7 - Kind

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          

I woke slightly that night to a soft crunch of footsteps, and I immediately parted my lashes to find someone stepping over to me.
Oh, no... did one of father's knights find me?
How?
The sun had risen minutes ago it looked... did father find out I was missing?
But the figure just knelt down in front of my little cave, and I blinked hazily when I saw his mask again.
Elias.
He was in that masquerade mask... a black one with gold and silver. I loved the look of it.
He remained silent as he held out his hands, motioning for me to take them.
Sleepiness cowered over me as I lightly set my hands on his, and he guided me out from under the tree.
I couldn't walk yet, though... I was so tired.
Can I sleep a little more? I wanted to ask, but I refrained, knowing I already broke the rule about being there before dawn.
But he did something unexpected.
Elias caught under my legs and lifted me, making a short gasp escape my mouth when he held me from under my bottom with one arm, gently pulling his cloak over my body with his other.
I stared at him for a long moment.
Was he really strong enough to carry me like a child? I was full grown... how could he do that?
He just looked at me through his mask. "Go back to sleep. I'll carry you there."
He knew I was tired...?
He just started walking, and I set my head on his shoulder, watching his mouth remain thinned as he kept a hold of me.
"I couldn't find it," I told him. "Everything kept looping, and... and I've never been in this forest before. I was going insane—"
"Go to sleep, Angel," he replied, pressing my head to his neck. "You look exhausted."
I just stared down at his chest for a moment before I turned into him.
He kept carrying me as I buried my face in his neck and let my lashes flutter shut.
He was warm—his skin like fire. He smelled so good—like soap and cinnamon. He felt so nice—skin so soft, arm so strong, body so... comfy.
I let myself drift.
The next couple moments came by hazily; he'd been walking for a while and holding me to him, although at some point we entered a tall, wooden cottage, and then I felt myself engulfed in sheets.
I parted my lashes slightly and watched as my legs dangled off the bed, and he pulled off my shoes as well as unclipping my cloak.
He gazed up at me as he scooped me up.
He then laid me down along the bed, pulling the covers over me seconds later.
I just reached for him, but he caught my hand and shook his head, pressing his finger to his lips as he lowered my arm to the bed.
"Rest," he told me, smirking, "you'll need it."
I wasn't the slightest bit scared at his comment, but I reached out to him again. "Don't leave. I'll be lonely."
He lowered my hand to the bed again, leaning down so his face was inches from mine. "Go to sleep, my princess. I won't leave the house, I promise."
"Can I see your face?" I asked him. "Take off the mask. I want to know who you are. And your hair... I want to see your hair."
He sighed and sat on the bed. "I will show you when I'm ready to show you, understand? Now go to sleep."
"But I don't want you to leave."
"You better deal with it."
"But I don't want to."
"Alice."
I just turned toward him. "I'm the princess, you do as I say. Stay."
He just leaned down to my face. "Go to sleep before I get mean."
"Stay," I demanded.
"No."
"Stay."
"No."
"Stay!"
"No."
"Please?" I begged. "Please? Pretty please? I'm the princess! The princess! And I'm saying..." I fluttered my lashes at him, "...stay...?"
"No," he said again.
I sank into the bed then, eyes dulling over in sadness.
He seemed to notice it, and he sighed. "Alice...."
"Are you mad because I didn't come at dawn?" I asked him.
He gazed down at me. "Really?"
"That's it, isn't it?"
"No, it's not." He rolled his eyes. "Just go to sleep."
"What did I do?" I demanded. "You sleep beside me all the time, so it isn't because you're uncomfortable. What can I do to get you to stay?"
He just smiled, chuckling a little. "So eager to get your stalker to sleep beside you. Are you that lonely?"
"I'm that twisted," I replied.
He just gazed down at me. "I have stuff to do, my princess. Although I promise that I'll make it up to you."
My eyes sparkled. "You will?"
"I will make you ten times happier than I can if I lay here with you. All I ask is you just go to sleep for an hour at least. If you get up before then, I will not make it up to you."
I then turned further into the bed, shuffling under the covers as he smiled.
I closed my eyes. "Okay. I sleep now."
He just stood, brushing off his pants as he gazed down at me. "That's my princess."
He then exited the room, and I listened to his desire, letting myself fall as my entire world drowned out below me.
Make it up to you.
I wondered what he'd do.