Whither and Decay

Chapter ten: Atticus

"I'm not weak." Callen said, struggling to pick her up.

"Go pick some flowers for her will you. I'll take care of the garbage."

I slide my hand underneath her legs, placing my hand at the base of her back. I pick her up, making sure to grab her book.

Her eyes closed back down after I pick her up. She has this expression on her face, like she's judging everything I do, even when she's unconscious it still looks like she's going to m

I carried her to my room. All the other rooms in the palace had an abnormal amount of crates in them. I'm assuming it's whiskey and wine. Mother and Father's favorite drinks.

I lay her down on my bed tucking her under the cover. At the corner of her lips a smile appeared. "Callen?" She called grabbing a pillow and squeezing it tightly.

She's dreaming of him. Ha. Two garbage people lusting over each other and they don't know it. Desperato romantics.

"Hey. Did you bring her up here?" Callen whispers from the door frame.

"No, I left her down there. Yes I brought her up here."

"Okay. Sorry. I was just trying to make sure you didn't hurt her."

"And why would I do that?"

"Do you happen to remember that you tried to kill her? Does that ring any bells?"

"Yes it does. And thank you for reminding me. I'll have to save the 'killing' as a new thing to add to my schedule."

"You can go down for your party now. I'll watch her."

"I'm good here. And I never really liked parties. You can take over for me. You were the one who wanted the palace open."

"People will know I'm playing as you."

"No they won't. We're twins. They can't tell us apart, especially newcomers."

"And if the women try to kiss me?"

"Then let them."

"No, I want someone else."

"Then why not call off this whole thing so I don't have to worry about it."

"Fine. I'll play as you. Give me your clothes and I'll change."

I pull off my waistcoat and hand it to Callen. Then my shirt. "Change in the other room. I'll change here. She's asleep. She'll be out until tomorrow."

"Please be careful with her. I'll be back in an hour to come see her."

"Okay loverboy. We'll be waiting."

He shuts the door as he lets out a long sigh. Of course he likes her. The one person that pushes my rage so far up my head he wants to marry her. He's just waiting for next week.

I shuffle through my drawers to find another shirt I can wear so I'm not bare. "Can you stop being so loud? I'm trying to sleep here."

"Oh the common thing is awake. Lovely to see you peasant."

"Princey, what are you doing here?" She rubs her eyes before sitting all the way up.

"I thought you'd be out for a couple more hours, but here we are."

"Hey, where's that girl?" She says looking perplexed.

"What girl?"

"The girl. In the woods. She had fiery dark ginger hair."

"We found you alone. You were reading. Although it looked like more considering your hair has dried blood in it." She touches the top of her head.

"Yeah it does." She stares at the dried blood on her fingers.

"Clean it." I throw her a rag dipped in clean water from my table. "I don't need stains on my bed."

She releases a low moan in pain. "Ah." I turn slowly to see her clutching the ride of her chest.

"Take that off." I say pointing to her outer corset.

"Why?"

"It's crushing you. Take it off."

"No, it's fine. I've dealt with this before. It's just bruising from corsets, when corsets are pulled too tight they bruise my ribs."

"That's why I said take it off."

"And I said no."

"Do you have to be so goddamn stubborn?" I grab hold of her wrist pulling her off the bed. "Turn around."

This time she turns without hesitation. I place my hands on the back of her corset, slowly pulling out the laces one knot at a time. The more I loosen the corset the more I can feel her body melt from relief. She lays her head on my chest as I continue to get the corset off.

"Now take it off yourself and change into this." I throw her my shirt and some trousers. "I'll find the servants to get you some of Morticia's gowns to choose from."

"Thank you."