She was so soft, so smooth. Even her movements were like a slow dip into warm water when she stirred at his side. He felt a ripple of sadness that he'd awakened her, she was so beautiful when she slept. But she was so beautiful now too, awake and looking at him. Too soon her gentle gaze fell to his wounds, the disgusting things ruining her lovely skin. He hated himself for it. Now she would run, hate him, fear him. He was repulsive. Why couldn't he still be so thick and beautiful as he had been before the magic came alive?
But she was still there, comfortably at his side.
Did he dare to hope?
Her petite muzzle stroked his cheek, and he froze in shock, afraid to move and break this beautiful spell. It's going to be okay. Alluring black eyes searched hers, confused, intrigued. Then her lashes fell, and something melted into him. He inhaled sharply and tensed. He fought the urge to pull away, jump to his feet and defend. As he'd been trained. But his muscles locked him in place.
It wasn't like the sudden pain of growth, bones shifting and pushing out of him a little more. No, it was... so soothing. A balm to his hardened heart. And as her magic flowed through him, finally silencing the dull aches that never left him and staunching the blood flow constantly leaking out of him, he was pulled closer to her. His forehead rested against hers, eyes closing, and his lips parted in a quiet sigh. Finally, his body was silent. So wonderfully silent.
She shifted, and he relinquished his embrace enough for her wings to stretch, change to something new, then pull over him like a soft blanket. He soaked in that feeling of comfort and care. And somewhere deep inside him, he knew someone had once cared for him before, prior to his time with the magician. The brutal training that had changed him, recreated him. But no name or face came to mind for that caregiver. Lost forever.
He twisted around, his head turning away from her to look over his opposite shoulder. Ah, but it was still there. Her healing could not remove the magician's brand on his flank. Perhaps only the magician himself could remove his claim on the young black stallion. Relinquish his ownership.
A light touch at his neck brought him around again, turning back to his beautiful healer. That should be better.
Since he could remember, he had been harsh. Sharp. Brutal. Temperamental. His anger always flared so quickly, raged so strongly. Today, with her, he was finally subdued. He was allowed to be someone else, just for today. Maybe the magician wouldn't learn of it. Or maybe he would be punished for it later. He was just thinking she might be worth it though, as his forehead once again laid against her bare skin at her neck.
She was like a beautiful memory. Something he'd had before, and yet had never known. So confusing. Had he or hadn't he ever had someone care for him? He thought maybe, back when he was massive with muscle and not a sickly skeleton with a sheer, black cloak. He couldn't remember missing his good looks before now. He wished he could be handsome for her. Would she have liked him? It didn't matter. He was a machine now; a tool, a weapon. A time bomb.
Maybe it was worth the magician's wrath to stay, to make a new memory of light for all the darkness that was he.
He shifted closer, meeting as much of her warm skin as he could. For once in his life, he thought, he was gentle and sweet. Because somehow it felt familiar and yet new, but he clung to that feeling as he passed his lips over her neck. Slow, light kisses, and warm breaths. He inhaled her scent, tasted her skin. When he reached her throat, he gave her a gentle, teasing little bite, just barely pinching to stir her nerves.
Just for today, he'd make a memory that would last him forever in the darkness.
But she was still there, comfortably at his side.
Did he dare to hope?
Her petite muzzle stroked his cheek, and he froze in shock, afraid to move and break this beautiful spell. It's going to be okay. Alluring black eyes searched hers, confused, intrigued. Then her lashes fell, and something melted into him. He inhaled sharply and tensed. He fought the urge to pull away, jump to his feet and defend. As he'd been trained. But his muscles locked him in place.
It wasn't like the sudden pain of growth, bones shifting and pushing out of him a little more. No, it was... so soothing. A balm to his hardened heart. And as her magic flowed through him, finally silencing the dull aches that never left him and staunching the blood flow constantly leaking out of him, he was pulled closer to her. His forehead rested against hers, eyes closing, and his lips parted in a quiet sigh. Finally, his body was silent. So wonderfully silent.
She shifted, and he relinquished his embrace enough for her wings to stretch, change to something new, then pull over him like a soft blanket. He soaked in that feeling of comfort and care. And somewhere deep inside him, he knew someone had once cared for him before, prior to his time with the magician. The brutal training that had changed him, recreated him. But no name or face came to mind for that caregiver. Lost forever.
He twisted around, his head turning away from her to look over his opposite shoulder. Ah, but it was still there. Her healing could not remove the magician's brand on his flank. Perhaps only the magician himself could remove his claim on the young black stallion. Relinquish his ownership.
A light touch at his neck brought him around again, turning back to his beautiful healer. That should be better.
Since he could remember, he had been harsh. Sharp. Brutal. Temperamental. His anger always flared so quickly, raged so strongly. Today, with her, he was finally subdued. He was allowed to be someone else, just for today. Maybe the magician wouldn't learn of it. Or maybe he would be punished for it later. He was just thinking she might be worth it though, as his forehead once again laid against her bare skin at her neck.
She was like a beautiful memory. Something he'd had before, and yet had never known. So confusing. Had he or hadn't he ever had someone care for him? He thought maybe, back when he was massive with muscle and not a sickly skeleton with a sheer, black cloak. He couldn't remember missing his good looks before now. He wished he could be handsome for her. Would she have liked him? It didn't matter. He was a machine now; a tool, a weapon. A time bomb.
Maybe it was worth the magician's wrath to stay, to make a new memory of light for all the darkness that was he.
He shifted closer, meeting as much of her warm skin as he could. For once in his life, he thought, he was gentle and sweet. Because somehow it felt familiar and yet new, but he clung to that feeling as he passed his lips over her neck. Slow, light kisses, and warm breaths. He inhaled her scent, tasted her skin. When he reached her throat, he gave her a gentle, teasing little bite, just barely pinching to stir her nerves.
Just for today, he'd make a memory that would last him forever in the darkness.
