Black & White

Chapter Eleven

The sound of my bedroom door opening and quiet footsteps approaching the bed tensed my body enough to the point where I awoke. With sir and ma'am, my sleep was always light, my body always ready to jolt awake and prepare myself for whatever was to come.

Usually a punishment.

Something on the side of me let out a muffled groan, and arms tightened around me. I looked up and saw Cassian's face shoved into his pillow with his arms pulling me against his chest. Were the footsteps Calix's? I could feel another pair of arms around me from my other side. If that was Calix, then who is in the room?

"Wake up, angelo. We need to clean your back so you can shower." Atticus's soft whisper sounded from the end of the bed. Knowing that the footsteps belonged to Atticus, my body relaxed. "Mm, five more minutes," Cassian grumbled from above me. Calix was awake now and pulling down the blankets, exiting the bed wordlessly. 

Not wanting to keep them waiting, I went to get up, but Cassian's arms were still firmly bolted around me like a child to their teddy bear.

Footsteps circled the bed and stopped behind Cassian's sleepy frame. Calix placed his hand on Cassian's ear and pinched.

Hard.

Cassian immediately shot up, bringing me up with him, and scowled at his terrible twin. "Cazzo. I'm up, stronzo," Cassian griped, swatting at his smirking twin.

I rubbed my eyes and tried to wake myself up more. My body was exhausted and sore, my throat scratchy, and my eyes blurry. I took a deep breath and swallowed. "Let us go to medical now. You need your antibiotics and pain medicine," Atticus turned and walked towards the door. 

Cassian let me go and sleepily smiled at me as I got up to follow Atticus, Calix right beside me.

As we reached medical, the same procedure performed yesterday was repeated. Atticus attended to my burn, covering it in the same thick, soothing white cream. It was already starting to look better than before. He covered it in the waterproof plastic wrap and gave me an apologetic look.

My back was next.

Calix shifted me onto his lap, his hands forcing me to wrap my legs around his torso and fold my neck into his chest. His arms held me still as Atticus peeled off the bandages and started cleaning my back. I jolted into Calix slightly when Atticus touched the deepest wound; Calix stayed still and tightened his grasp.

Under other circumstances this might be considered a comforting hug.

But certainly not this one, and certainly not from Calix.

Atticus bandaged my back and covered it in a plastic sheet. He moved to my casted arm and slid a bag over it, securing it with tape. "Good job, bambina. You did very well." My heart swelled at Atticus's praise. He thought I did good.

Maybe one day I could be as good as all of them.

Calix lifted me and placed me on the ground softly before hopping off the exam table. I assumed he would leave now that he was done holding me still, but instead he stood beside me with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

Atticus filled up a small plastic cup with water and held a napkin with two pills. "Thank you," I said as I took them into my hands. I gulped down water and swallowed the pills. The water felt nice on my scratchy throat, but I coughed slightly on the antibiotic.

"You okay?" Atticus asked with furrowed brows. "Yeah sorry..." I trailed off awkwardly and cleared my scratchy throat. Atticus chuckled lightly while Calix remained blank, his hazel eyes still nailing me in my spot, then eventually trailing to Atticus. The latter straightened out, and his shoulders slumped faintly. "Well then. Valen wants to talk to you, so Calix will take you."