blanket around her tightly she thought her heart was going to burst from her chest.
"Miyo," he whispered again, "don't be afraid of me."
"That's kind of hard to do." she said swallowing hard.
She tried to see his face, but his black hair shielded himself from her. She moved a hand, but he caught it and pinned it to the bed before she could throw back his hood.
"No," he said to her, "don't see me yet. I couldn't take it."
Miyo was about to ask what he meant, but before she could open her mouth he bent down and kissed her. She was overwhelmed with warmth as he pushed his lips against hers. The man brought his other leg up on the bed, and placed it against Miyo's side. His free hand moved to the blanket covering her, and started to inch it down. With her free hand she tried to move his hood again, but his hand caught it and pinned it down with the other one before she got close.
Miyo did not know what to do. The pressure on her body was too great to move, and her hands her stuck. She could feel his tongue moving against her lips, but she did not let it in to explore her mouth. The man loosened his grip on her wrists slightly, and that's all Miyo needed to move her hands out from his, and throw his hood back. This time she was too fast for him. The man brought his head up, and their eyes locked. Miyo's pure green eyes were staring into the man's bright hazel eyes. Hers were wide with horror, and his were full of hurt.
"Miyo" he said silently.
Miyo could not speak, and her body was frozen with disbelief. She was looking at the face of her science teacher Mr. Simonson.
"Miyo, I warned you not to look at me." He said pulling away from her.
"What are you doing here?" Miyo managed to say in a quiet whisper.
Simonson stood, looked down at her, and said simply, "This is my home. I went to your world to bring you here."
Miyo sat up pulling the blanket around her tightly and demanded, "Why? What am I to you?"
"All in good time my dear." he replied as he reached into his pocket withdrawing the vile containing the purple elixir.
Before Miyo could react he dropped the vile on the stone floor, and a light purple cloud rose into the air, and gathered around Miyo's head.