Heirot

Mia looked away from the shimmering water and back at him with a soft smile. She put her hand out and touched the other side of his face, turning it towards her gently. She kissed his lips softly and pulled away with a smile on her face. "I'm not tired... Besides, I think you need rest more than me. Its morning."

She looked back at the water, moving her hand around in it making patterns that disappeared just as quickly as they were made. "Besides, its just my leg, I'm fine. But... you were..."

She trailed off, remembering he had been bitten.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, turning her head back to the water. "I..." She couldn't find any words to convey how she felt. Her eyes water slightly. She didn't want Bejei to be cursed and it be her fault. As far as she knew he was cursed, and until he told her otherwise she would think he was and blame herself.

She let her wet hand slip to his and she wrapped her slim fingers and his hand, holding it in hers.

Bejei didn't fight Mia's warm touch or her lips embrace. He wanted to spend what intimate moment they shared together as long as possible before he left her back to her own life. The carnival is where she belong, and it's a place he could never stay in for long.

He stared at her eyes, and he could clearly see a hurt in her. He figured she knew about the lycan curse, and she believed he had been curse by one after being bitten. That part was true, but somehow the creature within him cast out the curse. He had no way of telling her about the spirit and its intentions. He didn't want to worry her more than she already is.

He felt her hands connect in place with his own. He did not blame her for what happened that night since it wasn't her fault at all. The stalker Keifer was just too stubborn to get it in his head that she didn't love him at all. If someone was to blame then it would be him for leaving her alone. He was careless, but it wouldn't happen again since with him gone and Keifer dead then she would be able to live the life she wanted.

"I'm not tired." Bejei's voice was expressionless. "You don't have to apologize to me. I should be the one to apologize for allowing Keifer to take you hostage." He separated his hand from Mia's hand before turning his head away from her. "I think it's best if I leave you in the comfort of the carnival. I might be curse, and I might not be. It's for your own safety..."

Mia's head turned towards him slowly, a shocked expression on her face, one that looked mainly like she had been taken aback by his statement. Leave her? But... he couldn't leave her! It seemed she had been right the entire time. He must have left to try and sneak away, hoping she would be a sleep for a while longer...

"Just because you may be cursed doesn't mean your a different person Bejei," Mia said, her eyes tearing up slightly. He must have planned to leave her the entire time. I feel more safe with you then an army of swordsmen, she thought feircly.

"It doesn't change who you are... But, maybe your just using it as an excuse to get away..." She stood up, her hands trembling with anger... though it was drawned out by the will to want him to stay.

"Damnit Bejei you promised," Mia said. "You promised that it wasn't what you were after."

She turned then, unable to look at him much longer. She felt a deep strange feeling for him, that had never occured to her before with any other person. She had excepted it and gave Bejei something precious to her. She expected him to stay with her if only for a little while... But, it seemed he didn't care that she had given something precious to him. Given her heart as well as her body...

She couldn't stand to look at him if he would act so calm about it. So calm about ripping her heart to shreds and making her feel as dirty and used as the ground he walked on. Its what she felt like, though she couldn't explain it. Maybe she had put to much thought and hope into there relationship, one that was doomed maybe from the start.

She ran from the clearing and into the walls of Hepian. When she felt she was far enough away she allowed herself to slip off down an alley, when she could hold her feelings back no more.

Mia leaned against the cold brick wall and maybe the pain in her leg from running was mixing with the pain in her heart, but a tear streamed down her cheek.

How could men be so stupid. How could they be so heartless. No man in her life had ever been good. They never treated her like the way Bejei did, with protection... and caring... And now it seemed that what he did was all a lie. The only reason he cared was to get some payment for saving her life. Now that he got it he was leaving. Cursed or not.

Mia didn't care if he was cursed. She wouldn't let that fact make her feelings for him die. But, it seemed as if Bejei just used it as a way out. And the more her mind adopted the theory that he was only out to hurt her the more she felt as if it were true.

Maybe it was the fear of him leaving her doing it to her. Or maybe it was truth.

Bejei stood there with his gaze, facing off into the distance, not actually looking at something in particular. It's more like he's in a trance and staring off into empty space. He was in deep thought, but he heard everything Mia said to him.

He was emotionless while Mia poured her heart out to him. He felt a great sorrow and pain for hurting her so much, but externally, he acted like nothing had changed. He even managed to catch some tears in her eyes before she told him about his promise to her. That made his heart ache even more, but he again made no attempts to show the agony enveloping within him.

