Savior (5 page)

              She blushed and smiled up at him. “Of course I will. Thank you again for letting me go shopping.”

              He nodded and smiled down at her. “I wasn’t about to let you run around with only one dress.”

              Alyssa paused for a moment and then decided to do something she never thought she would. The angel watched Marcus’s face carefully as she gently eased her hand into his. He was surprised but he didn’t pull away like she had thought he would.

              They walked through the forest slowly, both lost in their own thoughts. Alyssa again felt the strange sensation all around her, but this time it was more prominent.

              The air was thick with it and she felt it pressing against her skin. She pulled the cloak tightly around her and walked closer to Marcus. He looked down at her and smiled softly.

              “The cloak was a good idea.”

              Alyssa nodded. “It hides my wings well. Angie thought of it.”

              “It looks good on you.”

              “Thank you.” She blushed and looked away from him.

              As the forest gave way to the gently swaying field Alyssa felt the silence lifted from her. She watched Marcus closely. He was unlike any man she had ever seen. He was handsome beyond doubt but there was a certain mixture of sadness and anger in him that told her to keep her distance. She could sense evil in him as well and although she cared for him deeply, this evil terrified her. It was small and buried deep within him somewhere, but she could still feel it inside of him. It seemed to be waiting there, just below the surface, like a bear waiting for a fawn to walk past. Alyssa brushed it off and squeezed his hand gently. Nothing as wonderful as he was could ever be evil, she told herself. It had taken less convincing than she would have thought.

              Marcus walked alongside the angel through the peaceful forest. He caught himself glancing at her beautiful form from the corner of his eye. Alyssa strode gracefully beside him, curious about all the new things she had seen within his garden. Marcus abruptly locked his eyes forward and hastened his walk so that he would not have to endure the silence between them for so long.

              Thoughts of Jasmine invaded his mind as he thought about that fateful day so long ago when the only woman he loved was ripped away from him. He could still remember feeling a cold presence as he entered his home and the fear that whirled though his mind. The black dagger poised above her warm heart, the monster that held it hollow and emotionless. Marcus’s thoughts went back to the present as he again stole a glance at the beautiful woman walking beside him. Alyssa was not only physically attractive, but her innocence and compassion intoxicated his heart. How could he let himself become close to her, what if she came to meet the same fate Jasmine had? Marcus lowered his eyes to conceal the small tear that ran down his cheek and continued to walk in silence through the forest.

              She continued walking slowly and stayed by his side. Alyssa felt a sense of security in the shadow of this man. Although she had only known him for a short while she felt safe in his presence.

              Forest creatures came to greet them, many of which she had never seen before. She acknowledged each but continued walking. Her two bags were heavy and although she was grateful Marcus had offered to carry the rest of them she would have rather carried them all on her own. He had done so much for her already, it seemed unfair to ask him to do more.

              They walked over the gently rolling hills within the field and approached the cabin. Marcus politely held the door for her and followed Alyssa inside. Marcus took the bags and walked into the bedroom where he placed them atop the large bed. He smiled to himself as he glanced as the neatly folded dresses within them and stepped out to rejoin the angel in the living room. “It is getting late and you must be famished, I shall prepare a meal for us.”

              He did not wait to hear her answer before scurrying into the kitchen where he could quench his churning mind while he prepared the food. He quickly diced a few onions and set them in a pan to cook while slicing up a few vegetables. Marcus added water to the onions and let the broth simmer slowly while periodically adding various spices to the mix. Marcus retrieved another pot and set some water to boil while he finished preparing the carrots, celery, onions and broccoli.

              When the water had come to temperature Marcus added some pasta noodles to the pot and let them cook until firm. The onion soup had finished simmering so the fragrant broth was divided amongst two simply decorated bowls. The noodles were finished so Marcus tossed them with the veggies and placed the food upon stone plates and brought the finished meal to the table. Marcus set the dishes between sets of heavy silverware and poured some fresh spring water into the crystal glasses set at the table. Small portions of bread were set aside by each place and Marcus beckoned Alyssa to sit with him at the table.

              She was not in the living room but rather, emerged from the bedroom wearing one of her new dresses. Her cloak had been hung up and her long blonde curls lay in a haphazard pile atop her head. The dress was simple but elegant. The silk clung to her body as she walked toward Marcus.

              It was a summer dress and she should have waited until the seasons had changed to wear it, but the cooking of dinner had made the cabin too warm for her previous gown. The dress was white, as were all the others, but this one she had chosen as something to wear around only Marcus. It barely touched her knees and her pale shoulders were exposed. The dress felt cool against her skin and it was a welcome change from the weight of the earlier gown. She caught him looking and smiled. Alyssa had wanted to impress him. In her heart she knew that his intentions with her were not cruel and so she found no reason to hide behind layers of fabric. She was barefoot and her feet slapped against the wood floor as she walked toward him.

              Marcus looked up from the table setting as he heard her approaching. His breath caught in his throat as he realized she had replaced the gown he had given her with a very light and clingy summer dress. The delicate fabric hugged her gentle curves gracefully and he had to force himself not to gawk at her beautiful form. She approached the table and gently lowered herself into one of the oaken chairs while inhaling the various aromas emanating from the dishes in front of her. Marcus could tell she was somewhat apprehensive about eating the food before her, but he simply chalked it up to her not getting anything more than table scraps from Ruben. “I hope the food is to your liking, I am not sure exactly what angels like to eat so if there is anything else I could make for you, I’d be happy to.”

