Chapter Two: Please
"Who the hell are you?" her body started to shake violently while I kept a firm hold on her. Afraid that she would collapse any moment. Feeling a bit sorry for scaring her too much I lower my hand down to her chin then place it on her neck. The feel of her soft skin causes some strange reaction in me. She moves her head up, our eyes locks. A sudden odd reaction reaches me, as though I couldn't' tear my gaze away from her. I move closer, to see her fearful brown, deep chocolate eyes.
'She like a frighting kitten. What the hell happen to her?' Then I catch her looking at my dreadful scar under my left eye. For a reason that didn't bother me at all, her eyes tired, bloodshot red like she hasn't slept in days, fearful, above all, she kept holding onto hope. How do I know that? I have no idea. One thing for sure, her fright reminds me of me when I was young after I lost my family. Her chest breathed unevenly.
"Can you let go of me?" she pleads, her voice is delicate and cracked, I arched a brow, now wanting to hear more of her voice.
"Why?" I question her. I know the reason, a strange man holding her like this is scary, but she was the one that trespass, I have every right to do this, then again her condition didn't seem like she wasn't going to steal from us. She looks deadly pale.
"I'm afraid of you," she answered honestly. For a reason, I doubt is the way I look, because if she did, she would have screamed by now. For a reason, that made me sad and angry that she would be afraid of me. I won't harm her at all. Then again my anger took over.
"Good," I answer her, letting go of her, she takes a large step forward and turns to face me. She scans my body, as though it was the first time she sees a man or something. For a reason, I enjoyed it. Her gaze is different from any woman I had ever met. Most will either avoid me, be afraid, or just want to bed me. Her gaze is not either of those. Her gaze is pure. Her eyes brighten a bit, as I licked my lips, and I did the same. She's a small woman in my eyes, her clothes ripped, but clenched in her perfection. She has milky skin, under all the dirt. Her face is thin, delicate, and if I could cup her cheeks, my hands would cover most of it. She won't reach beyond my chest. Once again our eyes lock for a brief second. She looks as though she can breathe again. I felt that I wanted to hold her, shield her.. I just met her. I don't even know whom she is. Then again, my heart started to race oddly for the first time in my life.
"Leave the poor girl alone. Noll." I heard behind me. I snap on whatever spell she cast on me. Turning my head, Lin stands next to me, gave me a quick glance, as to say, 'Thanks God, that she's isn't a burglar.' I nodded at him.
"May I ask why a beautiful young maiden is doing in our house is?" Lin uses a gentle tone, since he took notice of her condition. I turned back to take notice that she's having a hard time standing. She started to wobble a little. I doubt she took notice herself.
"I'm.." she paused, watching her step forward, about to fall, I have no idea why, my heart clenched, without noticing myself, my foot moves by their own, but then stop when she steady herself. I mentally breathed out.
Lin took notice, but doesn't say anything. The young woman shook her head, regaining her strength.
"I'm Mai Taniyama, I wanted a place to stay at, and so I found this mall beautiful cottage. Please let me stay for the night. I promise to be out of your hair before the break of dawn." She begs, her eyes plead Lin. All of the sudden my body goes rigid, to learn that she has the same name of our princess. Can she be her? If so, why would she be here? Strange of emotions filled my heart. Anger is the main source right now.
'How dare she step into our small house if she has a relationship with that wench.' I clench my hands, digging my nails inside of my skin, trying to calm myself.
Lin turns to see his wife walk in, she gave us a strange look, as to say, 'why is she doing here?' we both shrug, turning back to the woman.
"Oh my, are you princess Mai Taniyama, the King's daughter?" Madoka questions her. I examine her reaction, to see if she bows or something, but for a reason more fear shot through her eyes at the mention.
'Odd, what happen to her? Did her mother do something?' many questions rushed into my head, watching the small woman.
"Yes," she admits, not looking at anyone at us. Without thinking, I move up towards her, and took a hold of her arm, to kick her out, I didn't want her in our house, no loyal is allowed, I will be caught dead, but my thoughts are cut short, when I heard a small painful cry. Now with a closer look, I took notice a cut on her arm, and dry blood. So I loosen my grip on her, looking at her deep cut.
'She's hurt.'
"Noll, that's no way to treat a princess, and.." but Madoka was interrupted when Mai cuts her off.
"I'm no princess, please, let me stay the night. I just need some food and water. I'll repay you handsomely. I don't have anything with me at the moment." she kept on begging, desperate, at this moment.
