Dark Knight of the Skye by Robin Renee Ray Page A

so terrible, and Tabitha because for the first time in years, she was offered freedom and friendship, ironically by the very person she had helped to capture.
    “He will wake soon, I can feel the day leaving us. You better return,” Tabitha said, leaning back from the embrace.
    “Yeah, I know,” D`Nae replied, wiping the tears off of her face. “Tabitha, if we get out of this mess, I really want you to live with me. My Mom will just love you, and you’ll never have to be told what to do again, ever.”
    “You have a mother?” Tabitha asked, getting to her knees and pressing close to the bars.
    “A wonderful mother sweetie, and she loves everyone. We visit each other a lot.”
    “Even if your plan doesn’t work the way you wish, it’s still a wonderful dream. I will rest well having such beautiful ideas that you’ve put in my mind.”
    “This is one dream that you’re going to witness coming true. Somehow Tabitha, I swear.”
    “Go, I thank you, even if I don’t understand you,” she replied picking up the fruit, then sliding back to the rear of the cage. “Your Master is a lucky man to have such a special creature.”
    “We’re lucky,” D`Nae emphasized, getting to her feet. “He’ll take care of both of us.” Then walked over to the door, smiling once more before closing it behind her.
    D`nae made her way back to Alasdair’s room, where he still lay in the same position on the bed that he was in when she slid off. She walked around in front of the fireplace yawning, thinking about curling up on the floor by the roaring fire, but thought Alasdair may find it suspicious. She glared at him lying on his back, vulnerable, wishing that she had a long sharp knife, envisioning it cutting deeply into the soft flesh of his throat. D`nae pursed her lips, and sighed, knowing it wasn’t likely that he would leave a weapon just lying about waiting for someone like herself to take advantage of it. Every bone in her body was exhausted and the bed was becoming more inviting every time she looked in its direction.
    She cleared her throat, covering her mouth to dampen as much of the sound as she could, before it dawned of her that it wouldn’t matter with his special circumstance, being dead at dawn and all. D`nae walked over, cringing as her fingers traced the marks on her throat, all the while intently watching the beast that had put them there. She climbed over his legs at the foot of the bed, contemplating on kneeing him in the privates, but crawled to the far side instead, knowing it wouldn’t be worth it unless he felt the pain. It didn’t take long for her eyelids to become heavy, and within minutes of finding a comfortable spot, she had fallen into a deep sleep.
    Sunset was less than an hour away when D`nae fell asleep; it was also right before Alasdair awoke from his daily rest. His skin began to take on a difference in texture, from the cold stone appearance that only the dead wore to a softer hue as the life came back into his body. His hand twitched as his leg slid up, bumping D`nae in the thigh. She rolled over and repositioned herself against him, using his chest as a makeshift pillow. Alasdair’s eyes fluttered then slowly opened, his brows immediately furrowing as he looked down at the pressure on his side. He bowed his chest up, hoping she would roll off, but her arm instinctively went over his waist and she snuggled closer.
    The shock of waking to find her in any form other than afraid was spread all over his face. He raised the hand of the arm that she laid on and touched hers lightly, as if he were afraid to wake her. He pushed the hair that was lying across her face behind her ear, running his fingers delicately down her cheek, causing her to move her head slightly toward his hand. He froze in his actions until she again became still, then laid back looking down at her, trying to figure out why he was seeing her so differently than he had just the night before. Was it the way her body draped