Ethereal Madness

Chapter 10- Second Son's Been Hit

The famed red-headed maid walked through the doorway in an excessively chary manner, as if the ground she was walked on would collapse if moved too quickly. In her palm rested the key to my solace, an ice pack.

I gazed at it, silently hoping it would provide relief from the pain jabbing at my side.

She set it down next to the towel already laid out on the bed. Without ever checking on me, she wrapped up the ice pack within the towel. After she was finished, she shifted her focus to me; or rather, the bruise on my right side. She lifted the towel towards to the injury but I panicked and covered it up, doming my hand over it as to not touch the wound directly.

Her crimson eyes rose to meet mine, and despite maintaining the same practiced neutral expression she flashed at everyone else, I could tell she was feeling emotions; namely irritation.

"Tucker, if you hide it I can't treat it."

"I was afraid you were gonna poke it again."

"I had to make sure I had the right area," she said.

"I told you it was there!"

"Yes, but I didn't believe you." Somehow, her eyes, which were as red as the sun itself, had gotten colder. "Now please move your hand out of the way."

I reluctantly revealed the bruised area, in all it's pinkish-red glory. She wasted no time plopping the towel directly onto the sensitive area in what appeared to be in a sloppy manner yet somehow avoided causing any pain. It was obviously chilling, but with the towel, the ice pack's frost was at least manageable.

I shivered a bit on contact, but kept my composure.

"Please hold it." Her words told me it was advice but her tone let me know it was an order.

I applied just enough pressure to on the towel.

Even after shifting control over to me, the maid's judgmental gaze never left the bruised area.

"Tucker."

"Hmm?"

"May I know how you obtained this injury?"

Luckily I prepared a story while she was fetching the ice pack. Not that she'll believe it anyway. But at least if I have one she won't pry.

"Umm, I saw a girl cornered by multiple guys in an alley while on my way to the arcade. Next thing I knew I was surrounded by five guys with crowbars, knives, and a bat."

"A bat, huh?" I could be imagining it, but for a split second her expression was unusually soft, like she'd crumble in my hands.

"Yeah, it was tense. But I won easily so it's whatevs."

She pushed my hand that was clutching the towel into the wound, and I felt my body tense up from the pain.

"O-okay, maybe I got one little injury. But it's no sweat."

Her eyes met mine once again and this time I felt trapped. Like looking into the eyes of a beast, all it took was one wrong move to be taken out.

"I don't care if you lie to me," she admitted. "But at least make your stories more creative."

I laughed nervously. "I'd prefer you don't get used to being lied to." I could feel the guilt swell up inside me.

Finally relaxing a little, she sat down on the edge of my bed next to me. "Everyone lies to me," She said simply. "Every day. Cecilia, Sophia and Mr. Price to name a few." She let out a quiet sigh. "And as of recent, Arthur."

Not surprised to hear that's what has been really bothering her.

"He has been kinda detached recently. And avoidant."