Chapter 39

Hidden Message?

Taya was drifting in and out of consciousness. She felt hot. As hot as ever and it was an uncomfortable sticky heat that made her smooth skin itch and sweat. Her night-dress felt rough on her skin, irritating and it stuck to her back and neck.

"Severus?" When he didn't reply she punched him in the ribs causing a few choice words to leak from his lips. "Severus?" She said again, this time louder.

"What, woman?"

"I'm thirsty. Get me some water." He was about to tell her to get it herself when he remembered she was still indisposed. Sighing gruffly and scowling with determined impotence he sat up then stalked naked across the room.

When he returned Taya smiled and gladly took the water from him, drinking deeply. Severus sat down beside her.

"Feeling any better?"

"Bit," she said without much conviction.

"You don't sound it my dear lady." He took the drained glass from her and put it down on the table. With a quick sweep of his wand it vanished into thin air.

"I 'spose not. It's just..."

"What?" Taya swallowed.

"It's nothing."

"Indeed fair maiden, tell me."

"Really Severus, it's nothing," she said with a shake of her head.

"Suit yourself. But if you wish to declare yourself later I shall listen."

"I know." She smiled unconvincingly. "I think I need to use the loo now. Can you help me there?"

"Of cause." Taya reached out and wrapped her arms about his shoulders.

"Carry me Severus."

He brought her too him. Carefully he lifted her. She moved her legs up and around his waist. Severus gazed into her face, half bathed in darkness, but reflected in her eyes was the silver orb of the moon.

The window was wide open, barely moving the net of the curtain sailed up slightly. Outside the dark wilderness lay in nocturnal splendour. The sky a pitch of black velvet with the scatter if diamonds blinking their knowing eyes at the world below.

"Oh, you wish to be carried like a child!" He stated dryly. Shifting her slightly so that he could support her behind with one forearm. Taya rocked forward, letting her head rest against his shoulder, letting him take care of her delicate handicap.

With ease, as if she weighed nothing more than a tiny child he brought her across the open planned living area and lowered her down to the floor outside the bathroom door. She gazed at him wide eyed.

"Surely you didn't wish me-"

"Don't be daft." Taya smiled and pressed the door open and went inside.

Severus sighed, longing to go and fall back into the bed, to close his weary sleep starved eyes. To clamber into a welcoming hush of dark and internal rest for a few more hours.

The door opened again. He looked over startled. His pleasant imaging was interrupted.

"Are you able to walk back to the bed or must I carry you again like a baby?" Taya smiled and hugged him.

"I think I can walk if you support me." He slid one large hand around her waist and led her back to the bed.

"You are sweating," he said.

"Yeah, well. It's to flipping hot."

She moved down against the softness of the bed and closed her eyes. Severus' hand brushed against her forehead. Snuggling up he rested his head near to hers and fell asleep. Moments past and she also dropped into a sleep.

Taya found herself drifting. Drifting aimlessly within what could only be logically described as, the interior of a crystal ball.

She stood dressed in her pale night gown, bare footed and her hair was trailing down her back.

In the distance muffled by the soft white and silver fog was a tiny voice. Taya frowned and bent her head to listen.

It was the voice of a child, faint indistinct, but a child's neither the less. Taya moved toward the voice, the fog thickening the further she moved, the denser it became. She turned around.

Suddenly she was very cold. The fog was icy and her lungs hurt from breathing. Was the mists surrounding her harmful? But she wasn't frightened. She was more preoccupied with that child's voice. A calling that she could not refuse.

She moved, her arms were stretched out in front of her. Taya's vision was hopeless. She saw nothing in front or behind, and she realised that she was in a quandary of which way to turn.

Interrupting her contemplation the voice grew louder, almost like a shout and then she heard a giggle.

Taya looked forward and saw a little girl.

The child, no older than perhaps four or five was smiling at her. In her hand she held out a tiny silver locket. Taya crouched down beside the girl smiling gently at her.

"What are you doing here in this fog?" She asked. The girl didn't answer but smiled.

Taya frowned and then she noticed the eyes.

The darkest loveliest brown she had ever seen. So dark, so warm they could even be mistaken for black. The dark coal of her eyes were almond, like cats eyes. The child blinked demure black lashes and pushed the locket further towards Taya.

"Is that for me?" She enquired delightfully. The child nodded. "A present?" She nodded again.

The girl dropped the glistening heart shaped silver onto Taya's palm then took a few steps back. Taya watched with a confused look on her face.

"But where are you going? Aren't you going to stay?" The girl shook her head then pressed her finger to her lips. She faded from view as the mists closed around her leaving Taya alone with a strange feeling inside her belly.

She looked down at her opened palm, at the silver. Carefully she opened it.

A bright ray of sun light sprang out from inside, burning the mists away. Taya hesitated a moment longer then gazed into the centre of the opened locket.

Then she woke up.