Page 4 of The Syphon King

Leave? “But...I was instructed to watch over you.”

“Send the nurse,” he ordered, his voice like biting ants on her skin.

Was he hurting still? Was he angry with her for causing it?

“You can’t be near me. Ever,” he further growled.

Pain hit her chest and shoved her breath from her lungs. “Then I will keep my distance,” she whispered. “But I must...help you.”

“I don’t need it,” he all but seethed.

“Where am I to go?” she wondered, swallowing down acid at the idea of not remembering anything besides the darkness she’d come from. She’d not been able to live her life by days, only seconds and minutes. Hours at most. She brought her hands over her arms. “I don’t... want them to find me again.”

He suddenly sat up on the other side of the bed, his back to her. “The Kings will secure a safe place for you. Far from me.”

She didn’t understand. “He said I was where I was supposed to be,” she hurried. “The Seer said this. Hetold me to take care of you.”

“He thinks you are to help us but that’s not possible.”

Hope surged at the idea of helping him. “Why not?”

“Because it’s too dangerous.I’mtoo dangerous.”

She lowered her head, gasping for air as her tears fell. “But...I’m not afraid of you,” she said, discreetly wiping her face. “You saved me.”

“I’m afraid of me,” he growled, making her jump. “I can feel everything they’ve done and all they crave to do to you. And though they are outside my mind and spirit, they are pressed against it so fiercely that I can smell and taste their wicked lusts. And I will never risk it. If you were meant to help us, it will not be where I can ever see or be near you.”

She took several steps back, wondering what he’d seen, what he was feeling. Her lips quivered at the idea of not being able to stay with him. “I will do as you say then,” she said quietly. “So that you never have to see me. Or be near me.”

Again, he gave a long growl and stood. “You cannot leave.”

She stared at the immaculate, rigid muscles on his back, confused. “Why?”

“Because I’m the only one who can protect you,” he said, his anger like a hot knife.

She lowered her head as he made his way around the bed then room, wondering why this had him so angry. She chanced a peek at the doorway and slowly moved toward it, feeling like evil trash defiling his home and beautiful spirit.

In the living room, she found him on his knees, whispering something to his dog that whimpered and licked him all over his face. She heard his words but didn’t understand the language.

“I can... stay in the room you first put me in,” she said, moving her bandaged wrist behind her at recalling what she’d done. She didn’t remember why exactly she knew to do it but was not sad she had. It was to protect him. She knew this much.

“You will remain here where I can watch over you. But you will keep your distance from me.”

“Yes,” she agreed, her hope peeking back in. “I’ll keep out of your way.” She aimed her eyes at the floor and moved as far to the side as she could as he went back into his room.

She took in the black leather furniture and all the beautiful wood and metal art things filling lit crevices in thestone walls. Was it a real cave they were in? She made her way to the wooden carved tree in one of the niches, amazed. Did he do these?

She looked down, finding Jinxxy nudging her hand. Her joy erupted and she knelt on the floor, holding down her laughs when she got all the lickings on her face. “You like me?” she marveled very quietly. “Truly?” She wasn’t sure why this surprised her or why animals might dislike her. “Are you a good girl? I bet you are,” she whispered, hoping he wouldn’t require she keep her distance from the beautiful canine.

She quickly stood when he walked out, turning her attention back to the wooden art sitting in the spotlight while Jinxxy ran to her master. She barely glanced toward him, seeing his body was covered but she couldn’t see with what without looking. She wouldn’t look. She would be invisible. She felt like she was inherently good at that. He would see she was capable of anything he needed her to do.

He disappeared into another room opposite his bedroom. “Yes, I’m rejuvenated like before,” she heard him say quietly after a moment. “She’s here but it’s not good that she is. No, the evil is gone but it’s still there, waiting outside the door for the first opportunity.”

She made her way a little closer, collecting bits of the conversation.

“...and what if I can’t?...

“...I will never let them have her....

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