Safety and Rest

[David Augustine]

David took the hand of Insidia, the woman that had aided him on his trip back to Avaren and to his home. He used what little strength and all of his to rise fully back to his feet. Not letting go of her hand, he made sure that she was able to stand on her own as well. Their fatigue was greater by the moment and only increased with every delayed second that time would steal for itself.

He slowly trudged towards the main door pulling out a key to unlock the only lock that his door possessed. He fumbled while inserting it and then turned it with a click signalling the lock had become unlock. He pushed on the door and it creaked open enough for him to get in and then Insidia to file in after him. Though, he allowed her to enter the doorway of the house. He stepped in after her.

The warrior walked in and sat on the couch that was in the main room. It was in front of a fire place that wasn't lit and decided against lighting it at the moment. He remained sitting there and then gazed towards Insidia. Wondering what actions she was going to take. However, David had decided to go to his own room which was on the second floor. The fireplace in that room would be more appropriate to lite. "If you need to go and rest in a more comfortable room, you may follow me. And perhaps you might be able to find some clothes for you to change into." he spoke lightly showing his exhaustion.

David then slowly rose with his spear dragging against the floor as he made it back towards the main hallway. He came upon the flight of stairs that would lead him upwards and towards the many rooms that were there. He took a right once he finally made it to the top. Sweat was heavily on his brow and he felt like he should just crash right there. However, the room was near and their a very comfortable bed was waiting for him. He walked until he came upon a door to his right and he opened it revealing the master room of the house. He dropped his spear on the floor of where he first entered and walked towards the mantle of the fire place. He was tired and slowly found everything that was needed to start the fire that he needed to make.

After a few minutes of fumbling, he got the fire to start burn brightly. The small flame with several pieces of wood soon became a roaring fire. He then walked over to the foot of the bed that was in that room and let gravity do all of the work of dropping upon it. His back laying comforably there, he didn't want to get back up. His arms outstretched to his sides nearly perfectly perpendicular of his body. His eyes staring at the ceiling that was above him.

[DEMIGODDESS]

Within the manor, she stood without words nearby the door she had entered in, even as David moved around it. She were nothing but a guest, and she would respect his home, never invite herself anywhere, not even another step. So tired she was, she would never ask for anything more than this lower surface to lie down right this moment and sleep. Her lips were sealed and quiet, as he escorted himself from the room, she slowly, and with the last of her strength moved to the couch. There she sat down, and came to a lying rest, with her legs bent and up against her, ever so hastily she fell into the most desired sleep.

A dream of dreams she slept. More a nightmare, though to her, it was nothing but an ordinary experience that let time pass during the rest of her body. Yet, as it went on, it only became stranger, and horrific, vile enough to even frighten her.

Finding herself within a dark, frigid chamber, surrounded by thick, round, deteriorating rods of steel, she were encased within a dungeon cell. Rats crawled in the corners of the decrepit walls, feeding on the crumbs left on the wooden plate, which belonged to fellow inmate. Redundant, feeble, useless screams echoed and reverberated from the thick stone walls, like Hell it sounded.

She knelt before the bars, her left hand grasping one to shield her reaction to those wretched voices. Behind her came a long, groan, as it progressed it became a gasp, and into another gasp, begging for air. The next sound was the deep and eerie gargle of blood, then which spit up behind her, catching the top of her shoe's heel. Turning quickly, she faced "him", the inmate making those sounds. It seemed he was the only one in the dungeon without a scream.
His face, oh his face! It was rotting! The skin fell right off before her eyes! Onto the floor, his lap, into his mouth! In horrific despair she covered her eyes, much before remembered she were told not to fear the decaying. Though he was still living, she could see it. How, you ask? Because his shirt was open in half and so was his chest, she could see his heart! It pumped quickly, ready to burst out of his chest, in which she knew it just may.

Creeping further into the darkness, she moved to an adjacent wall, one, however, farther from him. Another sickening moan came from his lungs and windpipes, those too were shown, his whole upper body was in plain sight. Would this be the torture she would face as well? Was it true a human being could live like that? She had no idea, not the slightest of clues.
But the terror, that she did know of. Even she felt it, she who hardly felt terror over anything at all. She wanted to weep, to cry, to scream too, anything! The bleakest and most insidious of things and feelings were among her, and she were still completely sane.

