A/N: Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter 1.
WARNING: SEMI-AU, OOC, LEMON
Chapter 3: Wraith
They had been gone for nearly a month now. The rain continued to pour outside without reserve, relentless in the pursuit of its endeavor.
She sighed.
She had been waiting…
He had left her to depart for that mission. She had insisted of coming along…But he shook his head and told her that she was to remain where she was now, at Muladhara, as he and the others left.
He had joked on how it had been a "man's job". She remembered snorting at that. She should've been mad…She was…but now, she really couldn't care any less.
She just wanted him back again. She wanted him to return so that she may once more gaze upon his gentle face, his tantalizing silver eyes and his mesmerizing smile. She wanted him to return so that she may hear his soothing and yet strong and firm voice.
She wanted him to return so that she may taste his soft and warm lips once more. She wanted him to return…so that she may feel his love for her and so that he may feel her love for him.
She sighed and closed her eyes. A month had passed and still, there was no word from them. She had been in charge of Muladhara and everything was going smoothly…
But she couldn't help but feel empty whenever she would sleep at night.
Like now.
She looked at her bedside and saw the empty space. Her heart sank, "Serph, when will you come back?"
She sat up with inhuman speed, clutching the blanket tight against her chest as she was startled by the crackle of lightning outside.
She gulped; they were furious tonight…
She could only wonder why.
She shook her head and prepared to lie back down when a shadow by the threshold of her bedroom door caught her eyes. She froze as she had recognized it to be a silhouette of a man.
She immediately sprang to her feet, "Who's there?" she asked defensively.
"It's me."
Argilla's heart skipped a beat. It was…
She ran to him, wrapping her hands around his neck, her face nuzzling his, "Serph…! Oh my God…! You're home!"
He held her against him as tight as he could, "Yes. I am. I promised…didn't I?"
She sobbed in his arms and he chuckled, "Why are you crying? Come on Argilla, you're not the crying type…" he said gently, running his slender fingers through her hair.
She growled as she continued to sob and there pulled away, pouting childishly before slapping him across the face, "Yeah well, I know I'm not the sort for this sort of crap…But…I just can't help it."
She buried her face in the crook of his neck once more and sobbed again, "What the hell did you expect?"
"You disappear on me for a month Serph…! A month…! There wasn't a single transmission from you guys! I've been waiting like a worried mother day in and day out!" she said painfully, holding on to him as tight as she could.
He chuckled once more before sighing, "I'm sorry…"
She closed her eyes tightly as she continued to cling to him, "Doesn't matter…" she trailed off, nuzzling her face with his, "You're here now…"
"Yes…I am."
She pulled away from him and stared into his silver eyes, "Shouldn't you be discussing the mission with Gale and the others…?"
He shook his head, "That can wait. Right now, I want to be with you…alone."
She smiled heartily, "Well, in that case, I agree with you."
She pulled away from him and tugged at his hands, "Come on. You're drenched wet!" That was right. She didn't even notice that he was wet! She had been too busy embracing and cuddling with him, still marveling at the feel of him, at the knowledge that he was there, physically with her to notice that he was indeed, wet.
"Where are we going?" he asked, dumbfounded.
She snorted, "I'll run you a bath."
xxxxx
The two comfortably lay within the large tub comfortably. Argilla sat right behind her lover, with him in between her parted legs. She took a warm sponge, letting it soak in lavender soaps and oils before letting it run through the skin of his back.
Serph groaned as he felt her scrub his weary back gently yet firmly.
She giggled and there after scrubbing him, touched his back lightly, "Just relax…" She touched his skin and felt his muscles. They were hard; tense.
She blinked and there leaned close to him, her lips on his left ear, nibbling on it teasingly, "You're tense…Let loose Serph…You're not in a battlefield. You're here…with me." she finished seductively, nibbling on his earlobe.
He stiffened as he felt his manhood twitch and he immediately touched both of her knees, "Argilla, don't tease me." he whispered, groaning a bit.
She stopped and spoke naughtily, "Why not?"
