Would you believe I have no idea where this darkness came from? No? Well I really don't. This story's rating has been upped due to the dark themes incorporated within. Please let me know if you think that this story's rating needs to be upped to 'R'.

So here's the next chapter. Enjoy and review please.

Samanda



P.S. To Butterfly Monkey Babe of Doom: Tira says that because she has no designs on Marron's body but Gateau does. It seems everyone has designs on someone's body except for Marron.



Disclaimer: I do not own Sorcerer Hunters. Pity....



Can A Broken Heart Mend?

Chapter Four

By

Samanda Hime-sama


*********** In this chapter this represents the beginning and end of a dream sequence.



We headed back to the inn in silence. We spoke during dinner but the conversation was subdued and we spoke not of the things that weighed heavy on both of us.

And I dreaded the night that was coming. It had been a few weeks since I had a nightmare about my 'father'. Another one was due and I hoped it would not visit me tonight. Good thing I had brought a few books with me.

I resolved to myself to a night of sleeplessness and a pair of fatigued eyes come tomorrow morning.

Our presences separated at the door to our rooms. I said my goodnights calmly to Marron and he echoed me with a "sweet dreams." There will be no dreams here tonight if I can help it.

I shut my door behind me. I went about my nightly routine. I changed into a nightgown different than the ones I normally wore. It was my vacation after all, why not splurge a little on something silky and soft? Then I slipped on the matching robe and stepped into my warm slippers before I padded to the comfortable arm chair next to the blazing fire.

A blanket covered me as I knew the room would become chilly when the fire went out. I lit the candle beside my book when twilight fell and settled into a night full of the written word.

Unfortunately, what I had prepared so carefully against had come true. Sometime during the night I fell asleep and a nightmare came to me.

*********************************


My father loomed over me with a terrible, dispassionate face. My sister, Chocolate, thrust me behind her own body. From the size of her tiny body engraved in my memory I knew her to be six years old.

His sword was covered in a dark brown crust almost from tip to hilt. It also dripped crimson stuff that had come from the body that lay to the left of my sister and I. Mint had tried to protect us but Father had cut him down in front of us a few minutes before.

"Damn you," He said harshly. "None of you had the power I wanted you to have! Where is the god of destruction that I search for?"

I was mute with horror. My body was paralyzed and I was afraid to make a sound. My rounded eyes were dry because I knew that if I even breathed a cry his weapon would cut me down.

Chocolate was brave. She spoke so quietly that it was almost a whisper. "I'll kill you."

Sacher Torte, our father, laughed. "You? You have no inner power, no abilities and no one to believe your story. You have no family."

"I will still kill you!" Chocolate raised her voice then ran at him.

I was finally able to make a sound. I screamed. "No!"

My sister was spitted on his sword. She choked on the blood that filled her throat and a sticky red trail ran down the side of her mouth. Her eyes died as they looked upon me.

He laughed as he shook her body off of his sword like a rag doll. He took a few steps towards me and lifted up his sword.

"You're next!" He hissed. "Tira."

I opened my mouth to scream again.

*********************************


"Tira!" A hand shook me awake.

I came awake and sat up with a scream. A warm pair of arms encircled me. I leaned forward onto the shoulder provided to me. The dream still held me in a fierce grip and I found myself unable to make a sound as dry sobs wracked my body. The quick exhalations of my breath could be seen in the frosty air as I clung onto Marron. He wiped away the tears I didn't remember shedding.

Marron picked me up as if I was still a child and moved us into his bedroom. The fire here was still going strong as he deposited me in his bed then pulled the blankets over my shivering body. They were still warm from the heat of his body as I looked up at him.

He knew about my nightmares. And Chocolate's too. After living in the same house for more than ten years we all knew each other's secrets. He reached his hand out to me and I took it gladly.

"How bad?" His question was simple but still hard to reply to.

I closed my eyes. "Four."

Without asking, he got underneath the covers with me and simply held me. There was nothing sexual about it. The goal was the simple need to give comfort and I needed the contact to know that I was still Tira, alive and well.

When I had first came to the Glaces after the Haz Knights had rescued us from Sacher, I had began to have the nightmares. Chocolate had been older and she had dreamed of killing Sacher, I knew, but very few dreams were about her being killed by him.

Auntie Apricot had made a game out of it. She had coaxed out my nightmares from me and given them a number. There were now five variations on the theme. Number one was when I had to watch the grown up versions of Carrot, Marron, Sister and Gateau slaughtered by Sacher. Two was when I alone survived and cried over whoever had died. Three was when I died. Four when I relived the horror of watching the massacre of my adopted siblings at age four. Five was when I killed Sacher.

Four by far was the worst because it was based on a real memory. Not that One wasn't. One I was able to deal with because everyone was older and my judgement wasn't clouded. In Four I got caught up in my younger self's emotions and terror. I watched everyone but my sister and I die in horrible ways as our 'father' slaughtered them like animals.

"The nightmares are worse now, Marron." I told him as I turned over and looked at him.

Marron's eyes were kind. "Mint's death wasn't your fault."

"A child's guilt over her brother's death lingers," I whispered.

Marron sighed and gathered me in his arms like old times. When I was younger I would creep out of my bed after a nightmare and make my way to Auntie Apricot's room. Sometimes she would be too involved with activities I was too young to understand at the time though now it makes me blush to remember. I would climb into bed with Marron, who was my age and understood tears. After a while I didn't need Auntie Apricot at night anymore. Marron never made me feel unwanted except for once.

I was eleven years old and still painfully shy to people I didn't know. I was bookish but not nearly as much as Marron was. I spent only a little of my time trying to reform Carrot into what a hero should be. I thought all boys should act like a hero should and Chocolate, who already had visions of being married, agreed.

I had a nightmare and after a while of getting up my courage to leave my bed, I did. I made my way to Marron and Carrot's room and knocked softly. I went in and sat on the corner of his bed, clutching my blanket around me.

"Nightmare," I whispered. "Can I sleep with you?"

"No," He said firmly. "You're too old to be sleeping with me now, Tira Go back to your own bed."

As soon as he said it, he looked like he wished he could take it back. I stood up on trembling legs and picked up my blanket. I ignored the look on his face and his hand that reached out for mine. I was too bust holding back my own tears.

"I-I see." When I really didn't. "I'm sorry to have bothered you. Excuse me."

And I left with all the quiet dignity I could muster. That was the last time I went to him after a nightmare. I distanced myself a little from the others and insisted on doing everything for myself. I gave everyone the reason, "I'm old enough to take care of myself." Things were never the same between Marron and I after that. After Auntie Apricot died it only grew worse. It was I who took her place at mothering everyone and making sure everything was done while Chocolate chased after Carrot.

"What are you thinking about?" Marron asked me softly.

I gave him a weak smile. "Our last sleep over."

He winced. "Oh. Carrot kept teasing me about you being my girlfriend. I never meant to say that though."

"It's okay, Marron. I forgave you a long time ago." I told him. "I took your words too much to heart."

Marron smiled and brushed hair away from my eyes. "Sleep. I'll watch over you to make sure no monsters come for you again."

"Thank you," I whispered and shut my eyes.