              She paused for a moment and smiled up at him. "All this is for me? I've never had this much food before."

              Alyssa sipped the soup and suddenly became overly conscious about her manners. Memories of

              Ruben's punishments flashed through her mind as she struggled over how to sit and how to hold the spoon in her fingers. She forced herself to take a deep breath and relaxed though as took another sip.

              "It's delicious Marcus," she said warmly. Alyssa paused and looked up at him seriously. "I actually don't know what angels eat either. I was taken from my mother before she could tell me." She shuddered at the memory but quickly eased it away with another spoonful of soup.

              Marcus dipped his spoon in the soup and slowly brought it to this mouth as he watched the angel across from him. She seemed to enjoy the soup somewhat, but she did not appear very hungry. “Well then, we will have to visit the angel city someday and find out what they like to eat, I am ashamed to say that I really do not know.”

              She looked up him with some sadness in her eyes. “I have been to the great city before, though I cannot say I have ever witnessed them consuming food.” Alyssa nodded at Marcus and continued to slowly sip the soup between her pink lips.

              "I was born there, but I have not been there in many years," she whispered. A single tear slid down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away. The pain of her parents quickly washed over her but she swallowed back the memories along with the tears that threatened to overcome her. "Why were you there? Ruben said only angels could go there."

              “I have been to many places over the years I suppose; I enjoy meeting different peoples, especially ones as intriguing as the angels. As for the human thing, well I suppose I have gotten to know a few of their kind and they graciously allowed me to venture into their grand city. I think you will really like it there Alyssa, not often have I seen a place of such beauty.”

              She smiled at him. "I'm sure I will Marcus.” Alyssa leaned back in the chair as she licked the last drops of soup from her lips. The bread was still warm in her hands and she took a small bite. Never in her life had she been given this much food. Although her stomach was full she still hungered for something else. She ignored the soft churning of her stomach as she always had and sipped the water.

              Marcus smiled as he watched Alyssa sip her soup and nibble at her bread. He wondered how she had such refined manners being a slave in Ruben’s manor. “Alyssa, I hope you do not mind my prying, but could you possibly tell me some things about your life? Do you remember your parents, how was it that you came to be a servant to that horrible man? I’m sorry if these questions are painful, you do not have to answer if you find it hard to.”

              She giggled and smiled at him as she began speaking, "When I was a newborn a woman found me in a tree. Her name was Madelyn and she raised me on cow's milk and honey cakes. When I was a very young child though the woman died and since I had no other family that I could remember I was given to her husband. They had long since split up and he was part of a traveling carnival that kept various other creatures."

              Alyssa paused sadly. "I made friends with the other creatures and felt like I had finally found a place I belonged with them. The staring and pointing from the people wasn't as bad as you might think and I was given food and a place to sleep each night. I shared my cage with a baby dragon that was the same age as me. He and I became fast friends and then the man bought a unicorn and I made friends with him too."

              Her eyes darkened and she wrung her hands nervously. "Then one day Ruben came to see us. I sang a little song and danced with the unicorn as the people watched. But he saw something else in me and offered the man forty silver pieces for me. The man quickly agreed and once Ruben saw the dragon he had to have him too. By the time he was done the dragon, unicorn, and I were in a wagon for the lump sum of 100 silver pieces." Alyssa leaned back in the chair and trembled slightly.

              "I was just a child and in my youth he let me play in the garden with the other creatures that were like me. I cleaned the floors, brought him dinner, and he treated me like a pet. He almost cherished me and insisted that I learn the finer things in life such as table manners and dancing." Alyssa’s voice trailed off to a numb whisper and she folded her arms over her stomach. Afraid of what Marcus’s gaze would reveal, she looked away. The memories had felt good to tell. He was the first human she had ever told and she hoped that he could be trusted with her secrets. Alyssa’s mind drifted to her friends; the dragon and the unicorn. They had been her closest allies through it all. Especially the dragon, he had become her best friend. Her fingertips remembered every curve of his body down to the last silver scale. She resisted the urge to cry as the memories overcame her.

              He digested her words for a moment and nodded at her. She appeared as if bringing the memories to the forefront of her mind was painful so Marcus decided he would alter the conversation. “Since you have told me something of yourself, it is only fair I do the same for you. My name is Marcus Atalicus Lakyle and I am a traveler. I was born in a faraway land called Larencia to noble parents. The sword which you see at my hip was made for me by the Elvin kin who have since taught me their craft. The stone in the guard is called argincite, a gem found only in the city of angels. During my travels there I had obtained a close relationship with a kind family who eventually gave me this stone. I decided to make my home within this gentle forest and here many creatures have had the grace to befriend me.

              The elves which you may have seen were once but a small family who had been separated from their kin when humans decided they liked the land their homes were on. Though the human world would consider this forest my property, I prefer to think of it as simply sharing the land with the elves. They are a fairly withdrawn and quiet people and sadly I do not know as much of them as I wish, that is why I try to read what lore there is concerning their people. I hope you can think of this place as your home as well