ANCHOR IV

The scent of strawberries enveloped his nostrils. Embracing his nose like a long lost lover. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent. He could feel his body warming. It brought great comfort to his turbulent mind. And, for once, Pleiades refrained from interrupting his slumber.

Charles opened his eyes. He was rewarded by the greatest eye candy that a man like him could ever gaze upon. Her black hair spread all over his chest as she used it as her pillow. A smile bloomed on his face as delicately moved a strand of hair from her face. Almost as if she could sense his action, her embrace tightened with a small smile rising on her lips; her subconscious desire of keeping him by her side showing itself. Or that is what Charles assumed it to be.

He took another deep breath, inhaling her sweet scent. Like a calming draught, it relaxed him.

Fire used to be his comfort. Now, however, it was her. And, it will be her till his death.

It is still much too early to debate on such a topic, with that thought, he shook his head. After all, he could very well think the same of any future kids that their union will bring forth onto this world.

He counted himself amongst the most blessed men in all of history. For only, a blessed man could ever hope to hold the affections of a woman like Elena. No woman to ever walk upon this world, could compare to her; they never will.

“Be careful of your words, boy,” Pleiades' rough and ever grim voice interrupted his rosy thoughts. He had certainly mastered the art of picking the worst time to voice his thoughts.

“Words? They are my thoughts. Besides, who shall be hearing them, apart from you? Additionally, even you know that my words were not false,”

Laughter answered his question. Deep guttural laughter. A discordant harmony of noise. An emotion, he had assumed was unknown to him. However, it seems that Pleiades found humor in the absurd and serious. As if the man was not already a living contradiction, he had to continue outdoing himself.

“You have no clue, boy. No clue, at all. You have yet to see this world in its entirety. When you have. Only then, will you lose your rose coloured lenses and understand the graveness of your situation,” Pleiades spoke as his laughter subsided. His voice was ever more grave. More than ever before. He knew however, that this was not more than another attempt by Pleiades to dissuade him.

“Will you ever stop your attempts of dissuading me from loving her?”

Pleiades did not respond for a few seconds before he sighed, “No, I shall not. Even until my dying breaths, I shall continue to persuade you. One day, which will come sooner than you think, you will heed my words. But, when you finally do, it would have been too late.”

“I doubt that such a day, shall ever come in this life.”

“It will, for it is inevitable.” Perhaps for the first time since their meeting, Pleiades cut off their connection by his own choice. He had more questions about his cryptic words, however, if he did not wish to speak, Charles would not push him to. He seldom enjoyed talking with the man, as it is.

He felt Elena stirring from her slumber. He let a smile bloom on his face as she slowly awakened; his thoughts regarding Pleiades already shoved in the back of his mind; forgotten.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Your eyes have changed colors,” Charles paused before he could take a bite of his breakfast. A shame, for the breakfast was cooked by Elena. Changed colors, however? Now that was interesting.

His appearance had, admittedly, changed quite a lot since his bonding with Pleiades. Perhaps, it was a side effect of that?

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. They have changed colors. Your eyes used to be an electric blue. However, now they are a very distinct shade of dark blue. It feels like, I am staring into the deep ocean,” Had she not stated earlier that she had never seen an ocean? He remembered teasing her about it. Mayhaps, he remembered it wrong? Regardless, his heart swelled, all the same, at her words. For her to notice such a minute thing, it meant a lot to him. Clearly, a sign of her deep love for him. Surely.

Nevertheless, her words were equal parts, concerning. For his eyes to change color meant that their bond had not yet solidified. Pleiades had some explaining to do, once he graced Charles with his presence. The man could certainly hold a grudge.

“I will have to question Pleiades on that. He should surely have an answer,” Elena hummed at his words but spoke no more as she busied herself in devouring her breakfast. Their activities yesterday, intense as they were, must have drained her out.

“Can I ask you something?” Elena's sweet voice drifted through the air.

“Sure, inquire whatever is on your mind,” The words were spoken habitually as he polished his sword before setting out.

“Why did you have to kill Luthor and his kin?” Charles paused. It was an unexpected question. Yet, it was a valid one. He had, however, not expected Elena of all people to be questioning him about the incident. Liliana, yes, but Elena? Never. He should have expected it, though. Elena was a far too kind soul. Kind, to even those undeserving of her kindness.

“I did so because I had to. There was no other choice. The man was responsible for the deaths of my family,” Charles took a pause, as he debated on how to best explain his reasons to her.

Before, he could continue, Elena's harmonious voice interrupted him, “If it is too hard of a subject for you to share, then please, refrain from doing so. I do not wish for you to suffer any emotional harm.”

He shook his head and continued, “I, thank you for your concern. However, it is unwarranted. I would have to share this with you sometime in the near future. And, I prefer to do so, now,” His voice turned grave as he continued his story, “Their deaths were meant as a sacrifice for Pleiades’ awakening. The man had told me so, before I had gone to hunt down Luthor. To think, that he thought so little of their lives, made my blood boil! He is the reason for this…,” Charles paused trying to find the right word before continuing, “..curse. I had not wished to kill his entire family, however, I had been drowning in rage and I could not stop myself. Thus, they died. Just like my family.”

Elena did not speak. He took her silence as an answer. He got up, sword in hand, and made to leave the house.

“Where are you going?” She questioned, her voice sounding hoarse with a brief tinge of panic.

“Liliana had given me a potential lead regarding the whereabouts of my sister, a while back. I'm going to investigate it. You, stay safe, alright?” He did not look back at her. For he was afraid of her reaction to his reasoning of massacring Luthor's family. However, before he could leave the cabin, a hand gripped his bicep tightly.

His body was turned against its will by the sheer force behind the move. Before he could speak, his lips were enveloped by Elena’s. A taste of cherries filled his mouth as they kissed. It was a sweet and passionate one. Their hidden feelings, being expressed by this simple action. The kiss was short yet, to him, it would be forever unforgettable.

Breaking the kiss, she whispered sweetly and alluringly into his ear, “Return home safely and hastily to me, understood? I will have the sweetest of all rewards waiting for you, when you do,” She came down from her tiptoes and smiled at him alluringly.

He was too stunned to respond. Thus, he meekly nodded at her before leaving. He could already seldom wait for his return.

Unbeknownst, to him, something or rather someone was watching him keenly. Like a hunter observes its prey.