Adelaide

Chapter XXIX

Sapphire Gibson

Safely back in my room at Emerald's vacation house, memories from the party flood back into my mind.

I remember that my fearful demeanor gradually improved once I stood at Ruby's side, a stemmed glass in hand as my attention strayed pleasantly from whatever the blonde was reiterating. Then, as if from thin air, Topaz appeared in front of us. I beamed at him fondly, but his gorgeous cinnamon eyes glared straight over my head as he lambasted Ruby, scowling and uttering fierce words upon which I could barely concentrate.

"You didn't try to stop her? She's completely inebriated," I managed to decipher from his stifled anger.

"Saints, Oz, she was fragmented when Ral found her! I couldn't even get her to tell me what's wrong! If you'd stuck around instead of wandering off to who knows where —"

Inwardly, I flinched, but I already recognized that no one would notice, even as my thoughts swirled away again. Suddenly, I felt very alone. Ruby just wanted me to relax and stop fretting, and Topaz appeared too angry with the blonde to even notice me standing between them. Emerald had listened to me solemnly, I thought, but he'd left promptly to find Adelaide a while ago and was likely engulfed in some intimate conversation by now. They all believed me to be unreasonably paranoid, just as my parents had three years ago.

"Please, stop. I'm right here," I interrupted them, just loud enough that they both glanced toward me, "I'm fine."

Ruby seized the moment of silence to toss Topaz a prideful 'told you so' glare, before she spun around and abandoned the two of us to navigate the rest of the evening. He finally, really looked at me then; I could tell by the way his valiant expression folded — subtly enough that only one who knows him as thoroughly as I do would notice.

"You're going to feel sick if you don't drink some water," he eventually intoned, already guiding me with surprising benignity towards the buffet tables.

"I said I'm fine."

I felt his grip on my wrist tighten just barely.

"I know. But trust me, you won't feel the same in a few hours."

Too light-headed to argue, I resigned to follow his lead silently through the bustling crowd.

In the present, Topaz quietly draws the heavy curtains across the window in my room, knowing I'll sleep more soundly with the knowledge that no persecutors can glimpse inside. I watch him wordlessly from the bed as he then moves to light a few candles, the flickering light casting shadows across the room and both of our faces. It's better this way.

Once he finishes ensuring that everything looks comfortable for me, he hesitantly seats himself on the edge of my duvet. I know my undeviating attention makes him restless, but he convinces himself not to flee.

"You could stay. I know it would give you peace of mind," I finally murmur, my voice slurred just barely — whether from sleepiness or inebriation, neither of us can tell.

"Is that what you want?" he manages, trying too hard to remain neutral; I've always been able to see straight through him.

"Don't be daft, Oz."

He cracks a smile; even in my current state, I muster the wherewithal to act astute. For a moment, we both miss our evenings at Soventi, when he'd watch me work for hours before the hearth in the common room. I brought my sketchbook along when we left the citadel, yet I've hardly touched it — subconsciously terrified of drawing a face I recognize.

Glimpsing myself in the vanity mirror over his shoulder, I'm startled by the gentleness of my reflection. My sienna hair frames my face in feathery wisps, and sunset candlelight paints my skin rosy where my nightdress hems atop my shoulders.