Castles & Curses

Chapter 10: Just a Little Change

CHAPTER TEN

JUST A LITTLE CHANGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIBRARY

 

ARA POV

I pull myself out of the memories when it becomes too much to bear.  I clutch at my chest as I fight to breath, knowing I’m having a panic attack at the thought of what Tarrow had done to me that night.  I vaguely feel arms surrounding me but I keep my eyes closed as I fight to speak.

“I can’t…I can’t do anymore right now.  I…it hurts.”  I whimper when my side starts to ache. 

“Bells?”  I look up, confused about where I am at first.  But then I see bright yellow eyes and I remember.  I force myself to smile weakly as I look up at Fin.

“Hey.  I…um…my side is hurting a little.  When I remember out loud I…”  My head drops as Duncan realizes the scars on my cheek are bleeding.  Hands fumble at my waist as my shirt is lifted over my stomach.  Both men gasp at the bruises on my side that are in the shape of fists. 

I bite my lip to hold back a sob as I turn my face away from them.  Dark memories rush over me and I don’t know how long I sit there and cry silently but gradually I come back to myself to realize that two sets of arms are holding me close, rocking me.  Lips brush across my forehead as I look up into bright blue eyes.

“I can still fill your mistrust of me.  Can we shelf it for now?  I need…I need a happy moment.”  Duncan smiles grimly and stands as Fin pulls me closer to his chest and rises as well. 

“What do ye wish ta do little banshee?”  I glance out the window as a smile lights my face.

“I want to go outside and dance in the sun.”  Nobody speaks as we walk out of the room and down the hall.

…………………..

Laughing aloud I whirl in a circle with my arms spread wide as a song by Maroon 5 plays in my head.  Tilting my head back I let my face bask in the light as I continue to spin in a circle and sing aloud the words to ‘Love somebody’

“I know your insides are feeling so hollow

And it’s a hard pill for you to swallow

Yeah, but if I fall for you”    

I stop spinning and start to sway back and forth as the words to the song burn through me.  This song always makes me smile and want to dance.  It makes me feel alive and touches something within me as I continue to sing.

“I’ll never recover

But if I fall for you

I’ll never be the same

I really want to love somebody

I really want to dance the night away” 

 

Surprised and breathless I open my eyes when hands grasp mine.  Duncan smiles and starts to dance with me.  I hesitate only a moment before I start to sing again except this time Fin sings with me.

“I know we’re only halfway there but you take me all the way

You take me all the way