ABN (Very Bad do not read this!!) (NANOWRIMO 2013)

Chapter 14

A hand ran down the side of my face before something heavy wet and cold was pressed to my forehead. My eyes fluttered open and I stared at the ceiling of the room I had just been in, my throat felt raw and there was pain everywhere. 

“You surprise me Ashleigha.” I sat up far too quickly a wash cloth falling into my lap which was covered neatly in blankets.

His hands grabbed my shoulders as I doubled over wheezing out a cry, “Do not move, you pushed your body to the limit. It will take longer for you to recover.”

His hand was at my back while the other pushed against my chest leaning me back onto the bed. His face was bandaged and bruises were beginning to show on his cheek and throat.

“Oh god, I did that!” I cried my eyes filling with tears.

I had never hurt somebody in purpose before, He smirked and nodded his head. “Quiet impressive, as insulting as it is to be hit and knocked down by a woman. I must say that you deserve some credit. I have never been knocked down ever.”

“I am so sorry.” I whispered.

“It is fine, I am fine, everyone is alright. Notari was taken back to her carriage, she won’t be visiting you alone anymore.” He didn’t sound angry. That was a surprise.

“What did I do?” struggling to hide the tears that filled my eyes, I was losing control. Dream or not, I was losing control of myself so quickly.

“You tried to run away with Notari. You didn’t make it far. I caught up to you, I went to hit Notari and you lost control.” I tried to curl away from him but he held my stomach flat to the mattress, “I won’t touch you, you need all the strength you can get. So relax and get some rest, They’ll be bringing in your supper soon.” C-A rose to his feet and walked across the room to a door that was now visible.

I sat up and looked down at myself, I was in a really baggy shirt. Apart from that I was pretty sure I was naked. Still this was a bonus.

“Aren’t you angry?” 

Idiot. “I am angry Ashleigha, So fantastically pissed. But you surprised me. You need rest and that I understand, so please take my kindness as is.” He sighed heavily dropping his head forward.

His long brown hair was tied back in a loose ponytail that laid down his back, He looked battered and there was a limp to his walk.

“I really did this to you?” My voice was thin barely a whisper. 

The man I was branded by, the one I was confusedly frightened was taken out so easily. I pulled the sheets up pulling them in against my chest. He stood there with pleading green eyes.

“If your angry then don’t fawn over me!” I shouted my hands tightening, I didn’t understand if he was upset with me, if he was angry that I had nearly escaped then why didn’t he actually punish me by not letting me eat, or hit me again. But giving me bed rest free of any sexual contact, along with food. He was dapping my forehead with a wet cloth, he was treating me like I actually meant something.

“I realize striking you was wrong, To be honest I barely remember hitting you. So this is my apology for what I did.” He snapped waving his arms out to the sides, “It took me two hours per arm to fix them. I don’t have any energy left to heal anything else-.”

“You feel human, having to deal with the pain and waiting. You do know this is what’s called an abusive relationship?” 

Calm, serenity, peace. I was perfectly fine now, for some reason I didn’t feel afraid. He wasn’t trying to hurt me, we were actually talking like human beings.

“No I feel frustrated because we are sitting ducks out here. Once we cross the nearest border we’ll be into the Tundre, the last gate before entering Arcane. We can’t be wasting time here, I need to story energy or when we get there you’ll get eaten by the biggest creature out there.” He shouted walking back over to the bed.

“Why did you hit me?”

He groaned tossing his arms into the air signalling defeat, “You don’t need to know.” He snapped angrily.

Shivering I moved so I was kneeling, neither one of us moved from our spot we remained still waiting for the other to make the first move. 

“Maybe I do, what if I bring the topic up again? Don’t you think the same will happen? What so you’ll just hit me whenever?” my voice was borderline rage.

“I have never hit a woman before, Goddamnit I was raised better. Look around you Ashleigha. What have you called yourself? You think this is just causal, I was supposed to marry the other Ashlaya. This was all set up for my bride, and instead of locking you up the back with the cargo I’m keeping you here.” He let out a long deep breath shaking his head, “You are not the one who should be in that bed. But you are the one who deserves to be in that bed.”

I didn’t know whether to be upset and cry or to accept the possible compliment he had just given me. Truthfully I was a little disoriented on what I should be feeling.

“Thank you?”

He laughed running his right hand over top of his hair, he needed rest as well. I wonder how long he had stayed conscious for.

“You look like hell.” I whispered shuffling over to the left.

Scoffing he nodded, “I’ve spent some four odd days without any relaxation. Of course I look like hell.”

“If you put the no touchy shit rule into play right now while I stop feeling like I want to throw up my own stomach. Then why don’t you come and lay down.”

“Give me your word you won’t run away, we are too close to the border for you to be outside without at least four guards at a time.”

Rolling my eyes I tilted my head to the side batting my lashes, “How sweet you care. Now come lay down before you collapse.”

Grunting his response C-A moved over to the bed and moved under the covers, instantly his arm curled around my stomach pulling me back against his chest. His body moulding perfectly to mine. His breath was warm on the back of my neck.

“Goodnight” I whispered hugging his throng arm tightly.

He was warm, like a personal furnace. “Goodnight Ashleigha, and you better damn well be here when I wake up.” A shiver ran down my spine and I nodded my head.

“Promise.” My deal with a devil was sealed with a single word, something that used to mean something to me that held actually value.

I had just sold my soul over, for not only comfort, style, and possibly wealth. My twisted fairy-tale nightmare may not end with my death after all. But I was positive that Laya wouldn’t make it to my ever after, whether it was happy or mildly content. I didn’t care, I would kill her.