'What the hell happen to her?' my anger subdues, as the woman turns to give me a quick glance. My eyes betray me once again. I stare at her, her lips are bluish, her cheeks are paler than I thought. Her feet have bad cuts. Dirt and blood mixed together. My heart heaved.
'When I was younger and escaped her jail, I was covered like that. What the hell has that woman done to her? Why has the princess renounced her title? Cause of the queen?' Sadness replaces my anger, and for a reason instead of being angry, I pity her.
Madoka moves closer observing her the same way I did. Sadness showed in her eyes.
"Dear, sorry to say this, but you look like hell." She whispers to her while touching her arm. The princess automatically flinches away from Madoka touch, as though she was afraid to be hit. I know that fear, I have seen it on my brother's face, when the guards wanted to beat him up for no reason at all. She seems to chant something in her eyes, as her eyes moved rapidly. I squinted my eyes, to read it.
"She won't hit me, why do I flinch." She said so low, but after many years of observing people, I pick up even the smallest words coming out of someones mouth.
Madoka reacted fast and move back towards her husband.
"Sorry dear. My name is Madoka, and this is Noll, our God-child. And this is my husband Lin." She introduced us to her. The Princess nods slightly, turning to look down at her arm. I did the same taking notice that I kept my hand on her.
'Why didn't she flinch when I touched her?' I thought, feeling weird about that. She looks up at my eye and her eyes narrow, with her free hand she grasps my own arm. My heart quickens. Watching her eyes roll in a fainting matter.
'Damn, she's going to collapse.' Madoka takes notice fast and turns towards Lin.
"Lin, get the hot water, this girl looks like she's going to collapse." Lin nods at his wife, and turns to head out. The princess closed her eyes and leaned against me, breathing harder than ever. Opening once last time her eyes, her next words confirm my thoughts..
"Please…Save…me," and she faints in my arms. Immediately I wrap my arms around her waist and under her legs, to pick her up as a bride. I glance down at her ghost-like face.
"Take her to your room, hurry." Madoka seems to panic. I calmly rushed my steps, going up the stairs, going towards the first door on my right, I burst open the door, and place the princess down on my bed. Madoka followed hastily, watching me place the Princess down.
"She looks like she hasn't slept in days or eaten. What the heck happened to her? Isn't she supposed to be a princess and.." but I turned towards Madoka and lay my hand on her shoulder.
"Calm down, I'll take care of her." I gently told her. Madoka blinks surprise at my sudden words, but nods.
"I'll bring fresh clothes, and.."
"Here, I brought some towels to wash her cuts." Lin interrupted us while he placed a large copper bowl on the floor. I sat on the edge of my bed and glance at them.
"Leave," I suggested. Lin and Madoka glance at each other, looking worried.
"She's a girl and unwed, I think I should.." but I arched a brow at her.
"Change her clothes, that's all." I didn't want Madoka to stress over this, not in her condition. I gave a pleading look at Lin. Lin seems to understand and place his hand on his wife's shoulder.
"Come, Noll will take care of her. You can change her clothes in a few, come, let's find something that can fit her."
"Okay, I trust you. Strange, why will Noll worry about a girl?" I heard her whisper, turning around to leave with Lin. I turned, only to hear a bark. I look down to see the white dog wagging her tail and then jumps on top of the bed, licking her cheek.
"You must be her friend?" I asked the dog. The dog turns to face me and barks as though it answer my question.
"Don't leave her side, okay." The dog lays down, waiting patiently, as I bend to get the warm towels. I work on her arm, taking out all grime and such. She winces in pain, arching her body up. Without a thought, I went around my room, and grab a fresh pair of wash white sheets, and ripped it into two. Going around, I sat down, and wrap it around her arm. She groans in protest, while I tie a knot, to secure it.
"These were the best sheets I had. Don't tell my godparents, okay." I turned to look down at the dog. She blinks lazily at me.
"Good, I always thought talking to animals is more convenient than talking to humans. They don't talk as much." I mumble about, looking down at her dirty face. Grabbing another fresh towel, I squeeze the excuse water and went to clean her face. Wiping her face, my fingers accidentally graze her lips. I paused, and stare at them.
"I have never seen a girl with such red lips, they look almost blood red, and so plump. Anyone could mistakenly think its those red pain that girls wear. I wonder, I wonder how would it taste undermine?" Without realizing it myself, I touch them with my thumb, feeling my heart race, how soft they felt. I licked my lips, a strange deep ache fills me. She parts her lips, and a small moan escapes her lips. Waking me up, I remove my hand, and cleared my throat, feeling my cheeks grow warm.
'What the hell was that? Why would I want to know how do they feel? Concentrate Noll.' I scold myself. Quickly I finished cleaning her face, moving to look down at her small dirty feet. I sigh.
