Silent Night
Artemis woke to hear muffled sobbing, Artemis' awareness slowly returned to him. He breathed a sigh of relief, the pain of his broken leg and rib had safely dissipated.
His happiness and content mood was severely dampened, another cry rang into the otherwise silent night.
Artemis sat up, it was pitch black inside of their tent, a fairy tent that was more like a convertible house than anything else, complete, for which Artemis was immensely grateful, a thick super size double bed.
" Holly ? Holly where are you ?"
Upon receiving no response his heart sunk. Those cries then, those heart-wrenching cries were coming from Holly.
Gathering the little strength he had, Artemis got out of bed. He managed to get out of the tent, when his body gave away.
Artemis felt the moment his knees failed him, he hit the floor with a groan. Holly turned around, she ran to his side, Artemis groaned again, he began to shiver uncontrollably.
" Artemis get back into that tent and stay there. Your not fully healed."
Artemis whined pitifully, as a white light shone out of his pupils, against his will, his shuddering body rose and walked into the tent.
" Holly, come with me. I need you."
Holly had no intention of going to Artemis, he had thrown her love back into her face. Rejected it. But then a sentence went straight into her heart.
" I need you."
Those three words hit her more powerfully then anything. She turned around Artemis was already in the tent.
He said he doesn't know love, he can't love me ?
But then Artemis' voice rang out again. " I need you."
Holly stepped into the tent, Artemis was of course tucked up in bed. As ordered.
Holly fiddled around till she found a candle and lit it. Artemis shifted his gaze at the sudden light. His bed covers flew off.
" Stay, don't get out of bed. Pull those covers back over yourself and stay."
Artemis whined furiously as the hated white light shone out of his pupils, looking very odd in the black room.
Holly had no intention of comforting. His brutal rejection still fresh in her mind.
" Your everything to me Holly."
Holly forced herself to remain still.
" I wish I could tell you, tell you what I'm feeling."
" It's easy Artemis, you decide what your feeling, open that able mouth of yours and TELL ME !"
Despite Holly's anger, Artemis remained calm, at times like these there was only one way to diffuse her .
" I'm sorry, I'm sorry Master."
It had the desired effect, Holly deflated like a popped balloon. Artemis continued.
" I need you."
Holly looked at Artemis coldly.
" You pushed me away easy enough."
Artemis sighed, slight irritation coming into his calm .
" It wasn't easy, you've known love all your life, don't be so narrow-minded to assume that same can be said for everyone. Father, before was aloof man. He spent most of his time in his study, doubtless building the Family Fortune, I wasn't to pester him just because I was starved of affection.
"Then of course, he went away, got himself captured and left me to my own devices, with a mad mother to accommodate for. So I became self-dependant. I found pleasure in manipulating, in twisting people's situations to benefit my own. Gave me an indescribable amount of pleasure, the planning of a genius plan, the execution and of course success... This is what motivated me Holly, greed. Not love, but greed. I'm not good enough for you."
Holly felt tears threaten to spill but she blinked them back.
" I think that's for me to decide Artemis. And I think you are, are worthy of me, and I almost lost you today and I couldn't bear it."
For once, Artemis was speechless.
Holly moved over towards the bed, she swept her fingers tenderly through Artemis' ruffled raven locks.
" You say you don't know what love is, you just don't see it. Your full of it. You nearly got killed saving me, that's love Artemis. Your all I want."
Artemis' head drooped.
" But with Glory ? So you managed somehow to get us past the first trial, up and beyond the mountains. Today was the third day, we've got 2 days left. Glory could know we're here already ! I can't put you through this ."
Holly moved back from him, her face stern.
" I'm already involved you idiot, I'm your Protector. I haven't got a choice, You've got to live Artemis. Stop thinking of the 'ifs' and 'what's', live in now. Here and now."
Holly unzipped her suit, stepped out of it and crawled on to the bed.
" And here and now is us, no one else."
She had ordered Artemis to stay laid back in bed so she came closer, she lowered her face to his.
" Live Artemis."
She whispered before she kissed him with bitter sweetness.
Hey ! What do you think ! 2 days left !