"Because…"
"Because?" she urged him, giving him another naughty lick.
He growled, "There could be…consequences." he insinuated cryptically.
"What sort of…consequences?" she asked, grinning.
He snorted, "Keep that up and you'll know soon enough."
She laughed, "Alright…I'll be good."
He snorted this time and said nothing, sliding his body so that he leaned his back on her chest, getting comfortable. Argilla groaned as Serph got comfortable in between her legs, the back of his head settling in between her ample breasts.
Argilla smiled and just ran slender fingers through his silver hair, sighing. She was so relieved that he was back…
Now, she felt whole once more.
"Hey…Serph…?"
He said nothing.
She just ran her hands over his muscled chest and heard his steady breathing. Argilla closed her eyes, just savoring the feel of the warm water around them, smelling the alluring scent of the lavender bathing oils.
"Serph…?" she asked again.
He said nothing. She leaned forward and saw that his eyes were closed. She held him closer to her, her legs wrapping themselves around his hips. He was asleep.
"Poor baby."
Leaning down once more, she kissed his cheek. She supposed they could soak within the tub for a few more minutes…
xxxxx
Argilla fluttered her eyes open as she felt herself being lifted. She opened her eyes and saw that Serph was carrying her out of the tub. He set her on a stool and draped a fluffy towel over her shoulders.
She looked at him with a smile, "Thanks…Hey, I was supposed to do that for you. Not the other way around…!"
He chuckled, "Well, you were fast asleep that I didn't want to disturb you. I was even planning on drying you and dressing you…had you remained asleep…But, you woke up."
She frowned and pouted, "Aah well…whatever. Come on, let's get dressed."
She stood and grabbed his hand, leading him out of the lavatory.
They found themselves within their room once more and donned on their sleeping attires. Argilla grabbed his hand again and led him to their bed, "Wait…Are you hungry? I could take you to the mess hall and…"
He shook his head and sat down on the bed, pulling her along with him, letting her sit on his lap. His arms were around her waist and he looked up at her, smiling, "No. I'm fine. I don't feel hungry…I just…"
"Just…?" she asked, urging him.
He smiled tightly, "I just want peace and quiet." he said slowly, closing his eyes.
Argilla smiled; he was always like that.
Whenever he would return from a mission, he would want to keep to himself, reflect…and even meditate. He didn't like a hero's welcome or parades either.
He was the sort that wanted to just go home, to his house and sleep. He wasn't the type of person who would gloat about his mission…or its results. He wasn't the type to talk about it either.
He just wanted to feel the comfort of home…
She nodded and leaned her head on his shoulders, "Alright…We'll do whatever you want to do."
He sighed, "I just want to spend my time with you."
Her? She blinked.
Why?
Usually, he would meditate and be alone. Even she would be out of his world at that time. He would kiss her gently and say hello. She was the first person whom he would speak to. He would come to her and hold her close…but after that, he would want to be alone.
But now…
"Just you and me." he whispered.
She giggled, "Okay…you're the boss…"
He set her to sit beside him and there looked into her eyes, "So…how had things been with you when I was away?"
Argilla beamed; he wanted to know? He had wanted to know what she had been up to? She held his hand in hers and spoke slowly, "Well, I was pretty excited that you chose me to oversee things here in Muladhara…Things had been pretty quiet…almost boring. But, thanks to Cielo, well, he kept things pretty interesting."
Serph looked at her with all the enthusiasm that anyone could ever muster. He listened to her intently, his silver eyes boring into her shiny pink ones, peering deeply to her very soul, not once looking away.
He gazed deeply at her; he gazed meaningfully at her. He wanted to memorize everything about her…The shape of her face…the shape of her eyes…He wanted to memorize how her eye color would vary in the shade of pink with the change in light…
He wanted to memorize her smile…the flow of her silky pink locks. He wanted to etch those goddess-like features onto his mind and heart…forever.
