Ashfall: City of Shade (UNDER EDITING)

Chapter 4 | Rog

GRETA

Something heavy keeps me from turning over on my side. I kick my feet against the weight while trying to open my eyes.

Fluffs of warmth cluster snugly around my body like a baby's noyk. What am I doing tucked inside of one?

Very slowly, I peel my eyes open despite the immense pain stinging in them. I break down into sobs seeing nothing but the silver smear of someone's bright eyes watching me from over the edge of an even greater pile of cloud from high up above. My eyes droop, groggy in defeat as they shut back closed against my god's glowing bed.

Adler's voice rumbles from on top of it. "Little pearl? Have you finally woken?"

When I manage to open my eyes again a cough leaves me. I try to sit up in the mini-cloud that I've been stuffed in near the side of his own huge one. Miraculously, his clout bed drifts lower dimming in brightness. By the time it reaches the level of the noyk I lay in, its glow has dimmed disappearing completely into the darkness of the room.

I do not sleep in noyk anymore, I am a grown woman.

Suddenly, Adler reaches down toward me and I clench my eyes back shut. His hand slips down and around the fluff cushioning me in place until he grasps underneath the back of my tunic. His icy fingers graze up and down my spine as if to comfort me while he spreads a smelly substance across my belly...where he must have undone my tunic for it remains partially opened.

"Yes, I know. You're so sore. Just let me finish spreading this remedy. Okay?" he whispers.

It tingles, making me go still as silent tears dribble down the corners of my eyes. My hips tremble as he starts spreading more of the salve over my chest. I go rigid when I sense his head lower down beside mine. His heavy tone keeps me from making a peep, "I know you are awake."

I blink, staring wide-eyed at him for he must have put me inside this tiny bedded cloud. My eyes burn, but the pain lessens as my vision clears.

I continue to squirm beneath him.

"No..."

He appears indifferent to my fear and continues rubbing the strange goop over me.

"Hush, I am doing this for you."

I wiggle, helpless.

"No!"

"It's amazing you survived all alone in the black desert, my little pearl. You aren't going to be alone ever again. This is how I can keep you close. Is it truly such a bad idea?"

I nod rapidly hoping he understands my feelings against it.

His serious face makes me feel very small as he ignores my discomfort. Tiny. Inconvenient. A bug made helpless turned over on its back as he continues to smear the stickiness over me. I will not be made a child by him. Why is he treating me as such? What did I do wrong?

"I do not want to sleep in noyk!"

With a huff, I sit up and cover my tunic back around myself. He withdrawals his hands and wipes the goop off on his tunic.

He scratches his head. "But it is what the hospice has recommended. Would you rather be in my bed?"

"No. I don't want to be in anyone's bed, but my own."

His chuckle makes my skin crawl. For a new darkness passes over his face melting his warm smile into a hard line in the dimness of the room.

"I want you to meet my wife. Will you be well enough to attend dinner tomorrow with us? You've been very sick. I came back a little early. Please don't be hurt, but I think you may have gathered this much yourself you are abnormally short again...so as to keep you most safe. The perfect size for your new noyk."