A Sunless Dream

Sunny's chest rose and fell slowly as he slept. His face seemed completely still and from the looks of things his shadows weren't paying watch either. The reason for his complete relaxation was Nephis.

Nephis sat with Sunny's head firmly rested on her thighs as she scrolled through her communicator looking for anything interesting to watch. Finding nothing of interest there, she looked down at her newfound boyfriend with a small smile gracing her features.

Her hand ran through her hair before making its way over his chest and stomach. Sunny's well-defined abdominal muscles were a specimen for anyone to see and Nephis couldn't resist a quick glance, the knowledge that she had him all to herself set a smile on her face as she tugged his shirt upwards slightly revealing his V-Line.

Taking a second to reminisce, Nephis remembered her 'first' encounters with the man that she remembered as a small smile graced her features. She was happy at how far they had come however a memory that they had shared still haunted her mind till this day.

She remembered the feeling of Sunny's neck as her hands were wrapped around it. The rush of power and authority she felt made her weak at the knees as a feeling of simultaneous disgust as well as gratitude washed over her face.

Nephis didn't desire a slave, however such a feeling was intoxicating. Although she had been through many harrowing experiences, this one was not one she could erase from her mind. Without her even noticing, Nephis hand had snaked it's way up to Sunny's neck.

The warm feeling of his skin pressed against hers calmed her as her hand remained placed on his neck. Glancing at his features once more she checked to see if he had stirred from his sleep and to her relief he had not. 'You must be tired' Nephis thought to herself solemnly, Sunny had put himself through a lot for the cohort, more than even she had arguably.

But how had she repaid him?

Just the thought of it made her feel inadequate, it made her feel weak. She was unable to protect the man she loved no matter how strong she had gotten and how many flames she could release. Nephis took a second to gather herself as the memory of Sunny using her flames flashed through her head.

If Sunny could use her flames, what was her place in the cohort? It didn't appear like they were any less potent than her own, and with such an ability to copy others she felt...obsolete. Stress radiated through her body as she took a deep breathe in to calm herself.

Unknowingly, she had started lightly squeezing Sunny's throat as a source of solace. The man didn't stir as she glanced at him with a guilty expression however her grip didn't loosen. 'It would be all be better if he-' she cut her thoughts off as she quickly pulled her hand away from his neck as she looked at him with a horrified expression.

Her heart pounded inside of her chest, almost seeming like it could escape at any moment as sweat formed on her forehead. What was she about to do? What was she about to think? Guilt poured through her body like a tsunami as she continued to stare at Sunny's face, barely restraining tears.

Finally, Sunny began to stir from his sleep. Noticing Nephis expression he sleepily raised a hand to her face before lifting himself up to kiss her on the lips. Slowly, he dropped his head on her laps once more before mumbling "You're fine, you'll be fine. I love you" before slipping into unconsciousness once more.

His words of comfort only served to make Nephis feel even guiltier as she grasped at her chest placing her hand over her heart. She could feel the blood flowing through her veins faster than it did in most battles as she sighed slowly. There was nobody else but one she could talk to about this.

That person was Cassie.

All it took was for her to think of the link between the two and there it was. Mentally calling out Nephis said [Cassie? Are you there?]

For a moment there was no reply, but soon, Cassie's voice rang through her head. [Yeah, I saw everything.] Nephis heart dropped into her stomach, she swallowed however her mouth still felt dry as she thought of a response.

[What is wrong with me? He's been perfect, flawless even. Yet here I am gazing at him indecently and losing myself in the power that I forced upon him. How could I ever form a relationship with him when he's my...slave.] Nephis furrowed her brow at the last thought. Calling Sunny her slave made her feel disgusted however she couldn't move much lest she wanted to awaken Sunny once more.

[I don't know Nephis, have you tried talking to him about it? Quite frankly he doesn't deserve whatever emotions you're feeling towards him. He's put himself through hell and back for us and he's still doing so even when he doesn't need to. Have you seen his fight against the lord of Shadows? Or Orion as he calls himself.]

With a slight shake of her head, Nephis remained silent giving Cassie all the response she needed, [He fought like a madman immediately you were threatened, he bit at the guy, slashed at him, he pulled off moves I've never heard of before just to land blows on him. Just for you. Let him know how much you love him, let him know what you're going through and stop bottling everything up and thinking you can manage it all on your own. Trust me, I've made that mistake twice.]

Those words were all Nephis needed to know what she had to do, shaking Sunny awake, Nephis gently lifted him off her thighs and shifted his body so he could look her in the eyes. Before he knew what happened, Nephis buried him in a deep hug with silent sobs being released as Sunny tried to comfort her.

After about two minutes, she pulled back and wiped her tears before looking him in the eyes. "Sunny, I've been going through things that I'd like to let you know about" Sunny's expression grew grave as all the mental fog remaining abandoned him as he responded with a firm nod.

"The power of the bond, it's intoxicating. Whenever I see you vulnerable, it becomes hard to not once to abuse my power over you. I've never done something like that of course! But I'm scared, I don't know how to deal with this, and I don't want to ruin what we have."

Her words broke up slightly as she finished her sentence. Nephis studied Sunny's expression trying to predict a reaction however the words he said next almost knocked the wind out of her. "If you want to abuse it, go right ahead. I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact I'm a slave to the person I love but here we have you admitting that even you, the person I trust the most can't resist having temptations!"

His voice grew louder as he spoke, a look of anger poisoning Sunny's usual tranquil expression. "So go right ahead! Choke me, hit me, stab me, drown me! It's not like I have a choice do I!? Your wish is my command master Nephis!" he spat out the word master with venom as he continued to level a glare at her. Slowly getting up, Sunny moved left the room and the sound of him walking across the hallway to sleep in the guest room radiated the silent cafe.

"I'll be right here if you need me!" he roared once more before slamming the door of the guest room. A thousand thoughts per minute rushed through Nephis head, however an irrational feeling of anger won over the storm of emotions that she was experiencing.

Shooting to her feet, she stormed her way to his room before standing over him yelling "I didn't choose to be this way! I can't control what I feel! This is not my fault and you're not going to make it feel like it is!" before Sunny could retort, her hands were placed over his neck once more. This time, she was squeezing properly.

"I didn't have a choice but to make you my slave! You would have died, and I won't let that happen to you!" her voice pierced Sunny's ears as he raised his hands to pry hers off his neck however she was faster "Don't you dare fucking move!" his hands limply fell to his sides as his gaze remained locked on Nephis.

Any longer and he wouldn't remain conscious, the look of rage that clouded his eyes only elicited a wicked grin to emerge from Sunny's face as he continued to glare at her. "I was right, I am pathetic! What kind of fool am I to begin to trust my slaver like this!" his crooked broken voice snapped Nephis out of her stupor.

She pulled her hands away from him as she saw the imprints of her hands on his pale skin. Sunny coughed up a wad of blood while glaring at her once more "Just leave, leave me alone" he whispered, Nephis had fallen to her knees. She stared at her hands in disgust before turning to face Sunny.

"Forget what happened since I woke you up" she whispered, immediately a look of confusion fell upon Sunny's face. His mind was working overtime to fill in the gaps that he had once forgotten, before he could Nephis silent command to sleep caused him to fall backwards. His head hitting his pillow with a silent thud.

Making her way towards him, she held Sunny in her arms and cried into his chest. Nephis internally lamented herself as she levelled degrading words at herself. She was disgusting, the lowest of the low, worse than scum.

Raising her hands to his neck, she healed him, removing the red imprints of her palms that she had left upon him before replacing his now bloodied bedsheets. All she had ever done was hurt him, and soon she would have to pay the price.