The Nameless

Chapter Thirty Two

*** Elias ...

At nightfall, we stop at the Inn, situated just before the countryside, planted within acres of fielded lands. Getting down, I help Thea down, then Peter gets down and leads Agu down, taking him away to ease himself.

"How are you finding it so far? England?" Her head bowed, hands together before her waist, she turns slightly away from me.

"The reverend says we shouldn't talk outside." I frown. I look up at the footmen, still as statues. Peter returns and hands me Agu's chain. Then he heads inside to ensure that the captain's men had booked us rooms. I gesture for Thea to follow after him and she does. I follow behind them.

"Upstairs." Peter mutters as he returns to me, "This footmen would take you to yours." The man bows.

"And you?"

"I am just down the hall from you, I'd like a drink before I retire."

"Oh, I'd join you then-"

"No, you should stay with her." I nod, touching his arm before following the man up the stairs. He stops before the large door and pushes it open. I go in, taking Agu. He begins to shut the door. I quickly catch it.

"Thea?" She remains behind the man, head bowed.

"She would be in different quarters, your grace."

"Say that again." I ground out. He begins to look up but bows, stepping aside for Thea to come to me. I shut the door behind her. "Look, I don't know what peter has decided to tell you but you are not my maid, stop acting like it." She meets my gaze and nods, walking over to the window.

"It is even more beautiful at night." I begin to take off my coat.

"I'm glad you like it."

"People don't like my kind very much though-"

"What happened? Who was it?! If it was that footman, I swear-" she's laughing.

"Elias, it is nothing I'm not used to."

"Nonsense, I brought you here for a better life not for the same. You are affiliated to me, no one has any right to treat you different from so." She chuckles.

"I understand." I nod.

"Alright." I drop my coat on the settee and sit down to take off my shoes. I hear Thea walk around the room, then she comes to sit beside me. "You know I want you to be happy, right?" I hear her sniffle and look up, her eyes are wet but she's smiling. She touches my face.

"I do." I smile as she leans in to kiss me. Then she gets up and begins to loosen the strings of her apron and dress. She gets to our bags and crouches over it. I turn to the buttons of my shirt. As I pull it off my shoulders, she comes to me with my night gown.

"Thank you." I take it, standing up to put it on and take off my trousers. She moves away to change her clothes. I get into the bed while she returns to the window.

"How many days before you send for Pragya?"

"Three, maybe five, depending on the circumstances of travel. She'll be fine." She nods.

"I know. You're a kind man, Adinna thought so." I frown, pulling myself up onto my elbows.

"I wouldn't agree but I'm trying to be. Thea, are you alright?" She turns to me, smiling.

"Yes." Tears fall down her cheeks, "I'm just..." she turns away, wiping at her face, "I'm just very happy." I begin to get up but she's already started towards me. I watch her climb onto the bed, slowly laying back as she straddles me. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Did you..." she chokes back tears, sniffling. "Did you care for family?" I frown.

"I loved Adinna and I adore Agu...Ikenna hated my guts but I swear I tried to be cordial to him for you." She smiles, leaning into me, her hands cupping my face. Wetness touches my face, salt on her lips. I caress her thighs, "Thea, is something-" she draws a deep slow breath, leaning into me. I wrap my arms around her and wait till she falls asleep.

I hope she doesn't regret coming here with me. It is frightening how in love I am with her, I don't think I could manage even the thought of not being with her. But perhaps I don't have to.
She loves me.

I'm not sure when I fell asleep but I wake up to the soft warmth of the sun on my face. Groaning, I turn away from it and stretch out, reaching for the feeling of her skin. But all I get is the sheets. I raise my head, squinting through my hair as I glance around.

She's not here. I sit up, sighing, perhaps she went to Peter's room. I get off the bed and stand up, moving to the wardrobe to pick out the robe. Barefoot, I leave the room and walk down the hall to knock on Peter's door.

I'm just realizing I would terribly miss Peter when he departs from us. He opens the door, donning a smile.

"Your grace, good morning."

"Good morning, I can't find Thea, I assumed she was here." He frowns.

"Yes, but only for a moment, she was acting very strange." He chuckles. Christ! I rush down the hall and down the stairs to the lobby and up to the desk.

"Good mor-"

"The woman, i-in my party, the African lady, do you know where she is?" He frowns at me, Peter comes down the stairs, rushing to me.

"She left with your dog-I apologize, your grace, she said you'd be aware-"

"Jesus Christ." I breathe.

"How long was this?" Peter asks.

"An hour, maybe two."

"Peter, she left-"

"No, she wouldn't." He turns to the footman, "Prepare us two horses and quickly."

"Yes, sir." He leaves and Peter turns back to me.

"She probably just went ahead of us, I mean where would she go?"

"Peter, you said it so yourself, she was acting strange. God." Peter yells at the man to hurry as I walk out the door. I can't believe she left me.

...

I told her about the dagger and Ikenna, didn't I?

Still barefoot, I leave the inn. The sun has barely risen, a slight fog hanging in the air. It's almost hard to breathe until I note the distant blur of black and grey on the end of the field by the oak tree. I let out a shivering breathe as I run down the stairs and start across the field. The grass and air are bitterly cold but I couldn't care less.

As I draw closer, she turns to me, barely gathering a smile before I knock into her, my arms locked around her. The chain holding Agu clinks, her silent chuckle in my ear.

"What-"

"I was so scared..." I squeeze her even tighter, "please...please don't ever do that to me again." Her hand finally touches my back.

"What did I-?" I pull away to look into her eyes.

"I woke up and you were gone! I thought-I thought you left me." I breathe. She raises her hand, wiping at the tears I hadn't realized were falling. Her eyes are watering.

"I don't think I could leave you even if I wanted to."

*** The End ***