Limbo between Kings

Day 16 - A delay

“5 broken ribs, a fractured wrist, and an overdose on tranquilizer. You’ve really had quite the adventure, haven’t you, young lady?” The graying doctor suggested, his ointment laced fingertips probing the lacerations littering Olivia’s face.

She felt like a used porcelain doll, kicked into the corner of a young girl’s room, broken and cracked. Every inch of pain she held was a reminder of the onion breathed Jokester, every reminder of him was one of her past as well. Discarded after being played with, tossed to the side.

“I wouldn’t exactly call it that, a tragedy perhaps, but not an adventure.” Olivia scoffed through her nose. No one would truly understand how she felt within, of the struggle to take each breath with the memories that haunted her. In truth, the Jokester was the mildest memory she owned, the tamest. Her abduction, wounds, and assault were nothing in comparison to the hell Henry put her through.

Another thing to thank Silas for.

“Regardless, it seems you won’t be continuing your…journey anytime soon. At least a fortnight by the way your healing.” The arrogant man spun to look at Silas as he spoke, wiping his fingertips with a linen cloth. Everything about him warned Olivia to keep her distance, reminding her too much of the men that kept Henry’s company. The crooked whiskers seemed too familiar, the slight lisp in his voice, she’d heard it before, years before. There were too many warnings about him for her to feel safe.

“Perhaps longer,” The old man finished, staring at Silas, waiting for his retort.

“Will the tranquilizer cause any lasting damage?” Silas didn’t meet the doctor’s gaze, he instead eyed Olivia with furrowed brows.

“I doubt it will, as long as she doesn’t ingest anymore for the foreseeable future.” He spoke of Olivia as I’d she was a child without self-control, unable to keep her irresponsible paws from his flask of poison. Henry spoke of her that way on many occasions, lesser, like she were a burden taking up space.

“When will she be able to move around?” Silas continued his questioning. Olivia could sense the husky impatience in his voice. Could he feel the urge to leave that vibrated within her? The immediate want to escape to the canopy of the forest.

“Now, if she takes it slow. Though I wouldn’t recommend going too far from the Inn.” He tsked in Olivia’s direction, his finger wagging at her.

“I won’t.” She interjected, hating being spoken of as if she went there, as a child unable to communicate for themselves. Olivia stood slowly, pacing herself as she walked to the heavy wooden door. It opened with an exaggerated creak, “Thank you for your time.”

She ignored the scornful gaze as he made his way from the room, the door slamming on his behind.

“That was rude,” Silas mumbled into a mold-stained book.

“Being spoke to like a child is rude.” Olivia quickly tapped her forehead on the door. She didn’t want to argue right now, she only wanted to soak in a warm bath with lavender floating around her.

“Please, can we not argue? Not until I’ve cleaned up?” Olive begged, her forehead still resting exhaustedly against the wood.

“Little Beast, I have no intention of arguing with you.” The book within his fingers slapped shut, the chair beneath him creaking as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. She could feel him staring at her back, demanding her gaze with his own. It was a strange sort of power to command attention with a single look, a fierce one, dominating.

Olivia turned her body to face him, leaning her weary frame into the door that enclosed her room. Who was she to deny him anything? Her savior and tormentor all in one, her emerald-eyed protector. Her abductor, which made him her liberator. It was mind-boggling to think of the chaos he caused within her life.