Читать книгу Mirage's Revenge - Lorena Garcia - Страница 3

I reentered my home, tired, achy, and in pain. The sun was once again setting. We were to have the rest of the day tomorrow for our wounds to heal. Although the Council’s force had me broken on my knees, I kept her hidden. My anger towards her, however, grew with each stroke.

I threw my tools around haphazardly, feeling my vein throb just at the side of my throat. I entered my room, stopping to watch her sleep, albeit, still furious. She looked better; her skin was getting a rosier color from the dull chalky state it was in. The blood that was on her skin when I found her had dried, marking her skin with pinkish red crusts.

I saw her eyes flutter open, and with one quick breath, she breathed out deeply. It was not until her shining blue eyes found me, that her breathing started to quicken. I must have seemed threatening, for as I stepped closer, her eyes widened, fear plain on her face.

I grabbed her forearms and pulled her up to her feet, not caring that my brute strength made her wince and shout out in pain or that within seconds, her skin started to bruise under my grip. I dragged her to the bathroom, and with great difficulty, I bathed, combed, and dressed her with the clothes that were left behind of the previous owners of the house.

I watched her as I cooked, her skin had fresh marks from where I held her hard or struck her. I admit, I felt disgust with myself when tears streamed down the sides of her face. I was vicious but she needed to understand that I wanted to help, she needed to know that I was going to keep her safe.

I placed the plate of food and an eating utensil in front of her before starting to eat my own. Her hand quivered as she reached over and took hold of the utensil, her eyes flickering from my face to my hands to the plate in front of her and the spoon in my hand. She hesitantly scooped up some food and brought it to her lips. With a final flicker of uncertainty, she ate agonizingly slow.

I sat across from her, observing as she watched me cautiously, as if she wasn’t sure of anything. As I continued to watch her, I finally realized that the only thing she could possibly remember was me yelling at her before she fainted.

I, in my anger, completely dismissed her confusion and fear, ignoring her struggle to try to regain the control of her body and environment. I raked a hand through my hair as I let out a deep sigh.

I failed. First moment with her, my chance to show her I am different from others and yet, I destroyed it in a second. I looked at her once more, trying to find the words to say to be able to fix my mistake. She met my eyes and I could see them darken with confusion.

“I-I’m sorry,” I spoke softly, my voice losing its authorial edge, “I was wrong in forcing you to do anything without giving you a reason to trust me.”

I was looking at the table, not brave enough to look into her eyes, my heart sinking strangely. I heard her cough and clear her throat before I heard her soft voice say, “Mirage.”

I looked at her, confused, “What?”

“My name is Mirage.”

Her voice was sweet and melodic, but it broke in certain words before shifting back. I smiled at her, watching as she searched my eyes before a whisper of a smile graced her lips.

“I am called Aqulune,” I told her, to which she nodded softly as if she was debating something.

“You found me in the alleyway, did you not?”

“Aye,” I nodded, “I did.”

“Is it not your job to turn in run-aways?”

“Aye. It is.”

“Is this your home?”

“Aye.”

“Why did you bring me here, to your home, against your duties as a Patroller?”

I had to swallow a lump in my throat. I knew it was leading towards that topic, but alas, I had no clue as to why I did so myself. I could’ve lied to her, told her hat bringing her here was my duty, but I found myself completely incapable of lying in her warm, innocent, and honest gaze.

“I don’t know,” I whispered to her, “I don’t know.”

She nodded, her eyes drifting down before curving back up to meet mine. I could see resistance and determination shining within them.

“For how long?”

That question took me by surprise. I had not thought about it. I believe she saw the shock on my face because, before I knew it, she stood and started to move towards the door. I rushed over, closing the door that she had started to open. I heard her breathing hitch and as she slowly turned towards me, I noticed the same fear once again in her eyes. I could not find the right words, feeling as if no matter what I say, she would leave.

“Please, don’t go,” I whispered to her, watching as her eyes filled with tears, “Please don’t leave me.”

“Why?” she whispered back, her voice quivering with some unnamed emotion, “Why do you want me to stay?”

“Because you make me feel something strange, that which I have never felt before.”

She searched my eyes once more, as if wondering if I was telling the truth. For a moment, as we stood there close together, I could have sworn that she felt the same way. I moved closer, keeping my eyes on hers as I inched my lips to her rosy ones. She broke the intensity we had, by turning her head to the side and pulling her body closer to the door. I stepped back, guiding her to the bedroom.

“This house only has one bed for now,” I explained to her, “So we will have to share.”

I noticed her hesitation to join me in the bed before she lifted her head bravely and sat down. She fell into slumber on the far side of the bed and I, after hours of just watching her sleep, succumbed to the effects on the opposite side.