The Great War

VII

I walk along the shoreline, my skirt pinned up at my hip so it wouldn't get wet. Father would kill me if I came home soaked in water again. I look behind me and see Máni and Telephus talking to each other as they walk over to me.

"Have you heard about what the towns trying to do?" Máni asks once both boys are flanking my sides.

I furrow my brows and shake my head, "No what?"

Máni sighs and brushes a hand through his hair, "They're trying to get the elders to agree to kick all non-human's out."

I turn to face them fully and cross my arms. "Why now? It's been peaceful for years."

Telephus shrugs and walks over to me smiling, "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll be fine."

I nodded and looked out at the water again as he wraps an arm around my waist. "Have you guys ever been outside of Faith Hollow?" I ask in a quiet voice with a smile, wondering what it would be like to experience the world.

Telephus pulls me away from the water and begins walking towards the cave, "Nah, I'm sure it's all boring anyway."

I look at him and my smile falls as I nod, "Yeah... probably."

Telephus drops his arm from my waist and walks into the cave first. Máni comes up beside me and gives me a smile. Placing his hand on my arm lightly, "When we're able to leave town I'll take you anywhere you wanna go."

My eyes light up at the thought of leaving this town. My smile grows back as I face him, hugging him. "Really?"

He nods into my hair and chuckles quietly, "Really."

I pull away and poke his freckled nose, "Thank you, Máni..."

He shrugs, "It's nothing."

I nod shortly and walk into the cave to tell Telephus. Missing the love-struck look on Máni's face as he watches me walk away.

𖤐

I sit with my back leaning against a tree. One of Telephuses friends, Talia, talking to him. My eyes dropped from them to the grassy floor as I picked at the green blades.

"You okay?" I smile at Máni as he plops down next to me.

"Of course." I reply quietly, reassuringly, he keeps his eyes on me for a few moments longer before looking up at Telephus. 

"Talia's nice, sometimes."

I shrug and avoid looking at the two, "I guess, we haven't talked much."

Máni places his hand on my thigh comfortingly, "Don't worry too much, okay?"

I look at him and sigh, nodding. I don't even know what I was worried about, or why I felt so mixed about this Talia girl. She hasn't done anything wrong to gain these feelings of mine.

𖤐

"What?" I ask in a small voice, my eyes filling with tears as I stare at the blonde in front of me. He rubbed his neck looking away from me. "You did what?" I ask again, a little louder.

"C'mon, Ophe, really. It wasn't anything." His green eyes look up from the ground and he gives me a soft smile. "Really, I promise."

I shake my hand and recoil away from him when he tries to touch me. "Don't— don't. Just stop, okay?" I whisper as I process what he'd told me.

"Why would you— why would you go along with her? You could've stopped." I scoff slightly, he closes his eyes tightly and steps closer to me.

He opens his eyes and looks down at me cupping my face, "Ophe, c'mon, it wasn't serious. I love you, okay?"

I shake my head and pull away from him, "Don't say that. You don't have a right to say that anymore."

I step farther away from him, hugging my arms around my stomach. "I want you out. I don't ever wanna see you again."

He shakes his head and grabs my hands, "Ophe, really? We can talk about this."

I pull my hands away from his and hold them up by my head, "Get out! I don't want to ever speak to you again!" I yell finally letting my emotions show as I glare at him. "Leave!"

He sighs and nods quietly leaving the cabin. I let out a sob and stumble away from the door sitting down on the sofa. I put my face in my hands. Where did I go wrong? Why is this even happening? I look up and sniffle as the door opens, and in walks my father. Perfectly embarrassing timing.

"What're you weeping about, girl?" He asks, walking into the kitchen. "Did that boy finally leave you? It was only a matter of time anyway." He mindlessly grumbles as he puts away what he bought in town. "You have no idea what you were getting into anyway, Ophe. You're only eighteen."

I stand up and glare at the back of his head. "I'm leaving town."

He freezes his movements and his body tenses, "No you are not. I forbid you."

I scoff and cross my arms, "You cannot forbid me. You don't control me."

He laughs and turns around, his hands laced together as he leans back onto the counter. "Don't take me for a joke, girl." He calmly says his glare piercing into me.

"You aren't one to take seriously." I snap back and turn to leave. He stops me by grabbing my arm tightly, his hold burned. "Let go."

He grins and chuckles leaning in close to my face, "You must've forgotten who I am to you, little girl. Shall I remind you?"

My eyes widen in fear as he grabs my jaw with his other hand, "You will learn to respect me." He shoves my face away from his and pulls me by the arm as he leaves the cabin practically dragging me behind him.

"Stop it! Let me go!" I shriek and twist in his grip trying to pull away.

"You will not disrespect me again, Ophelia!" He yanks me in front of him and shoves me down onto the forest floor. Twigs scraping at my skin and dress.

"Stop it!"

He fists his hands as he stares down at me, "You will not leave town. You will not disrespect my name. And you will never see those decrepit children again. Do you hear me?" He growls out his eyes a dark crimson. I slowly nod and look down at the ground, avoiding his gaze.

"Do you hear me!" He shouts suddenly, making me jump.

"Yes," he glares at me heatedly, "Yes, sir."

He nods and releases a sigh, masking his anger naturally. He wipes his hands off on his black button up before smiling. "Now let's get you cleaned up."

He holds his hand out to me staring into my eyes. I nod silently and grab his hand letting him lead me back inside.