fifteen
I didna see Armand all that day, since we arrived. So the next day I sought him out. Weird as it sounds, he's the only person I can be meself around. He doesna act like he has to shelter me the way me parents and siblings do. Nor does he treat me differently because I'm immortal, as me parents would – if they knew. And the fact that I'm the only wumman immortal doesna bother him either. Armand just lets me be and treats me as... Me.
I looked in the Edifice last. The stables to the right of the castle are large and where the horses are kept. Atleah and the Edifice blended together in the same rock structure. Outside the large, wooden stable door, much like the entrance to Atleah, the friendly, happy tune, from Armand's house in the forest, rushed at me. Me insides became warm and fuzzy as me search came to an end. Armand's here!
Inside, the Edifice stretched long and narrow filled with several horse stalls. At the front of the room, hay piles covered the floor to me right, and to me left were shelves and racks holding saddles, bridles, reins, brushes, horseshoes and more.
As I walked past the stables, one-by-one, each horse's name were carved above it on a wooden plaque. First, I passed a broad, black horse named Rhom. As far as I can tell, the rest of the horses are brown with identifying white marks. I recognized Thor's horse, next to Rhom, as Asvald. On Asvald's other side, an empty stall waited for Troy's return, followed by Mammal and Brute.
On the other wall, two nameless stalls began the row, followed by Donnia, Sparta, and Bells. Donnia and Sparta were missing, just like Troy. From the brush left in Sparta's stall and the long hairs in it, I would guess she's the only white horse in the stables.
I found Armand in the back with Bells.
I didna notice before, but the horse's beautiful, brown coat matched Armand's eyes exactly. The plaque above her stall, carved from wood, spelled her name in an elegant script, unlike the others.
I decided no to interrupt since Armand looked content brushing Bells and talking to her as if she were a person. As pretty as her name is, I wondered how she got it? Armand's a big boy and the last thing I expected were for him to ride up on a giant horse named Bells.
Leaning against Donnia's stall, I pondered this for a while before he noticed me. His face perked up, but his voice were cold as ice. “Is Meleseus making you feel at home?” I almost thought he were jealous.
“Nay. I'm avoiding him. I dunna like him. I were lookin' for ye, though.”
“Well, here I am.” Sarcasm dripped from his words.
“Did I do something to make ye angry?” I asked, uncertain but ready to turn and run if need be.
“I've been instructed to stay away from you,” he growled.
“Are ye leaving?” The words came out in a rush before I could stop them. Anxiety flooded me as I struggled to catch me breath. I felt as comfortable with Armand as I were with Shawn, which is wrong because I havena known Armand as long or as well. I dunna want Armand to leave, but I canna make him stay if he decides to go.
“I was ordered to leave.” His voice dropped into a growl, “I ride out in the morrow,” he continued.
“Dunna go. Please.” I canna believe this. “Why were ye ordered?”
“I'm a threat to Meleseus. I have never done things his way. I stick close because there are others like us here,” he made a hand jester motioning to both of us. “People who will always be here. Meleseus fears I will steal you from him.” Armand's face grew red, his eyes changed from beautiful brown to black.
“I'm no his and I dunna wish to be with him. Please, dunna go,” I begged this time.
“Why do you care rather I stay or go?” His voice flat and dismissive.
His brusque disdain shocked me. Nobody ever expressed a mood like his with me. His rudeness must be meant for Meleseus. “Ye're the only person I feel comfortable around.” Honesty at its finest. I took a few timid steps closer, standing in front of him.
He matched me steps, making us inches apart. Me blood boiled with excitement. Raising me head to look in his eyes, he smiled down at me. Me breath caught in me throat from all the emotions that passed through me at once. Taking me hands in his, we stared at each other for a long time. I didna want to move, afraid I would break the magic of the moment. Armand had other things on his mind, his face slowly lowered toward mine, me breath caught in me throat. Shawny were the only boy to ever kiss me.
When our noses touched I saw a glimpse of excitement in his eyes, the same excitement that glued me to him. That's when he leaned in, closing the distance. The kiss felt soft and sweet against me lips, unlike what I expected. He held me tight while our lips easily molded together. Pulling away slowly he stood closer to me than what would have been comfortable if he were anyone else.
Armand's touch felt right. He felt Real.
“Take me with ye,” I breathed.
“I don't want to leave you,” he whispered.
Unable to control meself, I threw me arms around his neck pushing meself up on me toes for another kiss. Wrapping his arms around me he returned it. This time his hold were tighter, slightly rougher as his fingers caressed me hair and a moan escaped me busy lips. Our kiss lasted longer, pressed harder, and the passion rose higher between us than our first kiss. I melted against him, slowly slipping away from the pressing outside world surrounding us. Nothing mattered but Armand and the way he held me. His touch, a caress that tingled along my skin.
