Neytiri

I stare at myself in the mirror as I brush the long white tresses that fall down my back. It makes me miss Ismena. She'd be making me laugh by now with her tales from the kitchens. I let out a soft laugh and continue brushing.

I haven't been around much anyone lately. Just random people of the castle, and I only see Caius if we're training. Other than that it's Ulric who escorts me to and from places. Ever since that day at the river, it's almost as if Caius has been told to keep away from me. There's a soft knock on my door, and it's pushed open to reveal the last person I expected to see tonight.

Cassian.

I feel my muscles tense up, and my heart quickening but I keep my composure. Those black and red eyes are watching my every move, piercing my soul. He silently pushes open the door not saying a word as he closes it behind him, gracefully moving across the room. His movements are so fluid and confident, you can tell this man was born to rule.

He takes a seat on the corner of my bed, never once breaking eye contact. He smiles, revealing those sharp canines and that dimple.

"Breathe," he says.

That's when I realize my chest is burning from lack of oxygen. I exhale, making a mental note to keep breathing. He laughs softly, looking away from me into the fire.

"Caius tells me your training is going well," he says.

"He's a good teacher," I say. I notice Cassian's smile drop a little.

"Hmm..." is all he says.

He looks back to me and my grip on the hair brush tightens. He stands up holding his hand out to me.

"Come with me," he says.

I look at his outstretched hand and want nothing more than to move away from him, but he looks so trusting in me, that I slowly set the brush down, and place my hand in his. His grip is warm, but his hands are callused from fighting all those years no doubt.

He pulls me along into the hallway, the light from my bedroom disappearing in the darkened halls. He looks excited as he pulls me along.

"Where are we going?" I whisper. He turns to me placing his fingers over his smiling lips.

"Shhhhhh." It comes out so soft, almost as if it were just a leaf on the wind. I blink, and roll my lips into my mouth, emphasizing that I will be as silent as I can. He laughs softly at my reaction continuing to pull me along.

We move along the corridors until we reach a set of stairs and I realize we are heading out one of the hidden exits of the castle. He keeps his hold on me, and at one point he pauses placing his back against the wall. He pulls on my arm pulling me away from sight, and flush against his chest.

He's warm.

I look up and his head is turned to the side as he looks around the corner. He has an almost childlike grin on his face. It's foreign there. He looks down at me, and I immediately look away feeling a burn on my cheeks.

"Come on," he whispers pulling me once again.

We reach the outer edge of the castle and I look up, seeing the stone loom over us. But Cassian doesn't seem to be stopping. He still pulls me along until we reach a cave. My footsteps immediately falter as uncertainty comes over me. Cassian notices, and stops his pulling to turn to me.

I look from him to the cave and back to him.

"I won't hurt you, Neytiri," says.

He tilts his head to the side gazing at me with a small smile on his face and for the first time I don't feel fear. He's boyish in this moment. He holds his hand out to me.

"Trust me," he says. I can feel the walls breaking down around me as he utters those words. He steps closer to me, and I let out a soft gasp from the suddenness of his movements. He slowly reaches up placing his hands on either side of my face.

"I promise. I will not tamper with your memories again, Neytiri. Trust me," he says. His gaze is serious as it latches onto mine. I nod my head and he smiles leaning forward to place a soft kiss on my forehead. My body heats up from the sudden contact and I take nore that his lips are soft against my skin.

He pulls away as if he hadn't just kissed my head and pulls me into the dark cave beyond.

"Wow," is all I can mutter.

The moon is shining high above, illuminating the natural pool below, but even without the moon's bright glow you would be able to see the water. It's illuminated somehow, each time the water washes ashore a bright blue glow appears. It's a hidden reservoir within the cave.

I let out a soft gasp when I look back at Cassian. The top of his robes fall to the sand below as he pulls it off. His chest is broad, and I can see the rest of the symbols that curl down his face, wrapping around his throat, and decorating one side of his chest as well. His hair is pulled back into a ponytail so his body is visible. My eyes travel down his body, and he's wearing pants, but as soon as they travel back up I see his gaze. The bright red orbs are illuminated in the dark, and I realize that he's smirking at me.

