The Wrong Sister

Soulmates

The soft caress of my cheek brought me to consciousness.

Despite the soft bed my back ached.

I hadn't been in bed. I had been sleeping on the wall outside. For a second I though the man in front of me, the one caressing my cheeks, was Gabriel. I though he came for me.

No. Don't think that. It's impossible. It'll just disappoint you, but for a second... Just for this second. Let me feel safe.

A dreadful and heavy heat bloomed in my face.

"Aw little mouse, are you blushing?" Jozef's voice hardly pulled me from my pain.

I sniffed, "No. These blankets are too warm."

"And here I was thinking you'd appreciate the warmth after last night."

In one swift move Jozef pulled the duvet off the bed and flung it across the room, "Better?"

"This isn't what I was wearing?" My new clothes were pink and short.

"The dress you were wearing was wet and I couldn't pass up an opportunity like that."

I shivered at the knowledge that Jozef had handled my naked and defenseless body.

I pulled a pillow onto my lap. 

"So what now? Is it time for my regularly scheduled reminder that you control every aspect of my life now? Maybe a lecture on why I deserved to sleep outside in the rain last night?" 

I turned my face away from Jozef and wiped the wetness from my eyes. I wasn't crying. It was just sleep. 

I turned back to him, trying hard to keep my face blank. 

Jozef's smile crumpled at the sight of my face. 

Slowly, like he was trying not to scare me he cradled my face. 

My sniffling breaths morphed into tiny puffs. I pulled my head back trying to keep his hands in my view. 

"Okay, okay." He put his hands up and leaned back in his seat. 

I returned to sitting normally, my eyes darting between his hands. 

Jozef put his hands over his face and groaned. 

"Artemis." He pushed at his face roughly and leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees, "I'm so sorry. For everything that I did before." He lifted his face from his hands, "I just want to go back to how we used to be." 

A different heat bloomed in my chest. 

"You kidnapped my sister."

"I know. I'm sorry, I, I-" He tugged on his hair, "I was so desperate. I fucked up so badly before. I didn't think you would ever talk to me again. I, I." His eyes shone with unshed tears when he looked up at me, "Artemis, I can't live without you." 

"You kidnapped me. Twice! You started a cult!"

"I know! It was the only thing I could think  of. I couldn't let you go. Please Artemis." He clutched at the sheets near my legs.