Hungry is the heart

Chapter 15. Wrath

The goddess calmly walked towards them. The trail of red flowers that dragged behind her dress looked a lot like blood. 'Daveny, explain,' she commanded. This time there was no smile on her face. Her voice hid all signs of her cruel playfulness.

'This morning I found two bodies at the pond,' Daveny said calmly. 'And this one has her wings all torn up.'

Soliste's grey eyes traced Eleanors form. Almost glimmering with surprise. 'So, you decided to show your true colours,' she said, shaking her head. 'I gave you my word, and that was only the beginning. There is a world at our feet, and I wanted to show it all to you. Wasn't it enough?'

'I only did it to protect myself.' It took her everything to keep her voice calm. How did they die? She couldn't have hurt them that bad? She for sure didn't drown them. She looked over to Daveny. His hollow stare didn't comfort her.

'Is that true?' Soliste followed her gaze. 'Did she take their hearts?'

'No, lady, she didn't.'

Soliste's eyes narrowed. Her hand shot forward, pulling the necklace out underneath Eleanor's dress. 'Interesting...' A smile curled on her lips as she played with the amulet. 'Why didn't you?'

Why would she want to? She still remembered the awful taste, the scream, and the blood flowing off the altar. Even if it was the only thing to eat, she wouldn't. She wasn't a monster. So Eleanor swallowed in silence.

Solistes smile widened, showing her dangerous teeth. 'Don't be shy. I thought we were over this.'

'I'm not hungry.' Not like that.

'Don't lie to me.' She yanked the necklace, pulling Eleanor in. She grabbed Eleanor's hand and placed it against her own chest.

Eleanor could feel the goddess' beating heart against her cold fingers. She could even hear it. The sound was louder as it should have been, as if calling her. A weird smell entered her nose. Soft and sweet, but not like a fruit. Almost metallic, but not nauseating so.

'Eat,' a voice whispered, but nobody spoke.

'W-what are you doing?' Eleanor tried to pull back her hand, but Soliste's fingers had locked it in place.

'Don't you know what you are? Why don't you eat? Why don't you give in to your nature?'

'S-stop.' Soliste's warmth pulled her in like a bonfire. She heard her stomach growl like a predator. She was hungry for blood. So hungry, that it made the world spin. She could hear the hearts of the others now. Most of them beating fast, but Soliste's was slow.

She grabbed Eleanor's wrist with her other hand as well and pulled it away from her heart. There was a small red stain in her dress. 'Why did you attack them?'

Eleanor heard the whole world pulsating. Her body shook, but it was no longer in fear. She couldn't muster the words she needed to say.

'Lady, I think she is being truthful.' Daveny's voice sounded distant.

Soliste smiled in his direction, but her shoulders lowered in disappointment. 'Why? Do you know what happened? Have you played a role in this?'

'No, my lady.' His voice turned quiet.

'If you know her to be truthful, you can punish her accordingly. I want her out of my eyes until nightfall. Nobody takes what is mine.'

'Of course.'

'Eleanor.' Soliste's eyes were cold as ice. 'Don't think you have control, just because I gifted you immunity. That necklace is nothing but a courtesy. I made the hearts around you. I can order them to break you and take back what is mine. I can feed on you and the things you claim to own, if I desire.'

Eleanor nodded softly. She could barely see the faces around her. The world was horribly loud, still the goddess' words rose over everything.

'Now leave.'

Daveny grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the exit. His heart beat faster as his composed posture showed. Eleanor wasn't sure any more if Soliste's words were truly directed at her, or meant for him too. Did the goddess know their thoughts? Could she see inside of them? The chaos, fear and wreckless plans scribbled in abandoned corners of their minds.

Eleanor didn't dare to speak until they reached the garden, and even then she had to swallow the lump in her throat first. What were you doing?!' Her voice was louder than she had meant it.

'I sssolved it the way you wanted me to.'

'I didn't want to be accused of murder in a full room.' She tried to make eye contact, but all six eyes were occupied looking around. He didn't even care about explaining this. 'I could have told her you did this. Was that what you wanted?'

'Husssh,' he warned. He didn't deny it. 'When we are in my room, we can talk.'
She bit her tongue. He was right. Words were deathly here. She just didn't know if she still cared. But her survival instinct sealed her lips.

Daveny walked into the hallway, and looked back at her. Eleanor quickly followed him to his room. As soon as they stood safely inside, she slammed the door.'You could have killed me!'


He lowered himself into his chair. 'She wouldn't. She likes you way too much.'

'Yesterday she wanted me dead!' Eleanor sat down on his desk, across from him.

'Yesterday you were weak and pathetic. Now everyone thinks you are strong enough to kill two on your own.'

'Thanks I guess.' She wiped the blood off her nails. 'If this means she likes me, she has a strange understanding of love.'

'That is true.' He leaned forward. 'Her world isn't yoursss. Wordsss are like a dance to her, a game to play. A smile appeared on his face. 'You wouldn't choossse to dance with your enemy in public, would you?'

Not voluntarily. Eleanor looked at the ground while his worlds sank in. Soliste didn't have to come to the dinner room. She didn't have to talk to her at all. If she wanted, she could just have pulled out Eleanor's heart. But that was not what had happened, and she didn't know why. Daveny seemed to understand this gruesome dance. One she had taken part in too. 'That might very well be what I have done the last few days.'

'I guess that is how you can see it.'

'Am I supposed to like her back? She took everything from me and...'

'What you think of her is up to you. I don't care.' He stood up. 'But this is her house and her rulesss count. Ssso, I ssstil need to punisssh you.'

'Really?' She had to hold back a growl. 'Your dance with her isn't over yet, is it?'

'Correct, but unlike you, I am winning.' He grabbed her wrist. His shadow slowly covered her. 'I hope you're not scared of drowning.'