Zeven was trapped once again in his dreams. This time, instead of seeing through the memories as the young boy, Zeven was merely a shadow. Seeing without feeling. He watched as the woman sat young Zeven on her lap at the piano bench. He must have been seven at the time.
The woman put her arms on either side of him and began playing as young Zeven played the keys in the middle, together it was a complete melody. And when it was over, the woman praised him. Running her hands through his hair and holding him tight.
As Zeven looked on he felt an intense crushing feeling in his chest. All that he had ever wanted was to be loved and praised just like that. He had been searching for it even when his mother had been alive. It killed him that he couldn't feel the warmth of her anymore. The only thing left were his memories and those served only as a cruel reminder of what once was and what would never be again.
The dream distorted again and even though he knew it was coming, that didn't stop him from flinching as the door of the cottage flew open. Zeven wanted to close his eyes to the new scene, but he couldn't look away. He watched as the young Zeven was dragged outside. Then the world began growing black in all the areas that the younger Zeven couldn't see.
The men swarming the cottage were his father's. And they were there for a reason that the younger Zeven didn't know and that the older Zeven couldn't forget. Screaming came from inside the house and both versions of Zeven fought tooth and nail to get to the woman.
Eyes flying open, Zeven caught Chris's hand in a vice grip. Springing upright, he threw Chris back knocking the wind out of her. Chris couldn't breath, let alone make a sound as Zeven pinned her down to the couch. She looked up into his eyes and saw that they were wild and unfocused. She had frightened him, and even though he was the one on top, she could tell he was more afraid than she was.
Slowly trying not to rile him up further, she managed to get her hand free. Bringing it up to his face, she cupped his cheek. His eyes seemed to come more into focus, but they still weren't seeing what was truly in front of him. "Aureile?" his voice was strained and low. He leaned his head into her hand, taking most of his weight off her, he sat back. He was still straddled on top of her, but now there were no hands dangerously close to her neck. "Is that you?" He looked on the verge of tears.
Chris found herself nodding at him, still unable to form words. His hands clutched desperately at the hand on his face, not ready to let the warmth leave. "Aureile… I'm… sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry." Tears now streamed down his face, falling as he kept repeating "I'm sorry." Chris knew that he was still caught in a dream, but couldn't stay still. Taking her other hand she wrapped it around him and pulled him down into an embrace. He seemed so small enveloped in her arms. She told herself she was only returning the favor from last night, but this definitely felt different. Maybe because Zeven wasn't actually talking to her, but whatever the reason Chris held him tightly.
Zeven slowly stopped apologizing, but the way he clung to her didn't change, he held on as tightly as before. Even as he fell back to sleep he didn't let her go.
Out of the corner of her eye she spot Gunter standing by inlet to the kitchen watching them. He was quietly looking at them, nodding his head to Chris once he realized he'd been seen. "I'm impressed. He almost never goes back to sleep after an outburst like that."
Chris felt her cheeks flush again. She felt like she had been caught in a very intimate moment.
Gunter walked closer so that they wouldn't be needlessly loud and wake Zeven."What do you intend to do now?"
"I doubt I can move without waking him."
"You would be correct in that assumption. So do you plan on staying there or getting up?" There was more to the question than what it sounded like.
"He doesn't get much sleep does he?"
"Not at all. And it is either at an inopportune time or in an inopportune place."
Chris glanced at Zeven. He was still asleep and showed no signs of waking.
"Does he have episodes like this often?"
Gunter looked down at Zeven somberly, "Yes."
"I haven't heard any."
"Whose room is right next to his?" He trailed off, "However, they have been less frequent since your arrival."
Chris absentmindedly ran her fingers through Zeven's hair, twirling and combing it as she thought. "I'll probably stay like this for awhile. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to sleep as well. If not, at least Zeven is quiet for a bit." Chris gave Gunter a half-smile, as her own eyes grew heavy. Suppressing a yawn, she turned back to Gunter once more. "Sorry about the table, I know it's a mess."
Gunter didn't say anything, but he did lean over and touch her head affectionately before doing the same to Zeven. "Have a good rest. Both of you."
Chris closed her eyes and did not see Gunter leave, but she heard as his footsteps grew softer and softer until she could no longer hear them at all. She soon fell back to sleep herself, not even trying to fight it before it consumed her.