A gasp of her own came, she had seen something familiar fly by outside the dungeon she was trapped within. An owl, the one who she felt stalked her in the putrid forest. Her entire figure quivered, she had wished never to see it's eyes again. It flew past once more, and with this time a loud squawk of its voice, followed by a strange splatter, accompanied by a moist feeling against her bare, right upper arm.
Her neck turned, her eyes widened in shock as she saw a patch of rotting flesh and blood on top of her, and the man, his arm was raised, he had tore off part of his arm and threw it at her! Her hands shook, quickly she pushed it off and quivered in the corner silently, her eyes closing tight.

She got on her knees, curling her body up tightly, just as her eyelids. Her matted hair surrounded her shoulders, and her torn clothes her only other protection. His face, it silently beckoned her after another chocking moan. She turned her's, his flesh had finished peeling and rotting, as she looked, new skin formed.
The face, it was much more disturbing than before! Pristine it was, and now with long, black and grey hairs among the scalp, his face had become her fathers! She screamed with a shrill pitch, and then just as fast as this all had happened, she heard a strong, tempting whisper with his very voice.

"Insidia...Come back to me..."

Immediately her eyes opened, her arms tightly clutching each other, her breath faster than she could ever recall. That, indeed, was far more than a nightmare.

[David Augustine]

Slowly David opened his eyes only to see that only an hour or two of sleep was what he had recieved. He sat up knowing that it was sleep that he needed, but something had woken him up. He was bothered and a thought had appeared in his own mind. Where was Insidia? The last moment of her being near was at the enterance of his own abode. She didn't reply to his statement from before. He was starting to worry about her. It would seem that he had grown somewhat attached to the woman.

He rose to his full height and stretched out his limbs. He wasn't fully recovered but he was in better shape than before. He slowly walked to the door way, the door had been fully open and looked down the hallway. There was no other sign of anyone walking on these floors besides him from earlier. Mud from his footwear could be seen making their way to the room. The few servants that resided here would clean it with time when morning came. He found the stairs in the darkness that filled the house. It was almost thicker than fog, but he didn't see it as an abnormal thing.

Once making it down and the final creak of himself walking down the stairs, he made his way to the main living room. He turned to look inside, the fire was never lit and it stayed that way. On the couch, he could hear movement and breathing. He walked over there and looked down upon Insidia lying there with her eyes open, though he could only see her silhoute clearly. He let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair knocking off the cloth that served has his headgear off and shook his head.

"Come, I won't have my guest treating this place as if she was unwelcomed. Follow me to some more comfortable accomidations." he spoke softly hoping that she could hear and would take it. He had no intentions of making any movements towards her. There were plenty of rooms that she could rest in that would have all the rooms that had beds to rest in and were definitely more comfortible than the couch that she was resting on now. He stod there waiting for her to rise to follow him wondering why she chose to rest on the couch.

[DEMIGODDESS]

Soon she began to hear the eerie sounds of pressure upon floor boards, she could sense the breath of a human, a human male. The face in that dream...nightmare, it had been her father. Nightmare? No. It was far more than that, a vision, a message, a threat. The owl, it was there too, was that her mere restless mind, or the entire time, did the strange bird have some meaning? The sight of his face, the hideous dream, all plagued Insidia, she had become to nearly shiver with fright. Far too deepened in abhorrent fright, she refused to move an inch.

Her blackened eyes stared in a single direction, the light flickering off very small, welling tears. The rotting flesh that was put upon her arm during that rest, it felt as if it truly had occurred. Should she look at that arm?A debate with herself quickly rushed in her thoughts. Every second gave the feeling of a blood chilling scream from the deepest pits of inferno. And there it was. A mark on her upper arm! It was reddened, sore, blotched, it had been affected! Her mind told her it was not an over active imagination that left it, but a ritual performed by her father.

With a shocking interrupt, one to make her flinch, she heard the voice of David. Calming it was, a voice to the once unknown approacher. And then, once that deadened in her thoughts, she rationalized better, her father knew spells that could mimic such a thing. Someone may as well construbt her cask now, she felt, death would soon await her, she had angered the man she feared most.

"I..I..."she stuttered, "I am content here." her voice came out of her mouth as if it were filled with a swarm of insects, uneasy, mumbled and shaky.

