Aurora woke from her dream.
Wide eyed, she kept panting heavily as hot tears streamed down her cheeks. What she just saw in her dream scared her, perhaps a little too much. She wiped the tears from her eyes, and glanced at the open window that was opened because of the night wind.
She shivered, then gently she slipped away from her bed, and closed the window. She glanced around her small room, and chills ran down her back -- she was so frightened. She rushed to the door and left. Slowly, she walked bare footed towards the living room, still pondering over the dream that she had.
She has always been afraid of the night, because of those dreams that she was bound to have. Her eyes widened at the sight of a familiar person at the divan, reading one of Annika's poetry books.
"Zander?" she said barely in a whisper. He looked up at her.
Zander smiled and closed the book, "I was wondering when you will wake" he said.
Aurora smiled back slowly - she knew that it was rather odd for him to be here at this hour, but she cared not, as a matter of fact she was glad that he was here.
"It's strange that you are here, by this time" she said coming closer to the divan. Just when she was about to sit next to him, he pulled her closer, causing her to sit on his lap.
Aurora flustered, "What are you doing?" she asked with an adorable pout.
"I am keeping you safe" Zander replied as he removed some of her stray hairs away from her face. Aurora could swear that her heart skipped a few beats because of that little gesture.
"Did you cry?" Zander asked staring fixedly at her.
"No," she answered shyly, of course her moist eyes would give her away.
"Something flew in my eye" she lied.
"What did I tell you about lying?" Zander asked.
"But I wasn't lying" she replied innocently. Zander smiled. He has loved her tiny voice, it was incredibly cute.
"Yes you are" he told her, as their gaze held for quite some time.
Then his alkarite said, "I had a nightmare. It was very scary" she looked down, her wavy luxurious golden tresses fell down her face. Zander could not keep his hands off her hair. It captivated him -- everything about her captivated him.
"Do you want to tell me about it?" he asked.
Aurora nodded, her face still looking down.
"But first," the great impaler said as he removed his sophisticated black coat, and wrapped it around her.
"You are freezing cold" he said, as he gently made her wore it. The coat was twice her size obviously.
She loved the soft material that the coat was made of, even her bed sheets was not this. But what she loved most was the scent, it smelled so nice, just like Zander.
"Better?" the great impaler asked.
"Aye." she replied with a sweet smile. Zander could still not phantom how this small human captivated him.
"In my dream, I saw these three black clothed people, they were seated on these huge seats that were on top of a pedestal. Well, they were speaking in a language that I couldn't understand." she admitted and continued, "but suddenly I heard screams, terrifying one. Then it started to rain ... but instead of water, it rained blood. That was the last thing I remember before I woke."
"It's alright," Zander assured. Even though he knew that it wasn't alright, the three black clothed people that she said she saw were the supreme gods, and those screaming voices were dead souls, and the raining blood was actually, their split blood. Zander knew all this, but how is it possible that his alkarite sees herself inside the supreme god's domain. He didn't like it a single bit - the supreme gods were powerful, nefarious, and slightly deranged.
He would certainly look into this, he thought inwardly. But now he has to make sure that his alkarite isn't sullen at all.
"Do you know that bad dreams are the results of what you ate for dinner" Zander told her.
Aurora eyed him suspiciously "How did you know that?" she asked.
"I figured it out" he said. "So, you don't have to worry."
Aurora nodded with a smile. She was not certain if those words were true, but she believed it either way, perhaps it was because she has grown close to the one that has spoke those words.
"Who wrote this?" Zander asked holding up the book.
"Annika. She's very smart" Aurora informed.
"I could have presume, this is well written. I know someone that will love this piece of writing" he said.
"Who?"
"My brother" he answered.
"You have a brother?"
"I have five brothers" he added.
Aurora gasped, "That's really nice."
"You think so?"
"Aye, most times I really wish for a sibling. It gets lonely" she said.
"I doubt that" Zander said.
Aurora smiled and asked, "How does it feel to have five brothers?"
"Do you want me to be honest?" he asked and his alkarite nodded.
"It's perturbing" he answered.
Aurora blinked, "I don't understand" she admitted, Zander was always fond of using words that is difficult for her to understand.
Zander smiled at her cute facial expression.
She punched him playfully at his arm. "Stop using words that I can't understand" she told him with a adorable frown.
"Alright." he said. "I'll rephrase, it's bothersome. They can be ... a little too much"
"At least you have five blood brothers" she said.
"Step brothers" he corrected.
"Oh..." she really didn't see that coming. Then she added, "Are you close with all of them?"
"Not all" he replied. Aurora didn't want to probe in anymore about that. So she just decided to change the subject.
"I have something to show you" she said as she stood up and walked to the shelf, she picked up a certain small book and walked back to him. Zander didn't expect her to sit back on his lap, but was glad that she did. He cared for her too much, he would never force her to do anything the she doesn't feel comfortable doing.
"Will you teach me how to read and write, I haven't quite mastered it, and I really want to" she said.
"How can I ever refuse" he said, causing a heart rendering smile on his alkarite's face. The lesson went on, but Zander knew that sooner or later his alkarite would fall asleep and she did right in his arms.
He watched her sleep, she looked peaceful and calm. Her pouty lips were red and lush as always, he has always wondered why it is always so.
Still asleep she rubbed her folded hand across her nose, Zander smiled as he watched her.
She was so small, fragile. In the god realm females were not like her, goddesses didn't come in wee sizes, maybe that was one of the reasons why his alkarite fascinates him. He was growing overly protective of her, and he was well aware of that.
His eyes were still glued on her, when he suddenly saw something quite odd, but yet familiar on her chest, just above her breasts. He moved her cloth aside for a clearer view.
A scar - or rather a mark.
He pulled her closer still staring at the mark on her skin, the mark of the gods.
"This can't be" he whispered.
Every god and goddess that has ever lived each had, a marking - Zander's own was a flying eagle. But the one on his alkarite was a snake. And that was the one of queen Katherine.
*********************
Aurora awoke at the comfort of her bed, she tossed before she sat up. She cuddled herself in Zander's jacket that she still wore. She slept peacefully and those awful dreams didn't come.
She smiled, as she got down from her bed and left her room. She went to her papa's room but he was still asleep, she pecked his forehead, before she left.
Standing in front of the front door she pulled it open, she closed her eyes enjoying the early morning fresh air.
"You look happy" a sudden voice said.
Her eyes immediately flew open, only to see the grim reaper in front of her.
She startled, and without thinking she slammed the door close. She exhaled slowly, then turned around, but only to see the grim reaper again.
"Ah!" she jumped. "How...did...y-you get in" she stuttered.
"You close the door on me, that was not nice" he said.
"I have not seen those ghosts ever since that day" she suddenly informed.
The grim reaper came closer, "I know. I've found them"
"Where did you take them?"
"The afterlife, I'm not sure you'll understand"
Aurora stared at him weirdly as he started to sniff the air around her.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
The reaper ignored her question, as he came very close sniffing her carefully.
Aurora moved back, and crossed her arms over chest protectively.
"Your scent, it's different" he said.
"What?"
"You smell like someone I know. Your..." he paused and removed her crossed arms, staring fixedly at the jacket she wore.
"I would really like to know why you are wearing Zander's jacket" he said, which left Aurora staring wide eyed at him.