Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 550: Some wars

To her not-so-great surprise, Atticus did not strike or threaten to harm her family. Instead, he had ordered her to lay on her chest so that he would apply some sort of ointment on the laceration riddling her back.

Arabella asked no questions and made no complaints as the peace he allowed to creep in was very much welcome.

Silence only broken by the restricted gasps and winces that escaped the young woman as the cold substance connected with her throbbing flesh.

Still, in terms of pain or discomfort, it was nowhere near the worst thing that had been inflicted upon her body.

So, her mind was allowed a semblance of rest to ponder... Everything... From the day of her arrival to her last vision of Silas in limbo.

Emeric’s words about saving Silas blared in the back over and over. As it turned out, her own mother seconded that sentiment as well.

But knowing that one must do something rarely came with a detailed outline on how to achieve it.

How was she, a living human, capable of reanimating someone that ambled so close to death... With every second that passed, her husband could’ve very well ventured through the second gate of limbo, never to be seen again.

Then again, perhaps that was it, the solution. Perhaps she was better placed to draw him out of that deep slumber since she still breathed with the living. On second thought, it could’ve also been the emotional tether linking the two of them that would do it but... How? How to set things into motion? How to apply or execute the idea on a practical level?

"What are you thinking about?"

Atticus’ voice put a stop to her train of thought. Head comfortably cushioned by her crossed arms, she shut her eyes.

"Nothing in particular," she whispered.

Apparently, that was not the correct answer as his fingers pressed down harder on one of her injuries until she grunted.

"Are you thinking of him?" he asked, his tone far less gentle than before.

Yes would have been the truth but... Was it wise to admit it? Seeing his reaction, there was little doubt the General would lose his already shaky temper.

Arabella said nothing and merely squeezed her eyelids harder together. Shockingly, his hand lifted some of the weight it had previously laid on her back, moving softly again.

Every touch, every caress earned cold shivers from the young woman which did not go unnoticed by Atticus.

"I did not mean to hurt you. It simply happened,"

It simply happened, huh? What a great response! The perfect excuse for any action one might enact! As if impact was less important than intent.

Nevertheless, she kept her mouth shut and hoped he would break the ice he brought to life on his own.

"It seems your wounds have already been cleaned but no healing accelerator was applied," he just shifted topics as if nothing had happened, "Since this fate was decided for you by his highness himself, there is nothing in my power to do for now, but fear not as that will change very soon,"

It was the second time he made a similar promess... Very soon? What was going to happen very soon? Was he thinking of overthrowing the crown prince or something of that sort?

"Tell me; out of all the history you’ve read about, which part of it was your favorite?" he again shifted topics.

Arabella didn’t think twice before seizing the branch he extended her way. Might as well keep his mind busy from roaming back towards Silas.

"My favorite part to read about was the same one that saddened me the most," half of her lips were smooshed against her arm, earning her voice a somewhat muffled rendition.

"How so?"

"I believe the greatest shame for all of us, not just day walkers, to be none other than cities such as Belchatta, Angkorra, Kiken, Perta and many more which live as nothing but ruins in the memory of very few...," she trailed off.

"What makes these ruins so special?" his fingers hovered ever so gently, barely grazing her suffering back.

"They once stood as the proud proof that all creatures could coexist just fine. Not only coexist but lift the standards of life to levels never reached before through segregation,"

"Do you yearn for a life such as that one?" he stopped moving, although his tone did not see that much change.

She too stopped even breathing and for the first time ever, Arabella looked at Atticus without being ordered or asked to.

"Of course not," she started, "In Umbraria it would be a crime to strive for it and in Lustris it would be an even greater crime to simply mention it," her eyes then fell back to the wall that faced them.

"I see," he sighed, "What else can you tell me about these once great cities then?"

Whether he was just acting or otherwise, Arabella was beyond worrying about it. Well, she worried, of course, but... Something deep within told her not to.

"They stood between what are now recognized as influent hubs, connecting culture and knowledge from various regions to each other, but alas when the war exploded, they were the first ones on the list to go, targeted by both sides for multiple reasons cited after the fact,"

"I reckon one of those reasons was to annihilate the opposition," the General suggested.

That got her attention once more.

Of course he’d come to that conclusion! How else would a man so young rise to the title of high General among the millions of other condidates before him?

"Yes, but I assume that the advanced magic infused technology their inhabitants had reached was yet another, very convincing reason,"

Atticus put the ointment bowl away and straightened, "Rise up," he ordered.

Arabella did as told and faced him without meeting his gaze.

"I expected your sentiment to be of the sort, but I am not worried that soon, I will show you... And we will see things through similar lenses as some wars need to be fought,"