Never Fading

Ara sat with Dustan on the shores of her lake. The moonlight above shedding very little light over the waters. Silence stretched between them, but Ara didn't mind. She gazed with longing over the calm water, a silent sigh escaping her lips as she allowed it to ease her nerves. It wasn't until Dustan shifted for the millionth time next to her that she turned her eyes towards him.
"Dustan, you know you don't have to-"
"I want to." He quickly interjected. A sad smile formed in his lips and Ara couldn't help but return it.
She couldn't understand why he went out of his way to be with her, or why he comforted her. She was grateful for him that part was true. . . he was her only friend.
"Ara?"
"Yes?" She stared expectantly up at his eyes. They held so much emotion in their blue depths as they searched for something in her own golden stare. He was quiet for only a moment. At first, Ara was sure that he had forgotten or lost his train of thought. . . but then he leaned into her. The surprise of his lips pressing softly against hers brought Ara to gasp. His movements were coy and timid, she felt his body shiver as he deepened the kiss.
She didn't know what to do,she merely sat there. He expected a response from her, almost needed it but Ara wouldn't give it to him, she couldn't. In fact her heart began to accelerate as panic settled in. Her mind flashed with images of her fathers abuse as Dustan went to reach for her hand and Ara couldn't take it anymore. Suddenly, she wasn't with Dustan. She wasn't in her sanctuary, she was home. Back to the endless assaults and attacks, back with her jailer as he took advantage of her body. . . over. . . and over. . .
"Stop. . . stop!" She nearly screamed on a breathless gasp as she turned away from him. Her body shook violently as Ara battled the emotions that now raged inside of her.
"Shit. . . Shit, Ara-"
"Just. . . just wait Dustan." Her voice was broken, her breaths coming out in pants as she tried to reign in some control over her body. Her arms came around her, she squeezed her eyes shut and counted silently in her mind. Stop, just stop. Please stop!
She was barely aware of the sobs that ran through her trembling body, her mind was too focused on keeping herself from having a mental breakdown.
"Ara, God. . . I'm so sorry. Please.  .  . let me. . ." His voice trailed off only to be followed by whispers in a language she didn't understand. Before she knew it, an overwhelming feeling of relief washed over her entire system. It felt absolutely amazing, almost as if every bad thing in the world had disappeared, leaving nothing but the feeling of euphoria and. . . happiness. It was so brief, Ara literally cried out when it ended and she turned a questioning stare to her friend.
"What was. . . that?"
He averted his eyes as he pulled his legs up to him. He looked so. . . sad. . . almost hurt. Guilt began to rise up within Ara as she wanted to comfort him like he comforted her. God, she felt awful. All he wanted was for her to return his feelings, his affections but she couldn't. Her father had taken the ability to trust, to let anyone in. He robbed her from any chance she had at a normal life and she couldn't help the bitter anger that rose up inside of her. She hated him. She hated everything he was! Why her?
"I'm sorry Dustan. I really am. I. . . I'll see you tomorrow." She rose and left before he could protest. Was she doomed? Ara hoped with all her will that she wasn't. Her eyes turned up towards the sky, finding the star that always seemed to shine whenever she needed it. She sent a silent prayer, as if it would hear her. . .perhaps it was a wish? She couldn't be sure what or who she really was addressing but she begged nonetheless.
Please. . . please. . . let me find happiness. Don't let this be my life. 