Without a thought, I continue to work down to her feet. I was careful to not hurt her as much as possible. I know how much that hurts.
"Strange girl you are. I wonder what she did to you?" I question, placing her other small feet on my lap.
"Why do girls have smaller feet than men? She's smaller than the normal." I thought, washing tenderly. Suddenly her dog moves closer to me, and glance up at me. I arched a brow.
"What? See, I'm being a gentleman." I spoke.
The dog turns her head and lays back down. I rolled my eyes at the dog.
I heard the princess moan, turning my head, she flutters her eyes open, and I stop my movements.
'Go back to sleep, this is a dream.' I thought, our eyes lock, I couldn't look anywhere else, is like that spell from earlier. Then she falls back to sleep. I breathed out, and look down at her feet.
"That was a close one. I don't want her to know I did this. If Madoka wasn't pregnant, I wouldn't care less about this situation." I murmured to myself. The dog suddenly lies next to her legs. I smiled gently at the dog.
"You seem loyal to her. Don't' worry your master will be up soon." I assure the dog. Is scary to be left alone. My eyes drop at the thought, while I finish cleaning her feet…
"She's the princess, I should hate her, and I will hate her, but right now. I just pity her so much. She reminds me when I was young before Lin and Madoka took me in." I thought out loud, glancing at her.
"I shall hate you soon, so live it up while you can."
….
...
A day has passed since the princess came into our cottage. She hasn't awakened, sleeping deeply on my bed. I had to sleep downstairs, which was uncomfortable as hell. I sat on the edge of my bed, after work, and glance at her sleeping face. The dog suddenly came, and stare at me, I smiled at the dog.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything to her," I assure her. The dog seems to believe me and suddenly jumps into my lap. I glance down, watching her lay down.
"You must be happy since we took care of her." I move my hand to touch her fluffy fur. She suddenly purrs, causing me to chuckle.
"You purr, that's odd, okay then, did I gain a friend?" I asked the dog. The dog barks, as though she understood me once again.
Turning around, the princess peaceful face suddenly started to turn twisted, a pained expression.
"No! I'll be good... Please.. Don't hit me." she started to ramble words out trashing her legs. I frowned at her sudden words.
"So the princess never had a pleasant childhood. I know those nightmares. Are the worst." Suddenly Mai snaps her eyes open, noticing how red her face has gotten. Her breathing is uneven, she moves, to stare at me. I simply blink at her, knowing that she's not fully awake since her eyes are clouded.
"I want to hate you." I suddenly told her. Her puffy red eyes, stares at me, new fresh tears started to roll down.
"I really want to hate you," I growl this time, moving my hand to touch her forehead. Like I thought, she's boiling.
"Go back to sleep, you're sick," I told her. She shakes her head, taking a hold of my hand.
"Help me, please. I want papa back." She caught me by surprise. Moving closer, I move my hand to cup her small hot cheeks.
"Sleep," I whispered to her. She shakes her head. I stood up to get the mug that is on the floor, filled with fresh water from the well. Taking it, I move back,
"Here, drink this; you haven't eaten since you got here." The princess blinks but refuse to drink. Her dog whimpers at her, so I move closer to her.
"Drink this, or not, your dog will be sad if you get more ill." The princess glances down at her dog,
"Snow, my only friend. That hasn't left me."
"So her name is snow?" I asked her. She nods, as I place the mug closer to her, she suddenly takes it and drinks it down, only to gag in pain.
'Her throat must be dried.' I thought. She hands it back and wipes her mouth.
"Papa gave her to me many years ago. She's my only friend. My body hurts. Why?" she suddenly asks.
"Don't you remember?" I asked her. She shakes her head.
"I… Oh, I was running, running for my life. He wanted to kill me" For a reason that made me feel unease. I frowned, watching her shake. I place the mug down.
"Rest now, no one will get you." For a reason, I pity her more. She is a victim of that woman. I wonder how bad the queen went with her.
She lies down, closing her eyes, moving her body painfully. I wish I could do more for her. I remember the days that I spent in bed because of the wounds.
"I should hate you, "I repeated again. She flutters her eyes open.
"Hate me? You keep saying that. Then do so. No one really liked me. Not even papa, after he remarried." She wipes her tear that rolled down her nose. I frowned, moving my hand, was about to stroke her hair, but stop myself from doing so. Retreating my hand, Mai suddenly takes a hold of my hand, her small fingers brush against mine, making me shiver a little.
"Help me, please. I will give you anything. Hate me if you want. I don't care. Just give me back my father," she hiccups, looking like a lost child.
