Chapter 7 — Interruptions
By Silent Serenade
Apologies for the lateness. I've been very sick lately, since March. But I'll be fine, someday. This will be finished.
Dedicated to the great Sawa-sama who's supposingly the biggest Numair/Daine fan ever.
"I never expected the great black robed mage of Corus to be afraid of travelling in a boat for a few hours," Daine laughed merrily at Numair's discomfort.
"A tiny bit of makeshift wood held by my puny magic," he muttered. "Hardly a boat."
"Same thing. Besides, I never knew you got seasick." Daine retorted, her grin widening.
"My dear, the horses went crazy. You could just feel the wood wanting to split. I had thought your magic to be more than THAT." He laid a comforting hand on the slightly grey Kitten, who was obviously as distressed as he was by the situation moments ago. She looked at Numair with her bright, cat-like eyes, and chirped a note to express her gratitude.
"Hey, I'm not the one complaining," Daine gave Numair a mischievous glance, and continued to soothe the disgruntled horses. Grow up, Cloud. Set a good example for Spot, won't you?
Don't complain to me, go whine to stork-man. We horses prefer to stand on firm ground.
Daine dismissed this with a snort, suddenly uninterested about the horse's sentiments.
What's happening to me? All of a sudden, I feel… Different. More aggressive, impatient. Something's wrong...
Numair studied her thoughtful features, aware of her troubled mind. He too, noticed something was different. Perhaps it was the river going against them, nearly drowning the party, or the stinging humidity in the atmosphere, holding more than just water vapour. There was a bite in the cold, a bite which was more mental than physical.
"Daine, something's up," his voice turned sombre, serious, eyes hardening to black coals. "I don't know if you feel it, but it's a magic presence..."
He turned to look at her, and was shocked by what he saw.
Bathed in sunlight, her copper curls were tinted scarlet, giving the appearance of being stained by blood. Her usually soft, hazel eyes were now green, a shade of hard, unforgiving jade. And her clothes, they were...
Daine! A melodious voice with multitudinous colours echoed in Numair's mind, sharp like lightning. He blinked, and saw Daine had returned to her state moments before the change. She looked dazed, as if unbelieving of a premonition just seen, and glanced questionably at Numair.
"What was —" she stopped mid-sentence. A voice which reflected the spectrum, of birdsong and cat-purr, echoing through the depths of her mind, beyond eternity she was sure, a voice which belong to...
"Kitten?"
Pleased with her success in mind communication, the dragonet whistled happily, turning slightly pink with pride.
"Erm. Can't you do it again?" Numair asked with amazement. He'd never thought Kitten could mature so fast!
Everyone turned silent. Even the uncomfortable horses realised the importance of his occasion and were still, eager to experience the lovely tone of the dragon again, having tasted a drop before. They were silent, and waited.
A growl was distinctively heard as Kitten turned red, this time from rage, and stomped her hind feet with annoyance, unable to repat the mind speech again.
Daine turned to Numair, trying to hide a grin from her face. "Why couldn't she do it again?"
Numair was silent for awhile, contemplating his answer. He had a feeling from Daine's easiness that she was not quite aware of what took place in those moments. Yet he was also aware of Daine's slight changes in the past few days, which she must've been conscious of. Should he push these new emotions which have crept into his lover, some which she may have allowed? He decided to take the risk.
"Daine, did you feel that?"
She looked more confused than ever.
"Feel what? I heard Kit, if that's you mean. Don't you think—?"
"What were you doing when you hard her?" He cut her off abruptly, wanting to receive answers.
"Hm? I was thinking."
"Of course you were thinking," he almost snarled, exasperated. "WHAT were you thinking about?"
Her stare turned cold, her voice aggressive.
"That's none of your business."
He had had enough. Holding her arms so tightly that it would probably leave bruises, he passionately, almost brutally, pressed his lips upon hers, accessing all of her mouth with his frenzied tongue. Daine instantly melted in his embrace, frightened and excited at the same time. He was like a wild animal claiming his mate, and she tried helplessly to match his passion.
Numair poured all his love, fears and anger in that one kiss, as tears escaped from his eyes at the thought of ever leaving her. He felt tired, old and weary, crumbling to the bones and emotionally unstable as they finally ended the kiss.
She felt warm droplets of water caress her face, and was shocked to realise they were Numair's tears. He was crying. The amazement of that kiss slowly faded as she hesitantly placed a hand on his cheek, brushing away the wetness with her thumb.
"Of course it's my business. I love you, and don't' ever want to leave you."
His broken tone, helpless like a child's, left Daine breathless and overflowing with emotion as tears forced to escape her own misty eyes.
"I love you too, Numair. I will never leave you."
She burrowed her head in his heaving chest, feeling his arms snake around her back, ignoring the whistle of approval from Kitten.
An arrow whizzed through the air, piercing the afternoon breeze. Kitten trilled shrilly as Daine screamed in pain.
I've always wanted to put really evil cliffhangers. Well, here's one. And I've got the next chapter written already, in case you really want to know.