Her lips moved as she talked…and he listened…
He found himself smiling then…These moments…he would treasure them forever…Forever…Wherever he may be…
He didn't know how long she had been speaking. To him it had seemed like a blur…He thought about it with a bit of regret. He had hoped that their time together would freeze…so that he may remain within that world…That world of fantasy where there was just he and she.
He wanted to remain there so that he may just continue to listen to her…Oh how he would love to just sit with her and talk…
But now…
She giggled and touched his cheek, "I'm sorry…Did I bore you?"
He shook his head and laughed, "Bore me…? Never. You never bore me Argilla."
Argilla stiffened; he was looking at her…in a funny way.
Her hand immediately came up to caress his cheek, "What's wrong?" she asked seriously.
He laughed again, touching the hand that touched his face, "What makes you think that there's anything wrong…?"
She blinked, "Nothing. It's just that…You're looking at me funny Serph."
He grinned and leaned closer to her, both of his hands on either side of her on the mattress, "Am I now?"
She leaned back, "Erm…yes."
"Oh!" she exclaimed as the lightning strike startled her, sending her into his waiting arms.
He chuckled, "Still afraid of lightning?" he taunted.
She growled as she pulled away, "I'm not afraid!" she defended openly, "I was just startled! That's all! There's nothing wrong in that!"
He laughed and embraced her, "No. There's nothing wrong in that."
She growled again and pulled away, glaring at him. "That's not very nice. I don't like being patronized."
He blinked and shook his head, "I wasn't patronizing you! I promise…"
She leaned over to him and grinned seductively, "Well…if you really mean that…then, maybe you could do something for me then; as a favor."
He returned her grin and bared his teeth, "Anything you want." he told her seductively, his voice low and husky.
She licked her lips in response and leaned even closer to him…And then, a second later, their lips found one another's.
Their kiss had started slow and gentle. Serph's lips slowly nibbled on hers, not biting her, not prying…Just…taking his sweet time. She giggled against him as she pressed herself against him tighter, her hands making their way up to his chest.
Serph moaned as she parted her lips, only to pry his open as well. Their tongues had shyly met then…Serph held onto her arms firmly, pulling her even closer as he slanted his face against hers, gaining an even more comfortable position as he continued to kiss her passionately.
Their tongues, after passing their initial meeting…now danced together expertly, supporting one another. They melded together while their lips nibbled and suckled on one another, creating the most arduous and ardent of kisses…
Argilla growled as she felt him pushing her towards the bed. She retaliated and there pressed him even harder so that it had been he who lay on his back on the bed. She broke away from him and there straddled him with a grin on her face, "Hey there…"
He smiled in return, arching an eyebrow, "Hm…Aren't I supposed to be on top?"
She giggled, "Life's got its ups and downs Serph. You can't be on top all the time." she told him knowingly.
He made a face and as quick as lightning flipped her over so that she now lay on her back. He grinned triumphantly as he straddled her, grabbing both of her hands, pinning them on the sides of her face, "You're right. You can't be on the top forever. Like now."
She snorted at him, "That wasn't fair and you know it."
He grinned again, "All's fair in love and war."
She frowned, "Okay; enough with the clichés. This is getting creepy."
He shrugged his shoulders, "You started it."
Her pink eyes blazed in annoyance, "And now I'm finishing it!"
His silver eyes flashed with conviction and leaned over to her, their faces merely an inch apart, "No…" he trailed off huskily, "I'm finishing it." he said seductively as he suddenly kissed her, cutting off whatever it might be she was thinking of saying.
Argilla growled as he kissed her arduously. She wasn't through yet, damn it! And now, she could neither move nor speak!
Serph let one of her hands free as his hand cupped her face affectionately. Argilla felt her blood pump furiously through her veins as his kiss became urgent and demanding. From her face his hand traveled over to her nightgown and played with its straps…
She moaned.
Serph chuckled and there left her lips, letting them have a moment's rest as he then traveled down to her neck, leaving wet butterfly kisses in its wake.