"If you give me your body, I will do it." I stop at myself, analyzing my words.
'What the hell is wrong with me? I don't care about her body.' I thought, shaking my head. She nods her head.
"Anything." She offers.
"You sure gullible, you shouldn't sell yourself to a man." She shrugs, puffing her cheeks, dazedly opening her eyes to me.
"If it means to save my father. I don't care." I sigh at her, moving my hand, but in doing so she grasps it once again.
"What's with the touching?" I asked her. She looks up at me with innocent eyes.
"Please, promise me..."
"I'm a stranger; I was only fooling around with the whole sell your body to me," I told her, even though in reality I wasn't even thinking about it.
"Please." She begs again. I sigh, but then an idea seems to form in my head. . Revenge. Revenge that can get me the queen's head. I can use her.
"Fine, I will use you for my own gain," I told her the truth.
"Okay." She looks so defeated. I move to rinse out a towel and place it on her heated forehead.
"You won't remember this, okay," I told her. She nods.
"Alright. Remember that you promise me to help me," I suddenly place my hand on her small back and start to pat her.
"Sleep, princess, I'll keep watch. Nothing will harm you." I whispered to her. She suddenly moves closer to me, making me go tense.
"I'm no princess, please don't call me that. Apparently the moon heard my prayers. I will finally get my friend, I wish for. What's your name?" she asks. I frowned even more, looking down at her tender face.
"Oliver Davis," I answer her. She smiles, moving her hand in to grasp once again my hand.
"Oliver Davis. Sounds lovely. Please be my friend. Even if I don't remember this." She finally drifts back to sleep. I sigh, while Snow moves up to me, I look down at her and sigh even more.
"Well, God gave me a chance for revenge. I hope."
...
...
"It's been two days already. Her fever finally went down." Madoka glance at the princess wrap feet. I sat on the edge drinking some water and glance up at her.
"It has." I only said. Madoka wraps her hands on her bumpy stomach. Then walks up to me and winks.
"She's very beautiful, after that wash, the rumors are not a lie. Do you like her?" I gave her a dark stare, then I heard Snow running in the room, from the corner of my eyes, watch her jump on top of my bed, to lick her master face.
"No," I answer her. Madoka sighs in defeat, shaking her head.
"You will end up as a bitter old man. I hope, no pray that one day a woman will loosen up that cold heart of yours. Either way, I'm glad her fever went down, that's a good sign." I shrug at her, not caring, as my eyes betray me, watching the princess sleep, then before I could move away; she snaps her eyes open, taking a hold of her head. I heard Madoka breathe out, as I smirk a little.
'Bet she doesn't remember our conversation. That's good if she doesn't. Now, how do I approach her?' I wonder.
"She's up, thank God." While she sat on the corner. Fear shot through the princess deep brown eyes and jumps away from her, shivering in the corner, covering herself, only her eyes can peek through.
Her eyes stare at Madoka, and then her eyes landed on mine. I doubt she even took notice. I couldn't even look away from her. She is studying me, maybe remembering from the first day we met?
"Take it easy dear: you have been sleeping for two days now. Noll, please bring her soup." I remove my eyes away from Mai and nodded at Madoka. Then return my eyes back to Mai. Once again our eyes are locked. Like a fool, I felt pulled in by her profound brown eyes. Likes she's calling out for me. For a reason, it seems like, but Madoka interrupted my thought, breaking our spell, once again. I rip my eyes away from the woman and turned to get her food.
Upon reaching the first floor, I saw Lin putting more logs in the fire, to keep the soup warm. I grasp a bowl from the table and look up at him.
"She's awake." I simply told him. A smile passes Lin lips, looking relief.
"Good, now she can explain to us what happen. I feel bad for her." He admits, taking a seat. I pour the soup in the bowl and started to head up the stairs.
"Oh Noll," I heard, I stop midway, and turned to stare at him.
"Yes?"
"I beg you. While she's here please take good care of her. I doubt she'll be returning back home any time soon. Since she's closer to your age, you too can understand each other more." For a reason, I feel like a setup.
"Whatever." I groaned heading up the stairs, in doing so, I look down at the soup and frowned, as I saw my own reflection on the soup.
"Can I really use her? If I can. How far can I push her? Since she seems so broken… Oh man, no matter what, I'm screwed…"
Thanks for the reviews. Ha-ha, Naru point of view is different from Mai. I hope you all enjoyed it. Since Naru said he'll change things up. It won't exacly folow Mai point of view in most areas. lol.
Disclaimer: I Don't own anything.
