alluringly entwined | f.w, d.m

78

One rose petal.

That was all that was left.

But now when she looked at the dying rose in her glass dome, she didn't feel scared or nervous or anxious. It sort of calmed her now, in some twisted way.

Because she'd stop feeling it soon—the morning throw ups, other throw ups, bruises, weak joints, fatigue, burning lungs as she tried to breathe steadily. The feeling of her body deteriorating.

She had mourned herself a long time ago without even realizing it. She knew she was sick, and she'd accepted it. She mourned her own death and now she was actually okay.

That week, she'd told Fred it was period cramps and her period that were hurting her, so she stayed in her dorm. She'd skipped classes.

But she didn't have her period and she didn't have cramps. She just felt terribly weak and her sickness was causing slight sharp pains in her stomach, so she'd skipped.

It was the only reason that was believable and would not have Draco force her to go to the Hospital Wing. To make Pomfrey check her as he stood there like some body guard.

Her boys knew she loved them. Her mates knew she loved them. Her parents knew she loved them.

The last few weeks have been amazing and it was more than what Oshun could have ever asked for.

She'd die happy. That was what made her conscience rest.

But of course there was still the small nag at her chest, wondering and scared of what her death would do to her loved ones.

She chose to brush it off for now.

"Where's Weasley?" Draco's voice brought her out of her thoughts.

"What?" Oshun's eyes snapped to his silver ones. "Oh, he left."

His eyebrows arched as he sat next to her on her bed. "He left?"

"No, not left left," she clarified, shaking her head dismissively. "Something went wrong with his shop, so he's been stressed and angry about it. He doesn't like being around me when he's in a bad mood like this just in case he accidentally takes it out on me."

"Oh." He gaped.

She stared at the blond. "Why?" she asked, a little skeptical.

"Why what?" He adjusted himself on her bed, getting comfortable.

She turned her body to face him and crossed her legs. "Why'd you ask where Fred is?" she asked, and toyed with the pendant on her necklace.

He fiddled with his rings as he inclined upon the headboard. "Because I asked?" he retorted with a dry scoff. "I can't ask a question?"

"No, you can. But you both—" she halted.

"But what?" His tone lowered, staring intensely at her.

"You've both been acting strange," she explained, eyebrows bunched together in confusion. "You ask about him a lot more than usual—he does the same. Sometimes I catch him looking at you and then I catch you looking at him. You guys aren't as... competitive with each other, whether it be about muscles or collection cards. What's going on with you guys?"

"Nothing," Draco responded thinly, lifting his shoulders in a shrug. Then he became alert.  "Wait, did he say something to you?"

"No..." She slowly spoke, vigilant eyes squinted at him. "Should he have?"

"No. Nothing's going on." He shook his head coolly. "Come, kiss me."

She stared at him, both confused and feeling left out of something.