Just What the Doctor Ordered
Demon Diary: Krayon x Erutis
A/N: Currently listening to the full version of Lilium from Elfen Lied, so please pardon any melodramatic phrases. Also slightly depressed and deflated over a rather painful yet semi-truthful criticism I received in, 'White is For the Pure.' Ah well, on with the chapter.
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Chapter Six: Light for Tomorrow
Sleep my child, o sleep deep,
For tomorrow, you shan't weep.
Krayon twirled a lock of Erutis' hair around his finger, savoring the softness of it, holding the strand to his lips in a tiny kiss. Still trapped in his arms, she was so fragile to him, vulnerable and fearful. Last night's events had shattered much of her inner strength, leaving her at the mercy of the world.
No, not at the mercy of the world. He was her protector, and she was his darling beloved.
Each scream she made had torn at him, twisting his heart and sending his mate instincts through the roof. Each beg for mercy had made him crush her against his chest and cause his fury and wrath to be felt in the far corners of both demonic and human realms. His eyes would blaze in dark blues, golds, reds, greens, and even black.
And here she was, still quaking with the pain she had endured last night. But this time, he stayed with her until she woke, letting her know that truly he had been there for her all night, every night. Her words to him before she slipped into sleep still burned in his mind, imprinted on his heart and soul:
Shakily she reached a hand up to his face, brushing it tenderly. He smiled gently at her and placed his hand over her small one. She leaned back against his chest bringing his hand to her other one.
"Please…" she whispered quietly, "Please Krayon, please be real…"
Krayon gently kissed her forehead, replying, "I am as real as my love for you, and I will love you forever." He watched her smile in content as she fell into sleep, loosening even more in his arms.
"Mmm… I too slept better than I have a long time. But it's still early, why don't you sleep longer?" Krayon tipped her chin up, smiling that special smile for her. Her eyelids were still heavy, her long eyelashes brushing her pink-dusted cheeks. 'So beautiful,' he thought as he gently hugged her to himself, allowing her to lower her head.
"I- I think I would much rather go practice. I haven't been going as early as I should be to avoid the heat of the day." Erutis pushed slightly against him, still too weak to escape his cocoon of warmth of security.
Too bad Krayon had other plans in mind, because as soon as she began to wake more and struggle he snatched her hands against his chest, delicately brushing his lips across each fingertip. 'So small… so fragile,' Krayon mused, taking her small hands in one of his large ones. She was so delicate in so many ways.
"Just sleep love, you need it. I'm not going to let you practice for awhile querida, and nothing you say is going to stop me from keeping you by my side now and forever. I will and have always loved you forever. I was never joking around when it came to you, and you know it." He slid both hands around her waist, forcing her head to rest against his chest when she pulled back again.
Erutis nearly choked from shock. She always knew he harbored some feelings for her, but it never fully registered that he loved her. And now she wasn't allowed to sword practice? Oooh how she hated this man! It was ridiculous though, really, that she could hate him. Erutis knew she didn't hate him, could never hate him. He had stayed with her all those nights of her inner torture, of her screaming and agony, and here he was caring for her like she was a glass princess, fragile and vulnerable.
And oh how she felt so weak, so small. But here in his arms, she felt so safe, cherished, and loved. He loved her, truly loved her, and she… she was so confused!
"What do you mean I can't practice! Who gave you the right to tell me what to do!" She snapped her head up, glaring defiantly in his face, daring him to flout her.
Another chuckle thundered in his chest, and he nuzzled her hair once more, stroking the silken locks. "My dear Erutis! You're my beloved, that's what gives me the right to dictate your health! And you haven't been taking any kind of care of yourself that I can remember. And I have the testaments of both Demon Lord Raenef and Eclipse, so don't try to talk your self out of this." Another chuckle rang in her ears, and she flushed in both embarrassment and fury.
"What! How dare they! Raenef I can understand, but Eclipse! You've got to know they're lying! I take good care of myself!" Erutis defended, glaring defiantly once more in the Demon Lord's face, meeting a quirky grin.
"Tsk, tsk. Bad manners to accuse powerful demons that they're lying… especially when you and I both know they're not." He smirked here.
"Though for some reason, we had to prod Eclipse's memory of you… apparently you and he weren't fond of each other. I suppose that's a good thing though, that I didn't complete my test of Raenef because then we'd have Eclipse as our servant." At Erutis' bright red and infuriated face, he laughed again, quite enjoying her reactions to most everything he said.
"T-that's ridiculous! We got along fine together… at separate ends of the castle…" Erutis muttered the last phrase, making sure to muffle her voice.
But, to her dismay, Krayon heard it anyways and smirked again, "Yes, I'm sure. But you don't take care of yourself, and I am rather surprised that the castle inhabitants knew nothing of your slumber." He spoke carefully, dropping the smirk and becoming more serious as he touched on her open wound.
Instantly her fury dissipated, dropping down to nearly nothing. "Actually, Krayon, one person knew. Only one, but still a person. Chris found out one night, when he took a stroll through the surrounding forests, and I swore him on all that was holy and upon his honor that he would never tell anyone. I- I would leave the castle and its grounds to sleep in the forest, or rather, try to hide my secret. It wasn't often that I actually slept, decently or at all." Quickly turned her face down, trying to hide the emotions playing on her face.
Krayon was shocked, to say the least. Since when did his darling Erutis sleep in a tree or on cold ground during the year! And just to hide her pain from those who might have helped her through it! Feeling dreadful about bringing up her most sore subject, he kissed her forehead, stroking her back gently.
He felt a complete moron, and he wanted to kick himself repeatedly. How stupid could he be, to talk now about it? There was only one solution to the problem- take her out in the beautiful day, cheer her up, guide her like he'd wished to have done for so long. And then, maybe, she could forgive him for all that he'd done wrong against her.
The sun was almost over the horizon, spreading its beams of warmth across the night-worn land, and as Krayon stared out at the fading purples of the dawn, he felt his Erutis curl closer to him, her breathing even and slow. Fondly he smiled at her sleeping form, and tucked the silken duvet tighter around their bodies.
Two hours later, the sun was raised high in the sky, and Krayon woke alone in his bed and an empty space where his Erutis should have been. Panicked he shot out of bed, clad only in dark chestnut sleepslacks. Like lightning he was transporting in and out of every room, hallway, and closet in the palace, and then dashed outside to search the grounds.
Who he saw not only angered him, but horrified him. Instantly he was in front of Erutis, a strong arm around her waist and tugging her to him. Coldly he addressed the man frightening Erutis, "You are about to die. State what your business was and you shall die painlessly."
What was that strange man trying to do to Erutis?
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A/N: Hmm… didn't turn out as dark as I'd thought it might have. Oh well. I guess listening to Nightwish can help change a dark feeling. Or create one. Anyways, four pages in Word, 1,500 words, and took two hours to think and type. Reviews are always welcome, criticism welcomed, and flames are used to melt me a fresh chantico. Chanticos are purely melted liquid milk chocolate. Quite delectable.