Chapter Ten - I Need Him

Chapter Ten – I Need Him

I quickly leaped off of Nara's back and tied her reins to a tree. Night had just fallen and the lights in the streets were the only things that allowed visibility in the town. I felt my way to the door and turned the knob, opening the door to a dimly lit room. Inside I could faintly see the outline of the kitchen; the stove, the table, chairs. I groped around in the darkness, trying to find my way and eventually found the door I was looking for.
“Mom,” I paused for an answer. “Dad, I'm home!” I heard my father grunt under the covers and saw my Mom lift her head. I went to their bedside and flung my arms around my mom. “Mom, It's me, Dante, I've missed you!”
“Dante?!” My mother lit the lantern by her bedside and allowed it to illuminate my face to get a better look. “My baby! You come home? Oh, how did you escape?”
“He let me go, Mom.” I hugged her again. I could feel the tears on her cheeks as her face brushed against mine.
“What's going on,” my Dad demanded as he arose. “Dante?!”
“Dad! It's me! I'm back!” I rushed over to hug him. It was the moment I had dreamed of for so long.
The next morning I awoke to a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon and strawberries and the look on Baymon's face was priceless when he walked in.
“Mom?” His voice was frantic.
“Honey, it's really her. She came back to us.”
“How did you get away?” He sat down in the chair beside me at the table. “Why didn't he eat you?”
“I don't know. He's actually very kind to me.”
“Kind?! Psh! There's nothing kind about a monster who wants to eat you.”
“But he didn't want to eat me! He protected me!”
“Hmpf! I don't know who your talking about, but that monster is no protector.”
“He's not a monster!”
“Stop fighting you too!” My mother broke in the conversation. “We should all just be happy Dante is still alive, regardless of why or how.”
“Sorry, Mom,” Baymon's apology was less than sincere. “I still don't believe it though.”
In town people were beginning to hear the news of my miraculous survival. I had several people come up to me with questions about how I escaped, and what happed, but I never uttered a word to them about Saeron. I was afraid of all the terrible things they would say about him. And there was no way I could convince them that he wasn't a monster.
I met up with a few friends in town and was shocked at the changes that had occurred while I was gone. People were now starting to use cars and most of my friends were getting or already married.
“I can't wait another day knowing I could be next to be sacrificed,” my friend Nolie was explaining to me why all the changes had occurred. “Besides, me and Drake both love each other very much. Have you thought of someone you'd like to marry Dante? You never know if you'll get sent back again. I'd hate for you to be unprepared.”
“I really don't have any one in mind.” With Saeron out of the picture there really was no one in mind. I would have liked to think I could go back to him. He was probably feeling alone right now without me, and really missed him. But he had wanted to me to stay away and besides that I couldn't risk the danger, even if I cared about him....could I?
“Dante?” My friends gentle voice knocked me back into reality. I focused on her voice to hear her clearly. “Would you like me to introduce you to a few bachelors?”
“That's nice of you, but I'd rather not,” I smiled warmly as I declined her offer.
“Alright, just let me know if you change your mind, hun.” I already knew that that wouldn't happen.
I sat at the water's edge of a lake staring blankly into the reflection it showed me: A blond haired girl with blueish gray eyes and a cream colored face. I was trying to forget what I saw in my minds eye, but the images were still vivid. Those yellow eyes would most certainly haunt me for the rest of my life.
I threw a stone in the water, attempt to skip it, but my attempt failed and the stone sunk under the surface. I sighed, not because of my failed attempt at skipping, but because of him. I knew I was going to miss it all. The nights I spent would seem empty with him sleeping beside me. The days would seem shorter without me waiting for him each second to come back. And I'd miss that gorgeous face, the face that no mere human could ever possess and those eyes that begged you to come near him, to fall into his arm and let his lips kiss you until your burning hot with passion.
I focused on the ripples, made by the stone, in the water. I couldn't take it! I was going mad without him. But I knew I couldn't risk going back no matter how much I wanted him. I had to convince myself it was for my own self reasons and that he'd live a happier life with me. Without me he'd be able to live in peace without the worry of losing control. He wouldn't have to be that monster he hated so much.
I found Nara grazing at the side of the house where I had left her. I pat her smooth two-tone colored hair and was temped to rub my head against it. I was starting to feel the affects. I was starting to miss him.
Nara must have felt the way I eagerly pulled her mane to my face, having stopped grazing completely. She nudge my should lovingly and I could help but smile and let out a chuckle. Her eyes glistened as the setting sun reflected in them. I rubbed the top of her head and kissed her muzzle before heading to the house feeling only a tad better.
At night it was worse. I kept waking up at late hours, hoping to find him laying beside me in human form rubbing my wounded side. It was healing nicely, but Saeron always liked to make sure I was comfortable, so when he became human he always rubbed my side in case it was hurting me. Tonight the pain from my side was gone, but a new pain arose in my chest. I wished he was there to comfort me, to tell me we could lively happily together forever, but that wasn't how it would be. I would never see him again.
I began to feel a piercing pain in my eyes and they suddenly became moist without control. I tried to keep back the tears, there was no reason for me to cry, but I couldn't stop them no matter how hard I tried. I rolled over on my side, wincing as I accidentally caused more pain. Looking out my window I saw the moon hanging so brightly in the sky, a painful reminder of him. I wondered what he was doing, and if he was thinking of me. Or perhaps he isn't. Maybe he's trying to forget so he doesn't have to feel this pain like I do. Maybe he's glad I'm gone, glad that he can be free and in control.
I tried to get to sleep, but between the tears and the pain I had from my side and the memories of him it was nearly impossible. I rolled over on my face in an attempt to shield myself from the view of the moon. Was his arm okay? Would he keep on the bandage I had given him?
I rolled over again, this time facing my door, still blocking my view from the moon. If Saeron were here I would fall asleep instantly. I wish he would come visit me, there's no reason why he has to stay in that temple. Unless that's part of the curse. Maybe that's why he always told me to stay near the temple because he couldn't come into town. But that's silly. He always wondered off into the jungle, I'm sure he would have had to go a good distance for me not to hear him. Perhaps it's because he knows the people at town would try to kill him. He could probably take on anyone he wanted to, but I can tell he doesn't like killing people, it's only that monster inside him that wants to kill. Then why is it he can't visit me while he's in his human form at night? I'm so tired! Why can't I just go to sleep! These questions in my head need to stop. And I have a feeling it wont get any better tomorrow night, nor will the pain. Maybe if I go see the temple priest I can get some answers. Since he picks who goes he probably can tell me a few things. The only problem is he might not tell me any information if he knows I got away from Saeron. He'll probably think our whole village will be slaughtered. He wont believe me when I saw Saeron let me go. I'm surprised no one was upset with me for leaving. I mean, I'm glad that their happy I came back, but aren't they worried me not being killed will cause a bad omen? Then again, Nolie did tell me something that utterly shocked me that could be the reason. It's been over a month, actually two months now and there have been no sacrifices. My only guess is that everyone in town is beginning to suspect that Saeron is either done killing or dead. No, that can't be it, after all Nolie and everyone else are getting married. I'm thinking too much. I have no idea why no one cares. He he, maybe they think I'm a super human. Nah, I need to sleep.
I laid on my back and looked at the moon one last time before closing my eyes. Before I awoke I had one very short dream. All I could remember was his face hovering over me as I lay in bed at the temple. I tried to reach out to him, but he moved further from me. I tried to call out to him, but words never came out, and then he was gone. I tried to get out of bed to follow him, but my body was paralyzed. Tears rolled down my cheek in my dream and then I awoke realizing I was both sweaty and crying.