Bejei turned his head to Mia after she ran off somewhere. He tried to see where she went, but she was long gone by then. He threw away the best thing that happened in his life, but he did it for her sake. He kept telling himself that's the reason for leaving her, but there's something else. Was he afraid to be happy? Was he afraid to live a happy life with someone, the life he dreamt of for so long?

"I'm sorry Mia. I care so much about you... I can't fathom the feeling." He replied while his gaze fixated into the distance once more. "There's something that I want you to know, but..." A speck of tear strained down his cheek. It had been the first time in a long time that he cried. "I love you..."

Bejei slipped down to the ground until he was in a seating position. He knew it was too sudden to love someone, but he felt a bond and connection with Mia that he never felt in a long time. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, but there were complications involved. With his enemies constantly after him, and now, the new development of the evil entity living within him... he didn't want Mia to bear the pain he would cause her in the long run.

"Mia, I know you're hurt and angry right now, but you're a strong woman, and you'll get through it." He whispered into the wind. "I don't deserve your forgiveness, and I only wish things were different. I'm sorry I couldn't uphold my promise to you..." His voice trailed off as he allowed the silent morning to consume him while he sat there quietly.

Mia sunk to her knees with her back against the wall. A trail of wet tears streamed down her cheeks. Her eyes looked red and the bright blue and pink orbs sparkled.

Maybe she had been to hard on him, judged him to quickly. She pulled herself up and leaned her side against the wall, fighting an internal battle between wanting to go back and ask him to stay, and letting him go.

She didn't want to seem desperate.... She didn't want to be clingy. She just felt like she needed him. Heart broken or not, she had to tell him that. At least that.

Slowly she made her way back to the side gate. She stood at the corner, afraid to look in because he might not be there. Even if he was it didn't mean he would stay. He probably didn't care for her. He probably only was after her body.

She had to take that chance, though. She had too.... But, she couldn't bring herself to move from around that corner. It felt that if she did and hewasn't there that it meant the end of the world, though it really wasn't that.

Maybe she was being to dramatic... But, she couldn't help the way her heart felt torn up inside at the thought of what he had done to her... Used her for his own pleasure and moved on...

The memory of how sweet and how lovely it had been with him. How strange and new and lovely... and he had never intended to let it be that way for her. He only cared for himself....

Mia took a deep shaky breath and turned the corner, standing there... waiting to see if he was there. Her eyes weren't open... she had them closed... Then she finally looked...

Bejei eyes widened as he sensed the spirit of Mia. He thought she had left, but she returned. Why did she come back? It only made matters worst since his heart ached even more knowing that she was standing there, looking at him with those sadden eyes of hers. How could he face her after what happened? He didn't deserve anyone, especially Mia.

He hang his head as he slumped over, staring into the pond. He hoped she would leave him since the urge to rush over and pull her into his arms was becoming to overwhelming to contain any longer. He wished he was a different person then he would be able to live happily with Mia, but he can't change who he was without destroying he is.

He sat there quietly, sensing the spirit of Mia's emotional state. He could tell her heart had been broken, and it would never be the same again, but there's nothing he could do to repair it. He had to leave before he gave her any more grief. He could feel the creature within stirring, and he didn't want her to see him like that.

Mia saw him in the place she had left him. Maybe he hadn't expected her to come back? But, she had to try. She couldn't give up so easily. Even if this hurt her, it would hurt her more not to try.

Mia walked slowly towards him, blinking to clear her eyes.... to try not to seem as if she was too heart broken, but her eyes would never clear.

She stood behind him. She wanted to feel his warm, strong, protective embrace. She wanted to feel it so much she almost sobbed then and there.

"Bejei," she said, but her voice was barely aboce a whisper, it couldn't go any higher without sounding hoarse and she would need to cough.

Bejei felt her presence drawing in closer and closer until she was practically close enough to touch. He heard Mia called out his name, but it's in a low and sad voice. He couldn't bring himself to face her, and all he could think about of holding her closely and telling her that he love her.

He gradually stood up before slowly turning around to face the woman he felt so strongly for. He stared at her with those cold eyes before alterating them into the caring eyes that she helped bring out of him.

"Mia..." Bejei replied as his eyes immediately tensed. "I... I..." He couldn't find the words, although he knew exactly what to say.

He immediately reached over and wrapped his muscular arms around Mia, pulling her towards his chest. He took a chance, a chance he might regret in the future, but he would never know if they could be together if he pushed her away. He lost too many people already, and he didn't want to lose the only joy in his life.

"I'm sorry Mia." His grasp around her tighten as he placed his chin ontop of her head. "I'm glad you've decided to come back."

