Of Thorns and Glamour

Heartless

I woke up on some pillows instead, as Umbra had left the room, but I could tell she was nearby as I felt her confirm that I was awake. I was sore still, but my wings and back weren't stiff any longer, and my parts between my legs were still healing. A cruel reminder of the night before as I still could taste the both of them on my tongue.

I sit up and look outside the opening window into the void of space, it was beautiful as it was a dark rainbow swirl of stardust and stars in a distance. I see some crowlings in a distance fly by in their human form, one fighting another, but it was not Korv nor Kiev. I rub my eyes and get up to take a bath, but I see clothes laid out on a new table. I didn't know how they came in and out of my room so quietly, but that was crowlings specialty. I felt embarrassed of crowlings secretly working on my bedroom while I slept, but I didn't have the energy to be upset.

I wondered to the attached bathroom and went through anther set of doors to find a very large bath. It was beautiful, as it had a floor bath big enough to fit multiple people. The black tile was not cold and the water was hot already as steam rises to the high ceiling. It was dimly lit, but I didn't have trouble finding my way to it's steps. It was very warm, but I took it slow as I made my way down. I stood in it up to my breasts, and found a carved in bench along its side. I sat down, letting the water warm my bones. It helped a lot, and I tipped my head back against the tile.

I wanted to lower my head under the water, as I felt my chest hallowed from the night before the more I thought about it. I slowly lowered my head until the water was just under my nose and over my lips, my breath slow and I take a deep one as I dunk under.

I sat at the bottom of the tiled bath with my eyes closed, I knew this would not end me as I can already feel the fight to breathe build up. I just wanted to feel something other than being hollow, as the void inside me grew enough that I felt it eat me from the inside out. I could not hold my breath much longer, and I finally came up, and my blurred eyes focused on another set of eyes across the way. He crouched at the edge of the bath with his chin in his hand.

"Privacy just not a thing here?" I ask Kiev sharply and he doesn't say anything as he watches me. I walk over to the edge of the bath, and climb out until I'm sitting on the tile on the opposite side of the bath, wringing water out my hair. He keeps watching me and I lower my eyes as I work on my hair and grab a towel.

"You were in there for a long time." He says finally.

"I'm not going to drown myself if that was what you're worried about." I explain to him and look back over as I see he is gone, leaving behind only a black feather. I didn't know what was up with him and I grab a plush robe to cover myself. I walk over to pick the black feather up. It's pretty, as it shimmers different hues of blue and green in the light. I take it with me and find a string to tie it to my necklace with my key. I cried a little as I felt love for him too even though he frustrated me so much. He cares, I can tell, in his own way. They both did.

I wanted to stay, but then Inchiki's face came into mine and I look at the ring on my hand. I bring it to my lips and kiss it, "I will come home. I promise, just wait for me." I made a secret wish for him to forgive me too.

I find a comb left on a table near a mirror and work on brushing out my hair. It was knotted and tangled but after working at it I finally get it through and I make two braids down each side of my head. As I weave it I hear footsteps again behind me. I thought it was Kiev again but I turn to Umbra in her human form. I relax some, "Were you expecting someone else?"

I roll my eyes, "Kiev was in here earlier to check on me I guess." I pull at my hair harder as it doesn't braid proper, but Umbra works on my hair instead. I let her as I watch her face now in the mirror, and I feel like crying again. I wipe my eyes, "Thank you," I tell her and she doesn't say anything until she's done. I turn to hug her, and she wraps her arms around me.