Heart Song Read Online Free

spending their life in the sun. Her hair was black and short. The ends barely grazed her shoulders.  She wore a long dress that was plain but suited her curvy figure. The sleeves hugged her arms down to her wrists. She stopped the small cart next to the brown fluffy carpet and picked up the plate and mug, setting them on the table. Then she walked to the bench where my old clothes lay strewn on the floor. She picked them up, wadding them into a small ball and tucked them under her arm. She smiled at me and walked back towards the cart. The smile reached all the way up to her eyes, which were almost like looking into onyx orbs. They reminded me of Marren, of all people. He was the only other person I knew of, or had ever seen, with such dark eyes. She tossed the clothes onto the surface of the cart then pushed it back out the door. L eaving me, once again , in solitude.
    ***
    The room had lightened up a little with a break in the clouds. The storm was long gone with nothing left but a few wet puddles that spotted the floor of the balcony. I walked out, stepping carefully on the slick, wet stone and looked over the edge. A garden. I deeply inhaled the air, wishing for the smell of the newly budding blossoms that had yet to release their aromas. I saw a small stony path that led from the garden into the trees. Overcome with the desire to roam and wander, I wanted to discover the secrets this place had to offer. I didn't even mind that I was currently held under its enchantment.
    It felt good to be a part of something that I thought no longer existed. Magic was banned long before I was born and none of the creatures associated with it have been seen in so long that they've evolved into stories. Myths told to children at night before bed or to teach morals when they misbehaved.
    “I hope you forgive the need for anonymity,” a familiar voice startled me. I turned around to see a man standing in the doorway, fully cloaked by the same black robes Enid wore. “Forgive my intrusion. I did knock but you never replied, so I let myself in.”
    I worked to control my breaths so that my heart would ease back into its rightful position. “No, it's fine...” I paused, recognizing his voice with disdain, “Marren?”
    His hood slowly dipped forward and rose back up. “I had hoped you wouldn't recognize my voice just yet. I know how much you despise me.”
    I ignored the sadness in his voice. “What is going on here?” I asked as agitation replaced my previous enchanted state of being.
    “I would hope that you would see this as me saving your life.”
    “I don't need your help. I told you I wasn't going to buy into your charm. I can see right through that. What is it you really want with me?” My words came out sharp and cold.
    “I just told you,” he replied in a flat tone.
    “Why?” It came out shrill, almost like a child who was throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of the market after getting told he couldn't have the sweet cake he set his eyes upon.
    “I believed you about being set up.” He removed his hood while stepping out onto the balcony and leaned against the wall. His eyes reflected my image back at me. It felt almost intrusive, how intently he looked at me. I forced myself to look away. I couldn't think and I couldn't breathe. None of it made sense to me. I walked past him back into the room, passed the bed and to the center of the floor. When I reached the carpet I turned, heading for the bed, only to turn and walk towards the carpet again. I looked up at him, seeing him move from the corner of my eyes. He was watching me, taking in my state of confusion. It only made it worse.
    “What's in it for you?” I asked.
    “What do you mean?” He pursed his eyebrows together and, for a fraction of a moment, I found it cute.
    Shaking that thought from my head, I continued, “I don't buy that you just rescued me for the sake of saving my life. Then bringing me here, dressing me, feeding me, setting me up in this