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CHAPTER XXXVIII. The Fall of a King
Elina sat alone in her hotel room, the dull hum of the muted TV filling the otherwise silent space. The room was simple-cream walls, beige carpet, a single bed with a generic patterned comforter. It wasn't much, but it offered a quiet reprieve from the chaos of the past few days. She'd been told to stay in Vienna until the Accords were officially signed, and Natasha had even invited her to attend the ceremony. But Elina had declined. She didn't feel like she belonged there. She'd already signed her name, made her choice. That was enough.
She leaned back against the headboard, staring at the TV as it displayed images of diplomats and officials milling about the grand hall where the Accords would soon be ratified. The sound was muted, and she was grateful for the silence. The weight of everything she had done-everything they had done-pressed heavily on her chest. She tried to shake it off, but the memories clung to her like a second skin. Sokovia. New York. Names that meant so much more than mere locations. They were scars.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, soft but insistent. Elina straightened, her muscles tensing instinctively. She wasn't expecting anyone. Rising slowly, she approached the door and hesitated for a moment before peeking through the peephole. Her heart lifted slightly at the sight of two familiar faces.
She opened the door, and Celia burst in, pulling Elina into a tight hug. "El! I've missed you so much!" Celia exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and reproach. She pulled back just enough to give Elina a playful smack on the arm. "You couldn't call? I had to hear from Sam that you were back in town!"
Elina laughed, the sound lighter than she had expected. "I was going to surprise you at the wedding. Besides, I only got in a couple of days ago."
"Two days too long without seeing you," Celia quipped, her smile bright. Then she stepped aside, glancing at Blake, who lingered near the doorway.
Blake hesitated for a moment, her usual confident demeanor faltering. Then she stepped forward and wrapped Elina in a warm embrace. "I've missed you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Elina closed her eyes briefly, her throat tightening. "I've missed you too," she whispered back.
When they finally broke apart, Elina gestured for them to come in. They settled on the bed beside her, the atmosphere shifting from the initial excitement to a quieter, more reflective mood.
"So, why didn't you go with Nat?" Blake asked, breaking the silence as she tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear.
Elina shrugged, her fingers absently playing with the hem of her sleeve. "I didn't think it was my place. I've already done my part. I signed the Accords. That's all they needed from me."
