~~**~~
It was already dusk before Light knew it, and he realized he needed to find shelter before Ana lost too much blood and died on his account. During his search, he happened to spot a cave, it was even big enough for the carriage and their horses to fit.
After he got them in, he sealed the cave but not completely. It was just enough to cover their aura's and to get enough air. After he made torches, he lit them up and placed them on the walls and headed for Ana and sat next to her. Whiles holding her, he realized she was trembling. "Ana? Ana you with me?" Though she was in a lot of pain and felt weak to do anything, she was able to muster small sounds and words.
"L-Light?"
He took his fingers and brushed the strands out of her sweaty and pale face. Caressing her cheeks with affection, he said "You're in a cave. We got ambushed and your father demanded that I leave with you and go to Ustedrias to find a man named Ur." As Light spoke, he traced circles around her arms with his fingers trying to keep her warm as she shivered.
"Wh-What? But why didn't" she coughed "you s-stop him from sending m-me away?" she shivered violently which caused Light to hold her closer to keep her steady.
"I tried Ana, but, he's a stubborn man. He said that his son was already kidnapped and his wife is dead. He couldn't risk anything happening to you...and neither can I." he said it with such passion, such intensity and seriousness that Ana laughed for a while but ended up coughing up blood.
"Shit!" Light cussed as he ripped a piece of his shirt and wiped her mouth. Suddenly he felt warm tears touch the tips of his fingers, the color of the sky when reflected on water. "Please Ana, stop crying."
"I-I can't. I've miss my dad for what feels like a lifetime, I miss my brother; that cheeky lil son of a man whore" she laughed as she wiped a tear. "and my mom...I miss her so damn much." Ana cried uncontrollably whilst Light comforted her. She held onto him, her tears staining his shirt leaving light blue stains. Her grip on his shirt increased every minute as she sobbed harder.
Without hesitation, Light held her tighter with his right hand bringing her closer to his body and with the other, he stroked her on her head. "Shhh now. I promise you, your father will be fine and we will find your brother." She lifted her buried face from his shirt and stared into his Hazel eyes and found comfort. They stayed there, looking at each other and she felt the heat rise to her cheeks. Embarrassed she lowered her head, but Light lifted it up with his finger on her chin.
His face was a mere four inches apart. He rubbed his thumb on her chin. "I swear Ana, by my life..." he looked at her with fierceness.
"You already made that promise, Light. And...I'm sorry for the way I've-"
"You don't need to apologize for anything, Ana. At least not now but I promise you, we will get through this whole charade."
Ana gave a weak and appreciative smile and coughed afterwards violently. Light had to hold her in place.
"Okay... seems like we have to get these arrows out." He said amazed that she was still alive, but then again she was a tough cookie.
Ana was so numb she didn't even notice that the arrows were still in her until she looked down. "Ana, I'm going to take out the arrows now." Light said examining them.
"What! You were supposed to take them out long before you dumb a-Ahhhhh!" she yelled as he moved one. He gave her an apologetic smile and mouthed "Sorry." She scowled at him, took the arrow and nearly stabbed him in the hand.
"Woah there honey, you taking your anger out on me is gonna make situations worse for you," he chuckled as he made an attempt to move the other one.
She growled and he yelped. "Woah, down crouching tiger!" she chuckled but then hissed like a provoked snake. Her sharp nails dug into his left arm allowing blood to sneak it's way to the surface. Light thought his arm would be severed by her nails as it dug deeper. When he got the arrow out Ana still held onto his hand.
"A-Ana" he winced in pain. Ana looked up at him confused as to why his face was in such a manner. "You can let go now...please." she looked at him and then her fingers.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" she apologized.
"Are you alright?" Light asked with concern.
"Yeah I'm fine." she answered, her voice hoarse and in dire need of water.
Light's head snapped in her direction and his eyes danced with laughter. "Oh n-not you Ana. I meant my arm. I thought it'd be severed by your nails." She looked at him flabbergasted and punched him. "Damn, cookie you still got strength?"
"Shut up," Ana replied as she rolled her eyes.
Light laughed as he took alcohol from his satchel since they were low on rubbing alcohol in the storage rooms back home. He opened it and poured it gently on her wounds.
"The fuck!" she cussed and yelled as if she were in labor.
Light looked at her stunned, "Come on Ana, I know you have some more decent words to say ah?" he teased as he placed some green herbs on it to heal faster and bandaged it.
"Light..." she said sweetly battering her eyes.
He looked at her confused, "Yeah...."