Amara

Ara sat shaking on the cold basement floor. Her small body shuttered against the chill air making the pains all the more unbearable. Her hands clutched her swollen stomach as if somehow it would help it all go away. She wasn't ready for this. . . She was only fourteen, she didn't know what to expect as the pains of the contractions overtook her in merciless waves.
She screamed, panic started to settle in when she the babe within her kicked.
"Stop. . . please stop." She prayed under breath even as another contraction, this one more forceful than the last, consumed her entire senses.
She had to do something, what was it she had read about? Breathe, right?
How was that even possible? Ara could barely move, much less force her body to take in oxygen.
Sweat started to bead off her skin, the dirt that coated her face became an even bigger mess as her hair began to stick to her forehead. The young wolf didn't know anything about child birth, nor did she have any help, no one to guide her through the process. All she did and could do, was allow her instincts to take over.
Days could have passed and she wouldn't have noticed it in the slightest. Her entire focus was on the small pushes she attempted whenever a contraction hit. It took ten hours of labor for her to even feel like she was advancing in the slightest. Fatigue began to settle in as her pushes became weaker and weaker.
Blood covered her thighs and the floor and it seemed that more and more of it appeared as she began to lose the fight. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared up at the ceiling, helpless against her own fears.
I'm all alone. .  . how am I supposed to do this? She sobbed quietly, her body contorting once more as she felt the pressure increase to new heights.
She didn't want to think of it, but it started to come to her mind. . . the questions she was scared she would find answers to.
Would she make it out of this alive? Did she want to? What of her child. . . could Ara raise it with her monster of a step father around?
As if to answer all those questions, she felt her babe move. The pressure eased only a little bit, enough to allow Ara to gather what little strength she had left. You can do this, Ara. . . come on, even your child is fighting for it!
"Ok. . . o..ok. .  .one. . . two. . . three-" She felt the horrible pain of the head starting to come through. It only encouraged her further, she put everything she had into it. Almost. . . almost!
She could have sighed in relief had she not completely collapsed as she heard the strangled cries of the babe.
It's over. . . It's over. Finally. . . Instinctively,she wanted to comfort the baby, she wanted to hold it but she could not will her muscles to move. Oh god. . . no. She was going to bleed out, she could already feel the familiar  cold numbness that began to take over her mind. Her breaths came out in low, harsh, gasps and the sounds of her baby filled her ears. Not like this, she thought. She didn't want to go out like this, but it she had little to nothing to say in the matter.
And it seemed fate only wanted to make things worse. She heard the ominous sound of boots coming down the stairs. Her heart accelerated as pure terror took hold of her.
"No. . . go away, go away." She meant for it to be loud, for her voice to sound strong but all she received were weak , desperate,whispers.
"Well, finally. The buyer is here."
Buyer? No.. no!
"Great, its a girl. Couldn't make a boy, could you, you fucking little whore."
No. . . stop!
She felt him cut the cord and take the crying child into his arms.
Stop!
She watched helplessly as he walked back up the stairs, stopping only to look back. His face held no remorse, no guilt. It was nothing but cold hatred that burned in his gaze as he smirked wickedly at her.
"Please," She pleaded, her hand weakly reaching out as if she could will her child back into her arms. Her voice sounded rough, weak as she tried to beg for him to give her child back. "don't. . . Just. . . give her back, please. I-I'll do anything-"
"You can't give me anything you stupid mutt. Besides, I can't have you raising a kid, you'll be even more fucking useless." He turned his eyes to the bundle in his arms, for a second. . . if only for a fraction of time. . .  something that resembled pain crossed his features but it quickly faded before he turned away up the stairs.
No. . .no. . .no! Ara would have screamed if she could, she would have fought for her child had she had the strength but she didn't. . . she was weak and dying. All she could do was lay there in a pool of her blood as her tears ran down her cheeks.
"Ara? God. . .Ara!"
Her eyes moved from the place where her step father and child had disappeared to. Slowly they came to the sky blue eyes of her only friend in the world.
"Dustan?"
The saddest smile crossed his lips as he moved to pick her up.
"Yea, Ara. I'm here, don't worry, babe, we'll get you out of here."
"No..." She shook her head, her eyes turning back to the stairs. "Amara. . ."
"I know, I'll get her back, Ara. I promise. But first we. . .we-" The sound of his voice breaking brought her attention back to Dustan's crystal blue eyes. He swallowed hard, his gaze turned away from her as if it pained him too much to see her like this. She didn't blame him, she must look like death. At least, she hoped for it, maybe then she would find peace?
She lost track of his movements, all she knew was that her view of the ceiling had changed. It wasn't her house anymore. Probably his apartment. . . maybe a hospital. Who knew. . .she didn't care. Her mind was blurred at that point, unconsciousness beginning to pull at the edges of her vision. Faintly, she heard his voice call to her. Begging her to fight, to hold on for him, but she didn't want to. Couldn't she just be done?
Apparently not. She felt the soft cushions of a bed underneath her as she watched Dustan roll up his sleeves. His eyes held nothing but panic and fear as he uttered words she couldn't understand under his breath. His hands began to glow a brilliant red and she felt them gently glide over her stomach. Pain ,she didn't even realize she was in, began to ease away. A soft, surprised, gasp left her lips as the feeling of near euphoria filled every cell of her body. Warmth rushed through her body almost instantly and she felt herself being thrown back into reality, much to her dismay.
"You're going to be ok, Ara." Dustan said on a breathy laugh. He leaned in to her, his arms coming around her as he held her against him like she was a precious glass doll.
Through all this, through all that Dustan had done to save her.  . . Ara couldn't bring herself to find joy in being alive. She couldn't bring herself to thank Dustan, instead, she felt her body shutter. Her eyes welled up with tears she fought hard to hold back, "You should have let me die, Dus. . ."

