Scarlett Stones

Part Two

Lodestone turned her head slightly in the direction of the noise, barely flinching. Her hands still behind her back, Lodestone made her way down the red velvet stairs. And marched in the direction of the front door. As she approached the door, the figure of a woman sprawled out on the floor came into view. Lodestone immediately stopped in her tracks to examine her. She looked like she had been through hell. Her face covered with smudges and cuts, she had clearly been running from something. Lodestone watched as her chest rose and fell shakily. This woman was completely out of breath. Lodestone took a few steps closer, making sure her footsteps were loud enough for the woman to hear, she stopped right above the woman's head. She looked down at her, glaring.

Citrine slowly lifted her head, she was growing weaker by the second. The cold stone floor provides no warmth or comfort whatsoever.
"What do you think you're doing here?" Lodestone spat, unforgivingly.
Citrine slowly inched away from the towering figure, she shakily looked up at Lodestone, feeling empty inside.
"I-I had nowhere else t-to go..." Citrine barely managed to get out.
Lodestone scoffed at her.
"You certainly made a poor decision."
"W-What do you mean? Who are y-you?" Citrine whimpered as she sat up, moving away from Lodestone, until her back hit the hard stone wall. Lodestone looked down at the miserable woman, this was the longest she had talked to another living person. She chuckled darkly at Citrine's question.
"I don't think you'll like my answer. Now. Get up." Lodestone ordered, Citrine stood up shakily, holding her opposite arm, she covered a cut on her arm. Lodestone glanced down at it, resisting her urge to tear the woman's arm off, which was odd, she never resisted her violent urges.
"I can't have an injured person slouching around my manor. Follow me." Lodestone left without another word. Citrine followed her, weakly, she had a bit of a limp, as she dragged herself across the stone floors of the manor. Citrine's exhaustion began to catch up with her, every movement she made just let her blood flow quicker. Citrine suddenly went pale, and collapsed onto the stone floor.

A few minutes later, Citrine weakly awoke back on the stone floor, she was facing the ceiling, and felt a sense of protectiveness. Something was wrapped snug against her arm, and the stinging in her face had gone. Citrine flinched as she felt cold fingers push lightly against her arm. She quickly turned to the source. Lodestone was tightening a bandage she had wrapped around Citrine's arm. Lodestone appeared calm and collected for a moment, then upon seeing Citrine was awake, immediately switched to her cold and hateful expression.
"Good. You're awake. I managed to nurse your wounds, with some restraint, but you still need to rest." Lodestone sounded apathetic, but hidden behind her words was a small glint of sympathy.
"Thank you.." Citrine mumbled, sincerely.
Lodestone scowled in response, clearly suppressing something.
"Get up. Now." Lodestone stood up, hands behind her back, looking off into the distance, away from Citrine.
Citrine weakly stood, her strength regained only by a fraction.
Lodestone led her to a guest room, it was dimly lit. The room had a fireplace that was active, crackling and giving the room a comforting feel. There were vases of dying roses, and tattered old books on the dusty shelves. As if this room was once loved dearly, but since then life had been sucked from it. Citrine slowly entered the room, Lodestone's eyes following her every move. As she walked more into the room, a faint scent of blood seemed to become stronger, not strong enough to make her sick. But just strong enough to slowly become acquainted with. Citrine collapsed onto the queen bed, a small cloud of dust erupting from the sheets. The bed was dressed with silky white linen, and huge puffy pillows. Citrine pulled away the covers and slid into bed, sighing. All her pent up exhaustion seemed to slowly melt into the sheets. As Lodestone watched Citrine drift off to sleep, she felt the smallest spark of warmth in her chest that she hadn't felt in a very long time.