[David Augustine]

"Either way, you'll get sick of you stay in those clothes any longer. They're probably still wet the moisture will only worsen your condition." David replied, "The same coudl probably be said of me. Either way, there isn't a fire here and it can't be very warm. Come on, you're much more deserving than to be resting on a hard couch. If I have to carry you, I will. I'd rather you be sleeping more comfortibly and more securely than down here."

David wasn't trying to imply that his house wasn't safe, but it was safer in the bedrooms than in a room that was so close to the front of the house and on the first floor. At least that was what his reasoning was. If anyone attempted to break in, they would come from the first floor not the upstairs or one of the bedrooms that were on the upper floor. He stood there waiting for Insidia to get up and follow him.

However, he sighed and decided to sit down at the end of the couch. Whether Insidia sat up or not didn't really matter that much to him at the moment. He was just close to her. He felt that he owed her for what she was put through with helping him. He didn't think that any woman deserved to have to go through everything that she just did. However, he didn't know everything that surrounded this woman and could only imagine what else she might've been through.

"A beautiful young woman such as yourself, deserves better than sleeping on a man's couch." David spoke calmly, "Besides, what sort of gentleman would I be, if I were to allow my guests to rest on my couch when there are better places of rest. So please, Lady Insidia, allow me to guide you towards a much better resting place than this couch and living room. You might be content here, but you did help me and I only feel that it is right that you deserve something better than this."

[DEMIGODDESS]

Closing her eyes again, she listened to the voice speak to her. Her legs were moved tighter and closer to her body than before, her arms around them, holding herself in worry. Ah, her clothes, the materials were very dampened, uncomfortable, though it had no large effect on her petite body.

Insidia kept her silence, choosing for now to respond with the same silence to his statements. Although she was sure it was David, the chance was not worth toying with. She were all too traumatized and frightened, her instincts forced her mind to ration with these reactions. It was difficult for her to think, process things on her own clearly, the unresting sleep she had gotten was not nearly enough.

As his steps began again, she cringed, her eyes tightening as she could feel him ominously looming over her. A quiet gasping sound came from her, the lashes on her eyelids flickered as she struggled without her vision. It seemed easier just not to look, to not possibly see another strange decaying body or something of the sort with her father's head attached. "Mmph..." her voice murmured as he sat beside her, her lungs flinching in fear. She remained laying down, hiding herself of some sorts, while she slowly opened one eye. A stronger sense of relief came over her to see the familiar man. This surly couldn't' have been a trick, she was sure nothing was going to be of any terrifying surprises.

Again within silence, giving the same, she listened to him speak to her, slowly opening her other eye. He sounded kind, and more so genuine, a very different sensation to feel. For a short moment she thought about what he had spoken. On first impression, he received naught, no words, no reaction.

"Sir," Insidia began after a minute or two. "I am most grateful to even be in your home. I am content where I lay."

Taking a moment again, considering his words, and letting her thoughts recall, a sigh fell from her chest and through her lips. Insidia's still tired and worn eyes were closed once again. Insidia could not help but feel a little bit insulted.

"A gentleman would prefer a lady to be content as she may be. A gentleman would not ask a lady to remove her clothes, knowing she has some dignity. I once lived an undignified past, I keep that apart from the present unless it's something I must do. If you want something, I am confident you have the money, I am still a lady, Sir, I would never do it all for no coins." She said smoothly, the little expression she gave was a somber, weak voice. Although she may have sounded rude, she felt her words were spoken correctly.

[David Augustine]

David gave a weary sigh. He believed that she was more deserving than this simple couch. Either way, if she wanted to rest here, he'd might as well do something about it. Though he did feel that she had gotten a few things confused as to what he had said. He closed his eyes and tried to bring in her figure trying to remember it perfectly so he could find something at least for her to change in while she was here at the mean time. Insidia was a guest and he would only like to take care of her. If anything more than that. He didn't want for her to be uncomfortible and for some reason he had the feeling that she was having some discomfort.

"I'll be back." David said calmly as he slowly rose up to his height. He then made his way towards the fireplace that was in that room. Feeling around inside he found that there where a few pieces of wood inside though not enough to keep a fire alive for long. Again feeling around, he eventually found the edge of the mantle and where some wood was stored. He picked up several pieces in his arms and then moved back to the front of the fire place. He carefully laid them inside one at a time. He stood up from where he was at and then began to feel around for some flint and something that would help start the fire. However, nothing was near.

