Light in the Darkness

Tyla's caught a glimpse of the red lines on Iris's chest and looked at Iris with questioning eyes, wondering if Ian had done something to her while she was unconscious. He was filled with rage, and no matter how much time had passed, he didn't seem to get better.

Iris smiled " No! He would never hurt me!" she replied in a soft tone, knowing well what Tyla wanted to know, while she looked up at Ian, who had a puzzled look on his face.

" What's wrong?" Ian asked in a serious tone while lowering himself to look closely at what Tyla saw, wondering if she was referring to him or someone else.

Ian pulled the hem of her dress, revealing the six lines across her chest, making him frown and give a questioning look.

Things were getting rather weird at first, the cough and now the red lines visible on her fair skin. He had been by her side most of the time. He only left when Tyla came in and bathed her, and she would have said something about it.

" When I was unconscious, I found myself in a different realm, there, I saw hoards of hideous creatures, and there was a thick smog in the air like the stain on the handkerchief. I don't understand why I ended up in such an awful place. I have never heard of such a realm!" she explained while wringing her hands together in a worrisome tone while Tyla and Ian looked at each other, a little taken aback at the news.

Tyla pushed herself off the floor " I will get you some food!" she curtly replied while she turned around and disappeared from the room; she didn't know how Iris ended up in another realm, but she had to take care of herself first, and when things settled she will ask for more details.

" Did they touch you?' Ian curiously asked, narrowing his eyes at her, waiting for her answer; the guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders, and he felt responsible for what had happened.

" One of them, I think it sensed my presence!" she replied while pulling on the hem of her dress to cover the marks, feeling a little ashamed of her body.

Ian pinched her chin, lifting her head to look at him and lightly pressed his lips against hers " I'm sorry! I've allowed that to happen to you!" he sullenly confessed while pulling her into a tight embrace, making Iris whine in pain.

Ian loosened his grip on her " You will never leave my side again!" he stated in a serious tone while resting his chin on her shoulder, glaring at the headboard.

Iris smiled " You worry too much about me!" she jokingly scoffed while pulling away from the embrace to look at him. She knew if he could, he would have left the forest and dragged her with him.

Ian's lips curled up in a slight smile " I'm not willing to live this life without you, so prepare to be followed everywhere you go!" he amusingly stated, placing a kiss on her forehead, but deep down, he was dead serious.

Tyla brought in the food without bothering to knock on the door anymore and placed it on the table, and left without uttering another word to the couple. She knew that Ian would chase her away when she dared to linger more than he was willing to put up with, and she wasn't in the mood to deal with him.

Ian took the food off the table and sat next to her on the bed, feeding her while she munched on it as if she hadn't seen food in a longest time. Before they knew it, the food was gone, and Iris looked embarrassed that she behaved more like a savage, she thought, while Ian chuckled and kissed her temple.

" Do you want some more? You can have mine!" he offered while getting up to get the other plate and returned to the bed with the next serving.

" What about you?" she curiously asked while her eyes darted between him and the food, hungrily eyeing the food on the plate.

" I will have some later!" he replied amusedly while pushing the food in front of her mouth.

" You need it more than I do!" he exclaimed in a serious tone while he continued feeding her.

Iris nodded; she felt like she was in a bottomless pit, and she had never felt so hungry in a very long time.

Another knock on the door echoed in the room, interrupting the peace between the couple; Ian turned his attention to the door.

" Who is it?" he asked in annoyance, scowling at the person behind the door.

" Azra!" he shyly replied.

Ian turned his attention to Iris, who stood up from the bed and hurriedly made her way to the door and opened it for him to come in.

Ian cursed under his breath and bunched the bed sheet feeling his anger bubbling up again at the mere sound of his voice.

Iris smiled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and pulled him into a warm and loving hug while Azra did the same, letting out a shaky sigh.

Ian stood up from the bed, and in a couple of quick strides, he reached them and pulled Iris away, fearful that he might do the same thing as before.

" No touching!" he barked while glaring at Azra; he couldn't believe his nerve, despite having made it clear that he should not touch her again.

Azra politely bowed " Forgive me, father!" he said in a small voice.

Iris smiled and clasped Ian's hand, squeezing it " There is no need to behave like this with our son!" she scolded while giving him a disapproving look.

Ian shook his head " You are wrong, and I'll prove it to you!" he vaguely replied while he let go of her hand and pulled her to his chest, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

Iris frowned and gave him a questioning look " I don't understand!" she replied, a little confused while turning her attention to Azra.

Ian scoffed " You will soon enough!" he stated confidently that he was right about his assumptions.

" Good to see that you have recovered and are well, mother!" Azra lovingly said while looking at her with adoring eyes.

" Thank you, Azra! How are you feeling?" she lovingly asked, lifting her hand to touch him, which was quickly grabbed by Ian.

" No touching, remember!" he said in a serious tone while intently looking at Azra for any sign of danger.

" It was not my intention to hurt mother. I just couldn't stop for some reason!" he shyly explained in a pained voice; he knew he wouldn't be able to live it down; his father would never let him forget it.

Ian held his head up high " So you said so many times, but I'm finding it hard to believe you!" he smirked while peering at Azra from above.

Iris cleared her throat " He will prove it to you, but you have to give him a chance to do so! Isn't that right, Azra?" she tried to calm Ian's rattled spirit while looking at him from the corner of her eye; she could see that Azra wasn't his favourite person at that moment and it will take time for them to build a good relationship.

Azra nodded " Yes, mother!" he shyly replied, feeling his father's eyes bore holes into the crown of his head.

Iris clasped her hands together " It's settled !" she beamed while wrapping her arm around Ian's waist and letting out a sigh of contentment.

Ian reluctantly nodded; at that moment, he didn't find the strength to say no to her with everything she had been through. Her smile lit up the entire room, and he didn't want to see that disappear. She had become the air that he breathed, and without her, he saw no light in the darkness that surrounded him more each day.