Prince Of Darkness
Chapter 10
It was the middle of the night and the last of the embers in the fireplace were slowly dwindling. The night was still and quietness filled the air as a few of the moon's rays shone through the cracks of the drawn curtains. "No, please stop, leave me alone," Hilde murmured in her sleep as her head tossed and turned side to side on her pillow. Duo woke up to the rustling of the sheets next to him and saw Hilde's head lashing back and forth, she was having a horrible nightmare. "No, don't hurt me, please stop," she moaned sleepily. Duo couldn't take it anymore, he has experienced enough nightmares in his life and he wasn't going to let this one take over Hilde's dreams. He sat up in the bed and gently shook Hilde by the shoulders in an effort to wake her from her slumber. Her restlessness ceased and she slowly opened her eyes to see Duo hovering over her. "Duo?" she mumbled sleepily.
"You were having a nightmare Hilde," he said placing his hand upon her cheek softly.
Hilde sat up to face him and collapsed in his arms weeping uncontrollably. Duo wrapped his arms around her tightly as she wept against his bare chest. He gently stroked her hair and caressed her back to try and soothe her as sobs wracked her fragile body. "He's never going to hurt you again Hilde, I promise," he whispered softly into her hair.
Her crying slowly came to an end and she looked up at him, her cheeks glistening with shed tears. "Oh Duo, I'm sorry to wake you, I.."
He silenced her there by putting his finger on her moist lips. "Don't be sorry," he said as he smoothed a few strands of damp hair away from her face. "Are you ok?" he whispered softly.
She nodded and hugged him tightly around the waist as he continued to hold her. He placed a tender kiss on her head and said, "Let's try and get some sleep ok?"
"Yeah, but I think I need a breath of fresh air first," she whispered faintly.
Duo nodded as Hilde got out of bed and proceeded outside to the balcony. She stood out there looking at the vast night sky, the cold breeze blowing her long ebony tresses against her face. "I wish these nightmares would stop," she whispered to herself.
"I take it this was just one of many," a voice said from behind.
"Didn't hear you coming Duo," Hilde said sullenly.
"Why didn't you tell me of these nightmares Hilde? I thought everything was fine?" he asked worriedly.
Then Hilde felt his arms wrap around her waist and she melted into his embrace, resting her head upon his chest as Duo placed his chin on top of her head. "I didn't want to worry you with my insignificant problems. You had other things to worry about, that is why I kept them from you," she said softly.
He gently turned her around and looked her straight in the eyes and said, "They aren't insignificant Hilde. I don't want you to go through the same pain that I've gone through."
Hilde looked at the ground and whispered, "I've had them ever since I started living with him. They've become so routine that they have become apart of my everyday life."
Hilde then looked back up at Duo and placed her hand gently on his cheek. "Ever since I've been here, my nightmares have dwindled. This was the first one that I've had since I've been here. It is because of you, Duo, that these horrid nightmares have gone away. Thank you."
He smiled and kissed her. "I'm so glad. Let's get some sleep princess."
Hilde smiled and he took her by the hand and led her inside. Duo laid back down on the bed and Hilde curled up next to him, head and hands gently resting on his chest. He pulled the sheets back over them and wrapped his arms around Hilde snugly, hoping that she won't suffer from any more nightmares that night.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Back at the village in a house nestled on the outskirts of town, a meeting was being held. One of the rooms in the house was lit by a few candles with about four men gathered around a little table in the center. "How dare she run away from me, I own her!" a man said angrily.
"Keep it down, do you want someone to hear us?" another said quietly.
"Who cares if anyone hears us?" another spoke.
"She couldn't have gone far you know," the final man spoke up from the head of the table.
"That wench is going to pay for her treachery. She's mine dammit and it's going to stay that way!" the owner hissed.
"Where do you think she could have gone?"
"Not far, the nearest village is miles away and she would not have made it that far with no food or water."
"What about the woods? She might have gone there."
"Isn't there an old abandon castle deep within the forest? She's probably there."
Hilde's owner's eyes went wide with a sense of premature victory. "We will set out tomorrow at sunset. Hilde my dear, soon you will be back where you belong," he said wickedly as he rubbed his hands together.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The early rays of morning glazed over the horizon and peeped in through the large crimson tapestries that shielded Duo's balcony window. Hilde was fast asleep as she was curled up against Duo, his face holding a look of contentment. With every breath he took, he unconsciously inhaled the sweet perfume of her hair. As soon as the sun had made its way over the mountains, Duo woke up and slowly took in his surroundings and smiled at the beautiful girl nestled beside him. He gently tucked a few strands of hair behind her ears as she slept peacefully within his embrace. He placed a tender kiss in her hair and carefully got out of bed, trying his best not to wake her.
