Ambrosia

There Is No Me Without Us

"You can't take her!" Thomas yelled.

"I'm not taking her at all. She chose me." Percy replied.

"As if she'd chose you over me!" Thomas' voice was mad, angry and strangled.

Percy laughed.

"She'd pick dirt before she ever chooses you," he smirked.

Ambrosia, c'mon. We're leaving," Thomas snarled.

"I-uh. I think I'm staying," I replied.

"Like hell you are," he snarled, grabbing my arm and tugging me.

"Stop! Stop it! You're hurting me!"

"You should've thought of that before you chose him!"

I stared back desperately at Percy. "Help, please."

"Let go," Percy said coldly, grabbing Thomas' wrist.

"I'm not losing her!"

"Thomas!" I screamed as he tugged me again.

"Let go of her Thomas," Percy snarled.

"Thomas I made my decision. Please...don't do this," I cried.

"Don't tell me what to do Bitch!" Thomas screamed.

Percy's fist flashed out and Thomas' head snapped back.

He stumbled backwards, clutching his jaw.

"Don't ever lay a hand on Ambrosia again. You're done," Percy said, shielding me.

"She's mine!" Thomas yelled, charging at Percy.

My eyes slowly blinked open and sunlight streamed in from a window.

I sat up, confused for a second.

"Killing you, bringing you to your senses."

"The real reason I was in the coma. It was you."

Thomas' foot clipped my forehead.

"One less problem for me."

Thomas yelling.

Then it all came swamping back.

"I-I n-need you-your help."

"I'll protect you. I promise."

My breathing grew faster as everything came back.

Percy rushed into the room, kneeling by the bed.

"It's ok Amb. Relax. You're safe now," he cooed, rubbing my back.

My breathing slowed to normal as I calmed down and then the pain hit me.

I sucked in my breath and touched my forehead, flinching as a sharp pain flared.

"You got hurt pretty bad. And the cold didn't help either," Percy said, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear,"You made it here just in time."

I looked around the familiar room, my eyes wandering to a mirror. I almost didn't recognize myself, the area above my left eye was gashed open and red with dried blood under it. Multiple bruises littered across my face turning most of my face an ugly purple.

"Ambrosia...did Thomas do this to you?" Percy asked, standing up.

"He hit you again, didn't he?" The dark eyed boy said, holding ice wrapped in a clothe to my bruised cheek.

I flinched and shook my head.

"I was just being silly. Ran into the cupboard, believe it or not," I said. I gave a shaky laugh and the boy sighed.

"You can't stay with him any longer. He's hurt you way too many times. Please, just stay away from him," the boy murmured, stroking my cheek.

I breathed in his scent and smiled.

"I'll stay away from him. After tonight. I promise," I said firmly.

"Yeah...but then you already knew that didn't you," I said, my fists clenching as I looked up at him,"On the night of my coma, you told me to stay away from him. You tried to protect me...but I wanted to explain it to Thomas. I wanted to tell Thomas, but..."

I frowned, remembering.

"He may have protected you at the party but he can't do a damn thing here!"

"He didn't take it well. And when I woke up...he realized I didn't have my memories. He wanted to start over, to erase what happened. But when he saw us getting close again..."

"He snapped," Percy said, finishing my sentence.

I looked down in shame, feeling as if I had betrayed Thomas.

"You did nothing wrong Amb. He...he hurt you so many times. I tired to protect you...but in the end I couldn't. For all the promises and vows I couldn't...I'm sorry Amb," Percy said, looking down.

I moved my hand to comfort him when his voice rang out in my head.

"You're lucky Princess. Not many of us still have someone who loves us."

"You knew," I said, looking up at him,"You knew what Thomas did, you knew that he might do it again! And...you didn't warn me. Didn't try to tell me what had happened. You lied. You're just as bad as Thomas!"