His soft and moist lips finally settled on her shoulders, kissing her sensitive skin. Argilla shivered and there snatched her other hand from his and pulled him even closer to her. Serph nuzzled the strap of her gown and there slid it down…
Argilla grabbed a fistful of his pajama top and tore it from him, feeling impatient. He chuckled and rose from her body, supporting his weight with his elbows, "Slow down…I'm not going anywhere…" he said huskily.
She froze instantly as her pink eyes met his mesmerizing silver ones.
Her breath suddenly got caught within her throat as she gazed at his face…His face, shadowed by the twilight that enshrouded their quarters gave it an ethereal glow…His smile was the most inviting and alluring that she had thus far encountered…from anyone…
His eyes penetrated hers, ensnaring her completely that she found it most impossible to look away. His silver hair was quite messy in comparison to how she mostly saw it. Its tendrils and locks were splayed in different directions, in a most aesthetic fashion, giving him a more primordial visage.
She licked her lips again. He looked…voluptuous.
"You're mine…" she whispered to him, cupping his face tenderly.
He made a low growl from his throat and replied, "I am. I am as much as yours as you are mine…"
He didn't allow her to respond as he suddenly kissed her. Argilla's words died there within her lips as his hungry lips and tongue invaded her cavern once more.
Her hair began to stand on one end as his hands meandered all over her body…settling on her thighs. His fingers left nothing but soothing yet electrifying touches in its wake, rousing all of her feelings of want and lust…
Serph left her lips once more and now kissed the hollow of her throat, licking and nibbling her sensitive and flawless flesh as his hands slowly fondled her thigh, bringing it upwards, and along with it, the hemline of her gown.
Argilla arched her back as he brought her gown upwards…and pulled it over her head, flinging it across the dark room.
His fingers then meandered over to her silk panties. She squealed as he slipped his fingers within her panties and within her wet inner lips.
He chuckled from her throat and there let his lips move further south, finding her plump breasts. He kissed them ardently before settling on her left erect pink peak. Argilla held onto him tightly as his fingers dove within her world, moving in and out of her in a deathly slow pace…She groaned as she felt her sense of reality slowly dwindling as his tongue and lips devoured her chest…while his fingers were thrusting within her folds.
She bucked her hips in pure instinct while arching her back so that her chest pressed itself tighter against his mouth. Her breathing became labored and her heart-rate climbed as his thrusts increased in velocity and intensity, bringing her closer to the edge.
As if revealed to her by a deity or a supernatural entity, all was covered in white in her eyes…Clarity was before her.
"Serph…!!" she screamed as she reached her paradise.
Serph pulled his fingers from her and saw them drenched in her essence. He put them against his lips and suckled them, savoring her taste as he closed his eyes, breathing evenly. Argilla blushed beet red whenever he would do that…
She felt overwhelmingly embarrassed.
"Serph…" she breathed out, panting a bit as she struggled to catch her breath.
She was thankful that he had considered her feelings…She was thankful that he was concerned about her pleasure…Well, she would return such a favor…
She sat up and embraced him, making him open his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
She sighed, "There's nothing wrong Serph…" She pulled away and slowly undid the buttons of his pajama top, ignoring the torn sleeves…She soon removed it from him, slowly and deliberately, letting her touches upon his skin as light and as gentle as possible.
Serph groaned; closing his eyes as he again memorized the feel of her touching him. She was so gentle…so tender.
He vowed…He would never forget.
Ever.
Soon she had unclothed him completely. He looked into her eyes and saw a flash of warmth in them. She slowly pushed him onto his back, "Hush…lie back down baby…" she softly instructed.
He nodded, wordless.
A moment later, he found something wet and tight on his manhood. He froze and slowly sat up. He groaned as she suckled his manhood, her lips caressing his sensitive flesh. Her tongue tickled and teased his manhood, while her lips held onto it possessively.
Her head soon began to move, bobbing up and down.
"Oh…Oh God!" he rasped as his heart-beat intensified.
He panted as the minutes ticked by. Her thrusts on his stiff shaft went even faster and he immediately shot his eyes open, his pupils dilating in sheer bliss as he saw, heard, smelled, felt and tasted nothing but her…
All was her.
