Chapter 37: Blanched

Kaizan shook his head, "Beats me!" He looked at Anastasia and he stopped eating for a moment and then remarked, "That girl is very strong, very brave." 

"You have no idea!" said Ileus. A shudder ran through his body. 

After that they all became quiet and ate the food in silence. 

Ileus finished his food fast and then walked to the stream to wash himself. As he washed his hands, his eyes went to the pink and blue bioluminescence inside the water. It was glowing beautifully. Captivated, he was amazed at the phenomenon. The way those shiny little clusters of pink and blue that looked like stars under water, glimmered with each ripple that passed over the surface, it was spellbinding. 

Suddenly a thought occurred in his mind and his eyes became wide. Did Anastasia see these in the previous cave too? Were they responsible for forming the portal and binding the droplets of water? His anxiety increased and he quickly removed his hand from the water. However, what he saw next made him sharply draw his breath.

There was a movement in the clusters of lights that were still and just glowing. At first a small peak formed beneath his hand, as if trying to reach him, and then more clusters joined to make it bigger. It rose to reach his hand and touched his palm. Ileus removed his hand hurriedly from the water and the luminescence settled down as quickly as it rose. 

Ileus blinked his eyes rapidly as a thin sheet of sweat broke on his forehead. He looked at the water towards his right and then to the left, and as far as his gaze went, the stream was filled with that light. His stomach felt rock hard as his fears materialized. This was an ingredient to create the portal to Vilinski. And the bloody thing spread throughout the length of the tunnel. What was so mesmerizing earlier looked like a monster, coiled under water, ready to strike anytime. 

And if it felt him, it must have felt Anastasia too in the previous cave. The fact that Anastasia was unconscious meant that it hadn't sensed her. Else was it possible that as they moved along the tunnel, one after the other portal would be created? Would Anastasia be attracted to them? He blanched at the thought. 

Yet another thought cruised through his mind. In the last cave Anastasia was resisting the call to the portal. Did that mean that someone had taken her there? He shot a gaze to Nyles and stared at her. His eyes narrowed. There were a lot of questions to ask. With one last look at the stream, he turned to go back to be with Anastasia. 

When he reached and sat down beside her, her face was appearing so serene that he touched her cheeks and stroked them. "Can you hear the humming sound Anastasia?" his voice a whisper. It occurred to him that her skin was still cold. Feeling restless, on an impulse, he removed his shirt and lied beside her beneath the fur. He pulled her closer to his bare chest. Pulling her legs between his and tucking her hands against him, he wrapped his body around her. He placed his head over hers and murmured, "Give me a sign, Anastasia…" 

Darla had finished her food and went to lie on her bedroll. Her eyes went to Ileus whose head was out of the fur. He had securely wrapped Anastasia in his arms and covered her. A bitter feeling of pain ran through her. At first she sprawled over her fur, turning her face away. But then she couldn't take it anymore. Picking up her fur, she got up, went to them and placed her fur over Anastasia. 

"Thanks Darla," he said in a gloomy voice. 

"What for, Ileus? This is something we are all into together," she replied with a smile as her hand went to his cheek and she stroked it fondly. 

He took a deep breath and took his hand behind Anastasia's head to pull her closer to his chest. 

"When this is over, remember your promise!" she said with a chuckle. 

He gave her a weak smile. "I remember." He couldn't still shake off the image he saw in the stream. 

--- 

Smokes and flames and blood… so much blood had pooled below her feet that she choked. 

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"Maple, s— stop." 

She didn't. 

She continued to whip her like she was taking out all her hatred. Aed Ruad was sitting, watching her with cold eyes, watching her naked back, which was all bloodied up. 

Her lips trembled and she passed out. Next, guards dragged her out to her room. "Maa!" she called her. "Da, help—" She felt as if she was thrown beneath water—dark, murky, cold… She gasped but found water entering her lungs and it suffocated her as the coldness filled her nose, mouth and eyes. Her eyes became glazy. Cold numbed her skin. Someone caught her hair and took her out. She had laughed eerily. Who was she? Not Maple. Was that her Etaya? She called her name. She slapped her cheeks, but Anastasia couldn't open her eyes. "Open your eyes bitch! Stop pretending." Another strike. There was a stinging pain on her cheeks, on her lips. More blood. 

Through the foggy haze, someone called her name. 

How did he know her name?

"Can you help me?" she asked him. She never asked for help. 

"I will." 

His voice was soothing. He saw her. 

She extended her hand to him. He took it. 

"Can you see me?"

"I see you, Anastasia." His voice was so soothing. 

"Anastasia!"

She opened her eyes as she drew in a sharp breath, as if she was pulled out from the depths of the ocean. She was sweating and her vision was blurry. All she saw was darkness and felt rock hard muscles against her face. Her heartbeat didn't calm. Was she still in that chamber? Was Maple behind her? Arms wrapped her and stroked her back in soothing movement. A deep cello-like voice was saying something. She blinked her tears away from her blurriness, and she found herself nestled in the dusty line of his chest hair. 

"Shh…" he stroked her. She had fought it and come out. 

"I— Ileus?" She whispered in a hoarse uncertain voice. 

"Yes Ana." He continued to stroke her hair and back in a soothing way. "I am here." He said as if he had found utmost relief, as if he was given a second chance to live. 

She gulped and she didn't know what was it that triggered it, but her fingers curled on his back as her head rested against his bare chest and tears that had formed in her eyes, started falling. She let them. "I don't know why I am crying," she said through her sobs. Whatever space was left between them, she covered that and held on tightly. She wanted to feel the security he had given her, wanted to be surrounded in his scent. 

Suddenly, Ileus got up leaving her feeling empty. She removed the cover, sat down and looked at him with confusion. It was absolutely quiet in the night. He moved towards her. Putting his hands below her hips he pulled her into his lap. 

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