The Heir of Night

34

A week into her prison, Theia was ready to claw her eyes out. Despite her efforts, Nyx continued to tear into her mind each day. He'd been skipping training so that he had 'full time' with Theia. She tried to sleep on the couch multiple times, but woke up to him carrying her up to his bed. The only gentle thing he did was hold her in his sleep and kiss her tears when she cried. Other than that, each touch and word was harsh enough to feel like a sharp blade on her skin.

She'd complained about her shifts at the tavern, and Nyx claimed that he'd gone to tell Nico and Elena that Theia won't be returning to work. When she worried about her money, Nyx had said he'd take care of her. Theia hated that most of all. She tried to bite him when he force fed her meals or poured water down her throat, she'd claw when he'd tear her clothes off and force her into the bath.

Nyx thought he was saving her, but he was simply digging her into a deeper hole. Theia felt like a shell of a person, feeling that abyss rise each time he pulled off her clothes or shoved a fork between her teeth. All that rage she'd built slowly dissipated into nothing. Even though he'd prod at her mind and find nothing, he still tried to aggravate her. He'd call her names, tease her for having to be in the bathing chamber with her every time she needed relief, anything she did had a crude remark from Nyx. She no longer felt real.

Now, sitting in the tub with a too low water level, she didn't even try to cover herself from Nyx's gaze. She stared at the mirror, staring at a creature she'd never known. Theia succumbed to Nyx's desire to turn her into a doll that he washed, fed, and held. She didn't believe his efforts were for her, otherwise he would've noticed that she was nothing more than a body. Her mind was blank, her expression bare.

"Time to get out," Nyx murmured from against the wall. His arms were crossed, eyes on hers. One thing she was grateful for was that his eyes and hands never wandered when he'd strip her bare. It made her believe he wasn't using her situation against her. Theia stood, water rushing down her skin. Nyx pushed off from the wall and handed her a towel, which she ran over herself before wrapping around her body.

He gripped her hand to help her climb from the tub and led her to the door. Her chest felt hollow, she didn't feel her pulse. There was no other hint at her life than the mind that stayed awake. She let him lead her to his bedroom, stared at the window as he tugged his own shirt over her body. He stood back and frowned at her, though Theia made no move under his eye.

"Theia." He spoke her name so gently, it forced her eyes to shift to him. His throat bobbed as he tilted his head, studying her. He stepped forward lifting his hand. She thought she'd flinch, but her body remained in place. His hand slid along her jaw, so gentle she thought she'd fall. Fingers looped into her hair, rubbing small circles against her scalp. It was rare for him to touch her in such a way unless she was curled into his side.

"How can you stay alive if this is who you become?" He whispered, using his fingers in her hair to tip her head back. She obeyed, meeting his eyes for the first time in days.

"You made me this way," she responded, voice hoarse from no use. His brows shadowed his eyes, tongue running along his lips.

"I wanted to help you."

"You broke me."

He stared down at her, in a way that once made her want to tear his eyes out. She hated the feeling of his eyes studying her, but now she couldn't care less.

"What do you want?" He asked, as if she'd know. Theia wanted nothing more than to become one with the earth. It felt right, to open her body to the world and let flowers grow within her ribs that had been so barren.

"You know the answer to that," she responded, voice cracking. Theia hated that sound.

"Are you even alive?" He asked, throat bobbing. All she could manage was a shrug. Perhaps she would be if she returned to her home. "Do you want me to make you feel alive? I'm good for one thing, Theia. I've only ever been good for one thing. Let me try."