Silent Laughter

by The Little Blue Fairy

..The perimeter of the room was lined with candle stands, with all the candles burning, giving the room a red, orange glow. At the far corner was a daybed, draped with gorgeous fiery red fabrics embroidered with gold, on them a man lay slouched, leaning on a pile of cushions. "Hello" the man said, his voice slow, but seeming to bite into her soul "I hear you are the one..."

3. A Dancing Light

"W-why am I-I here" Azure said to the man trembling.

The 'man' was dressed in an Indian style dress, with a turban wound around his head, his attire blending into the elaborate fabrics draped over his daybed.

The man sat up, picking up a lantern positioned on the ground next to over to a candlestick, he used the candle to light the lantern.

"You" he said walking closer and gesturing to the candle "you, are like this flame, Akin is the candle, and I? I am like the lantern."

"What have you done with Akin" Azure yelled at the man.

"SSshh" he whispered "you'll blow out the candles"

"What have you done with him!" Azure screamed at him, his cool demeanor aggravating her more.

"Do you want Akin? Such a pity-you'll have to listen to me first."

"And then...?"

"And then you'll see your precious Akin."

"Deal?"

Sighing, Azure mumbled"Deal."

"What?" said the man, tantalizing Azure

"DEAL" Azure screamed at his face,.

"Ok, then-you are the fire in Akin's heart-the flickering flame, and the candle is Akin.I am the lantern,I hold your love in balance."

"What?"

"I hold your love in balance-Akin owe's me, and if he does not pay me-he give's you up to me."

"no."

"Yes."

"No-no that's not true,"

"Oh yes,yes it is."

"Now..."

"Now what?"

"Now Akin."

"Oh-right" gesturing to someone he smiled and said " Here is your wish to see dear Akin" .Moving to one side, Azure saw Akin, he was bound with a chain with one of the 'mans' men holding the metal chain.

There was blood running down Akins face, and a large red scabby patch above his forehead

"Azure" he yelled trying to to pull away from the guards grasp, only succeeding in falling to his knee's.

Azure tried to run over to him, but another man pulled her back, she sent an imploring look to the 'man'. Watching her he said to her captor"Let her go".

She stumbled over to Akin crying.

"Akin "she said "What happened to you? Are you alright?"

Cradling his head in her arms, she whispered "I love you"

"I-I love you t-to" he said weakly, looking into her eye's.

Azure tried to wipe away some of the blood with her ragged sleeve. She ran her fingers through his chestnut hair, dried with blood. He winced as her sleeve touched his wound.

"I'm so s..sorry"he mumbled to her, "Don't worry"Azure whispered back, a tear sliding down her grazed cheek.