Within seconds, I were backed against Bells stable door.
Armand wants the same things I do. The same thing that were stolen from both of us. Life. Luv. Family.
He wants me.
As we stood there, completely wrapped in each other's embrace, me ears began to ring a harmonious but playful tune. I thought it were part of what I experienced from Armand.
“Don't mind me, old friend,” an unfamiliar blissful sound came from behind us. If I ever heard a higher being's voice, I imagine it would sound as he does.
Armand and I quickly jumped away from each other. Where I come from 'tis unacceptable behavior and based on Armand's reaction it must be unacceptable where he's from as well. Besides, I dunna know what people in Atleah would think of it.
When I turned, a tall, well-built man stood in the entrance of the stables. He's young, barely a year or two older than Armand with hair that fell in dark, wavy curls and green eyes, almost as bright as me own. He were as familiar to me as Thor and Armand were the first time I met them.
Two horses trailed the handsome man, one red, the other white. Other than snow, I hadna seen anything purer. He led the white horse to the stall marked 'Sparta', as I suspected she's the only white horse in the Edifice. Then he led the red one to Troy's stall, put him away and patted the horse's snout showing the same affection Armand gave Bells.
“You lose this time?” Armand asked, jokingly.
“Yeah, but the scores even,” the Godly looking man replied in his smooth, soft, blissful voice. He eyed me suspiciously, “The girl?”
I wasna following their conversation too closely, but I felt Armand stiffen beside me. “Hector, this stays between us.” Armand's voice grumbled low and firm. “I am leaving in the morrow. There is no need to say anything. Do you understand?”
“Whoa, big man!” Hector seemed playful in his taunting, just like the tune that played in me ears before he entered. I should take notes on the tunes, and the immortals they belong to. “I won't tell Meleseus you have his woman alone.”
“I'm no' anyone's wumman!” I protested.
“Then there are at least two men, around here, you should set straight.” Hector wiggled his dark eyebrows, 'twere fascinating. I never saw anyone do that before. Smiling at Armand he added, “I would start with Meleseus. But, if you want to be someone's woman, I'm available.” His shining, all white teeth smile flashed at me.
Armand placed his hands on me shoulders, pulling me in front of him and rubbing them at the same time, “Ignore him.”
Hector bowed out of the stables laughing, after givi
ng Troy another pat on the nose.
“I'm sorry. I dunna wish to make anyone mad.” I told Armand. “Maybe I should be the one goin'. No you.”
“Don't apologize for being yourself. I told you before, I want you to be happy.” He went back to tending Bells. She adores him. Every time she nuzzled Armand's shoulder, she about knocked him over. She made me laugh. It feels like a lifetime since I last laughed.
I spent the entire day in the stables with Armand and Bells. She took to me well, too. Armand showed me how to correctly mount and dismount a horse. Bells is a good sport. Armand had her kneel, so I could climb on without assistance.
Once nighttime fell, I heard me name called by several voices. One stood out among the rest. Then the blissful voice of Hector answered the frantic calls by announcing where I were hiding, “I saw her in the Edifice with Armand.”
The ringing in me ears were powerful, arrogant and angry. The stable doors flew open as a large figure stormed in. Meleseus barged half way across the Edifice before I recognized him by sight. Armand continued tending Bells, ensuring she were ready for their journey in the morrow.
I jumped to me feet, stiff as a board. Me heart raced and me breath caught in me throat. Scared, for no reason, by the tune that accompanied Meleseus' presence. Why does he make me feel this way? I have to stay away from him.
“What's going on in here?” Meleseus hypnotic voice bellowed through the stables as he caught me with his eyes.
Armand answered, pulling me from Meleseus' hypnotic gaze, “I'm preparing to leave on the morrow, as you requested. The girl came to wish me farewell.” He never blinked or let on what happened between us earlier in the day. As nervous as Meleseus makes me, he didna affect Armand at all. No with his eyes, his voice, or his rough demeanor.
“Your family is worried about you. You should return to them.” Meleseus never took his eyes from Armand. “Close the door behind you,” he instructed, coldly.
From outside the Edifice, I listened to them argue. Meleseus has a quick temper that's full of malice while Armand is serene. Unable to hear their words, I concentrated on their tones. What I heard, guaranteed I dunna want anything to do with Meleseus. He is evil. There isna proof for me accusation, other than the gnawing at the pit of me stomach. Which were enough for me.
Hearing enough, I turned SMACK! into Thor, “You have to leave,” he blurted.