Orien had arrived to the mainland late at night. Not too many people moved about at this hour and the ones he saw on shore seemed shady. He had planned on going door to door asking if anyone had seen his sister, but that turned out to be unnecessary. He found his father's boat in the harbor. Onboard was a group of men, sleeping both in the captain's quarters and on the deck itself. Orien picked his way through the men until he spotted a fellow who looked like the lead. He then shook the man, ready to defend himself if the man was in a bad mood from waking.
Celia yelped when she was pushed onto the bed. Cold fear gripped her stomach as she looked up at Deo looming over her. Blood still seeped through the fabric over his chest and his tanned skin looked pale. However the burning in his eyes had yet to cool down. One would think it would only be minutes before he died with the wound he sustained, however he seemed to be just as strong as before, just a bit more… sullen.
She opened her mouth to speak. About what she wasn't sure. Maybe ask him what he was doing or question about his wound. But she was left wordless when Deo stripped of his tunic, his eyes finally leaving her. Her breath caught as she tried to tear her gaze from his almost nude body. Even after she was able to look away her eyes kept glancing back to see him turn from her and lift his hand to his chest. "Grab that water basin." His words were short and cold, forcing her into action without question. She grabbed the small basin and a linen that was for washing and brought it to his side as he sat down on the bed.
The wound was now in full view and she had to admit it didn't look as bad as what she had thought it would be. Without thinking she dipped the linen and wrung it out before placing it on the gaping hole. She paid little mind to his stares as she pressed against the cloth. After a moment she realized what she was doing and gasped. "Hold it yourself!" She barked before pulling away and walking to the far side of the room. From here she could see his back. The entrance wound was visible as well, however it seemed much smaller than the wound in the front and barely any blood leaked from it.
Deo had watched her walk away before grabbing the stained cloth and pressing it against his wound himself. He had to admit he didn't expect her to actually listen to him and truly believed she'd try and wait till he was dead to escape… Which still might be her plan. However it intrigued him and he began watching her from the corner of his eyes again. She now stared at his back, a look of confusion and worry mixed with hate and bitterness. It was strange to him to see such an expression. He never saw someone make it before on his behalf… Then again he couldn't remember any look given to him before meeting this girl and her brother.
Time ticked by slowly as the two sat awkwardly in their room. By the time Deo's wounds had fully stopped bleeding it was well into the night. He tossed his tunic and the now red cloth into the water basin and glanced back at the girl who hadn't moved from the wall in hours. "Are you sleeping there tonight then?"
Her eyes snapped up to meet his. She had expected to go through the night without sound until that point. In fact she was hoping she'd get a chance to run if Deo passed out from blood loss. But that didn't seem to be a choice. Since they first arrived at the room his skin had gained its color back and the wounds seemed to have gotten somehow smaller. Thinking about his again she looked at her feet. Apparently she took too long replying for Deo stood and stomped over to her, grabbing her arm and pulling her onto the bed with him. Her heart pounded against her chest and heat rushed under her flesh. Panic set in as his arm enclosed around her. "What are you doing!" She yelped as she tried to free herself.
"Be quiet." He growled. "I'm not going to give you the chance to run. Do you think I'm stupid?" His blue eyes felt like fire on her skin as he glared at her. Her breathe caught in her throat and her body went limp. The threat behind those eyes was very real. And she feared for both her life and maidenhood should she anger him at this range. Meekly she glanced away from him and tried to close her eyes. She could feel that she would get no sleep that night from fear alone. Deo on the other hand seemed to fall asleep right away. The night continued with her attempting sleep just to be kept awake by his hot breath on her flesh or his arms tightening around her waist. If this is what the marriage bed is like at all she wanted nothing to do with it.
When morning light broke through the windows Celia couldn't be happier. She wiggled her arm free and tapped Deo on the shoulder trying to stir him. Ocean blue orbs fluttered open and gazed at her. For a few strange moments he seemed like a god waking to a lover. But then waking took effect and his eyes turned cold with that strange fire burning behind the ice. He glanced at the window then sat up, his chest muscles expanding as he stretched his arms. The wound on both his chest and back seemed almost completely closed and scarring could be seen around the edges where it was once wide open. She tried to understand how it could close so fast, but in the end didn't come up with anything more than maybe it wasn't as bad to begin with.
The two readied themselves for travel and Deo donned a crimson tunic he had apparently ordered the staff of the inn to bring him. And once more they were off. Though this time they headed away from the oceans and on a path Celia hadn't even heard of from other merchants. By high noon she was feeling the wear of no sleep and felt her eyelids becoming heavy. She was almost grateful that Deo was guiding her horse for surely she would have stirred the poor creature into some danger by now. The two passed town after town and didn't stop when night began to fall once more. By now her body was heavy and every shadow was taunting her with strange images.
"May we stop now? The sun has set." She looked to him with pleading eyes. She hadn't even tried to run today from the sheer exhaustion she felt. She regretted not being able to sleep in his arms now.
"No it's not safe here."
"There was a town just a few hills back. We can turn -"
"No! The towns here aren't safe either." He snapped, looking back at her with narrowed eyes. She jumped slightly from the force behind his words then looked about. It seemed fine. There were no signs of human life anywhere to be seen and the town the had passed seemed pleasant enough. But his jaw was set and she had a feeling nothing she said could change his mind.
His eyes did soften, however, when he noted her heavy lidded eyes and pale complexion. He also couldn't help seeing the deep circles forming under her eyes. He stopped his mare and brought hers to stand beside him. He then grabbed her waist and hoisted her to him, ignoring her cry or shock and possibly pain. He then tied her mare's reins to a satchel he had across the rear of his ride and started up again. She stared at him with questioning, guarded eyes. "Go to sleep. This way we don't waste time and you won't die from falling off a horse." He said nothing more and didn't glance at her until after she had resigned to the idea and leaned against him. He knew she didn't find this ideal and only used him as a pillow out of sheer need. But something made him glance down at her in wonder. She couldn't possibly feel safe like this. Did women always easily resign themselves like this? His eyes flickered back to the road and back to her a few times through the night.