I whip away from him, hiding my face in my hands. I can hear his laugh behind me.

"You can look at me, Neytiri," he says. He walks around me, and I hear the sound of water. I look up from my hands to see him in the water. The ripples around him illuminating a beautiful blue.

"Wow," I say again. He laughs. This time it's loud, and boisterous. He even throws his head back for good measure.

"It's a place I used to come to as a child," he says. I look around the cave, slowly making my way towards the water.

"You've been here before?" I ask. He smiles nodding his head at me.

"The kings of old used to have magnificent feasts, and we would travel miles and miles to spend the whole nights dancing away and enjoying the time of peace," he says. I smile along with him and take a seat at the water's edge.

"I taught my sister how to swim here," he says. He has a sad smile on his face.

"You have a sister?" I ask. He looks at the water, his smile dropping. His dark gaze meets mine and I see the sorrow that lurks there.

"Had," he clarifies. I look at him in pity, remembering what he said when I asked if he had anyone.

"I'm sorry," I say. He shakes his head.

"It's no matter now. It was a long time ago," he says. He pulls his hand into a fist.

"The people that took my family have paid for their crimes with their lives," he says. I feel a small shudder creeping up my spine at his words. I place my fingers in the water, mesmerized by the way it lights up when I touch it. I pull my knees to my chest, looking at the moon's now rippling reflection.

"I don't know who took my family away from me," I say. I look at him and he's watching me with a guarded expression.

"Do you know?" I ask.

"Yes," he says.

"Everyone knows who wiped the Ikniri from the world." He looks up at the moon and turns his gaze back to mine.

"Except for the last Ikniri, that is," he says. He then dips under the water, the blue hue lighting up as he moves under the water. I can see his silhouette shrouded by the lights as he moves through the water before re-emerging closer to me, the water streaming down his muscled torso.

"Why did you bring me here?" I ask. He shrugs.

"I figured you wanted to get away from the palace and constant stares," he says. I raise a brow at him.

"Oh? Not for your own selfish gain?" I ask teasingly. He makes a face as if he's appalled by my words.

"Me? Selfish?" he asks. I laugh. I don't even think about my next words.

"I like you like this," I murmur.

I immediately tense when I realize what it is I just said. I look over to where Cassian is standing, and he has a look of surprise on his face. But he quickly covers it up. He holds his hand out to me with a smile on his lips.

I can feel the fear of him slowly dissipating until it is nothing more than a nagging notion at the back of my mind. I return his smile standing from my place on the shore to step into the cool water. Cassian keeps his hand outstretched as I tread through the water, my breathing quickening upon approach. I may not be afraid, but I am just as nervous being bear me.

When I reach him I place my hand in his and he uses the contact to pull me in close so that I am flush against his body. He's warm. So warm. I keep my cheek pressed to his chest, and I can hear his heart beating. It's so fast.

My eyes widen when I see some kind of smoke forming around us. I let out a soft gasp, but the smoke is in my system and my body grows slightly heavier. As do my eyes. My bones feel as if they are turning to mush. I slowly raise my gaze, looking up into those glowing red orbs.

Cassian's face is serious and focused on me. His fingers are under my chin, holding lifting my face to keep our gazes locked. He's studying me. His bright red orbs roam over my face until he sees what he's looking for and an unnerving smile crawl its way onto his face.

A light scoff leaves his lips.

"Perfect."

He leans into me, bringing his face closer to mine. My heart is fluttering in my chest, my mind screaming at me to run and get away, but I can't. I can't move. His lips are hovering just over my lips as he mutters in a foreign language. He gently places his lips over mine and before I can say anything, the smog that was surrounding us enters my lungs, taking over my system. It fills my ever cell and I feel sluggish and heavy; my mind muddled. My eyes widen slightly as I take in the glowing red gaze inches from my face. It's terrifying but I can do nothing but breathe. I'm trapped. Captured. Rooted.

... Darkness.