All that he comprehended was her.
Nothing else existed.
And then…bliss came. Argilla remained perfectly still as she felt him come within her mouth. She swallowed every drop of him and there a moment later, as he calmed down, she released his still engorged member.
She smiled at him as she straddled him, her elbows crossed against his chest, "Hey…You okay?"
He opened his eyes slowly and nodded, "Yes…Thank you."
She giggled, "I should be the one telling you that…"
His arms wrapped around her waist and there flipped her over again so that it was he in between her parted legs, hovering above her.
He looked at her seriously, his smile gone, and said with his most gentlest of voices, "I love you…"
Argilla almost became teary-eyed, "Serph…I…I already know that…"
He nodded, "That's all I want to know Argilla…As long as you know I love you…That's all that matters to me." he told her painfully, almost sadly.
Argilla's heart stopped; was he trying to tell her something…? She touched his cheek affectionately, worry and anxiety written all over her face, "Baby…? What's wrong…? Why are you talking this way?"
He shook his head and smiled once more, lightening and brightening his face, "Nothing's wrong. I just want to let you know how much I love you."
She giggled, "You're such a sappy guy…You know that?"
He chuckled, "I know…"
She suddenly pulled him closer to her, pecking him on the lips, "Serph…" she began, rasping, "I want you in me…"
He smiled and gently removed her panties and slowly entered her.
She groaned at the contact.
Serph gritted his teeth as her tight passage embraced and gripped his stiff member possessively. Without hesitation, he moved within her fluidly, thrusting firmly and swiftly. Argilla felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her as he continued his assault.
Her back arched, her hips bucking, thrusting towards him, meeting his thrusts, retaliating…
Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck and her legs wrapped around his hips and waist.
The two continued their wild dance; unheeding the rest of the world…The lightning and the thunder outside meant nothing to Argilla…She neither felt them nor heard them.
To her, the only things that she felt was him against her and the only thing that she heard was him groaning and moaning her name…
"Serph…Serph…" she moaned loudly as he continued to thrust wildly within her, burying himself up to the hilt.
Serph panted heavily, his lips parted. His eyebrows were furrowed and his silver eyes were glowing, fixed on her face. She was in sheer pleasure and he knew it.
He was glad.
This was his mission at the moment. It was his mission to bring her nothing but pleasure…He promised it; he would honor it.
He would make sure that before the last breath left his body that she would have felt nothing but pleasure within his arms. He wanted to make sure that before he left that world that she would have felt nothing but his arduous and passionate love and affections…He wanted her to feel his utter devotion…and faithfulness.
He wanted her to never forget him…
"Serph…!!"
"A-argilla…!"
The two lovers screamed each other's names as they both lost themselves in the throes of passion. He grunted, gritting his teeth as he released his seed in her.
Serph collapsed on her, exhausted.
Argilla smiled heartily as she felt his essence surge through her…
She felt nothing but comfort…
"Serph…"
"…"
"I love you…"
A few moments later the two were beside one another in their bed, facing one another. Argilla pulled herself close to him and put her arm around his waist and whispered, "Serph…?"
"Hm…?"
Her eyes were searching his now, "I…Promise me that you'd never leave me."
He smiled ruefully at her and took her hand in his, kissing the back of her hand gently before speaking, "You'd never lose me. I'll always be with you."
Satisfied with his answer, she eliminated all space between them and embraced him tightly…Serph returned her embrace…afraid to let go…
He didn't want her to disappear…He didn't want to lose her…
And so, he held her as tightly as he could…
"I love you…" he whispered in the dark.
She sighed, "I love you Serph…"
xxxxx
Argilla awoke to a refreshing feeling. She stretched and yawned and then looked to her side. She blinked; Serph was gone.
She sighed; well, he always did wake up sooner than she did.
Smiling, she dashed for the lavatory. Half an hour later, she was ready. She left the room and headed for the Strategy Room. He was probably there briefing Gale and the others about the results of their mission.
She walked into the aforesaid room with the brightest and most cheerful smiles that she had ever thrown.
