• They always seemed to get me in trouble. Some fell in love with them and tried to buy me for them but others wanted them melted to nothing. And then there were the ones who were jealous of them and just wanted to use me. Of course Alexion wouldn't let them take my eyes but even he wanted them for his own reasons... At least I think he has his reasons.

    ~_~_~_~_~


    The sun sent angry rays of light everywhere in the city of Sector. The rays were very attracted to the pale skin of Alexion but then again most could blame that on his vampire skin (which some people sold on the black market as if they were diamonds). Janessa, little Miss Priss, seemed content being on Alexion's sculpted arm.

    "Oh, Lexi, Sector is so much prettier than my hometown!" She exclaimed, making my stomach churn with disgust.

    "Just wait until we get to the market. I'll send Xerux to go fetch you some water." Alexion moved his hand from her shoulder and let it drift to her lower back, shifting her so she stood in front of him.

    I kept my head bowed, trying not to listen to Alexion's voice or hers, for that matter. I was sure this woman could tell how I felt about Alexion. The way she moved and taunted me told me a lot; I had come to know various body language meanings. It upset me to know that she knew exactly which buttons to push and how to make it so secret from Alexion, even if I did think that Alexion wouldn't have a clue how I felt if I had actually told him. Relationships weren't his thing, unless they were simple like Miss Priss.

    "Xerus," Alexion's voice drew me from my daze and when I looked up I realized we were in the market place. "Could you go retrieve Janessa some water; her face is looking pinkish."

    I bowed, silently agreeing to proceed with his requested task. I turned on my heel and the hem of my knee-high dress fluttered outward. When I started walking away I heard Janessa laugh and Alexion joining her in her amusement. When I was out of sight I began to run, but not so much that I looked like a thief.

    "Young miss," I looked to my left and saw an old man sitting under the shade of a vender's cart. "Are you lost?"

    "No sir, I am looking for the well to retrieve some water." The man snickered.

    "What you're looking for is a way to be rid of that other girl." I had run into a few psychics in my time with Alexion but this one was the only one to directly address me.

    "Sir, I must go before my master worries that I've been kidnapped. I need to find the well." I repeated.

    "Here." The man handed me a flask of liquid and smiled before rising to leave. "This is the purest water that you shall find, Miss."

    He was gone then. I blinked but shook my head; weirder things had happened in Sector over the last fourteen years I had been here (I'm seventeen now.) I turned around, holding the flask close to my chest.

    "There you are, Xerus." Alexion gripped my shoulder so tight that I winced. He pushed me in front of him. "Janessa has headed back to the palace. I had to have the city guards escort her back; she lost consciousness."

    "Yes, Master." I mumbled, stepping behind him again. He glanced over his shoulder and sighed.

    "Xerux, this is the first time that you've brought yourself to lower yourself to me."

    "Master, I am here to please you. Please, let us get back to Miss Pr- Janessa." I stumbled, almost calling her Miss Priss, like I had been in my head since I'd met her.

    Alexion turned so that he was close enough for me to feel his breath brush over my head. He lowered himself so that I could see into his eyes and then brushed his hand over my cheek, catching a stray hair.

    "Master, this is inappropriate behavior. We are in public."

    His lips were centimeters from mine and I was ready to kiss him when he pulled away. I dropped my head, ashamed that I had, for even a second, thought of acting on my feelings. My whole life had been based on being proper and a servant to Alexion and his family, who had long since passed.

    "Xerux, I," He paused when a loud crashing came from the end of the path that the market took place on.

    In a moment, his thoughts were the least of my worries. A large, three-headed thing came bursting at full speed towards me. The thing's jaw hung open and exposed two long rows of sharp fangs. I looked for something to protect me and found the red of some fruits in a vender's cart so I pulled off my sunglasses.

    I drew upon the color, feeling my eyes change, and channeled the blazing color through my body. When the beast grew close enough I released the color, clouding him in burning red. He drew out a loud snarl and Alexion dove to push me out of the way. The last I saw of the beast was him lurching forward, as if he was going to be sick, and then a cloud of red.

    Alexion and I landed with a thud. I took most of the impact to the ground and felt my back and shoulder crack as we hit. Alexion landed on top of me, his face pressed against mine. His lips were by my left ear and after a short moment he moved his head so that his lips closed over mine.

    I was left expressionless as a woman and a few other, frighten spectators worked to help Alexion, whom they knew as an aristocrat, up. I was left to find my bearings as the people rushed to check Alexion. I was in so much shock that I guess it was a good thing that they left me on the ground; I would have fallen right back over if they hadn't.

    When the people were satisfied that Alexion was okay, he came back towards me. He offered his hand to me and I gladly took it. His face looked very embarrassed and, even if it hurt me, I knew why. He was ashamed that he had kissed me... Even though I was sure that had not been his plan.

    We started walking and he asked if I was alright. When I told him that my shoulder burned from pain he swept me off my feet and carried me out of the market place.

    "You lost your sunglasses, Xerux." He mumbled, placing me down on the grassy plane that led the way down to the palace. "That thing was after you and you dealt with him without me. You scared me... I thought..." His voice faded.

    I dropped to the ground, using all my strength to bow respectfully. "I will work hard to repay you for the glasses, Master."

    "Stand up, you silly girl." I did as I was told and Alexion stared out to the walls of the palace gate. "I am just glad that you are still alive, Xerux. I don't know what I would do if anything should have happened to you."

    I was left speechless, there in the middle of the grassy hill on which I stood. Alexion cared about me...

    To be continued...