Adventures with a Time Demon

"Turn! Turn, turn!" Luka yelled as he braced himself in his seat. Ara turned to glare at Luka as she jerked the wheel to the side, causing the car to screech as it followed the motion.
"I'm turning Luka, are you happy?"
"Not until we are home and I blow up every possible car within a one hundred mile radius!"
She gaped at him, the loud sirens behind them only fueling her anger. "This was your idea, you knucklehead! Your exact words, 'Ara. . . get in the car, you can drive. I'll guide you." 
Luka scoffed at her mocking, "That was before I realized you were a psycho!" He paused, the only reason she heard him murmur was because she had taken another sharp left and turned them onto a back road. The sounds of the sirens became muffled as she drove the car through the dirt roads.
"I wish I could kill you. . ."
"Oi. . . Don't say things you can never have, babe. I will forever be with you." Good. . . Lord. Ara thought as she heard Luka's bark of laughter as she tried to navigate them away from the fleet of cops trailing them.
"Why am I doing this? I could just stop and leave you here!" Why was she doing this indeed! She let out an exasperated sigh when her mind answered the damned question. Because Luka asked you to and you can never deny a request from your precious demon. 
Of. . .course.
"I think you actually lost them!" She turned towards Luka's excited voice, and damn her. . . the corners of her mouth twitched with the threat of a smile as she saw him lean out of his window. "Yep! They're gone! Congratulations Ara, my darling, you are now a wanted felon."
God. . . grant her patience... She slammed down the brakes of the car. To her satisfaction, she heard Luka's shocked 'oof' as he was sent forward on his seat, and to her disappointment, almost out the windshield.
"Wanted felon? Felon! Luka Lanterouge, what did you get me into!"
That stupid grin of his spread from ear to ear as he locked her gaze with his mesmerizing crystal blue ones. "I got you to loosen up and have some fun! You seemed so sad lately, I wanted you to smile."
Ara stared at him for the longest time. Her mind still processing his words. . . Damn him to hell and back and to hell again. How could he turn a situation like this into something sweet? Only her demon. . .
"Damn you Luka." She laughed. "Only you would go all out for something that could have been solved easily!" Now she couldn't stop laughing. Tears had started rolling down her cheeks and Luka was right along with her. It made the mood of the situation all the more lighter and God, she would be lying if she didn't feel nothing but love from Luka. He went out of his way just to make her laugh? Yep, damn him, damn him to hell.
"What would have been a simpler solution?" He piped up after both of them had finally stopped to catch their breath. Ara turned to him slowly, a smirk of her own appearing as she moved out of the driver seat to straddle Luka. He immediately got the message. His breaths still coming out in short spurts, but not to catch his breath.
"My poor, demon. Always over thinking things. " She smiled, leaning into his lips and wrapping her arms tenderly around his neck. Her body already coming to life for him as his hands worked the zipper of her jeans and slipped underneath the fabric to the one spot she wanted him to go.
"Mmm." She moaned. Yep. . . only with Luka. . .

