98 Cicely (part 3)

Cicely stared at the handsome young man. When it looked like he wasn't going to awake any time soon she decided that she would get the man some sustenance. She went into the forest not too far way for fresh water; she knew that a small spring was nearby. She then picked a smorgasbord of fruits and brought them over to the unconscious man.

The young gorgon set the items down nearby, prepared for the time the man would (hopefully) awake.

Cicely knelt down and hovered over him, entranced with how beautiful he looked. Without thinking she reached her hand towards his face. The man's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. While his movement was startling, he was still weak.

"Shhh" she whispered to the man freeing herself from his grasp. She reached behind her and grabbed the bowl of fresh water. "Water?" She asked meekly as she didn't want to scare him.

The man blinked and licked his chapped lips. He was parched, he reached for the bowl and attempted to sit up, but he was too weak. The young woman in front of him appeared to understand and assisted him. She helped him sit up and then brought the bowl to his lips. As the water ran down his dry throat (and slightly down his chin), he felt infinitely better. Still weak, but he no longer felt like he was on the verge of death. He took this time and brought his eyes to the woman that was helping him. She wore a concerned smile and appeared to be highly focussed in slowly providing the water, afraid that he would choke on the water or something.

The young man moved his head away from the bowl and the young woman pulled the bowl away. He couldn't see her eyes, but he could tell that they were staring expectantly at him. "My name is Vitalis, what is your name, young maiden?"

A red hue spread through her cheeks and her smile widened. A warm sensation filled her body. "My name is Cicely." She leaned behind her and grabbed her bag of fruits from her foraging earlier. "You must be starving, here."

Cicely presented the wide range of fruits in front of Vitalis pleased that she could help. His name was continually floating around her mind. The first human male she had ever spoken to. Well, he was actually the first human she had the pleasure of speaking to! She didn't participate in her family's gruesome stone museum.

Vitalis looked up at the woman and grabbed an orange fruit from the bounty. Just as he was grabbing the fruit his stomach rumbled in frustration and need of food. He let a warm smile crossed his face as he peeled into the fruit.

"May I help you?" Cicely asked eager to speak more with the handsome man. His mocha eyes drawing her deep within his gaze. When he smiled back at Cicely her heart fluttered wildly. "Take more." She said as she thrust more fruits into his vision.

"Thank you. I thought for sure I was going to perish on this island. You are my savior and my life is in your hands." He reached his hand out and it landed on top of hers.

Cicely gulped, she could feel his rough palms on her silken ones. Her palms began to sweat profusely and her heart was beating and she felt like it was going to jump out of her chest. Was he able to heart it? Cicely thought to herself. "I am happy to help, you'll tell me if you need anything, yes?"

Again the young gentleman smiled, his mocha eyes turning to crescents that only further increased the burning need within her stomach. "With the water and fruits your provided, there is little I could want for."

Cicely began to get up, "You'll need shelter for the night. It is too dangerous to lay on the beach unprotected." Before she could fully erect herself he held her hand. "You mustn't trouble yourself, you have already done so much for me."

Ba-dum

Ba-dum

Ba-dum

Cicely surely felt now her heart was going to jump out of her chest. The mixture of feelings so new she wasn't sure what they even were or what exactly they meant. She sat back down by the man. "I understand that it feels unnecessary, but I promise you, it would be too dangerous to remain so unguarded." Cicely spoke thinking specifically of her mother and sister as well the wild beasts on the island and not to mention the sirens in the sea.

He must have noticed her eyes glance at the forest edge. "What is it?"

Cicely turned back to Vitalis, "There are terrible beasts on this island. I promise you it would be much better for you if you maintain cover."

"What are you afraid of?"

She scratched her forehead absentmindedly and bit her lip her lip uncomfortably. "For me, nothing. For your safety, there is much on this island that can provide you something worse than death." She sighed.

"What? You can tell me." He appeared to be speaking earnestly

Cicely desperately wanted to tell him. But...something was stopping her. Finally her concern for the wounded male prevailed, "not only are there animals that can wound you, there are Sirens that live off this coast and Gorgons on this island as well."

"Gorgons?" He looked towards Cicely's eyes taking note of her covered head and glass that shielded her eyes. "You?"

Cicely looked away from him, ashamed. "Yes and my mother and sister."