All Heaven in the Midnight of the Sun
Chapter Four
Aeris Gainsborough walked within the light. She was one with it. It surrounded her, enveloped her, pushed her forward and lifted her up. It was like flying. She giggled like a child and let it take her to whatever place it would.
The light was all.
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Garret Audias had not been a guard as long as he had without gaining some sort of sixth sense, warning him when something was wrong. And as he opened his eyes to the chill light of morning, he realized right away that something was very wrong.
The girl was gone.
For a moment he stared at the place where she had lain, his mind unable to cope. Then he bolted upright and ran towards the spot where the wet grass was trampled. It took him barely a second to realize that she had been gone for at least several hours. He cursed to himself. He had been too trusting, too willing to believe in her innocent face and pleading eyes. He found the path where she had gone with a minimum of effort. She had made no attempt to conceal her trail. He took no time to wonder why, it just made his job easier.
He was not angry. His body did not fill with rage at her betrayal. Rage was a liability, with it, he would make mistakes that could allow her to escape.
No, he was not angry. He would simply find her…then he would slit her throat and stain the dew-slicked grass with her blood.
He followed her trail.
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The field of flowers rustled secretly in the breeze. A rainbow of colors, their beauty was not lost to the black thing that slinked among them. But his awe was not for their beauty, but for the portent they gave. It was in the wind, the earth, the very molecules of life. He breathed it in, then let it out in a lover's sigh. The thing for which he had been searching for a thousand years was finally at hand.
She was here.
He slipped into the shadows of the trees.
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The sun was high in the sky when Garret finally found the girl. He stopped abruptly as the sound of movement wafted down from the trail ahead. He slipped forward silently, holding his breath.
It was her.
He watched her walk for a moment and detected nothing amiss. She didn't appear to know he was there. He slipped from the path and began to circle around, wanting to ambush her from ahead. He slipped from tree to tree like a cat, eyes always on the path, and the girl he pursued. Finally, he saw his chance. There was a break in the path ahead, a small opening in the trees. There was his spot. He stepped into the clearing, staying within the shadows so as not to alert her to his presence. A minute passed, and then she stepped into the clearing. He saw immediately that something was wrong, but he could not place it, and banished it from his mind. He hefted his sword and steeled himself. Then he stepped in front of her.
The sword dropped from his nerveless fingers. His eyes widened in horror and disbelief. He stumbled backwards, lost his balance, and fell.
Her eyes. He could not look away from her eyes. An ocean of green danced and swirled within the misty depths of her pupils, hypnotizing him. It was beautiful, entrancing, but at the same time hideous. The green depths seemed to hunger for his soul. He stumbled to his feet and turned to run. She reached one hand out, gently, and caught him by the shoulder.
"You have nothing to fear," she said, and her voice was ethereal, beautiful. He felt tears well up in his eyes. "I will not harm you. I have…need of you."
He found his lips moving without his control, forming words he never dreamed of speaking.
"What would you have me do?"
She smiled. Then Garret heard the sounds of movement in the shadows of the trees. He turned, but it was too late. Something hard smashed against the side of his head, and everything went black.