Triggered Painful Memories

"Naj?" he asked, entering the room. "Naj, are you…?" He stopped.

Blood was on the floor underneath his friend's body. Carefully he rolled his friend over. Naj's soul was trembling.

"Naj?"

"Shishak," he whispered. His whole chest was covered in blood. It looked new.

"Where are you bleeding?" Shishak asked.

"Not my blood. Melior…" His body started to shake.

Shishak's hand moved down Naj's back and the trembling slowed.

"Will you be okay?"

"I think I need to lie down for a bit," Naj said.

"Would you like any help?"

"No." Naj got up and staggered out of the room.

Shishak checked on Melior Vitae. Her breathing was deep and her soul whimpered in pain. "Melior Vitae, what happened?"

"What do you mean?" she mumbled.

"What happened to Naj?"

"Naj was here?" Her eyes opened slightly. "What did he want?"

"He came to see if you wanted to go on a hike, but when I came in he was covered in blood."

"His own?"

"He said it was yours."

"Hmm," she replied, her eyes closing once more.

"Do you recall anything that happened after breakfast?"

Melior Vitae didn't respond.

"Melior Vitae?"

Shishak lie close to her and put his arm over her. Her only movement was her chest as she breathed. He couldn't hear her soul crying anymore. It concerned him, because even with difficult healings he could always hear the soul. Even now where his friend's souls had been healed, he could still hear them.

"Melior Vitae, please," he whispered.

Her gloved hand covered his own. He could feel death's call, but it was weak. "Can't fight anymore," she whispered.

"Okay. I'll let you rest." He kissed her forehead and started to move away, but her gloved hand tightened a little.

"Please stay."

"For a little while then I'll need to check on Naj."

"Okay."

Shishak kissed her neck and a small smile spread across her lips. He remained by her side until her gloved hand relaxed and fell away. Then he left to check on Naj. Arei sat in a chair next to his bed.

"I've never known Naj to take a nap," she said, quietly.

Naj was curled slightly and laying on his right side. His soul still crying about the blood.

"He had a stressful encounter with Melior Vitae, as you did last night." Almost absently he ran his hand down her back. Chills followed, but her spirit calmed.

"Thanks, Shishak."

"You're welcome, Arei. Can you give me some time alone with Naj?"

"Sure." She stood and went to the door. "Shishak, what happened?"

"That's what I need to figure out."

"Okay." Then she left.

Shishak sat on the edge of the bed, placing one hand on Naj's shoulder and running the other down his spine.

'She's dying. The blood…consumption…. It took my sister and now…. She's dying and I can't…'

"Naj, everything will be okay."

'No, she's dying!'

Shishak continued to run his hand down Naj's spine. "Can you tell me what happened?"

'I went to check on her and she was coughing. Some blood was already splattered on the floor. When I asked her what was wrong, she only buried her face in my shirt and kept coughing. As the blood soaked through my shirt, my thoughts were assaulted by the memory of my sister. Then you came in.'

"How old was your sister?"

'Fourteen.' His soul quieted. 'How's Melior Vitae?'

"Sleeping peacefully."

'Will she be okay?'

"I believe so."

Naj shifted in his sleep and Shishak knew he was done, but now he felt tired. Naj and Melior Vitae would be up soon and ready for the hike. Shishak didn't want to go anymore. He needed a release. He joined Arei and Tril in the kitchen. They were putting sandwiches together.

"How's Naj?" Tril asked, as Shishak sat down.

"Fine. Melior Vitae uncovered a powerful, yet painful memory."

"She's good at that," Arei said softly.

Melior Vitae entered the kitchen, only looking half awake. She sat on Shishak's lap and whispered to him. "Let me entertain you."

"Now is not the time for that," he replied.

"Time for what?" Naj asked.

"Nothing," Shishak said. "We can go on our hike now."

"Shishak," Melior Vitae said.

"Don't whine, please. It's time you got out of the house for a little bit."

"Okay." She kissed him once before they went outside.

Tril, Arei, Naj, and Melior Vitae were amazed at the beauty around them, but Shishak hardly noticed. He really wanted a nap, a release, something. They reached the stopping point of their hike and ate lunch. Shishak ate without tasting the food then moved to lay on the grass, but Melior Vitae pulled him towards her so his head rested in her lap.