She raised an eyebrow as she saw Cielo, having a transmission.
Where was Serph?
She saw Heat and Gale in the monitor.
"Heat? Gale? Where are you guys?" she asked, after nodding to Cielo; a casual good morning. Where they on another mission? So soon? But they just got back last night, didn't they?
Heat looked at her with a hardened expression, "Don't worry about us Argilla. The mission was a success. We're heading home."
Argilla nodded. Oh; she understood now. They weren't on a new mission. Serph had just headed home ahead of them.
Hm. She had thought that the three of them had returned together, the night before.
Well, they probably had good reason to split up their party in the middle of a mission.
"ETA?"
"Fifteen minutes."
"Roger that."
"Over and out."
Quarter an hour huh?
Argilla blinked; where was Serph? She turned to Cielo, "Cielo, have you seen Serph?"
Cielo blinked and hesitated for a moment before choosing to speak, "De guys aren't back yet ja? Serph's not here."
Argilla frowned; was Serph playing hide and seek with her again? Aa…he didn't inform anyone of his return.
Oh well.
Quarter of an hour had arrived sooner than she had expected. She beamed as the doors of the Strategy Room opened to reveal her teammates. She smiled and ran to them, embracing them both.
Heat pulled away from her and looked into her eyes deeply, "Argilla…"
She froze; what was wrong…?
She looked at Gale and saw the similar expression on his face. She turned and looked at Cielo and he too looked saddened.
She froze, "What's going on?" she asked, feeling nervous all of a sudden.
Heat took a heavy breath and held her hands tightly, "Argilla."
She growled, "I demand to know what's going on."
She turned to look at Gale and then at Cielo and noticed that they were avoiding her gaze. She was getting irked, "What the hell are your problems?! Where's Serph!? Is this another of your pranks Heat?!" she yelled at her redheaded teammate.
She looked and saw that his face was hardened, his eyes penetrating hers. Her hair stood on one end.
He held her hand gently, "We have to talk. Come on."
Feeling stupefied, she allowed herself to be pulled out of the room. She looked around and knew where Heat was taking her.
Her hair stood on one end…but she couldn't bring herself to question him.
A moment later, he held the door opened for her and she walked in.
Her blood ran cold as she realized that he had taken her to…the morgue. She looked at Heat and he nodded at her, motioning for her to look within the room. She turned back and saw a protruding mass on the slab in the middle of the room, covered by a thin white sheet.
Her breathing stopped but she felt overwhelmed by her feeling of curiosity and walked towards it.
Her trembling fingers made for the edge of the white covering and there pulled it down. Her eyes watered and she turned away, "No! No!!!" she screamed.
She collapsed on the floor but felt a pair of arms around her. She looked up and saw that it was Heat, cradling her gently. Argilla let out a cry of anguish and there buried her face on Heat's chest, hitting him over and over again with her little fists.
"No…!" she kept saying over and over.
"It's…It's not him…!! It's not him!!" she screamed hoarsely, crying and sobbing uncontrollably.
Heat said nothing but held her tighter.
Argilla, with wobbly legs, forced herself to stand. Heat rose along with her. She turned to the corpse once more, hoping against hope that it would disappear. But it didn't. Her eyes flowed with tears and she turned to Heat once more, "Is this…your idea of a joke?" she asked venomously.
He sighed, "I wish it were a joke Argilla. But it isn't. We took heavy fire…the renegades wouldn't surrender…"
She let out another cry of anguish as he began his story.
"There were too many of them…We didn't expect…"
"Enough!!" she screamed, pulling out her hair, falling onto the floor again, "It's not true! You're lying!!"
She staggered on her feet once more and then looked back at the corpse behind her and again she felt an overwhelming pang of pain constrict her heart, almost crushing it. There on the slab was the pale corpse of her mate. His face, his handsome and youthful face was robbed of its color. The breath of life had been totally drained from his face and his body. It was ashen.