He decided to take this chance to leave the room in search of a blanket and a pillow and perhaps something such as a night gown for Insidia. He made his way out of the main room and back up the stairs where he knew some materials were at to start a fire would be located. He walked into the bedroom that belonged to him and took the flint and some small pieces of wood that would help start the fire. He then took one of the pillows that was on his bed and tucked it underneath his arm. He walked outside into the hallway again.

This time David stayed close to the wall so he could find a certain closet that he knew held extra things. He found it and pulled the door open. With the little light that illuminated the hallway from his bedroom he was able to pull out a blanket and some fresh clothes that Insidia could change into. Though the option of changing into them would be completely up to her. Their colors however, where difficult to tell due to the lack of proper lighting. With everything in hand, David started making his way back towards the stairs and down them.

Once again, he was downstairs and entered the main room which was nearby. He was still releived that Insidia hadn't wandered off or something of the sorts. He could still hear her breathing. He first stopped to the couch and set down the pillow, blanket, and clothes at the end of it. "I brought a few things for you. Please use them and I'll get this fire started for you to help keep you warm." he spoke softly and calmly. He then made his way towards the fire place and laid the smaller pieces of wood in the ideal locations inbetween the various larger pieces. He found the end of one and began to stroke the flint against another hard object to create a spark to start the fire. After several tries, a spark finally lept from the flint and onto the wood, causing flames to start to form and spread inside of the fireplace. David backed up a few steps to escape the heat and watched as the flames began to eat up the fire wood and everything else that was inside of the fireplace.

[DEMIGODDESS]

Insidia pulled a breath in through her nose as David left, it felt better to be alone, or so she felt at first thought. Her eyes were shut again, her mind disregarding the house's sounds, her thoughts concentrating on only falling into slumber once again. Though the vile malediction of her father's face remained in sight, even through covered eyes and without dreams. Her eyelids tightened, her mind fighting off the image which stained her.

Blackness, darker than the night, bleaker than the color of her iris surrounded her, an abyss of nothingness. Although there was not sight, there was sensation, a cold, deep, stomach churning fear. The nauseating scent of rotting flesh circulated the gaping, black area. Her stomach's contents rising into her throat, her hand clutched her neck as she bent over, and out her mouth was not expected digestive fluids, but...flies...and blood. At her feet was the splatter and crawling white worms, the flies surrounding it, she gasped, her hand now against her chest.

The buzzing flies all gathered in the distance, though it were much difficult to tell an inch from a mile in this abyss. Something was behind the bugs, she dared not to look, instead she simply shut her eyes. Though, again Insidia reopened them, and only to be in front of the flies, and to have ability to see what they were feasting on. That same, rotting, grotesque corpse.

"No..." she whispered, her head shaking, tears welling, falling down her pale face, onto her quivering lips.

Matted, tangled, hair covered it's face, blackened grey hair. Familiar long locks, those of Noctis Sepulcral. A sudden flip of the hair, throwing it backward, revealing the face of that man once again. His expression held much malice, though a single tear was within his left eye, unnoticed by his daughter. His hand reached out, grasping her arm, where there had been the red marking of the rotten flesh in the previous nightmare. His long, fleshless fingers strongly held onto her as she screamed.

"Insidia..." He called to her, his voice echoing with six hundred and sixty-six other voices.

Just after the echos ceased, that wretched owl flew over her head, only inches from her face. One more sharp scream came from her lungs and vocals, her heart about to burst inside her chest. The abhorrent nightmare feeling as if it continued for hours, this meaningless rotting body with the face of her father holding onto her, keeping her in place.

After what was only two minutes, she awoke from the night terror. A look at her arm showed the irritated area, now far more red, this time bruised. Her eyes must stay open, she would not allow them to close, she would not allow herself to bear another vision, nightmare, curse, whatever it may be again. Her frail hands convulsed, tears wildly poured down her face and onto her lips which in fear, lost much color.

Se she heard David begin to approach again, Insidia ended her fright stricken tears, though she could not control the shaking of her hands, nor the faded colors in her face. She dared not to see him, turning her face as he was nearer. Although she had not known what he placed beside her, she made no effort to look.

"It is of no worth, I will not sleep any longer." She said, her voice dripping with unease.

