Death's Exception

Chapter Thirty-One

I wake up, snuggled in a huge, puffy white blanket. We found the nicest hotel that this town had, and Titus said that we could afford to have a nice bed for the night. He is sleeping in another bed that is right next to mine, his eyes shut tightly. I yawn and sprawl myself across the bed, keeping the blanket to my chin, because I don't have pants on. I have been wearing those tight jeans for days, so as soon as Titus fell asleep, I crawled out of them. I rub my eyes, and try to tame my hair a bit before Titus wakes up. I get up and reluctantly pull the jeans back on, and go the hotel bathroom.

The room is very nice, and I definitely think I could get used to living here. It has a mini, but efficient, kitchen, a bathroom, two king-sized beds, a television screen mounted on the wall across from the beds, two chairs, a table, and a couch. The walls are painted turquoise, but basically everything else in the room is completely white, with the exception of a couple golden decorative things here and there. I slide open the door to the shower, and hold my hand in it to monitor the temperature. When it gets to be the perfect warmth, I make sure to lock the door before taking my cloths off and getting in.

It feels amazing to take a shower.

I wash up, making sure to use almost all of the mini products provided. The little I leave is for Titus. I masage my scalm with some fragrant shampoo and conditioner, and I scrub my rough skin with a bar of soap given. After about fifteen minutes in the shower, I turn the water off and grab a towel. I almost drop it when I hear a knock on the door.

"I have some fresh clothes for you, Rory. Kate gave me some." I remind myself to thank Kate furiously later. I open the door slightly, and Titus sticks his hand in with some clean clothes.

"Thank you." I hear him laugh, and I smile at him through the door. Kate has provided me with a tight long sleeve black shirt, some blue jeans, and underwear. I slip it on, and decide to wrangle my hair in a ponytail to dry. I brush my teeth, and apply a little lotion on my scar. Maybe one day this blasted thing will go away.

"You are taking forever." Whines Titus from the other side of the bathroom door, "Can I come in?" I unlock the door, and I feel my face turn red when I see that he doesn't have a shirt on. He reaches past me to the tooth brush, and starts to brush his teeth.

"Thank God for hygene." I say, rubbing a wet towl on my face.

"'Ou 'an 'ay 'at 'gain."

"What?" He spits.

"You can say that again." I nod and walk out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. Titus yells at me through the door.

"IS THAT YOU TELLING ME TO TAKE A SHOWER?" I roll my eyes.

"YEP."

"YES MA'AM." He replies. I walk over to the kitchen, and scavenge the foods in the little fridge. There is a big blue berry muffin that has a little metal tag tied to it that says "5 Pecuniae". I grab it, and rip open the packaging. The little metal tag starts to blink the words "You have been charged." I tap it, and it stops blinking. I jump on my bed, and cross my legs, digging into the muffin. I reach to the nightstand for the television remote, and flip to the news channel. Molly's picture is on the screen with the red words, "Girl kidnapped by monster, Aurora Destiel." I drop the remote, and the screen flashes to an interview with Mr. Trout.

"Molly 'as been returned safely 'ome all due to Dr. Finley." Mr. Trout says, "Unfortuna'ley, the thing has escaped with 'er li'le friend. She mus' be found. For my Molly. For the children of America's safety." I scramble to the remote, and turn the television off. I put my hand to my mouth, and shake my head. My breath catches as I hear the water in the shower turn off. I need to straighten up before Titus come in the room. I stuff more of the muffin in my mouth, and pretend to be reading a small New Testament Bible sitting on the nightstand. 

He limps in the room, with a shirt on, thankully. Not that he doesn't look good without one on. He certainly did. He lays down beside me, his hair still dripping wet.

"Titus, you are getting me wet!" He flings his wet hair around, getting water all over my shirt and face. I scrunch up my nose, and scoot away from him. He laughs, and puts his arms on my waist, pulling me close to him. We both laugh, and then close our eyes in welcome silence. I lay my head on his shoulder, and his huge hand is resting on my torso.

"What happened to you while you were held hostage?" I look up at Titus, and realize that he is staring angrily at the ground. I bite my lip, and wonder if I should tell him about Dr. Finley or not.

"I was just in that room for a couple days. It was fine." Titus shakes his head.

"Your wrist is swollen and scabbed over, you have a huge bruise on your forehead, and you don't look the same." I look up at Titus, who grabs my wrist and shows it to me.

"I don't look the same?' Titus drops my wrist, and puts his hand on my cheek.

"Your eyes. They aren't hopeful anymore." I shift my weight on the bed, and cuddle in closer to him so that he has to stop examining my eyes. I didn't realize that it would affect me physically.

"The bruise is from Mr. Trout. He got excited." He picks up my hand gently, and kisses it lightly.

"And your wrist?" I avoid eye contact, as I search my mind for a lie that he could probably already see straight through. "Aurora, were you harming yourself?"

"Don't call me that."

"Rory."

"It is just a nervous habit!" I yank my hand from him, and stand. He sits up, and raises his eyebrows.

"Don't act like that. Rory, you need to stop! It isn't good for you." He stands beside me, and pulls me into a hug. He smells like the moment just before a storm. "Promise you will stop." He tilts my chin up so that he can see in my eyes. He towers over me a good three inches.

"I promise."

"Good. Now tell me about the visit from Dr. Finley."