6
I didn't wake up alone. To be fair it was 4 in the morning. Ares seemed to be sleeping soundly, a heavy arm thrown over my waist. I laid there and stared at the ceiling. I refused to move and risk waking him so I was left alone with his soft snores and my own thoughts. My own thoughts were self deprecating and held more demons captive than I liked to count.
I couldn't get out of my own head and before I knew it I was watching the sun rise over the forest, though I still laid completely still and only turned my head towards the window.
"I can only imagine what's on your mind this early in the morning." I startled at his voice so close to my ear. He wasn't very loud and his voice was low, raspy and filled with sleep.
"Worlds and worlds of nonsense you shouldn't be bothered with." He rolled away from me, leaving a cold ache in the center of my stomach. I turned my head back to the ceiling and proceeded to stare again. I heard rather than saw him walk into the bathroom. The next thing I heard was the shower so I used this time to escape the blanket and change away from any eyes that had potential to judge.
His land is warm, but I still settled on a long pair of workout leggings and long sleeve short. None of my scars were visible like this. My mom hated this particular set of clothing, she said it was too dark and unflattering. Unbecoming for a lady to dress in all black. It went against what I normally wore, bright colors and a lot of white, but it's one of my favorites. I brushed my teeth and washed my face in the downstairs bathroom to avoid bumping into Ares.
I made breakfast, pancakes, sausage, and eggs, and surprisingly enough, Jett and Maya didn't show up this morning. I didn't bother to tell Ares I cooked today. I didn't want to disturb him like I had yesterday.
Instead I walked out the front door, and passed all of the stares that weren't entirely angry today, but insanely curious. I could hear the whispers of the trees, they're gossipers, and it was easy to find any information you needed from the trees, everyone assumed the trees couldn't listen, but they held centuries of secrets and today they were eager to tell me all of them. I closed my eyes to their chatter and inhaled deeply.
I released all of my negative energy into the soil, it wouldn't hurt nature, it would be renewed. I dropped to my knees. Listening carefully to the language of nature. As curious animals who dared to get close enough began to whisper.
"You are not safe here." I froze in shock at that particular whisper.
"Go home to your mate, you're safe with him, but you are not safe here. They're coming for you." I opened my eyes to darkness, i stood immediately, looking around for any source of light. It was pitch black and it should've only been noon. I looked up and saw only dark skies. No stars nothing.
"Hello Aria." I turned towards the source of the sound, but I still saw nothing.
"Who's there?" I heard a rustle, but i couldn't figure out where it came from.
"I've waited a very long time to meet you Aria. You've grown to be a lovely young wom-" He didn't get to finish his sentence. The light began to slowly return and with it came a headache like no other.
"HOW STUPID DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN THE FOREST AGAIN!" I was barely coherent and nearly crying at the pain in my head, that felt like it was being rattled by Ares's yell.
I could barely keep my eyes open against the light of the room, I just knew I was no longer in the forest because of the softness under my head, but when I moved I could feel the crunch of leaves under my hands.
