Wonderland: Origins of the Oraculum

Chapter Four

The wall was digging into my spine. It would be bruised tomorrow morning, and not in a good way.

Stellan was pressed up against me, his hips bucking into mine. He moaned once every now and then while I grunted from the pain in my lower back. I don't think he was any wiser to the fact that it wasn't for him. If I was going to be honest with myself, I wasn't even sure if he was in. I didn't have much time to wonder either. He finished with a high-pitched scream. I would rather have ground my teeth against the stone then have that in my ear.

Despite my hatred for that sound, It was a good indication that this was finally over. I had literally been counting the seconds until it was over. It took him two minutes to come.

He finally pulled away, going over to the bedpan to relieve himself. I rubbed my hands over my face, wondering why in Underland I still came back here.

He was breathing so hard that you'd think he'd been running all over the palace. His shirt was soaked, his legs glazed until they were shiny. I think this was the first time I looked at him with disgust.

He was in no way an unattractive boy. He had these prominent features that were still soft and kind. His hair was close-cropped to his scalp, highlighting his narrow face. His body was thin, skin sallow from all the years spent down here. His lips were the only part of him that still had any color, and even they were a faded pink.

"I have to admit, Danny, I do enjoy these little visits."

I grimaced. He said that every time he was finished. And I hate how he called me 'Danny'. It was nauseating, and borderline disrespectful. I never told him any of this. I never told him anything.

I just grumbled a half-assed agreement.

I wiped the back of my neck. There was a light sheen of sweat there. With certainty, I could promise that Stellan wasn't the reason for it. The humidity down here was atrocious. I wondered how Torin could be down here without suffocating.

Stellan pulled his pants up, turning back to face me. His gold eyes fixated on mine. Sometimes I wondered if he could see right through me. He'd never seen me completely naked. I always kept some of my clothes on. What was the point in taking them all off when they would be back on in ten seconds?

"Oh, by the way," Stellan said, sitting down on his bed. "I've been meaning to ask you. That new Knave: what's he like?"

I'm glad Stellan wasn't looking at me. I didn't even have to look into a mirror to know that I was pulling the most frustrated face my body could produce.

It had only been a few hours since that debacle in the garden. Dinner was awkward enough. I didn't think things could be more uncomfortable between Stayne and I, but the lack of snide comments and even kissing up to the King and Queen was really irritating.

"He's... intriguing, I suppose."

"I've heard he's a jerk. Apparently all men from Hellion are."

I shouldn't have said such a thing. It was inappropriate, especially considering how you feel about me. I deserved that.

My stomach twisted and knotted at the flashback. Nausea started to paint me in every shade of green if had available.

"Where did you hear that?"

Stellan looked up at me. "You think word doesn't come down to the dungeons?"

My mouth went dry. I didn't really think that word would get down here. I wasn't even aware that I wasn't alone in my distaste for Stayne.

You don't need to sugar-coat this. I won't bother you anymore.

My throat was clogged. I came here to rid myself of my guilt, not bring it all back. I wasn't even sure if my feeling towards him was distaste anymore.