"Pay chou, moukak!" she cussed him in French-creole, her face burning red with anger. Light watched her half confused yet knowing she'd cussed him. She remembered her mother said that to Simion when she was fed up of his whining when he had to wash the dishes. As the little memory came pouring out like a ray of sunshine she smiled warmly and laughed. Light looked at her weirdly but said nothing shaking his head as he grinned.
An hour later, Light sat in the carriage across from Ana who was now laying down on the make-shift bed he'd made. In the silence as he sharpened his tools, Light watched every detail she possessed. The way her hair fell on her face, how her chest slowly rose and fell when she breathed and her lips. He licked his and his Adam's apple bobbed as he gulped, he felt beads of sweat on his face. Light's eyes traversed down her figure and watched how tightly her fists were clenched. He looked at them and immediately looked at her face. Her eyebrows were scrunched as her head turned from side to side.
As her movements grew more violent, he walked over to her and knelt beside her. "Ana?" he asked gently as he held her hand.
"Mmm. No...please don't. Mom! Mom!"
"Ana? Ana come on love, wake up."
"N-No! Please...please." Ana kept shifting uncontrollably as beads of sweat gathered on her forehead.
"Ana come on...wake up."
"No, no no. Please?! Please don't! Ahh!" Ana's eyes shot open as she struggled to breathe. She looked at Light and he smiled sadly.
"You okay, Ana?"
"Yeah...yeah I'm okay."
"You sure? That didn't look like...you seemed..."
Ana got up and swung her legs around so she could face him and chuckled dryly. "I guarantee you Mr. overprotective, I'm fine. It was just a dream."
"You know...we may not get along most of the times Ana, but...I'm here for you. Whatever you need, whatever you want to talk about...I'm here. No matter how ratchet," Ana began to laugh, "you may be sometimes. I'm gonna try my best to tone it down a bit."
Ana smiled and looked into his eyes with water pooling in her eyes. "Thank you."
"Yeah no problem."
After a few seconds, Ana broke down again only this time shivering uncontrollably. Light hugged her and rubbed her back until she quieted down. "Ana... you should get some rest. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow...sleep okay?." He gave her a small smile. She merely stared at him for five seconds and nodded before going back to sleep.
When he turned around to leave, she held his wrist. "I know this is asking a lot but...stay with me?"
~~~
Morning came and the suns rays managed to squeeze it's way through cracks in the seal lighting the place up. The soft chirping of birds and the sound of the rustle of leaves filled the air. Ana woke up to find her wounds healed but replaced by terrible scars.
As she got up and stepped out of the carriage still drunk on sleep and hungry, she found that she was the only one including the horses- who knelt silently as they slept in the cave. She walked around the carriage looking for Light, amazed as to how the carriage was able to fit in the process but she couldn't find him.
"Light..." she muttered and sighed heavily closing her eyes.
Ana turned to face what seemed to be an entrance and as she walked towards it slowly, the horses neighed startling her. For a brief moment she walked towards them cautiously, as she attempted to calm them down with her singing and the touch of her hands.
Bring forth the morning, bring forth the sun.
Bring forth the chalices for winter has come.
Dance in the evening snow, dine in the night.
Bring forth the chalices for winter has come.
One of them snorted gently as they gazed into her eyes enchanted. "There that's it. There, there. It's alright...there, there," she smiled at the one who snorted and ran her fingers along his body.
"Okay guys, I have to leave to go and look for Light now and...possibly to get some fresh air." They neighed again as they watched her inch her way towards the seal with worry in their eyes. She saw it as clear as day. "Don't worry guys...I'll be fine I promise. See you soon."
Ana walked towards the entrance and with all her strength, she held onto a crevice on the rock and pulled it aside. "Woo! Talk about security."
She took a step outside the safety of the cave and the rock slid over to seal the cave once more. Ana did a three-sixty turn scanning the area. "Where could that obnoxious manwhore be?" she walked towards the sea of plush green trees as the branches swayed at the will of the wind.
'Well he's not a man whore to be exact, Ana. He did it for a...somewhat worthy cause whereas Simion was enchanted by the Sméagol whore.' As Ana spoke to herself absent mindedly, she hadn't realized how far she'd ventured away from the cave. She came to realize that by the help of strange voices being whispered in the trees.
'You're not safe here, half breed.'
'Leave, you're in danger.'
'One of the persons whom you know of is not to be trusted.'
One by one the voices came out loud and clear, warning her. She spun around to the direction each came from, chills running down her spine continuously and finally she asked. "How do you know this? Who are you?"
