He saw it...blood seeping through the cream colour of her shirt. His heart broke a little more with every step he took towards her. Without thinking, as soon as he reached her he unbuttoned her shirt and inspected her wound. He cursed in flowing Arabic before letting a tear slip down his cheek. The wound could prove fatal. What had happened? Who had done this? How had she not noticed?

Slowly he gathered her in his arm and said without taking his eyes off her:

"Where are the medics?"

"Follow me," replied Montero.

With that they made their way to the temporary encampment set up by the Spanish army. They were led inside a large tent where many other men were being tended to. Rami placed the young Shadow Princess on a spare mat. He stood by as the medics tended to her. Sweat dripped down the men's bodies as the washed and cleaned her wound.

Rami watched with much effort unable to stomach the horrific wounds inflicted upon Jurie. He should have been there for her to protect her, now she was going to die and it was all his fault. Because he had not been there.

Once or twice the medics offered to heal his wounds but Rami refused outright. Jurie needed all the help she could get. Even though he knew his wounds needed serious attention. He needed clothes too...the ones he was wearing were practically ripped to shreds. But he couldn't care less. Jurie was all that mattered and all that will matter.

Soon she was all patched up and seeing that Rami wouldn't leave anytime soon the Head Medic whom everyone called Castellanos told Rami to wet her forehead every hour to dampen the fever. He also told him to apply the salve to her stomach every hour in case no one came to do it.

"Also Mr. Montague you wounds won't heal themselves. If anything there will be infection, please allow me bandage them. We've done all we can for her."

Rami nodded, sullen and numb. In his own world, unable to respond to anything. The well being of Jurie plagued his heart and soul. So much so he didn't even notice when Castellanos bandaged his wounds. His shirt was discarded, it was too ragged. There were no spare clothes for him just yet so he sat there against the cool evening air in just his trousers. The cold tickled in a sensual manner against his muscles. Sending strange shivers down his spine.

Her breathing was slow and ragged but sometimes it would speed up. Rami knew she was battling against death itself. He prayed to God, helping her to come back. To not die. He knew he would be praying all night.

If she died what would happen to him? He knew he'd be heart broken. How many nights would it take fix his heart?

The amount of nights it would take to count the stars. A voice answered in his head and Rami revelled in how poetic it sounded.

How much time will I wish for you to stay? Keeping awake holding hope that you are alright?

He knew he won't be able to count the time. But he tried to know it would feel like Infinity.

~~~~~

Water. Everywhere. She could swim but it was drowning her. Pulling her deeper and deeper into its dark depths until all she saw was blackness. She was drowning but she felt no pain. No tightness in her throat, no pain in her heart, nothing but an empty numbness that reached to her hands and feet and past the tip of her fingers and the edge of her toes, past her silky strands of hair, which fanned out before in the dense water. 

She blinked her eyes as the space before her lightened and a hooded figure with a cruel-curved scythe faded into a smudged silhouette. Its long coat rippled with the water, just like a reflection. She knew immediately where she was. Her mind recalling the unimaginable stories that her uncle retold of a dimension in between. In between life and death. Yet it was not cold nor was it burning hot as many writers had claimed. But a numbness that seeped through her veins. The silhouette was a spirit, a symbolism of her choice, whether she'd choose to live or to die. 

Her mind wandered back to her last memory, Rami's face crumpling from happiness to horror and she knew immediately, without a doubt what her choice was. 

To Live. 

She would not allow for her last memory to be of one's horrified face. Ever. 

The silhouette gave a slow nod of its head and faded away into the  blackness. However she could not help but feel that Death would not be so kind next time. 

Slowly but surely, her senses returned, and she could feel in her fingers, toes, arms and legs once again. She could hear, birds chirping, though it was a little muddy, like something had been placed over her ear, she could still make them out. She could feel life be breathed back into her again, as if her lungs had been released from an iron-gripped chain, she could taste a saltiness on her lips and curiously peeled her eyes open. 

The light was bright and she was tempted to seal them closed once again but, forced her eyes to continue their slow awakening. A sudden drop of warm liquid fell and slipped down her cheeks. There was a pressure, squeezing her hands and she drew a breath. 

There he was, bent over her, his eyes locked shut, like a shield protecting her from the world. His mass of charred black curls dangled over her like a weeping willow over a river. She could feel his warm breath against her face, like feather touches dancing. Another warm drop fell down her neck and into her clothing. She squirmed at the discomfort of water running down her chest. His eyes flew open, emerald irises stared down at her in shocked surprise. 

Wetness rained down on her and she realised finally that they were tears. 

He gathered her up in his strong arms and pulled her close against him, burying his face in her neck and breathing her in. Then she felt it, relieved laughs echoed through her body, and more tears graced her neck, swimming down her spine, and yet again she squirmed at the discomfort. 

"You're alive!" He breathed, before pulling away and repeating the same phrase over and over again. Trying to convince himself more than her. 

Jurie narrowed her eyes before raising her hand and slapping him across the face. It sounded more painful than it was. Her strength had been reduced significantly and she had ignored the searing pain in her abdomen when she had slapped him. 

Rami cupped the side of his face in surprise. "What did you do that for?" He croaked. " I prayed for you for the past five days! Day and night!"

Five days??? I was out for five days???!!!!

"You stupid stupid fool! You princess! I looked everywhere for you! I looked for you thirty-eight times! Do you know how worried I was? I thought that you were- " She choked, her voice breaking. 

His eyes softened and he pulled her into a second hug. "I'm sorry I worried you. But now we're even okay?" 

Tears burned in Jurie's eyes and she nodded weakly, too tired to protest. 

Her eyes fluttered closed and once again the darkness enveloped her, but this time it was comforting, and soothing. 

"Rest my Angel." She heard him say, as he kissed her gently on the forehead. "I'll be here for you, forever and always." 

~~~~~

Hey Guys! Yes double update this week! We hope you guys enjoyed it! What do you think of their budding relationship? Aren't they as beautiful as ever?

I'm sure you have noticed the new cover. Thea was the one who made the lovely cover so please if you have nothing to comment about, at least comment about this...

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