Till Death Do Us Part..

"And the day I met you?"

"Absolutely coinsidental. Though, that day I think about three times. I went home after you reached the safety of your house. This was before the searchers decided to be bold." Mark risked a glance at her.

Artemis hissed at the thought then looked to him. "you know, you say you're a bad person but.. it was the council that left me to die. left us all to die. you say you're responsible for 1000 deaths, but you've saved me a 1000 times over. if anyone is the bad person her, it's the council. who knows how many mediates they've left to die because they bare this curse. you, mark, are a good person"

"Aproximately three million world wide." Mark muttered, looking back out the window. He took a deep breath his eyes starting to get heavey. At the next town he pulled up to a small mom and pop hotel. "Mind if we stop for the night?"

Artemis nodded, falling quiet "of course not"

Mark gave a small nod and got out and went to the front desk. He purchased a room and then went back to her and opened her door, holding out his hand to her. "come on, I won't bite. I got you a room. I'll stay in the car."

It took artemis a moment to understand his words "... no.. it's okay. you need a warm place to stay too"

Mark gave a small smile. "It won't hurt me any. I'm immortal, remember?" He took her hand softly and led her to the room. It was ground level and not far from the car. He unlocked the door, walking in and turning on the lights, checking everything to make sure it was safe. "Alright, do you need anything?"

Artemis tugged on his hands making him stay "you've.. you've stood in the shadows all these years.... please stay?"

Mark watched her and gave a small smile and nodded, resigned. "Alright, alright. I'll stay." He walked back in and closed the door behind him and sat on the couch. "Do you need me to get you anything?"

Artemis shook her head, "sleep, here have the bed. you need it"

Mark shook his head. "No, now you take the bed. I'll stay in the room, but you have to take the bed." he looked at her determinedly, ready to pick her up and set her in it if he had to.

Artemis frowned but consented "fine" she mumbled "but sleep, you need it"

Mark gave a small nod. "Alright." He watched her carefully, waiting till she was in bed before turning the lights out and sitting down on the couch.

The second artemis's head hit the pillows, she was out

Mark laid down and closed his eyes, letting himself fall into a light sleep, though he woke at every noise.

Artemis tossed restlessly, her dreams turning dark... very dark

Mark woke to Artemis's tossing and sat up, watching her carefully. He felt like he had only gotten a small sliver of what sleep he should have, and this made him even more tired.

suddenly that searcher was back. she was nude. he was back. she was chained up. he was in her.
She screamed

Mark rushed to her side and shook her shoulder. "Artemis? Artemis wake up. It's just a dream."

Artemis startled awake, tears finally breaking free from their confinement as she clutched him, shaking

Mark held her close and rubbed her back gently, trying his best to sooth her. "It's alright, it was just a dream." He reassured her. "I'm here, nothing will happen. I will protect you. I promise."

Artemis just clung to him. clung to him and cried until the wee hours in the morning where her tears finally ran dry and she fell asleep in his arms

Mark held her close, not letting her go, his eyes reluctantly subcoming to the power of sleep.

they slept through the whole night fallowed by the next day, hunger being the only thing to drive artemis to wake