'We know and see everything in this forest child, and we've been here before the existence of men and have foresight.' the voices said in unison.
Ana saw movement in one of the trees and followed it. "How can I be so sure that you're not lying
to me?"
'That is for you to decide, Princess.'
Ana almost laughed at the title given to her. "Princess?" she countered, and scoffed. "I am no Princess, I am a mere 'half-breed' just looking for her companion. Do you know where he is, or are you that useless you can't tell me?" She teased. A laugh ruptured everywhere and nowhere at the same time, as the wind blew a bit fiercely. Ana saw a flash of a woman with green moss hair mixed with brown, gold eyes and flowered clothing.
'I warned you, whatever happens after this is your fault.' Don't say I didn't warn you but stay alert.' and for a few seconds, the place grew still. The trees' branches stopped swaying, the leaves stopped dancing and the bird's stopped chirping. As if on cue to the already haunting situation, she felt a presence behind her. Before she could retaliate, a hand clasped her mouth shut and another hand shoved her figure into what seemed a hard build.
Ana tried to break free but his grip was like iron. On repulse remembering her training, she held onto the the arm which had the hand that blocked her mouth and quickly positioned her left leg behind it and assailant's leg bent in response. As he lost his balance, his grip on her waist loosened and before she could go tumbling down with him, she moved his hand from her mouth and held it as he fell face front onto the ground.
Ana brought his hand behind his back and straddled him. With her left hand, she grabbed his hair and lifted his head only to end up banging it twice into the ground harshly. There was a faint cracking sound, it could be fatal but right now she didn't care. "Who the fuck are you and what fucking stunt did you try and pull?" she asked, still grabbing his hair and ready to do a couple more bangs.
"Damn Orchid...seems like that trainings done you well." Not a moment later, blood was being spat out. Hearing the voice and the word 'Orchid' Ana got up quickly and knelt beside him.
"Holy shit, Gray! Why the fuck did ya have to scare me like that, I could've fucking killed you!" she yelled in shock and anger.
"Haha. Sorry babe," Gray said as he struggled to get up. Ana helped him up, feeling a pool of guilt settle in her stomach. "Next time, warn me not to surprise you..." he wiped blood from his broken nose and he chuckled. " I don't think I'd want anything else being broken after my nose."
Ana laughed along with him and hugged him and he did the same squeezing her. "But wait-" She broke the hug and stared into his eyes, "How'd you find me?" Gray's expression changed from happy to pensive. When he didn't say anything, she looked at him suspiciously and took a step back watching him.
"I-uh-ha."
Her stance made him automatically uncomfortable and she could see that, but she didn't waver. Ana had her own suspicions and right now, she started to consider what the Fae told her.
"Gray?"
"I followed you guys," he finally said with a heavy sigh. He stared behind her for a brief moment and shoved his hands in his front pockets.
"Okay..."
"When I was on my way home, I-the castle was under attack and...by the time I came running back I saw a carriage rushing into the woods. So I followed it."
"Why didn't you show yourself sooner? We-"
"Not with that son of a bitch around, hell no. He would have turned me away." He walked up to Ana and held her by the shoulders, "That's why I had to get you alone."
Ana looked into his eyes and slowly nodded. "Okay well...maybe...maybe I-I can talk to him and try to-"
"No!" Ana looked at him startled at his tone. He chuckled when he saw her expression. "God no, Ana. I don't want him to find out I-I just....come with me." He held her hands and searched in her eyes for her answer.
"What! Why?" Ana laughed dryly.
"I-I don't trust him, Ana. Before I came to find you, I saw him talking to someone not too far from here." With that Ana's eyes grew wide and she stumbled back. Gray's talking increased in tone and speed. "I think he's going to sell you out to someone and leave Andarios for good. He's going to betray you and your father, that's why you have to come with me now. You're not safe with him, Ana. Please."
Ana looked shocked and confused at the same time as she averted her eyes. Was he telling the truth? Would Light betray her like that? Her father trusted him enough to make him her personal bodyguard. Sure he maybe did some devious things in the past by the way her father talks to him but she didn't think he'd do her that. She may not like him as much, but she felt safe around him and he'd promised to protect her.
Ana looked into Gray's eyes again and thought about what the Fae said.
'One of the persons whom you know of is not to be trusted.'
Could it be Light or Gray? Ana felt like pulling her hair out. She didn't like this...choosing between people. Then an idea struck. She turned around and closed her eyes breathing in and out evenly. When Gray touched her shoulder lightly, she turned around and out a magnum fixed blade across his neck; her eyes deadly.