Nightmare

She sat on the cool, soft sand. The small grains felt good between her toes and her fingers, the breeze felt nice against her face. Ara closed her eyes as she listened to the sounds of the water slowly lapping up and down in a calming rhythm. She tilted her chin up to allow the sun's warming rays to wash over her. 

Moonlight lake. . .The name rang out in her mind though she did not know the place. It seemed so familiar to her, as if she had been there before. But she couldn't have. She hadn't been to any lake, she couldn't have known this place. And yet. . . the familiarity of it all left her confused. 

Ara. . . The whisper surprised her. She sat up straight, her eyes scanning her surroundings. It was an all too chilling voice. This one, she knew. 

Did you think you could escape me?

The blood froze in her veins, fear followed and had her up on her feet and ready to fight should anything come at her. 

You're still the same little child, Ara. . . and this time, your little time demon won't come to save you. 

The sound of chains rattled when Ara next moved. A cold drop of water landed on her cheek as she soon found herself in a place she hoped she would never see again. It was her step fathers basement. . . back to where it all began. When did she get here? How did she get here? Ara began to panic.  Her heart raced in her chest, threatening to burst through and run away all itself. 

"No! No, no! I'm not afraid of you!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, yet no voice was heard. She yelled and yelled but nothing came out, not a single sound! 

Of course you are, you filthy little whore. You will never escape me. Never. 

"No. . . no!" This time she heard herself scream in pain as he appeared from the shadows and struck her across her face. 

You fucking cunt. I will show you pain. You are mine. Always, mine. Her step father's voice sounded wrong. . .distorted. . . twisted but all the same it was his. And he was angry. 

"Leave me alone-" Her voice cut to a gasp when she felt the bruising kick to her side. She coughed as she tried to regain her breath but he kicked again, and again and suddenly she wasn't the strong adult anymore. She was seven once more. Her small body filling with increasing agony as her step father took his anger out on her. "Stop!" But her cries where never heard. 

This was wrong, this was all wrong! This never happened! Luka had come by now, he had killed her wicked father before any harm came to her. No. . . Luka! 

Ara jolted up from her bed, sweat covered her entire body causing her hair to stick around her face. 

"Ara! God, I tried to wake you up but you just wouldn't." Luka's sweet voice was the most welcoming sound she could hear. She threw herself into his arms, quiet sobs racked through her body unyieldingly as she tried to make sense of it all. What the heck had just happened? She had had nightmares before, but never like this. . never this. . .vivid. 

"Shh, it's ok Ara, I'm here, I'm here." 

Luka. . . his name alone made her feel safe. Her grip tightened around him and if it hurt, Luka never complained. He held her in his embrace for the longest time until the last shakes of the dream began to ebb away. Even then, he held her in comfort until she was ready to pull away. 

Gentle hands wiped away the tears of her cheek and Ara met the reassuring gaze of Luka's blue eyes. 

"You want to talk about it?" He asked, his voice seeming loud against the quiet of the night. She contemplated telling him. Her eyes searched for something in his depths, she didn't know what. . . but somehow she found herself shaking her head and diverting her gaze from his. 

He never pressed her further, instead, he moved closer to her and reached for her hand. 

"Do you want to come sleep with me-"

"Yes." Ara answered quickly. Oops. . . Her cheeks flushed at Luka's satisfied grin. "Let's just go." She added, trying to hide the smile that threatened to find its way to her lips. Luka sighed, and stood up. The absence of his weight on her bed brought alarm to her and she quickly joined his side. 

"Whoa, it's ok Ara, I'm not going anywhere." She glanced up with a frown. Why had she just panicked when he had gotten up? 

