Owl in the Daylight

Chapter 1

The chaos earlier had subsided. Guests were ushered to their respective rooms while the twins were getting treated. Several hours passed when Signy found herself in a particular hallway.

Debating in her head, she kept stalling in front of Audwin's room. She knew she had no business being there after all the ordeals that her kingdom and Aldous had to go through because of him.

I should let him suffer the consequences of his actions. Alone.

Alone.

She clenched her fists, remembering the story of a lone little boy abandoned in a tower until the tender age of seven. Nothing to entertain him but a tiny air hole on the wall to get a glimpse of the outside world he so longed for.

Her heart aches.

Pity. Yes, this must be what I'm feeling.

Satisfied with her conclusion, she nodded to herself and quietly opened the door. The room was veiled in darkness except for the moonlight peeking through the open windows. Gentle breeze swayed the draperies as cool air creeped in. Signy trod softly towards the sleeping Audwin, afraid of waking him. She knew he was a light sleeper after all.

The twins were no longer in a critical condition but they still needed rest. She visited her dear friend Aldous earlier to know how he was doing before having the dilemma of whether she should do the same with Audwin or not.

Yet here she was.

Carefully perching herself on the edge of the bed, she studied the slumbering Audwin. She expected that he'd at least look peaceful in sleep but there're some creases on his brows. His hair disheveled from tossing and turning and his mouth sporting a small frown as if he had annoying problems to solve.

What a troubled face. In contrast to his usual arrogant one.

Unsettled by the sight, she lifted her hand and gently touched his brow as if to smoothen them. She wasn't used to seeing that expression on him because he always looked so proud and sure of himself. Lost in her thoughts, a hand suddenly grabbed hers. Yelping in surprise, she looked at a very awake Audwin staring back at her.

"What are you doing here?" he weakly rasped at her, holding her wrist. He cursed himself for letting his guard down in enemy territory. Injured or not.

"I-- just thought I should check up on you, seeing as you are recovering here as our guest," Signy trailed off and silently berated herself for that sorry attempt of an excuse. She barely noticed Audwin lowering her hand but not releasing it.

"Ha! A guest? Not a prisoner then?" he smirked in an attempt to mock her while trying to sound like his usual self.

"No need to imprison someone who can barely sit," she taunted back. "Besides, I don't want anyone dying on my watch."

"So you care about me," Audwin raised his brow, smugly twisting her words. She was usually easy to read but, at that moment, he couldn't figure her out.

"As I care about any other person!" she bit back. Now very aware of the warmth around her wrist but not finding it in her to shrug his hand off, she cleared her throat, "Anyways, you should make up with Aldous when you are strong enough. Mend that twin brother bond while you still ca--" Signy's eyes widened as Audwin suddenly yanked her to him, their faces now mere inches from each other.

"Is that why you came here? To advocate for your precious Aldous?" he spat his brother's name, his eyes blazing with something other than hatred.

"No--!" she tried prying her hand away but to no avail. Audwin tugged again, forcing her to lean on her elbows above him, closing their distance even more.