My head is pounding. Every inch of my body is on fire. I cannot lift my head and I can't even open my eyes. I haven't felt fear like this since.. my breath hitches. I feel my eyes start to leak. Crying is weakness. Why am I even doing it? I'm not sad. I hear crackling. I think it's a fire. Am I going to be burned alive? The tears begin pouring now and I let out a sob. Why didn't I die? Did I die? Is this my punishment for the things I did while living?
"Hush amica mea." A voice says. It was soft and warm, but gruff as well. A man's voice. I don't know why, but it comforted me. "Amica mea?" I croak, my voice hoarse from disuse. I hear a soft chuckle. "Rest, puella." He pauses. "Child would be your word. Doesn't matter. You need to sleep." Darkness descends over me once more, and I welcome its cold embrace.I wake again, my body feeling sore, but my head was clear. I open my eyes and blink a few times. The room around me was very large. I was resting on a massive bed covered in furs. On the other side of the room there was a hearth with a warm fire that was calling to me. The room was mostly bare other than a chair and bookshelf. There were no windows or or doors that I could see. The walls were white and bare.
I push myself up into a sitting position. In a chair by the fire was a large man who was speaking into a conch. He had black hair that was slicked back into a small ponytail. His eyes were icy blue and his face was pinched with annoyance. He was wearing a pair of trousers and a loose cotton shirt meant for sleeping I assumed. He must have been seven feet tall, but he was lean. He looked more cunning then strong though. Power radiated off of him. His angled features were scrunched into a scowl.
He was mad. But at what? "Non erat aliquid furatus. Nos paenitet." He says calmly, sending shivers down my spine. He clearly didn't have to yell to get his words across. His aura commanded power and respect. Tenebris is exactly what they say he is.
He turns his head and puts down the conch. Sol! I just said that out loud. "Finally. You have awaken." He says with no emotion in his voice. Tenebris walks towards the bed and seats himself on the edge lazily. He stares at me coldly. I glare at him in return. There's no need to be nice to him. "Why am I alive?" I yell, frustration evident in my tone of voice. "So you wanted to die, child?" He asks casually, amused. "Yes actually. It'd be a whole lot better than being stuck with you." I retort. "My, my what ignis." He chuckles again. "Stop calling me weird words!" I almost yell, my voice high and screechy. "It just means fire, child. No need to fear." He consoles, making me feel like a child.
With a frown, his eyes drift to look me up and down. I suddenly feel very vulnerable and I hug my knees to my chest. "Why am I here?" I question accusingly. I would not let myself appear small. Tenebris would not get that victory. "I decided your punishment shouldn't be death, amica mea." I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding in.
Finally something processed through my mind. I was in bed. With a god. Lowering my eyes I curse at my naivety. I look up to see that he had drawn nearer and was looking into my eyes. The god seemed... curious. "You do not fear me. Why?" He booms, his voice echoing across the chamber. "Because why be afraid of the things you can't control?" I sigh, fatigue setting in. He considers my answer and lays back against the bed, closing his eyes. "I knew there was a reason I didn't kill you." He says, mostly to himself. "Why are you laying here?" I exclaim, flustered at his close proximity. "This is my bed. Why would I not?" He counters. Well I guess that's true, but it's really uncomfortable. I can't let him know that though. "Well where am I supposed to be?" I laugh, feigning confidence. "Here. With me." He growls. I am taken aback at his intensity. I scowl at him. Letting out a short huff, he gets up and extends his hand. A smaller bed materialized where his hand had been pointed. My eyes widen. What the crap? Tenebris strides towards me and lifts me like a child. "Put me down!" I squeal, beating against his chest. I don't like being treated as though I am inferior. Not even a god can do that to me. He laughs again and walks toward the other bed, laying me down softly. "Sleep. We have things to discuss in the morning." I open my mouth to protest, but his glare cuts me off. I cross my arms and stifle a yawn.
Sleep didn't sound half bad and if he wanted to kill me he would have already done it. Lying back, I close my eyes and think. Tenebris was odd. He looked at me as if I was a puzzle. I don't like that. I suppose that orb wasn't as important as I thought since I was alive. Why was I still here? What did he have to gain? Groaning internally, I shift onto my side. No matter what he does I will keep my guard up. Tenebris won't solve this puzzle. Clearing my mind, I decide sleep isn't the worst thing and drift off.

YOU ARE READING
Thorns
Romance"Every rose has its thorns." Rose was a thief. A job gone awry sends her into the land of the gods. Imprisoned and confused, she struggles to survive a world most don't even know exists. To make matters worse Rose's captor Tenebris, seems to have an...