Ink

My fingers dig into the soft fabrics of my white dress, pressing the bunched up textile against my chest. Heat radiated from my cheeks and ears, I could hear the rapid heart beat in my ears and feeling it trying to burst from my chest. I felt so vulnerable, so exposed to him and I knew that it wasn't even much. I wanted to call him a liar, but I held my tongue. He did not have the ability to lie because he just with held additional, important information, something ingrained into his very nature.

I didn't need to see his amused expression, it bore into my bare back. He was mildly entertained with my nervous embarrassment but he didn't speak a word of it. I focused my gaze forward staring at the maroon fabrics, various moss green and yellow pushed pillows that laid onto of furniture while trying to ignore the touch of the bristled brush and smooth liquid.

I jumped, startled if anything more flushed at the feel of his lips brushed against my bare shoulder. This time he has a low rumble of a chuckle. "Just relax love." I couldn't help but think it was easy for him to say as I swallowed thickly. Curling in my dress a little tighter, I shuddered at the touch of the cool, copper red liquid. I could only imagine what markings he was laying on my skin; markings that would only be visible for a few days, before fading away like a henna tattoo. But the markings would still be permanently etched into my skin, there was no way to get rid of them and there was always the possibility of them reappearing.

He moves loose pieces of my hair that managed to escape my braid away from from the nape of my neck and continued his work.

Protection and bondage. These are what the markings provided. Protection from any malicious harm that could be send my way and being bonded to the very person who worked on my back. I could only associated this with some type of marriage ritual but magic worked within the liquid concoction. I almost could feel strands of my soul being weaved together with his. I all ready felt like I wouldn't be able to stomach another man's intimate touch.This was dangerous, what we were doing. Being bonded to in such a way when we all ready lived two words apart? Did he really have so much faith in the future that may or may not come?

My heart rate increased when his toned, muscled arms wrapped around my waist pulling me a little closer. Kisses littered my back, I couldn't resist a shutter of pleasure at the feel of warm lips. I stuttered his name to catch his attention. "Can I cover my back now?" I requested meekly, desperately wishing to cover myself.

I felt his warm breath behind my ear. "No."

"Aren't you done?"

"No." There was a smug tone in it that did not signal anything fortunate for me. Somehow he managed to turn me around to face him. I felt so small compared to his tall, muscled form that just engulfed me every time. "There's also your front to deal with."

If even physically possible, I blushed even harder staring up into dark his gold eyes searching for an signs of a twinkle of a joke.  But I was only distracted with my head being pulled close and his mouth covering mine. He only exchanged slow kisses; gentle, and reassuring. They were enough to sweep me into a haze of not thinking but only feeling.

Eventually I can't resist his charms any longer and allow him to do what he needs to finish. Marking where ever he needed on my body to complete the contract amongst the comforting caresses and kisses. I am his and only his; I belong to no one else.

Finally I was able to fix my dress properly around my body again, feeling more comfortable with the familiar fabrics against my skin. I made a small sound when I felt pressure on my left shoulder, and tried my best to tilt my head without bumping into his face and see past my now loose locks. "Remember no sunlight for at least a day."

"Even physically?" I couldn't hep inquire. I thought about all the places that he marked and considered what the next day was. I would be in my work clothes 'till sunrise to sunset and they would indeed cover every spot.

"Yes." He paused for a moment. "And there will be slight side affects but they will only last about a week."

I glance wearily at him at the notion of side affects. before lightly leaning my head against his. "And you? Do I something similar to you?"

He made a sound of agreement his finding their way around my waist again. "The sooner, the better but take your time love. I don't want to rush you through all this," he murmured, surprisingly me slightly with his last comment. I start to lean back to rest against him, letting him readjust to my new position.

I could only dwell on what was just completed and consider, was what we did a mistake?

Is it a future? Or merely a dream?

There is a girl, such a beautiful child she is.

A smile, bright as the sun, dawns her lips and light cerulean eyes twinkle like the stars. Straight locks fall over her shoulders stopping at her hips and each strand black as the night sky. Her clear skin a light caramel contrasting against the darkness of her hair and the light hues in her eyes. A flowing, alabaster colored dress covered her form held together with the thin straps hanging from her bare shoulders and another pair of straps wrapping behind her neck. Gold jewelry adorned her wrists in numerous thin bracelets, with a match pair of small hoop earring clinging to the lobe of her ear.

She danced amongst the field of sunflowers, pure laughter filling the air that could sooth any wound. I could only watch admiringly at her child innocence, and my chest swelling with happiness. She approaches, eyes wide and hopeful, reaching out her thin arms. I sweep her into my arms, clinging to her, afraid she was going to disappear from my very eyes.

Please tell me that this is not just a dream.