Duo pulled the blanket back over her and left the room as quietly as he could. Just as he was about to open the door to leave, a sweet voice spoke to him. "Leaving without me?"
He turned around and saw Hilde laying on her side on the bed, her head propped up with her hand. "Did I wake you?"
All she did was smile and pat the bed next to her signaling him to come over. A smile crept across his face as he padded across the room back to the bed. He laid on the bed and faced her, mimicking her position. "Yes princess?" he said sweetly.
She brushed his nose with her finger lightly and placed it on his lips. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
"Oh, just going to meet up with Horus that's all. He's probably worried about me. You know how he is," he said just above a whisper.
She giggled softly and placed a tender kiss on his forehead. "All right, go check in, I'll be down soon."
He smiled and hopped off the bed and left the room. As soon as he left, Hilde laid back down on the bed, hands behind her head, as she stared at the ceiling briefly. 'God, please grant him his salvation, he does not deserve this,' she thought sadly.
Duo made his way down the stairs to the library, a place where Horus always seemed to be. There, Duo found Horus perched upon his chair in front of the fire, his head nestled under his wing. "Hey Horus old buddy," Duo chimed and Horus raised his head.
"Good morning sir, you seem to be feeling well this morning," Horus said as he ruffled his feathers.
"I'm feeling wonderful Horus. I hope this feeling lasts forever," he said as he plopped down in his favorite chair.
Just then, Hilde made her way down the stairs, her light footsteps muffled by the carpet covered stairs. She was dressed in a purple dress that fell to her feet and flowed with every stride she took and sleeves that clung loosely to her delicate arms. Her dark hair graced her shoulders and fell in long silky waves down her back. "Good morning Horus," she said as she looked up at the two.
"And to you Miss Hilde."
Duo stood to greet her as he took her hand and kissed it. She just smiled at this little display, he surely was her prince. "Breakfast my dear?" Duo asked properly.
"Sounds lovely," she replied as he locked his arms with hers and escorted her towards the kitchen.
"Aren't you in a good mood this morning," she said softly as they walked down the long corridor to the kitchen.
"I have every reason to be," he said gracing her with his beautiful smile.
She leaned her head against his shoulder with those words and just smiled slightly. 'I do hope I'm not dreaming,' she thought wistfully to her self.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The two got themselves something to eat and started their day together. For the first time since she's been there, they spent the whole day together, exploring parts of the castle that even Duo hasn't seen. Duo even took her to his little spot up in the castle's tower where he would spend nights on end thinking and just staring out at the night sky. The day was just perfect for Hilde, just being with him made her happy.
After a luxurious dinner, the two danced away in the ballroom for hours to gorgeous waltzes by ancient composers. As they finished their last dance, Duo just stood there, Hilde still in his welcoming embrace. He leaned in to kiss her, the passion running wild through him after a day of pure bliss. The kiss got deeper as he pulled her closer and closer, the intensity increasing by the second. Then he felt the urge surfacing within him and he quickly broke away to Hilde's shock. "Hilde, I'm sorry, I just can't do this right now. I will be back later," he said hastily and flew off through the ballroom's balcony doors.
Hilde frowned as he flew off into the night. 'Oh Duo, I'm sorry,' she thought sadly to herself and went up to his room to wait for him. She sat upon the bed and pulled her knees up to her chest and stared out the window awaiting his return.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"This looks like the place," said a man wickedly as the group stared up at the castle's iron gates. Through the bars they could see the massive stone castle and a lone room on the top floor that was lit by a gentle glow.
"Well, well, looks like someone's home after all. Let's go pay them a visit," said the boss as they pushed the old iron gate open. "Hilde my dear, it's time to go home to papa," the man said as the torch cast an eerie glow upon his face. The group of men made their way to the front door, their torches flickering wildly in the wind. "Knock knock," the sinister man hissed before the group broke down the massive door.
When they entered, there was nothing but darkness. One of the men held his torch high and pointed to the grand staircase. "Hey over here," he said looking up the giant staircase. "She must be up there."
"Well then, what are we waiting for?"