CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 3
When I awoke, the sun's rays were beaming in my eyes, I thought I had died. As I tried to sit myself up, I realized the sharp pain still pounding in my shoulder and as I touched it I noticed that it had been bandaged up and my clothes were back on. I was confused by Baraka's actions, what was he doing? And where is he? I thought as I looked around to see the forest deserted and only the roar of the water fall echoing through the air.
I had to force myself to stand, I felt weak and nauseous and I tried to will myself towards the stream to drink. Only after countless attempts did I make it, but the refreshing feel of cool water in my hot dry mouth was worth the strain. Now, as I remember what had happen last night, all I could feel was hate, hate for Baraka. That heartless bastard, why would he inflict such pain upon me? I thought he loved me. I needed to get out of here, what he comes back looking to hurt me again?
I turned around to see my mask on a near by boulder. I walked over, picked it up and put it back on. Through the forest I stumbled, feeling drowsy, feeling a throbbing pain in my head that added to the pain in my shoulder. I felt like I was dieing and for all I know, I might be. It seemed like he had poisoned me, like he had injected venom into my flesh, like he tricked me, just to kill me. I felt so violated. I opened myself up to him, I was going to let him have his way with me, he probably did for all I know.
After walking a fare distance from where I was, I started to feel heavy; like someone was loading me up with bricks with every step I took. I came to a dirt road, my knees gave out and the rest of my body collapsed to the ground, scratching my face on small pebbles in the sand. My eyes became heavy too, I couldn't keep them open any longer, but I wasn't tired, this scared me most of all, I felt like I was dead, but my soul refused to leave its empty shell. My breaths became shallow and weak, but I still maintained my breathing.
As I lay there, only able to hear the sounds of the wild, foots steps came into my dead world. Hopefully someone to put me out of my misery. Voices now, human voices. "Hey, what's that?" said one voice to another. The foot steps became louder, and they sounded like they were made of metal, maybe a solider of the kingdom not far from where I am.
"It's a girl.... She's breathing," said the other voice. Then a cold clammy hand was now on the back of my neck, holding my head up. Another hand was prying off my mask roughly.
"Oh Jesus, its a demon!" one voice yelled. The next thing I know my body is being pressed against something hard and rough and parts of my body feel like they've been bound by ropes. I knew this was going to be the end of my life, some how I knew. If a human had a chance to kill a demon, they would, now all I can look forward to is a long and torturous death.
I now heard laughing, they thought this was funny, a humorous joke that they could get away with and no one would stop them from doing it. But then there was a loud growl in the distance.
"What the hell was that?" said one of the voices.
"I don't know" said the other. There was a swift chiming sound, then scream and another chiming, like sound of a blade through the air. With all the strength I had left, I forced my eyes open. Soon my black world was visible again, but only so I could look death right back in the face. Baraka was staring at me only about a foot away and then I remembered what he had done.
Like a drunk, I muttered like my lips had no feeling. "If you're going to kill me then do it, please."
"Now why would I go and do a thing like that?" he said as he cut the ropes from the tree. I fell and he caught me just in time, but I slapped his arm away. "Kitara, what is your problem?"
"My problem?! What the hell is your problem?! First you try to kill me, now your saving my life?! Don't think I'm just going to forget what you did to me last night!" I snapped.
"I wasn't trying to kill you, biting you is how I gain control of you, but you fainted," he explained.
"Oh, then did...did you.... did we..."
"No, its not as fun when your not joining in on the action," He chuckled.
"It still hurt.... a lot."
"Don't worry, it'll heal in no time," he said, helping me up.
"And why do I feel like I'm dieing?"
"because your body can't take the venom, it'll pass. Now please, let me help you back to my place."
"Your place? Where would that be?"
"A cave, not far from here," he said, holding me up, for I still couldn't walk. As we started to walk through the forest, my body refused to get any better and I was about to collapse again.
"Baraka, I can't walk any more, I'm...I'm going to fall," I said in an almost whisper from weakness. With out a word, Baraka picked me up into his arms, holding be like a child, but the feeling was good, the feeling of being close to him again. My eyes became heavy again and I started to fall asleep.
"Don't fall asleep, Kitara, you need to feed before you lose all your strength," Baraka said.
"I...I can't help it, my...my eyes are so heavy,"
"Don't worry, where almost there." For a few more minutes he walked, but I could tell we were there as he laid my body against a bolder and I could feel the presence of walls around me. Baraka left my side, but only moments later he returned. "Drink this," He said, holding something to my mouth.
As I sipped the liquid from the glass, I realized it was blood, still warm blood. It felt so good to drink, with a replenishing taste. "Now you may rest. When you wake, you'll feel much better," he said, leaving my side again.
With a still weak voice I stopped him. "Wait, please don't leave me again." He turned around to face me and he sighed as if telling him self that he would be stupid to leave me. He placed the glass on the ground then came to my side, sitting down and wrapping his arms around me as we laid down. As I curled up in his arms once more I realized he was wearing a different shirt, this one was made of cloth and it was warm with his body heat. Now in comfort, I fell asleep, knowing all was well and I was back the care of this demon.