His eyelids were darkened…and his lips…the lips that she had kissed only the night prior were no longer warm and moist but were cold and dry…
She reached out to touch him and trembled as she was met with the bone-chilling cold. He was stiff…and hard.
'But…he was…he was alive…!'
She couldn't take it any longer! She dashed from the scene.
She dashed through the streets of Muladhara, looking left and right for any sign of Serph. No…What she saw at the morgue wasn't real! It wasn't! It wasn't possible!
Serph was alive! She just knew it! There was no way that the corpse she saw was his!
She looked everywhere, looking for him…
"Serph…! Serph…!" she yelled left and right. She scoured the entirety of Muladhara but she found no trace of him.
After crying and looking for hours, her legs finally gave way and she collapsed on the concrete floor of their park.
The sun had long set…and the air was getting quite chilly.
She buried her face in her hands. She didn't find him.
Where was he…?
"I'm sorry Argilla."
She turned and saw that it was Heat. She turned away from him, continuing to sob.
He knelt down and touched her shoulder, "He told me…to tell you that he loved you."
She let out a strangled breath and sobbed harder. He embraced her, sharing in her sorrow.
She could hear the drizzle of the rain…She looked up and saw the sky being ominous. And then after that, the gentle drizzle became a raging downpour. The sky crackled and the rain dropped onto the concrete floor intensely.
She cried openly, sobbing loudly.
The sky understood how she felt…It cried right along with her…sympathizing and emphasizing.
"Serph…" she breathed out.
xxxxx
Argilla walked into their room once more, looking intently at anything and everything…Every detail of their room told a story…A story that involved him and her…
Each part of their room had been a part of him…a part of her.
She stood there thinking. Was last night a dream…? Was she crazy…? Did she imagine all of what had transpired?
She shook her head, closing her eyes, her hands clenched tightly.
'No…! I couldn't have…imagined it! Serph…was here…with me!' she thought with a choke. 'He was there…We made love!' she insisted, crying silently, letting her tears roll down her cheeks.
She walked over to the bed that they shared and there on it she saw his clothes…The clothes that she had removed from him the other night. Her eyes widened at that.
She sat on the bed and with trembling hands took the cloths in her hands, bringing them to her nose, smelling them.
She felt her tears in her eyes once more. They still had his scent…sandalwood.
She let herself fall over on the bed, hugging his apparel to her chest.
He had been there…She wasn't imagining things…He really was with her the previous night. She sobbed louder, wailing uncontrollably. She was angry…and yet, happy.
"Serph…! You liar…! You promised me! You promised me!!" she yelled as she continued to cry.
She didn't need to know anything else…She knew…She now knew as she clutched his belongings…as she recalled what he told her the previous night…
That was why he had held her tight that night…
He didn't want to let go…
Because he knew that if he did…he would be letting her go forever…There was no going back.
She knew at that moment…that he was gone.
But still, she had been happy. She had been happy that even after his death, he had chosen to come home to her, even if just for a little while…in order to see her one last time…
She then remembered his words.
"That's all I want to know Argilla…As long as you know I love you…That's all that matters to me."
"You'd never lose me. I'll always be with you."
She understood now…
"I love you Serph." she uttered painfully, her hand on her chest, finding it difficult to breathe.
xxxxx
A fortnight had now passed since Serph's funeral.
Heat had been deemed as their new leader.
Argilla stroked her flat belly. She never told anyone of her encounter with her lover the night before Heat and Gale's arrival.
No one would believe her.
But she knew she wasn't crazy. He really had been there that night. He really did make love to her. He really did…tell her that he loved her.
And now, she had found out that she was pregnant…She knew…
He had been there.
That night of passion and love…was their last moments together…He merely wanted to say goodbye…But not before letting her know of how much he loved her.
She smiled though. He was right. He would never really leave her. The life that they had created that night…she would protect it with all of her might. She would raise it…and love it with all of her heart.
And as for her mate…
"Goodbye Serph…" she told the wind, "I'll meet you in Nirvana…Wait for me."
xxxxx
FIN
A/N:
Wraith: A shade. A spirit of a dead person.