Mountains and forests aren't my domain but all this chitchating after diner and thousand questions being shot in my direction made me irritating so I tryed to change envirement. Spravling behind a house was a neet lawn with colorfull garden of flowers but real treasure was a huge area covered in woods. Inside was too hot or it so seamed to me so I walked out to breathe in a little air being plesantly surprised when a gentle breeze kissed my flushed cheeks. Darkness was creeping from corners and gaps between a trees and shrubbery seductively inviting. Few grey lanterns made from wrought iron representing the tree of life gave dim light through livid glass making the place mysteriously obscure. Still I stepped in a vague greenery where only shadows lived jewelled with emerald leafs. A light caress touched my cheek but I brushed it easy being avare I was in uncontroled area. There was a line somewhere where it ends this freedom I knew that because it was only illusion of wildernes but it felt good anyway.
"Are you really so frearless to walk alone through all this blackness? Does anything scares you?" A deep muffled voice came from behind and I turned instantly being startled with someone's presence.
"Yes, people. They scare me a lot." My answer was honest but not wise.
His bright laughter echoed around breaking the song of crickets and rustling of leafs. "Your answer surprise me 'cos you definitely didn't show it when you defied me." A tall silhouette was leaned back on the tree hiding itself in complete dark but I exhaled in relief. It was only him. "Or when you risked your life the other night. People chasing me are more dangerous than you think still you didn't consider it at all. Is there absence of fear in you it crossed my mind?
Sleeping in the park in the early days when I didn't have resting place and no one close with barking of stray dogs in proximity, knowing that I am not alone there in the dark and who knows who can came out it made me stong enough. "It's primeval. Made for protection and survival. Every human has it."
Sudden damp breathing around my earlobe stirred similar feeling bringing every strand of my hair up. I flinched but he held me in a place resting his hands around my waist. Soft grass masked his footsteps and the night shielded a physique."Why did I had opposite impression?" A tender tip of his sensual lips brushed against mine but I turned head fast stalling my heart not to burst from the chest. "Innocence or fear?" Was he playing with my emotions, testing me with these stange questions? It was both of course but the way where this conversation headed was completely wrong and I certanly won't follow .
"Maybe lack of interest." He snorted with laughter and I tryed to wiggle myself from the grasp but his hands were firm.
"Be still, I dont want to hurt you just to hold you." But I was persistent so I pushed him hard. "I dont like to be caged!"
He loosed a grip and put his hands in the air like he surrendered. Standing there in front of me in seeping silver moonlight he resembled to an ancient mythical god of forest. "Ok, no touching. So there lies your angst. But you are no indifferent 'cos your body betray's you."
If that is a truth than I am failing miseralbly to conceal my insecurity. This was unknown territory and infomation I had were insifignificant to make better judgement. And I was not a person who would like to try to gamble, not with my heart. "And you came to see me." It was said gentle but it hit right in the bullseye, a bulet, so you try to dodge that Raye. What is my answer to this mess. "Dotty and I are not surrounded with wealth. Let's say it was hers wish just one day to be another person, to live in different world. And we are a worlds apart."
When you stay too much in embrace of the night soon it becomes part of you and allure of shadows start to devour. Every contour is now visibly clear. Mysterious sky dust crowling through branches iluminated his skin giving his face some palish glow. Passion was shining from his eyes like the stars have descended from above. "That is no reason to run away from me on contrary I have a source to spoil you into a queen."
What was he suggesting, to relay on him, to depend on a man? Destiny is in my hands and I dont wan't let anybody rule with my choices. Does he think that everybody is on market? Disgust was forming my words, making them sound harsh and bitter. "I don't care which price you mean to tag, I am not on sale."
He was coming closer slowly giving me the space to retreat and my legs moved 'till my back hit the rough outer layer of the oak tree. "Actually I meant to give you all I have."
Only thing that crossed my mind was why, why would he, if the meaning behind the words was real and I said it outlaud. "Did I heard you correctly, to bind your life with mine is that what you are talking about? You can't be serious, you don't know me? The same movements toward me, I am staying traped and loosing my breath, hyperventilating for the essence of life.
"I owe you my life so it is yours. That is a custom of my tribe honored through centuries and I intend to keep it that way."
His nearness disturbe me, soft skin of an arm brushing against mine, pulse risen to point of bursting out. He is too close and I don't want him to be but my legs are stone heavy. No one has ever asked me that before and I never considered it either. "Didn't I told you before I dont want your gratitude?"
"Hm, yeah." The sound vibrated on his tongue like a string of guitar a lowest e. "But this time it's my turn to save your life, to repay a favor 'cos keeping you alive means staying with me."
Confusion sliped past my sanity starting to crawl in with my consciousness repeating the words. What was he talking about? "Why would I be in danger, I dont understand?"
"This is not the first time I was hunted nor the last. My enemies probably already know who helped me and they will try to eliminate you." He took the loose strand of my hair and tucked it behand my ear. Such a nonchalant gesture like he was talking about weather.
"But I am nobody important, why would they bother anyway." Bewilderment and despair evident in my words.
"Exactly and yet you got in a way, messed their plans, stained their reputation. If it weren't for you, I would be dead by now." My skills improved during the years so I can handle that situation. Like he sensed about what I was thinking so he answered before I even talked. "If you are cosidering to hide it would be useless 'cos they'll find you sooner or later. The shelter was clever move, the dress, jewelry, you are resourceful I must admit but that's not enough. Certainly you are not familiar with the story but the stones you are wearing was once part of the crown shattered to enhance someone's beauty. It's both sentimental and valuable so you wan't blame me for my inquiry."
So that was a reason why he was so unpleasant in the first place interrogating me with odd questions. The man who gave me this valuable piece was his acquaintance or maybe someone closer but I suppresed my curiosity to ask more about it.
"Dont worry about me, mind your own business. Ok money is a issue for me but not to that extent to sell myself to a highest bidder." His damp breath near my cheek quicken my heart rate but I kept myself still. Nature screems inside me but I have my own free will and I won't surrender.
"Totally bad approach my dear. True I am not young but is there anything you don't like about me? And my considerable assets are just plus. Money is just chance to get access to better possibilities."
"See I am young and I don't believe in love so I don't plan to intertwine my life with someone else's." My words are stone solid, unwavering, giving me a false sense of security.
"Ahhh, love. Women dreaaaam about it. To be put on pedestal and worshiped. Only youuu and no one else to the rest of our lives, right? Is it realistic to ask to be goddess? Can we just be normal, to like each other, enjoy ourselves now in this moment? Isn't that the most fair to claim? He sounded bored with concept of long-term fidelity that requires devotion which lids to commitment.
"I dont like unknown and uncertainty and you ooze with it. Even so I wan't give up my freedom no matter what." It's the best thing for everyone to part our ways. Coming here was bad idea I knew that from the start yet I let myself to believe otherwise. But there's no such a thing anymore. Somehow I forced myself to break free from his spell and start to retreat in direction of the house.
"When you accept, I'll tell you all about myself. After all between husband and wife it shouldn't be secrets." The words were light, soft spoken so they trailed of faster then my steps. This time I didn't turn away.