Hunted Part: 5 11/2005

He could feel a soft cool breeze blowing across his bare skin as he lay upon...what felt to be grass. It smelt like grass with deep rich soil beneath it. Faintly flowers could be detected but nothing else.
His skin also felt the brush of burning heat which only came from the sun. Through his closed eyes he could see the red of his blood as the light hit him full on.
Putting his hand between the source of light and his eyes he slowly opened them. Everything had a blue tint, an effect caused by his eyes adjusting to the red while closed.
He was on a hillside. As far as his eyes could see green grass with softly colored flowers spilled over hill after hill.
He felt calm and his wounds were no longer visible. No other person could be seen or heard anywhere. He felt calm and at ease without a care in the world. Which could mean only one thing...
"This isn't real."
As soon as the words left his lips the world around him fled being replaced by a darker place with walls. It took a moment for his eyes to re-adjust to the lack of light.
"You couldn't just accept the illusion while you healed could you? You never were a very good patient." a familiar female voice spoke.
"Well you know Devlin" his head turning to where he felt her even though he could not see her yet, "if you didn't make them so perfect...too perfect..I might be willing to fall for them." He smiled knowing she was smirking back.
He reached his hand up to brush some stray hair from his face and he felt his arm stop dead. No chain, rope or strap held his arm. He forced his eyes to adjust quickly the surface of them swimming for a moment. Looking at his wrist with his newer eyes he could see dark symbols painted into his flesh. They seemed to stand out above his skin and yet were very clearly on it. As his wrists strained to move the symbols pulsed and flexed.
"It's for your own protection Lucian. I didn't want you to hurt yourself thrashing around." she finished wiping something from her hands with a rag her back to him.
"I wasn't aware that I was thrashing while you healed me." Lucian said his voice cold and calm...testing.
She turned around a sly smile forming across her face. Look upwards at him her eyes met his and a predatory light danced between them both.
"You weren't. I meant now that you're healed and awake."
Her hand went to some lacing at her throat pulling it free. As she slowly stepped forward her gown slipped from her shoulders to the floor leaving her body bare.
"I see. My mistake then," he chuckled and settled back against the bed. His voice sounded light and playful but deep inside he tensed waiting for trap to be sprung.