Chapter Twelve

The scent of sweetness and starlight nightfall tickled between her cheeks, pressing its self against her nose as it mixed with a second smell. One that smelled of sweet caramel applies, and the breeze of fresh goddess air, as the wind pressed into her shoulders as if it was a blanket with a mission. Rid her of all the warmth she possessed, and keep her cold forever. Her thoughts were running, her muscles ached, as with every attempt at movement, sent exploding flashes of pain through every single sense. The texture of sweet, freezing, honey felt like it was streaming down her lips, escaping her taste buds, as her fingers ran down all the burnt, black, spots where the flames had touched. When she thought to wipe the drops of water from her skin with her sleeve, she found regret lurking at other side of her, once the pain started again. This time stronger, and much more explosive than previously. Guiding the gust of gasps all around her, shaping her surroundings, she felt like a storm cloud, ready to produce the rain, at the sight of them. Cardin, Valerian, and her little cousin, Elmon, were all standing over her, eyes searching every part of her, till Elmon shouted something she was unable to make out, however she accepted the giant hug he gave her afterwards.

A sense of gliding comfort washed over her, forcing feeling back inside her, as she forced the shivers from her spine, till she could feel his little arms around her, pressing up against her back, parts of his fingers dug into some of the broken skin, and burnt flesh on parts of her back, she was to overwhelmed with happiness to alert him, he was hurting her. She dragged the urge to sleep off her face, only to replace it with might and power behind every brown eye, as she slid her hands under Elmon's armpits, only to bring him to the small, marble, table, she'd been lying on. As soon as they were both the same level, she pushed him towards her, his face crunched up against her, as she let warm, hot, tears flood parts of her vision, but she didn't care, because she didn't need to see him to know he was there. To know any of them were there. She could smell Cardin from miles away from the caramel scent of his skin, and Valerian's kind, caring, light colored eyes, could make her feel him, from anywhere he went on the planet.

Cardin stared longingly at her, for a few seconds, though he instantly would regret it, once Faith felt Elmon's grip on her loosen, and she turned her body towards them. Valerian took his chance, his eyes lighting up like a clear, opal, crystal, as he forced her into a hug before she could even suggest such a thing. One arm tightened around her, stroking her back, as the other arm followed, stroking her from behind, almost like he thought he could smother the burns from the fire, from the skin. Then after a few short seconds, both arms released her, and backed up, forcing her eyes to lock with Cardin's. A part of her wished for just a minuet, only a moment, she could possess superpowers, how she wanted desperately to shoot him with sapphire colored lighting. in her fantasy, blue was the hottest, and most painful of all the many different kinds of lighting. ''Are you feeling all right, commander?'' He asked her, almost as if he was trying to play it safe. LIke the events between them had never taken place.

He gazed into her as if he could see the imaginary cauldron filled with black flames, burrowed into her. As if he was baring witness to the nightmare she'd had in which she had been forced to stab him with her dagger, right in the chest. A past nightmare she was now wishing could come true. Though if her nightmare really did become a reality, her vow as commander would be broken. The disappointment and hurt Valerian would carry around with him, even his brother somehow died? Faith wasn't sure she could handle such a thing. Valerian had always been fragile. A death like that especially after the murder of his parents, could set him off to the dark side...

''Elmon, could you please give us a moment.'' Her voice came out a lot softer than she'd intended, but it seemed to be just the right amount to get Elmon to turn away from the three of them, now seeming interested with the contents of the crystallized furniture and beautiful paintings and statues that stood in both sides of the large, marble - like room. ''Do you wish for me to leave, as well?'' Valerian's asked, cool eyes softening as he concentrated on Faith's sad expression, as she nodded. He to turned to leave them, three turning to two in seconds. Cardin's expression shaped reality, as his arms too position at his sides, eager to hear something loving and warm come out of her mouth, but that was not what happened.

''Try to keep your mind clear while I say this, this isn't easy for me either.''

''What isn't?'' He asked, surprised, and worry appearing on his face.

''If you truly want to be respected by people you love, then you must prove to them that you can't survive without them. And I don't see that happening between us, Cardin. You left me after one accident, and you stopped being there when I needed you. I could've died in that fire if it wasn't for Valerian and Valdin, coming to my rescue. But the most heartbreaking, is my heart is to full of sadness to dwell on the happiness that the time together brought me. I can't seem to reclaim or relive any of it.''

''I don't understand?! What're you saying?''

''I'm saying I'm done. What ever this was, It's done, because I'm done.....I can't do this anymore. I can't be with you, and I can't have you calling me ''Yours'' because I"ve only just realized, I was never truly yours, because

''Flames weren't designed to dance with waves.''