CHARLOTTE
Sweat beads along my upper lip as I wedge my spade into the ground and pull up a chunk of hard dirt. I dump it onto the grass next to my left thigh as I admire my newly created hole. Complete boredom has begun to sink in, and in a last-ditch attempt to fill my days, I asked Gray to let me plant some seeds in the back yard below the library window.
He was more than happy with my request, claiming I can do whatever I want, before waggling his eyebrows and asking if there was anything else I'd like to do.
That question was met with a firm no.
I wipe the sweat off my forehead with a huff before grabbing a few seeds from the packet I found in my room. Gray brought it over with my stuff, mistaking my dad's seeds as my own. Sprinkling a few into my hole, I ensure they're spread out evenly before covering them.
My parents made gardening look so easy, but now that I'm the one doing it, I realize just how tedious it is.
Especially within the sweltering heat of the Wrath kingdom.
Silas is in the library, and I peek at him through the windows. He looks up, as if sensing my gaze, and he raises an eyebrow when he notices I'm spying on him.
I perk up, offering him a wide grin and a small wave. The corner of his lip twitches before he dips his head in greeting. Both he and Gray have taken it upon themselves to be extra kind to me after my run-in with Aziel, offering small assurances that their counterpart will not mess with me anymore.
I'm not sure whether or not I believe them, but I figure I won't know for sure until Aziel returns from the pits. They briefly explained that the pits are some sort of fighting ring, and they promised he'll be much calmer after returning.
I hope they're right.
The fact he had to go to a fighting pit to release his anger is reason enough for me to be scared of him.
I honestly wish he'd stay away forever. The house is much livelier with him gone, and I'm growing to love my exploration of the place now that I don't have to worry about Aziel popping around a corner and hurting me.
"Spying on Silas?" Gray asks, startling me.
I turn toward him with a gasp and place a hand over my chest as he approaches. He chuckles as he comes to a crouch on my right, and I feel my cheeks turn red when he glances at Silas through the window.
Gulping, I will the flushing of my cheeks to go away as I return to my seeds. Gray's been so busy these past few days that I've hardly had a chance to speak to him. Even when he's in the same room as me, he's too busy to pay me any mind. I want to ask what he's doing, but I haven't found the courage.
I thought I'd like the alone time, but I'm beginning to get lonely.
My desperation for intimacy has led to me almost offering him to enter my dreams again. I can see the effects of hunger on him, his cheeks sinking inward and undereye bags growing with each day.
Despite it, though, I can't bring myself to offer to feed him.
"What're you planting?" Gray asks, dropping the topic of me watching Silas.
I point to the packet. He looks over the photo of lettuce with a smile, his teeth on full display.
"I don't think you'll have a lot of luck growing human food in demon soil, but I'm excited to see how it turns out."
"Me too," I admit, shutting my eyes and tilting my face upward.
The sun feels good on my cheeks.
I have a feeling the seeds won't work, but I want to give it a try, anyway. Wrath is hot, but parts of the human world are just as warm. What more do vegetables need than oxygen, sunshine, and some water? Nothing that I know of.
