8 That dark night

He wrapped his arms around her body making sure she was safe and secure within and then the next moment, he jumped out of the window.

For the second time that day he broke the promise of not using his weird powers in front of anyone again. It had gotten quite dark outside hence the soldiers didn't see that instead of going down towards the ground, they went up.

Mourns erupted from their throats as they ran towards the window bending hysterically over it, peeking down but it was hard to see due to the darkness.

"He took our Princess with him." One breathed, his face twisted in sorrow. He was from the loyal ones.

"Maybe he was a sore lover of hers who couldn't bear the marriage news." Another whispered.

"What will we say to the King?" Someone panicked.

The only person quiet in the room was the general, Alec Preston. He just got a glimpse of the man who took the princess with him but it was enough for him to know who he was. His eyebrows were knitted in a thoughtful frown, his teeth clenched.

He was the one to conduct all the research on the newly hired detective. He knew very well what type of man Hellion Duxsoro was hence it was hard in fact impossible for him to believe that he jumped to death out of the fear of just getting caught. It was also impossible for the princess to have an affair with that man but the way she seemed to be willingly clinging to him hinted matters.

"It is a trap. Run the men around. I need our Princess safe and him alive or dead."

The word from the general earned him confused glances. The soldiers were trained not to believe any uncanny thing they saw in the Palace thus after a while of uncertainty and hesitation, they obliged nevertheless.

~

He took his hand off her mouth now that he was sure she wouldn't scream. She was still bundled up in his lap, his one arm surrounding her waist. "You can blink now."

"H-how?" She licked her dry lips, her hands clenching on to the fabric of his shirt. She didn't blink however.

"You promised you won't question it." He looked in her wide eyes and then her parted lips. "I…have learned it specifically because my job requires it. It's just a trick." He gave her an explanation, a false one anyway because her little heart was beating so fast and it was nagging her.

He didn't know why…

Upon feeling a weird tingling warmth in his chest, his first instinct was to push her out of his lap but she just hugged him in return like a scared kid. They were currently sitting on top of the tower with little to no balance over the steep surface. The only support was the rocky texture of the surface with protruding scales of cement, like the skin of a dragon.

He froze for a moment when she nuzzled his neck. "Relax!" He recovered immediately but refrained from wrapping his arms around her again. He didn't want his dream to come true by any means. "Just sit here for a moment. Let me see if they are gone."

He could have flown her to the ground easily but he had a feeling that she would definitely pass out if he did so. He could justify the climbing over the top situation by lying that he had learned it to fool people but how would he justify to her that he can defy gravity?

"No, please…" Her voice sounded strained.

He felt something warm running down the skin of his neck. "Are you crying?" He couldn't help but frown. Did I touch her too harshly? He thought to himself and moved his hands a little more away from her. He panicked remembering how he had broken bones of a few people with just a little harsh grip and without even realizing it. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

She didn't reply but her weeping picked up pace as she sobbed in his shoulder. She never thought life would bring her back to this point again. She tried to forget all of it like it was just a nightmare and never really happened but there she was, experiencing it all over again, just like it happened that dark night.

Her body was trembling against his and he could feel her hands ice cold from the thin fabric of his shirt. Suddenly she calmed down and he felt her body going limp in his arms.

Her head lost balance and fell backwards. Her neck stretched with the movement but he immediately put a hand under her head, holding it up. "Hey, wake up!" He observed her face from up close under the moonlight. Her long lashes were causing a shadow to appear over her high cheekbones and he found it strangely attractive.

Very carefully, he lifted her up in his arms and pressed her head against his shoulder to keep it stable. Now that she was unconscious he didn't have to worry about anything so he quietly and slowly flew her down to the ground.

~

"Who is she, Lio? Don't tell me you killed her. I am telling you beforehand I won't help you hide the body this time."

"Come on Thew, she is just unconscious." He stood at the door with the girl still passed out in his arms. "Now would you get aside?" He gave her a bored look when his friend just stood there gazing at him and the girl.

It wasn't his fault though. It wasn't everyday that Hellion Duxsoro appeared at his door apparently taking care of an unconscious girl. He didn't say anything but moved out of the way.

After Hellion had put her on the couch, he noticed that her black skirt rode up a little higher, revealing the pale skin of her thighs. When he saw his friend looking at the same thing, he bent over and pulled it down, surprising both his friend and himself.

Again he just didn't know why…

"Now would you care to brief who she is and what is this all about?" After recovering, Mathew asked him.

"She is the crown princess."

"The what?!"