Fallen From Grace (#Wattys2017)

Chapter XXXVI

Eleanora awoke alone in bed, feeling heavy and sick. A hammer was being pounded on her skull as her stomach churned uncomfortably. Sitting up, she wrapped the duvet around herself as she took in her surroundings with squinted eyes, the brightness of the room throwing off her composure, or lack thereof. Looking  around herself, she grabbed her clothes before pulling them on and going into the washroom.

One glance in the mirror and she had made up her mind never to have alcohol again because she never wanted to feel hungover, ever again. Her white hair was an absolute mess, her bright eyes were red and her porcelain skin sickly pale with her lips chapped and her entire posture sagging. Gathering water into her hand, she splashed its coldness on her face, welcoming the sting of the water against her skin. Luckily, she hadn't thrown up yet and hoped that she wouldn't either.

She reeked of alcohol, Eleanora realised. With a scrunched up faced, she stripped out of her clothes, throwing them into the laundry before stepping into the stream of water. Quickly scrubbing, she wrapped a towel around herself before stepping out of the washroom, allowing the stream to flow out after her. Upon her entrance into the room, she was surprised to find Apollyon seated at the foot of the bed, his shirt clinging to him with his breathing slightly laboured, his attire a clear indication that he had been out running.

"Hi." She spoke in a scratchy voice, taken aback by the way she sounded as she cleared her throat. "Where were you?"

Apollyon didn't turn to look at her nor answer her as he grabbed his belonging from beside him on the bed and side stepping her before slamming the washroom door shut with a slight bang that had Eleanora jump in surprise. "Sheesh...what's gotten into him today?"

Eleanora quickly dressed into something warm before making her way into the kitchen. She wasn't in any mood for cooking a hot breakfast, and settled for cereal instead. The microwave beeped once the milk was warm before she poured cereal into the bowl, mixing the contents with a spoon before scooping it into her mouth with her seated on the counter, swinging her legs back and forth as she waited for Apollyon to come.

She was halfway done with her bowl before Apollyon appeared into the kitchen, ignoring her seated figure as he turned on the coffee machine, grabbing himself a granola bar from the basket.

"What happened last night?" Eleanora asked curiously since she couldn't recall much. As a matter of fact, she couldn't recall anything.

"You lied to me." He spoke monotonously as he poured himself a cup of coffee. His statement having Eleanora freeze in her actions as she looked at him in confusion.

"I lied to you?" She asked in bewilderment, because that didn't sound like her.

"As a matter of fact, you kinda cheated on me too."

"I-what?!" She shrieked in astonishment, not understanding what he was talking about.

"You disobeyed me."

"Apollyon, what are you talking about?"

"You betrayed me."

"Apollyon! What are you talking about?!" She exclaimed in panic, jumping off the counter as she started to walk towards him, but he backed away the moment she neared, his actions causing her to freeze as hurt flashed over her face. "I don't remember last night. Please tell me what happened."

"You're lightweight, and an honest drunk. Pouring out your secrets and desires to me." He chuckled humourless as he sipped his coffee in silence as Eleanora waited for him to continue. "Even after I warned you not to, you struck a deal with Gabriel."

Eleanora's heart jumped to her throat as she mentally cursed herself for having done this and kept it hidden from him for so long. What else had she told him?