I woke the next morning still reeling from the night before. Just thinking of him made me fuzzy. I shook it off in annoyance. I was truly pathetic. It was impossible. He could never feel anything. He was a born killer. A trained assassin. A broken horse.From childhood, they learned to shave their feelings down until there is nothing left but gruesome emotions. That's what I had to keep reminding myself of.
The door burst open and Mayra entered, in all her grace. She had opted for a subtle dress for the first time in a while. It was dark blue, matching her brown complexion, and it was as if sprinkled with stardust.
"Are you up for today?" She asked carefully, as I sat up in bed pulling on the sleeves of my silk nightshirt.
I knew what she had on her mind. Sarvin's gruelling lecture about the court royals. But as boring as it was, I needed the distraction. I got dressed in a hurry, not noticing Selene fidgeting, stressing about what to do with my hair, as I slipped into trousers and another ruffle blouse.
"You dress more like a man every day," Mayra quietly remarked.
I grimaced in her direction but she was right. The dresses Selene picked were pretty but they felt so wrong on my body. But also wearing long-sleeved blouses, would conveniently hide my tattoo. Only Mayra, Selene and Xander knew and I had no clue how to tell Sarvin, or if I even should.
I looked at myself in the mirror, noticing the subtle red bruise Colt had left on my cheeks. I felt my palms sweat.
"They were the ones you ran from." Mayra carefully noted.
I knew she had thought about it since yesterday. Selene quickly exited the room even if I didn't want her to.
I nodded.
"What will happen to him?" I wasn't sure if Colt would live considering what state Xander had left him in.
"My father was pissed, he will make sure Colt is punished," Mayra said with quick passing anger.
I bit the insides of my cheeks, wondering if I wanted to tell her what I felt, what seeing Colt's face had reminded me of.
"He always told me the day my father died, he would own me. I try to say I ran because I was brave, after all, my father told me to, but if I'm honest, I did it because I was terrified. Knowing all the vile things he would do to me it seemed better to risk my life in the mountains and die alone. Having him touch me..." I paused, whispering the last words as my eyes filled with pain, swallowing the gasping cries that wanted out.
"You will no longer see him again. I will make sure he pays." Mayra's words filled again with soft anger, but her eyes had rage in them, I could see it through the mirror. She meant it.
My lips curled up, "I'm glad you came for me," I finally meant it.
Yes, I resented her, but it was not her fault. She hadn't been aware that I even existed. Hating her wasn't fair and I was ashamed to have felt it.
Selene came knocking again and I quickly snapped back to a happy face as she entered.
"I'm sorry to do this my lady, but lord Sarvin has requested you for your lecture. I can tell him no..." She quickly said before I interrupted her.
"No it's fine Selene, I need something else to focus on," I assured her.
And I got it. Sarvin didn't ask any questions about what happened the day before. He only informed me that Colt had been locked up, awaiting a sentence. It didn't comfort me and I wasn't sure what would, but Sarvin's tiring lecture quickly made me forget all about it.
YOU ARE READING
My Darkening Ember
Adventure"This bounty is mine, Xander," He said. It was the first time I ever heard his name. Xander smirked, "Kill me first, then take her." He proposed arrogantly, a silver knife resting confidently in his hand. The man only nodded once as his hand slithe...