Mia swallowed hard, the knot in her throat growing. "I don't care if your cursed," she said softly, closing her eyes. "You could be the God of Darkness for all I care and I'd still care for you..." She hugged him as tight as her arms would let her.

"All I care about is you, the Bejei I know," she whispered.

"If you don't want to stay with me... and if you were only truely after me for... that.... then let me go," she said hesitantly, unsure if she wanted to know the truth or not.

"Bejei, if its being with the carnival your worried about I'll leave with you," she said.

Bejei closed his eyes while he embraced Mia even further. He didn't want to tell her the true reason why he wanted to leave her. He didn't want to scare her away by telling her that another resided within his body, and it's far more terrifying than anything he'd ever faced before. Although, he knew he had to tell her the truth sooner or later. What if the spirit presented itself to her? That was a possibility.

"Pursuing your beautiful and desirable body is not what I'm after." He responded, feeling a little angry that she would suspect such a thing from him. He's not a pervert afterall. "It's not the carnival either. If it's ok with you then I want to keep it to myself."

He slowly released his grip from around her while he gazed into her eyes. Such beautiful sparkles of jewels she beared, and it mesmerized him everytime he stared into them.

"Mia, I don't want you to leave your home for someone like me. You don't know what I've done in my life. I don't deserve someone as wonderful as you." His voice faded off after those comments.

Mia touched his face. "I don't care what you've done," she said softly to him. "I don't care. Your the nicest man I've ever known..." She smiled. "Even if you have your rough edges, I love them."

"I don't care about leaving the carnival, and I don't care if we stay. As long as I'm with you until your ready to be rid of me I'm fine."

Bejei felt really happy to hear Mia say those words to him. It's been so long since someone cared so much for him, and he actually forgot the feeling until Mia made him remembered it.

He didn't know how he would deal with the spirit since it's unpredictable when it would strike. It could take control of his body at the moment, and possibly hurt Mia in the process. He didn't want that to happen, but he couldn't do anything about it if it did happen.

His eyes grew crimson before alterating back to hazel. It happened so fast that it would be hard for Mia to notice. The arms grip of Bejei grew heavier and tighten on Mia's shoulders as he gazed at her. The eyes were not read, but it held some kind of darkness in them.

"Mia..." Bejei whispered to her before he leaned in a kissed her. The kiss was far more aggressive and forceful unlike his usual kisses beforehand. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close before his hands wandered down to her buttocks.

Mia felt his grip on her shoulders tighten painfully, but she ignored it, just as she ignored the fact that his kiss was aggressive and forceful. She thought that maybe he was overexcited that she had come back, so she allowed him to kiss her in such a fashion.

It made her heart race slightly more for some reason, but she guessed it was probably passion taking over.

Her eyes widened as his hand drifted lower and lower and she felt slightly emberassed to be out in the open with him fondling her.

She pushed away and looked up at him. "Maybe... we should go back to my tent..." she said, wondering if thats what he wanted. "Where we could rest and talk a bit more?"

Bejei stood there, staring at Mia who seemed to back away when his hands got extremely low. He wondered why she pulled away, but he knew it's because people where around, and they could see them. He didn't care though.

"I'm not tired. Actually, I'm rejuvenated, and I could show you." He replied with a sly grin. "I much prefer we stay out here since I don't believe anyone will see us."

He placed a finger on his chin while he smiled mischieviously. Maybe, he's acting a little unBejei like so he decided to tone it down more because Mia picked up on it.

"Ok Mia, but before we go to your tent, would you mind fetching my armor and weapon from the infirmary? I'll wait for you right here." Bejei added. "By the way, you look very sexy tonight."

Mia looked at him for a moment and then laughed, shaking her head at his forwardness. "Okay, I'll go get your armor..." she told him with a smile. She kissed him quickly and moved away.

"I'll be right back," she said to him was she walked off towards the side gate. It wasn't long before she reached the hospital.

"Yes," she said to the nurse when she went in. "The man I was with left his armor... I really need to get it if you don't mind..."

The nurse permitted her back and she gathered the armor in her arms, leaving the hospital to go back to Bejei.

She wondered what was with his sudden forwardness was from. Maybe living through something you should have died from did that to a person, opening up doors that had once been closed. If it was that case she wondered what new surprises awaited her with Bejei...

She smiled. Maybe she should show him that clearing in the forest... It was a clearing she had found a year ago when she had gotten bored with seeing all that Hepian had to offer and she wandered off the path... It was a beautiful place... and quite and secluded place he might enjoy.