He looked at her and laughed. "Damn." Gray stepped back and continued laughing as he spun around and stopped in front of her. "They were right. Haha, they were fucking right."
Ana furrowed her eyebrows which only made him laugh more. "Who was right? I swear if u don't tell me--"
"What? You gonna kill me? You know, your kind is an abomination to this one. All you Demons, Angels, Werewolves, Vampires...half-breeds. Because of you scum none of us can live without watching our backs fearing for our lives. Especially the mother fucking blood suckers. But you know..." he said with a mischievous smile as he took a step closer despite the knife at his throat. "I was offered a very good bounty for your head."
"Stay the fuck away from me. You lying son of a bitch you used me!" she seethed raising her blade higher.
"You were gullible sweetheart. See, I had to find the right time to plant my potion into your system and when you were showing signs of being tipsy? That was gold." Silence wrung in the air as Ana kept her knife trained to his throat. Her heart throbbed in her chest. Light was right.
"You're not gonna hurt me, Ana. You're too weak, you don't have the guts to. At least...your mother wasn't." Ana pushed the blade into his skin and he winced. He walked away from her-a good five feet and faced Ana again.
"Your mother and that stupid organization killed my mother because they heard rumors of her being a witch. She was in charge of the group sent out to kill my mother and no matter how much she pleaded, your mother didn't listen. She and her fucking organization killed my father and brother after killing my mother, fearing they were also involved in the cult. That's where me wanting to kill you comes in. I'm gonna make you atone for her sins! "
"Don't mention my mother, you bastard!"
Gray simply smiled and in one swift motion, pulled out a dagger and flung it after her. She easily dodged it, and later sent him a provoking smile and a smooch. That angered him more. One after the other he launched daggers until one hit her square in the thigh. Ana cried in pain and his face brightened up, exposing his sadistic nature. Whiles Ana was preoccupied with the pain, he ran into her knocking the breathe out of her as she fell on her back and he straddled her.
"You," he punched her in the face "Fucking," he punched again "Whore!" As he prepared to give Ana another one, she caught it with her free hand and spat blood in his face.
"How do you know I'm a whore. I never gave you my pussy." Ana punched him in the nose and she heard it crack. Blood flowed like a river down his lips reaching his neck. With that chance, she grabbed him by the shirt and head-butted him.
Gray whined in pain and fell off of Ana. She scurried to her feet as she watched him eventually kneel down holding his head. Walking up to him, Ana grabbed his head and rammed her knee into his face. "That's for my brother," she gave him another, "that's for my father" and another one "and that's for my mother." His head slumped down in surrender but she wasn't done. She had a lot of pent up frustration and him mentioning her mother?
Ana gave him an uppercut, which sent him flying and landing on his back. "Bulls eye!" She said when she say three front teeth along with blood escaping his mouth. She walked over to him, grabbed him by his hair and dragged him in the dirt as if he were nothing. As she stopped in front of a rock, she lifted him up and banged his head five times against it.
The last time she did it, his skull split in two and blood came gushing forth like a fountain and Ana bathed in it. She continued to beat him and when she was satisfied she flung him to the side and sighed heavily. "That was for me mother fucker," and she spat on him. All this happened and Light hadn't come back yet. She sat there waiting for him, covered in blood. Five minutes later and she heard footsteps and a figure emerging from the belly of the trees. Light was carrying two bunnies in hand, but he hadn't noticed her yet.
"Where the fuck have you been?" she asked as she used her knife to peel the skin off of a branch to kill time.
"Ana, the fuck! You're covered in--" his eyes traveled to the body which laid limply three feet away from her. "Ana, what did you do?" he asked worriedly, horror spelt on his face.
"The fucker planned to kill me all along. He stalked us Light." She said looking at him fiercely but hinting she wanted to cry and she averted her eyes to the sky. "He called me a whore, and he mentioned my mother. Shouldn't have done that. He claimed my mother killed his family and I had to atone for her sins." Ana kept skinning the branch faster and rougher than before, tears falling down her cheeks. "So I killed the fucker, he deserves to be dead."
Light looked at her, then at Gray and back to her. He sighed relieved that nothing had happened to her. "Well, remind me never to mention your mom or piss you off again Ana." he laughed in an attempt to make her happy and she was. Cause she laughed harder than him. As they sat to eat she punched him.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"That was for leaving me alone in the cave, without knowing where you went."