Obsession's Embrace

Scared

A/N: this one is shorter to bridge into the next chapter.

————————————————————————————

*Rhea's POV*

My head is pounding. I groan and turn my head to the side when I feel a touch on my cheek. I don't want to open my eyes. Until I hear a familiar voice.

"Wake up, babygirl," she whispers.

I turn my head into the touch of her hand and she caresses my cheek, rubbing it with her thumb. My eyes slowly open and I squint at the brightness of the light in the room. Electra stands closer and leans over me, blocking some of the light from my eyes.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"There's someone here to see you," she says softly.

I look to my left and my eyes widen when I see Damian walking over from the doorway. His face is full of worry, and a little bit of hatred.

"Damian.." I say.

"How do you feel, princesa?" He asks.

"My head hurts," I reply.

He raises an eyebrow. He didn't mean physically. My eyes water and he sits next to me on the bed, grabbing my hand and squeezing it.

"I was so scared, D. I thought I was going to die."

Damian lines his body up with mine and gently pulls me into his arms. Smoothing my hair as I drop it on his shoulder to cry. Electra stands there rubbing her arm, pinching her skin while she watches me cry.

"It's okay, you're safe now, you're safe," he whispers in my ear.

"What if he comes back?" I ask.

Electra sits on the opposite side of me and reaches out to grab my chin. She gently turns me to face her and looks deep into my eyes with sincerity.

"He won't. He's dead," she says softly.

"Wh-What?" I ask.

"I killed him. My uncle can't hurt you anymore."

Her revelation is a slap in the face.

"Your what?" I snap.

Electra looks down then back up at me before she explains who Tobias was to her. Her past with him. And everything else she's kept hidden from me. By the time she finishes explaining, tears are flowing down her cheeks uncontrollably.

This is the first time, aside from when she was screaming for me when Tobias took me, that I've seen her this vulnerable. Vulnerable at all, really. I look at Damian and he's watching us with intense curiosity and concern. I know he's not happy with Electra. I'm not either.

But if I've learned anything about her in the past few months, it's that she's anything but her uncle's niece. She's nothing like him.

Yes. She's tortured me with the same tools. But the key difference I choose to focus on is her attacks weren't malicious. They hurt, but in a good way.

I reach out to Electra and caress her cheek, wiping her tears away with my thumb. She grabs the back of my hand, turns her face to my palm, and kisses it gently over and over again.

"I'm sorry," she says between kisses, "I'm so sorry."

"It's...It's not your fault," I whisper.

"It is. I should have warned you about Tobias. I should have protected you better."

"You saved me. You kept your promise and you found me. That's what matters."

Electra leans over and plants a gentle kiss on my forehead. I close my eyes and sigh. I don't have the heart to tell her the truth. That I'm hurt. That Tobias broke me. That I'm bloody terrified to be alone now.

"Take me home?" I ask her quietly.

"Anything you want, babygirl."

I nod slowly and look back at Damian. He smiles softly at me with reassurance. Reassurance that he's not upset with me for not blaming Electra. For staying by her side.

The truth is I need her. I need her touch, her care, her support. I need Electra now more than I've ever needed anyone.

Because I love her.