Captive

I don't know how long I've been here but it feels like an eternity. Normally I would be grateful to have the open room empty as it is now, but I found that I no longer care. I no longer have the strength to fight off those vicious little thistle-like fae nor fight off my captor who enjoyed every beating, and torturous session he had with me. He was cruel, we all knew he was. Cruel, spiteful, clever and thrived in his insanity. I don't know how many times I screamed, cried when I was alone, and just begged that someone would find me and save me from this prison. Sometimes I found myself wishing I would just die but that wouldn't do. I was precious, I was needed for what crazed blood ritual he was planning. He needed me alive, but that didn't mean in perfect health.

I was positive that my skin was discolored in every place of my body. The lacerations throbbed constantly reminding me that they were present along with my wrists that were raw from the metal bindings. Any movement cause excruciating pain, probably from broken bones, indicating just how shattered my body had become. Not only just broken but filthy as well. My long hair greased with to much natural oils, and blood, tangled into numerous knots. The once snow white gown that adorned my form was now shredded, faded into a dirty grey with large spots of dried blood that ran to the floor and stained the stone as well.

I exhaled. I could see my breath become a mist before fading away. It was always cold in this huge open room. Probably once a glorious ball room now darken, destroyed for his purposes. Few rays of moonlight shone down through the glass ceiling but they no longer provided comfort.

Oh, how I wish someone would just take the pain away.

Finally there was sound, movement. The doors clattered open loudly echoing with shuffling, yelling and the sound of the metals chains. With what little strength left, I slowly rolled my head to the side to watch the scene. Two guards dragged a young woman over to part of the etched circle, binding her wrists to the chains from the floor. She was yelling, demanding that they let her go, struggling in what ever way possible but the guards were to strong. I could practically see myself in her place when I first arrived, doing everything in my power to get free.

Once firmly secure the guards left, hard sparing a glance my way. The doors clattered again indicating that they had left. The young woman, the more I observed her, looked strikingly familiar. But I couldn't recall who through the haze that gripped my mind. But I could see her blue-green eyes staring at me with absolute horror, and her lips moving. What was she saying? It was to hard to focus anymore.

Slowly I blinked. Did she say sister? A moment of clarity came and I finally knew why she was familiar. 'Sister....' I confirmed before closing my eyes, falling into the darkness.

*

I woke to the sound of noise, the sounds of the doors opening, but I didn't bother to open my eyes. I knew what was coming when the doors opened with such force. If I could just slip back unconscious maybe...

I cried out when I felt my upper body suddenly lifted in a pair of arms, pain sweeping over every inch of my being. Muscles contracted, automatically embracing what was to happen next. Except what normally happened next, didn't happen but something unexpected. A hand slipping gently against my cheek, cupping it, and slowly moving my head to face forward. All I could hear was soft, disbelieving whispers of my name being repeated. "Open your eyes."

Following the command, I struggled to open my eyes enough to see through them. At the sight I saw, I just wanted to cry with happiness. "Taran," I whispered meekly staring up into his golden hues. He leaned down, pressing his forehead against mine, feeling him cradle my battered body against his.

I felt my chains lifted from the ground, the sound of metal clashing against each other before my wrists felt incredibly lighter. "We need to get out of here before he knows what's happening," another voice floating in the background. 

I could feel a tightening of his grip. "I'm sorry, please bare the pain a little longer," he whispered across my face before I felt my entire body lifted up. I didn't last long against the pain, falling back once again into the darkness.

Dream: Blades

Somehow we came across each other, somehow we met again.

She passed by muttering an insult in my direction for reasons I do not know, but her words made me freeze. I could see a memory flashing before my eyes from a past life I'm assuming, in black and white, and the same exact words were said to me by someone who wanted to hurt me, an enemy. And enemy of what, I couldn't remember.

Noticing that I had reacted to her comment, she paused herself. Her eyes lingered on my form, observing me with more intensity than before. Suddenly her lips curled into a unsettling smile as if she had finally realized who I was.

Events whirled by and the both of us ended up in the same room with a large table placed in between us. She seemed delighted that we were finally alone together without any other witnesses around. Her hand reached out, grasping a blade resting on the table. I cautiously stepped away from her and the table fearing for my life. She leaped over the table, the long blade firmly grasped in her hand and her body language screamed that she had years of experience of combat with blades. 

Our exchanges happened so fast; majority of the time I was trying to grab her arm or block by redirecting her thrusts. She did managed to slice me in a few places; one on my arm, another on my face cutting from the end of my eyebrow and close to the corner of my eye, and another on my leg. She struck again, trying to stab while I barely managed to grab her wrist she pressed the blade down with her other hand. Slowly the blade went down digging into the web of skin between my thumb and index finger. I cried out trying my best to push her away and keep the blade from sinking further into my skin.

All of a sudden she pulled away and sliced horizontally towards my stomach. I screamed again.

I woke up feeling my heart beating fast, and instantly calling out for Taran frantically. It was second nature to reach out and call for him when I become scared or need comfort. He instantly responded, feeling him trying to comfort and smooth away my fears. It's been awhile since I've had a dream that neared a nightmare.