Bloodied Strings Of Fate

Thirteen: What are Best Friends for

*Hey babes, just letting you know this one's a long chapter so sit back and enjoy.😘 up top is Aurora's bike.☝️
The next morning I wake up to Aurora dismissing the nurse when she came in stating she would be taking care of me. That whole day she hovered over me asking me incessantly if I was comfortable or needed anything, this continued for days. It was nice seeing this side of her, Aurora began opening up to me over the days teaching me to speak Tamil and sharing bits of her past with me. I felt special in a way, having her confide in me about her past, from what I've gathered it wasn't a good one.
Aurora had an older brother who died, her father was a welsh farmer who died in the war, and her mother was Sri Lankan. Her father had gone off to war and left her brother and her in charge, having to get jobs at the age of 12. She provided for the family by fishing while her brother was a musician. The way she spoke about it made me think there was more to the story but I wasn't going to push her. I was glad she felt comfortable enough to even consider telling me. I just gained her trust, I wasn't about to throw it away.

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Five days later I'm sitting in a chair watching Aurora tie my shoelaces with nimble fingers. Her black hair fell in a cascade around her, the sun hitting it giving it a bluish tint. "Rory, I'll be fine. It's just a walk around the mall, no stairs or anything that will hurt me." I tell her for hopefully the last time.

With her lips pressed in a hard line, she cast her ruby eyes up to me, tugging on my laces she stands hands on her hips.
Gods that's hot.
"Ellie likes to push your boundaries." She grumbles.

I laugh"That's why you like her." I hold out my hand and after a minute of glaring at me, she relents and helps me to my feet. Gingerly I tuck a loose strand of black hair back into her ponytail. "I need to get out," I beg.

Closing her eyes Aurora frowns. "Fine only if you let me pick you up after."

Hugging her tightly "Thank you so much." I say.

White teeth flash against her red lips "You actually thought I could stop you from going out?"

"True," I admit.

We make our way out of the bedroom and down the halls to the front door. Aurora tells me she has business out of town but she will text me when back in town. She has been helping put together a campaign to rally both sides for at least a talk of peace. I will need the support when I become Countess Van Byrne of London. Outside in the driveway, I can see Lang's beat up car parked. Honestly, Lang your father is a general in the army, just have him buy you a new 'Stang or something.
"Father says that the Keepers won't even talk to me unless I have officially agreed to the proposal, something about how they are sexist pigs." My father's words, not mine.

I can feel Aurora tense under my hand slightly. "So you need to marry the boy to make any progress with your Lords?" She mutters it more to her herself than me.

My mood dampens at that, with the way Aurora made me feel it was getting harder to go along with my deal with Finnick and the marriage in general. She made me feel crazy and safe all at the same time, yet I had no idea how she felt. I had no clue what to think, the games she likes to play or when she looks me at me like a meal had me spinning. We stop at the front door Aurora meeting my blue eyes with a distant look, it threw me off just a bit. Great, we are back to the mercurial vampire mood swings.
"See you later?" I ask hopeful the topic didn't change her mind.

I only get a stiff nod before Aurora practically shoves me out the door making it impossible for me to say anything else. Pushing my disappointment aside I turn to my friends with a smile and limp down the stairs. I could feel her eyes on me the whole way, the tingle crawling up my neck from her stare. Ellie jumps out of her seat to help me into the car, Lang passed out in the passenger seat. She gives me a wet smooch on the forehead before hopping back into the driver seat, turning to me with a wicked grin.
"Ready to have some fun?" Ellie asks
I laugh trying to get in a positive mind frame as she drives away from the manor. "Dying for some."