Rise of the Night/Run of Night

The house was quiet as Lyla lay in Shadow's bed. He had been gone maybe fifteen minutes. She sat in the corner, against the wall, hugging her legs. She didn't want to be alone right now and really wished he hadn't left. The houses in the catacombs didn't have locks. A shiver ran up her spine and she tried to convince herself that the catacombs were safe. That Jon Pierce and the council hadn't found her for this long... Right?

She swallowed hard. It wasn't working.

She got up and grabbed a glass of water. As she sipped it over the sink, the scar on her forearm caught her attention. Putting the glass down, she ran a finger over it, half expecting the skin to be tender. But it was as if the wound had happened months ago, not hours. It was so fresh in her mind that she was struggling to comprehend that it was gone already.

The radio on the kitchen table crackled to life and Lyla nearly jumped out of her skin. She stared at it, panting. She couldn't remember grabbing the knife.

"Prepare for departure," Congo's voice said, his tone casual and in control. "We leave at noon for the diamond mines outside Ponyville. Pack only what we need and get a good night's sleep."

So Shadow had managed to convince him. She felt a certain sense of relief. The mines were more fortified than the catacombs and much easier to get lost in if you didn't know your way around. She put the knife down and forced herself to walk slowly back to the bed.

Damnit shit fuck, she snarled in her head. Pathetic. Get a spine.

Pierce's grinning face surfaced in her head. She resumed hugging her legs on the bed. He was still out there somewhere. Who knew what he could do besides illusions. And he had promised to find her again. She whimpered despite herself.

Stupid! Stop it, stop it, stop it!

She lay down and hugged a pillow tightly. Congo was right. Sleep. Things would be better in the morning. She couldn't sleep though.

When she heard Shadow come back in the house, slipping his shoes off at the door, she pretended to be asleep anyway. He slipped into bed behind her and pulled her close.

She intertwined her fingers with his where they rested on her hip. He nuzzled the back of her neck, firmly wrapping both arms around her. She twisted so she could face him. His eyes were closed.

"Shadow?"

"Mm."

"Do you think we'll be safe at the mines?"

He opened his eyes. "Yes, I think so."

"I ... I just..." She shivered again. "I'm worried he'll find me. He said he would."

"Who? That guy the council hired?" He kissed her forehead. "He's dead, Ly. I killed him outside your cell."

"He wasn't outside my cell, Shadow," she said, frowning. "He... Disappeared. Like literally. Gone."

Shadow frowned. "I recognized him. He was on the phone when I came down the hallway, he was talking about you." He expression darkened dangerously and Lyla felt tears welling up. "Ly, I killed him, I swear, it's okay," he said, cupping her face with one hand.

"No," she choked, trying to hold back the tears. "Shadow, he's a magi. He made the other guy look like him and he just disappeared!"

"Son of a bitch," Shadow growled quietly, letting Lyla bury her face in his chest as the tears came anyway.

"He said he'd see me again," she managed. "I'm...I'm so scared." She clung to his shirt, shaking. "I can't. Not again. He.. He was going to rape me and let... Let the other guy do it too," she said, each pause accentuated by a choked sob.

Shadow held her close, his expression dark and feral. "I'll keep you safe. Don't worry. You're with your family and we'll protect you."

She sniffled, trying to stop the wracking sobs but everytime she thought she was close, she would remember the pain. Remember his grin or the way he had threatened her with his lips at her throat. She would shudder and it would all start again.

"I-I'm sorry," she said into Shadow's shirt. "I-I'm a m-m-mess."

He smiled gently at her and kissed her forehead again. "It's okay. Just let it out. Then we'll get some sleep and leave in the morning."

She nodded furiously against his shirt. It wasn't long before sleep claimed her. Blissfully, she didn't dream.

The next morning brought harsh sunlight. Lyla woke, wishing the last twenty four hours had been a bad dream. The scar on her arm was still there, a harsh reminder that it had all been real. Her body was still feeling the strain of the large amounts of stress it had been through. Shadow was still asleep but she didn't want to get ready alone. So she gently woke him.

He was sleepy and seemed just as tired as she was. So she kissed him until he seemed a little more awake.

"I want to take a shower," she said, nuzzling his cheek as he held her. "I don't want to be alone."

"Mmm... Okay," he said, kissing her sweetly and carefully along her jaw and where her neck met her ear. It was almost like he knew exactly when to back off and give her some space. She was infinitely glad for it. The experience yesterday left her wanting his constant touch but at the same time left her wanting to push him away. He was striking a good balance without her even asking.

She took him by the hand and went to take a shower, hoping he would understand that getting clean was all she wanted. He paused outside the shower curtain when she got under the water. He pushed the curtain aside a little so she could still see him and she nearly sighed with relief.

He was amazing.

Some day she'd find a way to pay him back.