While he created the fire, she loosened the tightening grasps she had on herself, and let her muscles relax just a bit. The warmth it gave was soothing, if only it could melt away the ferocity of what she had to experience during a slumber.

[David Augustine]

David slowly turned his gaze back towards Insidia. She was there on the couch next to the various things that he had brought just a few moments ago and she stated that she wasn't going to be sleeping anymore. He let out a soft sigh before he turned to look at the fire again. He walked towards it and placed the flint on the mantle piece. After that he slapped his hands against each other to knock off anything that had accumulated. Once that was finished he made his way towards the couch.

The warrior then sat himself next to Insidia after moving the things that he had brought. He looked upon her wondering what was troubling her from the lack of sleep. He sat there gazing into the woman's eyes trying to find something, but only knowing that something was troubling her. "What is troubling you so much that it is preventing you from getting the rest that you need?" he asked of Insidia. David kept his gaze on her wanting a truthful answer. If there was a way that he could help, he would do so. However, he wasn't completely sure about everything that there was to this woman that he was sitting with at the moment.

[DEMIGODDESS]

How much more horrifying, there sat this man who was still fairly a stranger staring at her. It filled her with unease, she wondered too if he could see the fear of slumber in her face. There was such a thought he may be considering doing harm to her, forcing her exit of his home, perhaps. Insidia's thoughts were all mangled puzzle pieces which melted by the surreal experiences she had been having. Her lips were closed loosely, although words may make this stare from David more calming, there was nothing to be said.

Though it were him who spoke the words. Although unseen, the pupils of her eyes lessened so small in reaction of shock. A most hideous thing he could ask, there was no simple or good way to tell him of the diabolical phantasmagoria. With most consideration she did know he would find her with lunacy. Perhaps he was of a holy religion where he would think from demons she was born malformed and wicked. Evil by birth. Though, was that not a lie? Denial blind her precious mind.

"Nightmares." She said simply, a long blink of her eyes followed. With hope Insidia's word would not be opaque and he would not know it was more than such 'nightmares'.

Such agony it was, like a blade driven into the gut, twisting and grasping. Pierced by none other than he whom cared most, he whom she feared most.

Ritual, diabolical phantasmagoria.

[David Augustine]

David slowly gazed away from what Insidia had told him. Her answer was simple and very vague and most likely for good reasons. He wasn't one to pry into other people's business. If she wanted help, he was sure that she would ask for it. But then again he wasn't absolutely sure about anything these days. He let out a low sigh and looked at Insidia once again. He was able to tell that she was slightly shaken from this so called nightmare. "Is there any way that you can be helped?" he asked of her, hoping that there was something that he could do.

David closed his eyes and turned his gaze away from the woman that was next to him. What was he getting himself into? He wasn't necessarily sure about his actions. His words escaping before he could think. His motives still all the same. To David, it didn't matter if you believed in something that so far fetched and had no logic to support it. That wouldn't change the views or opinions that he possessed of an individual. He considered Insidia, a friend. He would take care of her as long as she needed help. Perhaps he considered the woman to be more, but such things were clouded in his own mind.

[DEMIGODDESS]

"I...I want to sleep. I want to so very much...but I can't...I wish I could just sleep." Insidia whispered in return, her eyes halfway coming to a close before quickly returning fully open.

Her entire body ached, and that arm, just below her shoulder, it had a light burning to it. More than all else, her eyes were the strength of lead, all of her stamina fought to keep them opened. If her upper and lower lashes were to touch, she may not be able to part them again, she may have to see 'that' again. Both her hands rubbed her arms, crossed along her ribs. Insidia's frail fingers touched the reddened mark inflicted while she slept, it felt as if a torch had been pushed against her flesh. She made a very quiet groan to the pain and remained still, only holding herself in despair.

"I wish I could sleep..." She whispered again, looking at David, seeking her sanity within his presence.

Seeing anther human being had much of an effect. It let her know she was awake, the vulturous nightmares would not come. Though, she almost begged him so she could sleep as if he could do something. Her mind made no attempt to rationalize how she behaved, it was simply how she would be for now. Such sinister days these have been, and there was no clear, lucid release in sight, ahead.

