Genesis : Knights of Salvation Series

We make our way back to the living and I roll out my bedroll on the ground next to the fireplace. Something about this place put me on more edge than I have before and I’d hoped to be by the warm fire would give me enough comfort to sleep. Most of the team is settling in for the night. Enyo sits on the coffee table now moved to a window to be the lookout. Harrison sits already asleep leaning his back against the couch where Foxglove sleeps sprawled out. Both of their head lean on one another. If only Foxglove knew he chose to sleep next to her like a man in love. Talon’s laid out on the floor by the couch as Clare rolls her bedroll a few feet above where my head lays. Orion is against the wall near Enyo, his head leaning against the wall relaxed for the night.

I lay my head down on my bedroll, my eyes watching as the flames dance around in front of me. The moving of the flames lulls me to sleep as my eyes force themselves closed.

The lights flicker about the room as the fire dies down, leaving the room cold and desolate. I look around, as I stand alone in the bare room void of any color other than the greys and blacks of the night. A cold shiver runs through me as I bite my lip unsure of where I am or what I’m supposed to be doing. Suddenly a quick pass of a shadow comes from the window. My breathing picks up as I look out the window. My bare feet quietly padded towards the bleak window. My small frame leans over to peer out the window. Only to see the long untouched rolling hills spread out the window. Suddenly a crack of thunder’s out and I turn around quick my heart racing in fear as my eyes catch as another shadow cast over the room. The fear in me peaks as I run to the already ajar front door. My quick steps run out the door as the cold brisk night coats me like a second skin. I turn around looking, seeking anywhere to hide. I turn around to face the massive expanse of hills when the shadows finally freeze in front of me. The shadow begins to take an actual form as the haunting voice echoes out ‘They’re coming... They know’ The words begin in a quiet tempo growing until the words drown out my very thoughts. The full figure of the shadow comes into view as the words seem to tear at my very mind...

My bodies shook awake by firm hands ending a deep sob to be pulled from my chest. I open my eyes the fire’s light dancing on the dark ceiling as his face comes into view. Tears fall down my cheeks as my heart rate continues to race. The aftermath of another nightmare haunts me even after I wake. The words still thunder in my head as Enyo’s voice tries to break through my paralyzing trance.

“Aspen! Aspen, breathe! It’s just a dream.” He calls out. My lip trembles as my tears fall involuntarily down my cheeks. I sit up, Enyo’s calloused warm hands hold on to my shoulders as if trying to keep on the ground with him. My heavy breath begins to slow as I finally take in where and what’s going on. The rest of the team still sleeps soundly as the fire next to me continues to burn. Enyo is inches away from me, he sits on his knees sitting back on the balls of his feet. His brows furrowed up as his eyes watch my face. The light from the fire allowed me to see foreign worry and even fear laced in his concerned brown eyes.

“I-I’m fine...” I mutter out and blink a few times trying to get that horrid nightmare out of my head.

“Are you sure... you looked terrified. Even from the window, I could see you squirming around like you’re trying to get away.” Enyo speaks up, his concern for me softening his voice to a low comforting whisper. Enyo hasn’t moved away from me as his hair is rustled back slightly with laziness.

I look down at my hands only to realize their both trembling wildly. I think Enyo notices too as his warm comforting hands leave my shoulder and settle onto my hands. He places his hands on my holding the still, and I can’t help but swallow. I look up at Enyo, something dancing in his eyes as he looks over my face.

“Thank you,” I mutter out, my bottom lip pulling in for me to bite on it. A barely surprised expression passes onto his face.

“For what?” He says lightly. In the smallest of moments, Enyo show’s a kind of calm kindness I’ve never experienced before. It’s such a foreign sight and yet the way Enyo does it make something in my chest flutter.

“For waking me, I’m glad I didn’t finish that nightmare,” I whisper out. It’s truly a moment of complete vulnerability for me. I don’t share my nightmares or even speak of the things my brain seems to think of, Clare only knows a few because she said it was needed to keep them aware of my sanity.

Enyo squints a bit but simply nods. “Do you want to talk about it?” He mutter’s out. I give a soft smile at his kindness but I doubt he really cares.

“I’m not sure you could hear my nightmares and still look at me like a person,” I mutter out a little jokingly. It’s not really a joke though, it’s the truth. The director would say that the worse the nightmare the closer I’m getting to the end when I’ll most likely go mad.

“I’m pretty tough, I’m sure I can handle it.” He smiles out far too charmingly and tilts his head. Enyo seemed to keep me at ease, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. I look around us to see everyone still asleep, I don’t want anyone really hearing about it.

“Everyone was gone, and it was so dark. Shadows seem to roam around me, and I tried to run but then one stopped in front of me screaming... terrifying things.” I mutter out quietly. My eyes stay on the fire. The words in my dream began to round into my head again. The words seemed to haunt my mind just as Greta’s warning. There have been so many warnings and yet none of them made any real sense.

“I think it’s the outpost,” Enyo speaks up and I look at him. The concern was mostly gone and now his eyes filled with warm comfort.

“What?” I whisper out.

“I think the outpost creeped you out enough that it got in your dreams.” I smile a bit. Something about the nightmare felt off, it wasn’t like my other ones. It felt a little more real, a little more dangerous. As if someone was trying to warn me.

“That’s probably it.” I lie. I give him a smile. It comforted me that he thought that excuse would be comforting but at least he had tried.

“I bet you tomorrow, the rest of the team will wake up telling us they had nightmares too.” He continues to try to make me feel better and just because of his effort I can’t help but chuckle a little to myself. Enyo smile’s brightly and chuckles along with me. How does he seem to make me forget my problems so easily?

“Thank you.” I finally say when the quiet laughing dies down.

“For what?” He asks with a sweet smile, his eyes never leaving my face.

“For making me feel better. You didn’t have to, I’m sure you would rather be asleep than listen to me complain about my nightmares.” I say. a little self-conscious.

Enyo’s smile falters for a moment as if a thought seemed to hit him. “Well, I’m still on the watch so it’s no big deal...” He pauses for a second as if he’s faulting what he was about to say. His eyes fall from my face a little as if he has suddenly grown shy.

“I don’t like seeing you upset, I’d rather see you smiling.” Enyo mutter’s out as he looks back at me. My heart seemed to speed up and stop at that moment, seeing the way he looked at me. I’m kinda speechless, but could I be blowing this up more because I’m tired? He probably means it in a friendly way, right? Yet that thought hurt me.

“We.... you made me smile,” I say a little shyly myself. Swallowing hard I’m suddenly aware that his hands are still holding mine. It’s a comfortable silence that falls on us for a few moments when suddenly I hear shuffling from behind Enyo.

Enyo pulls his hands away from mine and leans farther back away from me as both our eyes move to Orion who stirs awake. Enyo stands up and walks over to Orion who stretches out of his sleep.

“You ready for your watch” Enyo speaks up and Orion nods standing and sitting on the coffee table looking out the window. Enyo tells him what happened while on guard I lay back down on my bedding. I curl up onto my side once again welcoming the lulling effect of the dancing flames.