A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 40: He’s Gone!
In the darkness, Elena had surprisingly found solace for once. Yet, a part of her badly wanted to go back to the surface... to the light. At times, she’d hear distant voices of people talking around her, old hinges closing, and a soft touch here and there. But none of those touches was as gentle as...
The pain. It came and went, like a haunted curse sent to curb her every thought. But unlike the other times, it wasn’t as painful as before. It came, quick and sharp, and disappeared after sending her back to the darkness.
But she was determined to fight it this time. She soared higher and faster in the vastness, the dot she had spotted appearing larger with every waking second. And when she got there, the light turned too bright, turning her vision into a giant spark!
Elena fluttered her eyelashes open, the familiar pink ceiling coming into view. For a moment, she just stared blankly before she blinked twice to seal her pact with the living.
Her head fell sideways, Jophiel’s sleeping face coming into view. Her eyes were shut, and she looked peaceful. Elena turned to look at the other direction but there was no one else. Just her on the large bed.
His face came into her mind, and with it the memories of the last time she spotted his golden orbs. She lifted her hand on impulse to only feel a sharp pain course through it. The bandages were so tight around the area she ended up in a hiss.
Jophiel shot her eyes open upon catching the slightest of voices. Her eyes landed on the bed to spot a struggling Elena. She was trying to remove the bandages. Apprehensively, Jophiel paced to her side and caught the princess by her hand.
"What are you doing My Lady?" She asked, her grip firm against Elena’s hand.
Elena looked around like one who had waken from a nightmare. Still, he was nowhere to be seen. What if... If she was in this condition... She imagined the worst!
"Where is my husband?" Her voice was hoarse, and suddenly her throat started burning. "Water!" She whispered hoarsely.
Jophiel took the pitcher and poured her a glass. She nearly tore it off her hands before she drowned the contents in one go.
"Easy My Lady," Jophiel pointed, afraid she’d choke on the water. She added more when Elena appeared nowhere close to being contented, and indeed she wasn’t. Another round and she drunk it whole, heaving heavily when she was done.
Elena wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and when Jophiel turned to place the pitcher on the nightstand, she had already kicked off the blankets and was now sprinting for the door.
"My Lady?" Jophiel called, eyes wide in surprise. She hastily placed the glass on the table and rushed after Elena just as she was fumbling with the door knob.
"You should be resting," she voiced, holding her by the sides.
"I want to see my husband," Elena backed, before she whisked Jophiel’s hands off and turned the knob. She was about to step out with only a thin gown when Darion stood in front of the door, all armored. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his face never giving out an ounce of emotions.
"You should be resting My Lady," he said, his eyes stoic.
Elena held the frame, her hair all messy right now. Her lips were still cracked and every of her actions appeared clumsy, even the way she walked.
"Where is Gabriel?" She asked, her blue eyes hidden behind her long hair that now fell over her face.
"His Highness wouldn’t want to see you like this," he replied, trying to avoid her question all together.
"I don’t care what his Highness wants. I want to see him!" She moved but Darion stood his ground. She lifted her eyes to meet with his, and Darion had to admit her eyes were intimidating right now.
"I command you to move, Set Darion!" He ordered, her voice low, and the threat raw.
"You forget yourself princess," he replied, not moving an inch.
"No! You forget yourself Darion. Your Lady commands you to step aside!"
"Please listen to Darion My Lady," Jophiel said from the inside, rubbing her hands nervously. She never knew her Lady would be so stubborn and restless. And why the hell wouldn’t Darion tell her the truth!?
"Your husband is not in the palace currently," Darion said, and he saw her demeanor change.
"Where is he?" She asked, her voice laced in curiosity and... was it fear?
He stole a quick glance at Jophiel who nodded in acknowledgement before he shifted them back to her. "He went on a diplomatic visit." She gave him a questioning look. "That’s all I know My Lady."
Darion stepped aside, giving her the space she so badly wanted a while ago. She looked at the empty hallway through her hair, a pang of pain running through her heart. Gabriel left without waiting or informing her! Her fingers curled to form a clenched fist but the pain on her left hand reminded her of his bite!
Left with no other choice, she walked back in the room and sat on the edge of the bed, her mood suddenly turned sour. Jophiel stood a distance from where she was, occasionally throwing furtive glances at her.
"How long is he gone?" She asked, her eyes fixed on the bandage on her hand.
"It’s been three days since he left My Lady," she replied and saw Elena catch her lower lip between her teeth, so hard she feared she’d chew it off.
"I’ll fetch the royal apothecary to change your bandages," she informed, and without waiting for her reply, left the room.
Elena stared at her hands. God! They looked pale! Her skin had lost color, and so were her nails. She held the end of the bandage and unwrapped it to reveal a stitched wound and two fang marks on her skin. They were like black scars!
Her fingers brushed lightly on the spot and surprisingly, she didn’t feel any pain, unlike when she touched the wound. But the pain was not as much as the one she felt in her heart right now. How could he? She’d cut him into chunks if he showed up right now!