The fingers of her left hand ran through his hair. It wasn't the release he needed, but it would be sufficient until they got back to the house.

"Melior Vitae," Tril said. "What do the Bluebell and Violet represent?"

"The Bluebell is for consistency and everlasting love. The Violet represents spiritual wisdom, faithfulness, and intuition."

"So that's why you haven't tried anything."

"Tried anything?"

"To entertain Naj and I."

Melior Vitae looked away. The itching was returning. The salve she had didn't help with the itching, only a man's love did that. And the only man's love she could have was Shishak's. If not for the Iris, she could have been able to entertain both Naj and Tril since Shishak was not inclined to. Shishak's fingers touched her chin, but she didn't look at him. However, her legs shifted slightly.

"Melior Vitae?" he asked.

"We should head back," she replied, taking his hand from her face.

"What for?"

"You know what for." She looked at him. "Unless you want it right here, right now."

"What are you talking about?" Shishak asked, sitting up and facing her.

Melior Vitae kissed him, her right gloved hand, touching his chin.

He pulled away slightly. "It can wait."

"It's waited long enough." Then she stood and turned back to the house.

Shishak's friends finished cleaning up the picnic and followed after Melior Vitae.

Back at the house, Naj took care of the picnic stuff while Tril and Arei set up a game in the other room.

Melior Vitae took Shishak to their room where he lost himself in her love. It was the release he needed, but one he had put off to spend time with his friends. He relished the connection, letting the pleasure take priority. Each movement, each touch and sound that came from Melior Vitae drew him in deeper until all he was aware of was her presence. Nothing else mattered, nothing else existed.

When he felt satisfied, Shishak lay next to her, just holding her close. A few tears slipped down her cheeks and he wiped them away. Her soul was crying in pain, but he also felt happiness from her soul.

"What's wrong, Melior Vitae?" Shishak asked.

"Still a little tender."

"Are you bleeding?"

"A little."

Shishak grabbed the salve and handed it to her. She applied a glob then set the container aside.

"I'm sorry," he said, pulling her tighter against his chest. "I should have waited another day."

"No, Shishak. You needed this. Just as you had needed a release when you came to the bar."

"But your soul is still sick."

"It is, but your release has removed the broken pieces from the wall I built. It's falling away, but there is still so much…" Her bottom lip trembled and more tears came to her eyes.

"Let them fall, Melior Vitae. Let their release heal the deeper wounds of your soul."

Shishak held her, falling asleep to the sound of her tears. Melior Vitae fell asleep about the same time Shishak did.

When Shishak woke again, he was alone. A soft light could be seen coming through the window. He got up and dressed. Then he went into the kitchen where Melior Vitae was staring at the stove.

"Why won't it cook?"

"It needs to be turned on," he replied. Shishak turned the nob for the front burner where her pan was sitting. The burner warmed quickly and she took her pan off.

"Now it's too hot."

"Then you turn the nob a little more. The thinner line is cooler and the thicker line is hotter."

Melior Vitae turned the burner down and set the pan back on it. She adjusted the nob several times before she seemed to find the right place.

"Shishak, how is it you know so much about the city if you are from the village?" Melior Vitae asked.

"I grew up here. The only thing I knew about the village was it existed and its people had tattoos like me."

'I'm sorry,' her soul said.

"Don't be."

'But you've missed out on so much,' she said softly, a few tears escaping. Then she quickly wiped them away. "Crying for no reason," she said to herself.

"It's not nothing," Shishak said, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Your body and soul are starting to reconnect. That's a good sign."

"If you say so." Her soul still cried.

"Where are the others?" he asked.

"In the library playing a game."

"Okay. I'll go check on them."

"Dinner should be ready in seven minutes."

"Okay." He kissed her neck and she turned enough for him to really kiss her.

In the library, his friends looked down. They cheered up considerably when he walked in.

"Are you okay, Shishak?" Arei asked.

"Yeah. Sorry I ditched you like that."

"Don't be," Naj said. "We understand when you need time alone. Especially newly weds."

"Where's Melior Vitae?" Tril asked.

"Making dinner if you want to come eat."

"Is it like the stuff she made the other night?" Arei asked. "That was a little weird."

"I don't know what she's making."

"I don't care," Naj said. "Let's go!"