Because you're scared he's not real and you will be left alone. Her mind seemed to know the answer already. It was true, the fear that Luka wouldn't be there was all to real to her. In her dream , he hadn't been there. She had been alone and had completely fallen apart. Her grip tightened around his hand as he led them down the hall to his bedroom. 

She got into his bed, his scent already enveloping her senses and she felt the ease of his presence wash through her. She snuggled as close as she could to Luka when he took his place on the other side, needing to feel him there. 

Gods. . . Just having him made her feel safe. Having his arms draw her close, hold her protectively had Ara's tense body relaxed in less than a minute. 

"Good night, Ara." Luka said, his voice already sounding groggy with the promise of sleep. She couldn't help the smile she sported now. Her heart felt full, butterflies tickled her stomach as she found herself yawning and being drawn into the same place her demon was. 

"Good night, Luka." His response was the soft sounds of his snores, his chest moving in and out with each breath. Her eyelid grew heavy, her smile never left though as she whispered, "I love you." 

Memory Lane

Ara picked at her food, her mind wandering about the past. Thank the gods that Luka remembered her. When he spoke her name in that moment. . . it was probably the best feeling ever. A light shined in those crystal blue eyes of his, and for a moment, everything seemed back to normal. And she could almost forget the bitch who had done this to her demon. . . but they had soon found out otherwise.
"Hey, you ok?" Luka's voice snapped her out of the trance she was in. She met his gaze and couldn't help the smile that automatically found its way to her lips.
"Yea." It wasn't all entirely a lie. Sure, she felt a bit hopeless because she wasn't able to help Luka. She was useless and no matter how many times he told her that everything would be ok, it just didn't sink in. The more time that passed caused that worry to find an even better grip on her.
She knew she wasn't good at hiding it either. She knew that Luka was suffering much more than she was. After all, how would she feel if her past was nothing but a big black hole? Not knowing where she came from or who she belonged with. Not knowing who to trust or what to call home? She shuttered at the thought of not knowing Luka. She would be nothing without him.
"Ara? You know. . . I can hear everything you say in your mind right?"
Oh. . . right.
"Sorry. Haven't figured out how to block my thoughts yet." Her eyes went back to her food when she felt her cheeks grow hot from the blush she knew was there.
Luka chuckled under his breath as he took a bite from his plate.
"What?" Ara asked with suspicion.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing, it's just. . .nothing." Her eyes narrowed on him.
"What's so funny,Luka?"
That stupidly cute grin of his appeared on his face as met her eyes. He was trying not to laugh, but she could see the humor in his eyes. Those wonderfully . . .breath taking eyes.
"I know, they are gorgeous aren't they?" He teased her.
"Stop reading my mind!"
He put his hands up as if in surrender, but that grin still lined his features, making it increasingly hard for Ara not to smile too.
"Hey, I'm not reading any minds. You're practically screaming them at me. . . do you want to know why I was laughing?"
She put down her fork and completely turned on her chair to fully face him. "Oh please, do tell."
The humor in his eyes never left as he mimicked her moves to face her. Gosh, damn this demon. Why was it so hard for her not to laugh?
"Because, I tell you I can hear your thoughts and the first thing you tell me is that you're sorry. . . you haven't learned to block them yet."
She stared at him for the longest moment before answering. "What?" He had completely lost it, what was funny about that?
Luka laughed and leaned back on his chair.
"I'm going to kill you, Luka." She said before eventually breaking down and laughing with him. She would never fully understand him, would she?
"Oh, what's so funny?" Both their laughs stopped abruptly as they turned towards the source of a new voice. A man stepped out of the shadows. Bright violet eyes glanced between the two of them as he found a seat on their couch. Who the heck was this bastard? Whoever he was, he was not welcome. Ara growled and stood, her body already tensing for a battle.
"Oh, feisty one you have now, huh, Luka?"
Luka was next to her in the next instant, a hand came around her as he gently held her back.
"Do I know you?"
Amusement reflected in the dark depths of the intruder's eyes. He grinned, "So it is true. . . Luka my friend, we have much to talk about."