Chapter 11
As Keira slept, a dark memory emerged inside her mind; one of the many visions of her youth that she kept hidden from the world. The dream struck without warning, in the process re-opening a deep wound in Keira's psyche. The visions showed her as a mere toddler, shivering in a corner, while a menacing from with a harsh voice barked out orders. When she didn't obey their insistent commands, the shadowy form pulled out her most terrible weapon, a gilded whip. Even now, Keira still remembered those agonizing punishments. Though the gashes had closed, and the scars had long ago disappeared, as the nightmare figure lashed at her younger self, Keira could feel the sting on her skin, as if the wounds were fresh and raw.
Keira sat bolt upright and let out an agonizing shriek. Only after she heard her own cry did she realize that it was just a memory and nothing more. Keira clamped a hand over her mouth to try and stifle the remains of her scream. She had to force herself completely awake, only then would the haunting visions leave her thoughts. Shakily she stumbled around until she found the bathroom door. Cupping her hands under the running sink faucet, Keira splashed her face with freezing cold water. With each dousing that nights events grew fainter and fainter.
Keira toweled off her face lightly, wiping her fear away with the stray droplets. She was so preoccupied that her senses failed to alert her to the person approaching. Only when she had finished, did she sense another presence nearby. Keira felt her body go rigid. It was so dark in the room that she couldn't predict from which direction the intruder might strike….
Suddenly Keira felt a hand grip her shoulder! Terrified she whirled around to face the enemy, she held up her fists, ready to defend herself.
"Hey take it easy!" Seto Kaiba's voice rang out in the dark. "Its just me." Keira squinted and finally managed to find a light switch. Sure enough there was Seto.
"Don't you ever do that to me again!" Keira yelled, only afterwards did she realize just how scared she sounded.
"I'm sorry!" Kaiba held up his hands apologetically "I heard you scream, is everything alright? Is someone after you again?" Keira hesitated. In reality, she was ashamed of her behavior, her weakness. Being afraid of visions seemed so childish. She couldn't tell Seto what had frightened her so badly, she just couldn't.
"Uh…yes…they tried again…" Keira lied. "But…I fended them off." In her eyes, the tale was believable, in Seto's it was reality. Keira not only sounded frightened, she was actually shivering.
"Maybe you should sleep with me tonight, just in case they come back." Seto suggested. He of course, took none of the implications of his statement to heart…not that is…until he practically had to dodge a swing from the shadow healer.
"ABSOLUTLY NOT!" she growled, her face turning from pale white to red. Kaiba backed away in the hopes that the gesture would help to emphasize that he had not meant the statement be taken literally.
"That's not what I meant…." Seto rubbed a hand between his eyes. Why did women always have to jump to such drastic conclusions? "I'd just feel better if I was there to protect you." That explanation seemed logical, surely she would understand…
"So now you think I'm weak! Is that it!" Keira's fierce words seared in Seto's mind. Once again, he had misjudged the strange interpretation skills of a woman.
"No!" Seto tried to protest, but his retorts fell on deaf ears.
"Liar!" Keira cried, "You think I need protection because I can't fend for myself! Well let me tell you Seto Kaiba I'm more then capable of…" Keira fell silent when she felt Kaiba grip her shoulders. She was about to protest further, but when she looked into his eyes, she saw something unexpected…sincerity.
"Keira… please." Kaiba spoke much softer now, he was almost pleading, no doubt a difficult task for him. Keira let out a heavy sigh. Her own pride had blinded her to Kaiba's genuine concern. She realized that he had no intention of harming or even insulting her; he only wanted to insure she remained safe.
"Fine…" Keira rolled her eyes and spoke sarcastically. Just because she was allowing Kaiba to be her protector, didn't mean she had to like it. Besides even if he was being honest in his claims, he was still a man, and that thought didn't ease Keira one bit. She would let Kaiba be noble, but not before she armed herself.
Clutching her dagger tightly in her fists, Keira followed Seto to his room. If not for the circumstances, Keira would normally have been in awe of the surroundings, but she forced her eyes to remain on Kaiba. If he so much as breathed the wrong way, he would regret it. Seto stretched and yawned, exhausted by nights drama. Casually he curled back into bed, his mind focusing only of the possibility of calling off all of that days early morning meetings. Keira followed suit, but she did it cautiously, making sure to distance herself as much as possible. Then she pulled her dagger from its holder and held it inches from Seto's face.
"If you try anything," Keira growled, "I swear I won't hesitate to use it." Seto watched the blade and nodded his understanding. Keira then tucked the weapon back in its case. She maintained a firm grip on the handle as she tucked her arm under her pillow, and settled into a comfortable position. Kaiba sighed heavily and closed his eyes. He had no intention of evoking the wrath of the healer's temper, nor her blade. All he wanted was to sleep the remainder of the morning.
Keira waited until she was sure that Seto was sound asleep before she closed her own eyes. But there would be no sleep for her that night. No sooner had she drifted off then another nightmare reared its ugly head. This time, the same shadowed figure from before was trying to make her use her healing powers. When she refused, they lunged at her. Her uncoordinated toddler legs could not escape. The figure seized Keira by the shoulders and started to shake her, hard, as if they were trying jolt the very will out of her tiny body. As a helpless youngster, Keira could do nothing to protest, only close her eyes and cry. The more she cried, the harder they shook. All the while they were barking out insults, and threats.
"Leave me alone!" Keira cried, at last able to find her voice, desperately she tried to ward off the attack, but her flailing only made it worse.
"Keira!" a voice rang through the air. "Keira! Keira! Wake up!" Keira felt the shaking subside to a gentle nudge on her shoulder. "Keira!" Seto's voice sounded in the night. Keira's eyes snapped open and Kaiba's face came into focus. Out of reflex Keira sat up and shoved him away, as if he was the cause of the horrible visions that darted in her head. Wide-eyed and shaking she could only grip the nearest blanket tightly in her hands, and try to hold back the memories and the tears.
When Keira finally did manage to regain control of herself she became aware that Seto had draped a compassionate arm around her trembling shoulders. She recoiled at the touch, but Kaiba didn't move, only continued to act as a comfort. Keira took in a deep breath and exhaled it slowly before she turned her head to meet Seto's gaze. She noted how he was careful to move away, clearly not wanting to overstep his boundaries.
"You all right?" he questioned quietly.
"Fine" Keira replied trying to sound composed, "I'm…fine." her voice cracked suddenly; in reality she was anything but. She had just managed to suppress one nightmare, and already she had to combat another. There was no telling how many more awaited her if she tried to sleep again.
Seto saw the dread in Keira's eyes. He understood her agony all to well. Dark memories it seemed, was an enemy they had in common. He knew now that Keira had lied about being attacked, in order to hide the shame from him, and from the look on her face, the fear of being ridiculed still hung heavy on her mind. Seto got up and pulled on a bathrobe and slippers. It was time he supposed to assuage her fear, and help subdue her nightmares.
Keira watched him out of the corner of her eye, unsure of his intentions. When Seto prepared to speak, she half expected him to reprimand her for keeping him up. But instead, his voice was calm and reassuring.
"Keira, I have an idea on how to get rid of your nightmares." Seto paused and made it a point to add, "It always works for me anyway." Keira blinked in astonishment. So Kaiba too suffered from nightmares, what an ironic but saddening twist of fate. Keira slowly slid out of bed; she paused momentarily to retrieve her dagger, which had fallen to the floor thanks to her thrashing. She then proceeded to follow Kaiba through another winding path of corridors, all the while wondering how he planed to cure her insomnia.