[David Augustine]

David tried to think of something. Something that would help Insidia for her to be able to sleep. Perhaps she was just mentally disturbed and all of the fatigue that she had gained all on his account caused all of this. Of course from the appearance of this, nightmares wheren't that uncommon in his sleep either. Though he had learned to face them a long time ago. He gave a sigh as he reached his hand underneath the top portion of his shirt to pull something out.

Once he had done this, David took the object off from around his neck. It was a necklace of sorts and the object that was on the string of leather was flat object that was composed of two circles. One was larger than the other and the smaller was a light blue instead of color to tan. They were joined by smaller pieces of material and the smaller circle was perfectly suspended in the middle of the larger.

"Here, use this." David spoke offering the dreamcatcher to her, "I was told that this item guards you while you sleep. The nightmares and any evil thing is filtered through the net while anything that would not disturb your rest gets through the smaller hole. I was given this during a time while I was having nightmares and couldn't sleep and I think it's time that it was perhaps given to someone else."

Not completely sure if she really wanted it or not, David slowly pulled apart the two ends of leather. He carefully approached Insidia's neck with the straps of leather that held the dreamcatcher on it. His hands underneath her hair and he slowly began to tie the necklace from behind her neck. Once the knot was securely fastened and he was sure that it would be fine. Perhaps the object was simply a hoax, but it had helped him sleep during a time of constant nightmares. Perhaps it was only the words that made him feel better and allowed him to sleep. He wasn't exactly sure if it was just him or the object that litterally caused the nightmares to cease. He only hoped that what had worked for him in the past would help Insidia in her time of need.

[DEMIGODDESS]

Ah, a net for nightmares. Insidia had seen these before, in fact at her home, above her bed was a handcrafted, cursed one, hand made and tainted by her father. He placed it there while she were a child, being awoken in tears from demons who preyed on her while she slept. This one was quite different, the way it appeared, however, she found it a beautiful ornament.

Having his hands so close to her neck conjured unease, she trusted him enough not to cause her death, however. Once it was was safely around her neck, her thin fingers took it from he chest, raising it to her tired eyes. She examined the way it looked, the way it felt as well. The catcher did not seem to have an aura to it, it felt not of comfort, not of dread, it were just a pretty necklace.

"Thank you."Insidia said, while gingerly putting it back against her skin, respecting it enough, instead of just letting it fall from her hand. Although she felt she knew it had no power, it was a most kind gesture.

"I wish I were foolish enough to believe it had power...I have seen these before, I have one atop my bed. That one does hold much greatness, someones hand gave it power, the webbing is filled with threats to those who disturb my dreams. When I was much younger, there were always things getting into my head as I slept, my father...he created it....As though he is cruel and maddened, too dangerous to live, he is not all of wicked things..."

What she spoke was nothing more than what she had been thinking, perhaps she spoke it so she could hear it, that would reassure her, lessen the fear of her father. Even if just by herself, she wanted to heard those words, 'he is not all of wicked things' Yet, still, she would not allow her eyes to close.

[David Augustine]

David listened carefully to what she had spoken. He was glad that she was appreciated the gift, though she still doubted that it would help her. Of course, he himself had doubted it like Insidia. Perhaps it was when the nightmares had driven him so far that he put faith in the object and it started working. He didn't really understand things as such. Though he did hear what else she had spoken. From that he surmised that probably her father just might have a hold on Insidia's mind. Was he stalker her? Was he trying to wear her down to the point that she wouldn't be able to resist him? Or was he just some crazed lunatic that was over protective of her?

David's questions would most likely end up unanswered. However, he knew that Insidia was going to need rest if anything else. He let out a sigh as he thought of his very few options. He didn't feel like asking her any questions about her father, figuring that if he was to purposely accuse him that she would become upset with this warrior. The worst solution would be to constantly run away and the only permanant solution would be to kill of the source. Either way, despair was there waiting for either one of them.

"I'm just assuming, but from what you have stated is your father the cause of your nightmares?" David asked honestly. It probably didn't come out the best of ways, but he couldn't think of any other way to put it. He closed his eyes thinking upon everything. There had to be some reason that her father would do this to her and even then was that even a good enough reason? Of course, this was all upon assuming that David was indeed correct.

"Either way, Insidia, you need your rest. If you don't sleep then your fatigue will be the end of you. You don't have to worry about something or someone coming to harm you. I will protect you." He stated glancing back towards her. He saw the item that he had given Insidia. It laid carefully against her fair skin.