The Witch's Toy ✔

13: the curse's punishment

I didn't like going to bed upset and frustrated. It made my mouth taste bitter and my insomnia even worse than it usually was. For the past week, I could sleep well, admittedly thanks to Raphael, but after the rather heated exchange we had, I knew I wouldn't be able to get a wink's worth of sleep that night.

And I didn't.

I stared up at the cream ceiling, watching the stillness of the light fixture above and how it's clear glass reflected off onto the darkened walls when a ray of pink light steamed past the window panes. It was dawn already — probably six o' clock in the morning. My eyelids were heavy and my limbs ached from what had happened the afternoon before. Sleeping on the hard couch just outside the kitchen didn't alleviate the pain either.

Flinging an arm across my eyes, I started to consider crawling back into my own bed even though Raphael was there, but stopped myself. I had two hours before I had to get up and prepare for school. Were those two hours really worth being the first one to cave in? Obviously not. I had worse days than this — even worse days that I managed to cope with by myself. I could at least endure this.

I shifted, turning over to my side to face the couch's back and closed my eyes. I was only reminded again of just how tired I was as my breaths became soft and light. But I still couldn't sleep. I still couldn't shake off what had happened to Maalik either. I'd washed all the blood off my body, but my heart reminded me that the most rawest of pains was internal. For a moment, I wanted to cry for a bit — too let out all they pent-up anger I had from yelling at Raphael and the unfairness I'd felt towards Maalik's judgement, but I couldn't. It was like I was already dry from crying too much already.

My body curled into itself as I balled my hands against my chest, shoulders setting into a tense line over my ears. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep if I couldn't relax, but my feelings didn't give me much of an option.

"Yu Rui."

I expected myself to be startled, but I wasn't. The voice was familiar and soft — a voice that sounded like a lullaby and perhaps the only voice that could coax me to sleep. It had a tinge if something else to it, though. The edges were gruff, as if the words were scratching just slightly at his throat when he spoke.

I ignored him, pretending that I didn't even hear him in the first place.

He sighed tiredly. I watched his shadow from slightly opened eyes as he leaned over me. "Darling, I know you're awake. You really can't fool me."

"Doesn't mean I have to answer, does it?" I attempted to make myself sound absolute and firm, but the words only came out weakly, forced and faint from lack of sleep and energy. Why were the effects of insomnia hitting me now of all times? Before, I could still maneuver myself through days of one to two hour sleeping schedules. Now, without one night's rest, I was already fatigued.

"You're in no position to give me sass, darling. Come sleep in your own bed; I'll take the couch and leave you alone."

I shook my head, still not even bothering to look directly at him. "No."

"I don't want to have to force you."

"Of course you don't. I'm sure you don't want me to scream and wake up the neighbors."

He sighed again, this time running his fingers through his messy locks. "Darling, I admit I was too defensive of Uriel. You had reason, but my own personal bias clouded everything else. I was wrong and made you upset when you had no ill intentions. Are you happy now?"

Finally turning to face him, I sat up, legs dangling off of the couch. I looked up at him as he stared back at me. He was paler than usual with bruises the shape of crescents stamped underneath his eyes. For once, he looked worse than I felt. My eyes widened a fraction in concern, brows drawing together, but I smoothed it over — hopefully fast enough so that he hadn't been able to see. Pressing my lips together, I stood up and silently walked past him, back to my bedroom.