Chapter 19
Sho-dono: wow… it's been a while since we've updated but either way. We do not own Arty in any way shape or form.
#Shiinmaru-dono is unable to talk at the moment due to intense amounts of back pain#
Amaya woke up slowly, sensing another's presence. He looked towards Artemis and was greatly surprised to see Liam kneeling by the bed, Artemis' hand clasped in his hands. A soft sigh escaped his lips, "You know if the nurse catches you here you're screwed right?"
"I don't care," came the mumbled reply.
Amaya sighed, "Go back to be, Liam; you can do nothing for Artemis right now. Get some sleep; you won't be of any use to him when he wakes up if you're drop-dead tired."
"Bring me a chair then; I'm not leaving his side. Mr. Maro, he's becoming a Shade – silver to be precise," Liam pressed his cheek into the mattress, "Rei snuck into my room earlier; the cops took him into custody."
One of Amaya's eyebrows rose, "This worries you." It wasn't a question.
"Rei for all his obsession, for all his stupidity; is highly intelligent and a gifted witch. He summoned a Shade; I've only ever read in books of witches who could summon something like that. I'm worried about what Rei will do to escape," Liam pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, "I hate to admit it, but I'm terrified. For the first time in my life, I'm terrified of what's going to happen. When Rei was in my hospital room I couldn't see anything; my body just reacted to feeling another presence. Mr. Maro, Rei blocked my 'sight' and it scared me to the bone; I've never had a problem being blind because I could still 'see'; but Rei somehow 'blinded' that 'sight.'" Amaya pulled Liam into a gentle hug despite how Liam tensed.
"Don't worry, he's not here anymore," Amaya pulled away slightly and gave Liam a once over before standing and retrieving one of the chairs for Liam to sleep in, "Go to sleep." He whispered once Liam was comfortable. Ten minutes passed and Liam was still awake, Amaya began to sing, softly.
"Tatoeba dokomade modorebaii? Oshiete
Subete wa Itami wo tomonauhodo azayaka
Hontou wa Wakeaerumono nantenaikara furikaeranakatta...
"Fall into a light sleep, Watashi ni michiru
I don't carry out yakusoku wa yagate
Itsukano Kagayaki suteta
Kaerenai asa no hikari noyou
"Tsumetai kokoro no soba ni iruyo Kogoete
Tsuzuki wa kobamenaikurai hora asahaka
"Kitsukazu ni kaketa kanjou hiroi atsumete Yurushi wo motometara
"Fall into a light sleep, Hitori no yoru ni
I'm beginning to learn kanashimi no shikumi
Anata no Nukumori kakushi
Afuredeta sonoyami ni obieru...
"Fall into a light sleep, Watashi ni michiru
I don't carry out yakusoku wa yagate
Itsukano Kagayaki suteta
Kaerenai asa no hikari noyou..."
Amaya's voice faded as he realized that Liam had already fallen asleep. A small, sad smile appeared on his face as Amaya covered Liam with his coat to keep his new son warm. "I never would have taken you to be the fatherly type at first glance." Amaya smiled softly at Butler as the large man entered the room.
"Few do, few do…" the two men watched their young charges, "You're not married are you?"
"No, my work does not permit much time for socializing, let alone marrying someone," Butler replied forlornly. Amaya made a small noise of understanding before settling more comfortably into his chair.
Butler pulled up a chair of his own and settled down beside him. Amaya finally spoke, "So why are you a bodyguard? From what I can tell you would prefer to have a family; or at least someone to lie with." Butler grunted softly. It was true; he would enjoy having a lover.
"Perhaps…"
"Well, don't give up hope. You'll find someone. Who knows, maybe you've already found them." Amaya's eyes glinted with hidden mirth, "You just have to look where you least expect it. Perhaps I'll take you out to a club I'm fond of when this is all over," here Amaya grinned predatorily before slumping with a troubled sigh. "I fear I'll be a bachelor forever; women only want me for my wealth – when I can stand them and the men I like are either: A) out to kill me, or B) trying to get a job in my company. My kingdom for a decent, handsome man who's good with kids like Beka and Liam!" Butler stared at Amaya for a few seconds, curiously.
"Why would someone be trying to kill you?"
"Uh… well… heheh… that is classified information I'm afraid, heh heh." Amaya fiddled nervously with the hem of his sleeve as he laughed nervously under Butlers stare.
"You're lying… what did you do?" Butler said monotonously.
Amaya whined slightly, preferring to avoid the subject. Butler glared at him slightly, "Meeerrrr, it's not so much as what I did; it's more like what I do…" Butlers frown deepened.
"And you do what… exactly?"
"I'll show you when all this over and done with; when young Artemis is out of the hospital. Is that a reasonable enough deal, dear bodyguard?" Amaya was flirting and even a monkey could figure it out.
"As you wish; but I will hold you to that." Dear God, Butler thought forlornly, I'm no better than one of those shameless teenagers.
Amaya smirked before leaning down and giving Butler a brief kiss on the lips, "Keep an eye on those two for me; I need to make a call." After that, Amaya left the room with an obvious sway to his hips, leaving a flabbergasted bodyguard behind.
#
Artemis gazed blankly into the darkness; he wasn't certain how much time had passed since the girl had vanished once more, but it seemed like an eternity. A sigh passed from his lips; it was becoming harder for him to remember things – things like names, faces, even his own family. A name…the child wanted name…Artemis thought wistfully, what's her name? What is her name? Catherine, Sarah, Angelina? No, no, no! None of those! Juliet, perhaps? No, that's not it either…What is it? With another sigh, Artemis hung his head forlornly. I'm a genius – I should be able to think of a simple name! A giggle sounded behind him; Artemis snapped from his musings and turned towards where he thought the sound came from.
"Hello again, Momma," the girl chimed. "Have you figured out my name yet?"
"No, I haven't. Could you give me a hint?" She giggled at his request, "I'll take that as a no...Why must I do this? Why can't I just wake up?"
"Because this is part of the process," she answered with a familiar vampire smile.
"What process?" Artemis growled as he did not like seeing his trade mark used against him.
"The process to become something different," she answered vaguely, "You—" The girl was interrupted by a new presence.
"Art...mis! Her na...Wynn Ai—" what was now apparently Liam's voice was suddenly cut off; the 'mind hack' interrupted.
"NO! Daddy cheated! Daddy isn't supposed to help!" she screamed before disappearing.
#
Liam snapped awake and felt a chill go down his spine. "I'm not going to want to sleep until Moons wakes up – I just know it. I think what I did is considered against the rules and that the kid is not going to be happy about this." Liam sighed, he felt so tired but he knew that if he fell asleep, then the kid, Wynn Aithne, was going to do something to him as punishment for 'cheating.' Liam knew that a general rule of supernatural thumb was to let things flow without interruption; but, damn it, he wanted to talk to the boy genius again. Liam needed Artemis to wake up and just be himself again; without the influence of his 'aura' and without the trauma caused by Rei. Damn, when did things get so complicated?
Shiinmaru-dono: OMG, we're actually updating this thing. How long has it been? Anyway, sorry for the long wait; between the crazy German AP Bio teacher and my caffeine junky of an AP World History teacher, I've been uber busy. I swear me and Sho-dono will update more after the AP exams, but 'til then, please #gets down on knees and grovels# be PATIENT! We're trying; we really are doing the best we can but we're just so busy. Shiinmaru-dono out!
Sho-dono: #is fast asleep due to boredom# #snore#