The Tears • Book Three

Chapter 1- The Nausea

Author's Note: I hope you like my story! Feel free to voice your opinion, ask any questions and point out any mistakes I make.

A month later

Nia's POV

I wake from my dreams, tears stinging my eyes. It's been a whole month since Angel put me into that first dream with Saber, and every night since, she's done the same thing. It's been a month and two weeks since I sent him to the human realm, and this time couldn't be more torturous. I'm getting through it painstakingly slow, making little bits of progress every day.

But then, I get worse.

I haven't slept or eaten properly in weeks. I think that Angel may be forcing me to sleep from somewhere near me. I need to find her and try to convince her to stop this. She's somewhere in the castle, hidden away with Inferno. I've tried to get Lauren's help to track her down, but she is protecting her sister.

It's irritating.

Ivy is being an annoying pest as well. She keeps bugging me and sending me invitations to various activities. I don't like to leave my realm, it's a perfect fortress for me. Nobody can get in or out without my permission, since I am the only person strong enough to part the Dark curtain surrounding my realm.

I sit up and rub my eyes, exhaustion already weighing down on my body. Slowly, I make my way off of my bed and into my bathroom to take a shower then get dressed in my usual clothes for the day: dark jeans and a long sleeved shirt. I avoid looking in the mirror as much as I can, since I hate seeing how sunken and pale my face is now.

Suddenly, I get the urge to vomit build up inside my throat. I run back into the bathroom and inwardly groan as the little food I was able to eat yesterday for dinner is pushed out of my weak body. I shakily stand up on my legs and walk over to the sink, washing my face free from any evidence I was sick. I can't let anyone know I am weak, I have to appear strong.

Once I exit my bathroom, I am immediately greeted with Hannah carrying a tray with various breakfast foods placed on it. When she sees me, her mouth opens wide and she drops the tray, sending it and the food that was going to go uneaten anyway straight to the floor. Now I don't only have an aversion to not eating, the thought is starting to make me nauseous.

"Oh my goodness! Antonia, what's wrong with you? You look like Death!" Hannah exclaims, stepping over the dropped tray and pulling me back into the bathroom. She rummages through my cupboards until she finds what she is looking for. My makeup bag.

"Oh no." I mutter under my breath.

"Antonia, sit. You're not leaving this room looking how you do now! You look horrible, pale and nothing but flesh and bones. You need to eat. It's not good for your cat side, either. Soon you'll be too weak to shift, if you're not already. Then, you'll be too weak to use even your Dark and Earth powers! Come on, take better care of yourself." Hannah scolds me while expertly applying makeup to my face.

"Well I can't help it! The thought of eating is repulsive and now nauseating, and everything I eat tastes like sandpaper!" I declare strongly. Hannah jokingly replies

"When did you taste sandpaper?" My mood worsens with the memory that comes into my head. Saber dared me when we were younger. I was stupid, and wanted to prove I was brave. It was a bad idea.

"Don't ask." I sullenly answer, fighting back angry, disappointed and sad tears. It sucks not being with Saber. It feels like it's been years, when actually it's only been a month and a half.

Why does it have to be so difficult?

Again, without warning, I feel the urge to vomit. I rush to the toilet and dry heave, since my stomach is already emptied.