Sapphire Bones

Epithet

Updated: April 4, 2019

L

The screech of a chair shoved back on cold concrete echoed in the room. My head shot up and I looked toward where I assumed the noise came from but the high-pitched yell of metal and stone came at me from all angles. The tones vibrated off the walls and floor, a continuous stream of metallic shrieks. His steps came nearer, and nearer still until my back hit the door behind me. I pushed my hands up in front of me, hopeful that for once in my life they'd provide the protection I needed instead of a useless shield only to be torn down with a singular hit from an attacker. His frosty breath fanned over my face. Not even my own heavy ones could wipe it away.

"Don't be afraid, my love," he murmured in my ear as soon as he was close enough. His fingers traced my chin, nails dangerously close to the fragile skin that lined my jaw. I had nowhere to go. Nowhere to run. His other hand hit the door just above my shoulder and I knew if I dared make a move he'd cage me in on the other side as well. I shrunk back from the force his hand applied to the thick steel.

As much as I wanted to shrink away to the size of an ant on the floor, ready to be crushed by one of his large boots, his heel dug into the floor just hard enough to decapitate me at the thorax, I couldn't. I brought my head up so that if I could see, I'd set my gaze upon his.

"Y-you ruined my life," I spat and shoved his hand away from my face. The repercussions of my actions would be great but I expected them. I was used to them and waited as Peter recoiled from my resistance. He scoffed but didn't move, the retaliation on my end unexpected. Instead, the hand I swatted away came up at my other shoulder, effectively caging me to the door with him only inches away. Caged by his arms and body heat. It wafted like smoke from a fireplace that I stood too close to until my legs started to burn, the skin peeling away until ivory bone exposed from underneath the muscle. Peter had me in his hold once again. And I had nowhere to run.

"Alpha Edwards has arrived," he bent his head down so his lips grazed the edges of my ear, and whispered. I shivered at the acrid breath on my skin and shriveled away from him to no avail. No matter how far away I moved, he was two steps in front of me. "He brought several friends with him," Peter's cool voice slid through my eardrums, and I gulped.

"You're lying," I hissed and shoved him away from me. Forceful enough to pry his hands from the door. Peter stumbled back, his footing lost but only for a second. His boots wrenched along the floor; rubber to concrete that flubbed in hesitation as he backed away. I twisted away from the wall toward another side of the room. Arms out, I searched for anything in my way. In what I assumed to be the middle of the room my fingertips hit cold metal – a table. I ran my hands on it while Peter watched quietly, a sneer here and there as I navigated the room. Along the border of the table, I searched and eventually found a seat the same material as the table. I settled into the seat, my legs burning from standing for so long. Once I slumped I let out a breath and focused back in on where Peter was in the room. His breathing was in front of me, at least five feet away but I couldn't be sure.

"Why would I lie?" Peter asked. He sat in another chair and pulled himself closer to the table. I reached out and felt for the edge. I caught it with a fingertip. The metal buried into the thin pad on the end of my finger and sent a cold rush through my blood that shocked me through every nerve. An arm's length away plus the entire width; I had enough room between us – for now. "Why would I lie to you about your mate being in the same building as you?" I could hear each blink. One. Two. Three. Three blinks a minute, and at least two minutes passed before I gathered the courage to answer. All my confidence went into my arms earlier; any more would surely bring me to my knees.

"A-All you do is lie," I said through clenched teeth. They ground together the harder I pushed until, on the brink of snapping I let go and sucked in a breath deep enough to fill both lungs to the top. Each word was lengthened, a never-ending stream of noise that came from my lips.