Chapter 76 Chapter 76
Violet
I had never quite hated Nate before like I did right now? How dare he bring up Elijah's age like that!
As if that was the single best thing he could come up with again and again to mock Elijah. Calling him old.
Then he stepped away, arm sliding around Nicole’s waist as if he hadn’t just crossed every possible line. As if he wasn’t the pervert and creep here.
I stood there shaking, my hand still stinging, my heart racing before Nicole and Nate disappeared down the corridor.
Elijah stood stiffly beside me, neither of us saying a word before silence settled around us again.
Slowly I turned around to face him.
“I guess we should go sleep”
He was still staring at the corridor, at the spot where Nate had disappeared as if he feared he would pop up again to harass me.
A soft sound made me look down and I noticed red spots on the carpet a few seconds before they absorbed it.
Curious, my eyes slowly traveled up to see a thin streak of red flowing down Elijah’s fingers.
“You are hurt”
I said as I closed the distance between us in a step and took his hand in mine.
He was bleeding from the wrist, the same scars that had been etched on his skin were red, the scab having torn out possibly when he grabbed Nate by the collar.
Elijah took a moment to react, to notice me standing so close and staring at his arm. He immediately pulled his hand away and pulled the sleeves down.
“Its nothing. You should sleep.”
Elijah gave the corridor a final look and then turned around, motioning for me to follow him. I nodded awkwardly and followed him but my eyes kept drifting to his wrist and fingers that were smeared red.
The night was getting darker as we reached the door of my room. I opened the door to my room but didn’t enter it right away.
Elijah thrust his hands into his pockets and muttered.
“Lock your doors securely and only open if it's me…I mean someone you trust.”
He wouldn’t meet my eyes and began to walk away but I called him out.
“Wait, please”
He did and I slowly added. “Can you stay with me for a while? I feel…scared.”
He seemed to hesitate and I didn’t elaborate on why I was feeling scared. It was nothing to do with Nate and everything to do with the way he was walking away from me.
Like he was going to leave me and never return again. I had been angry with him and never wanted to see him again just an hour ago.
I wasn’t supposed to feel that way but I did.
Elijah hesitated for a while but then he nodded and entered my room.
“Thank you” I said softly as he pulled one of the chairs and sat a few feet away from the bed, as if he was trying to put as much distance between us as possible.
Unsure of what to do next, I reached for the jar of glass and poured water for both of us. Drinking water from mine, I held out the other for him which he took from my hand. The soft brush of his fingers against mine was gone before I could truly feel it.
“Thanks”
We drank the water in silence. I took slow sips, breaking my brain to try and keep the conversation flowing.
It had never gotten so awkward before, I could somehow talk to him easily, letting words pop out of my mouth without a second thought.
Elijah looked around the room and then suggested. “Maybe, you can sleep with Cassie for the night. Or just shift to her room until you leave.”
Until you leave, not we.
I placed the glass back on the table and slowly approached him. Elijah tried to step away but I stopped him and asked.
“Why are you being like this?”
Elijah shrugged. “Being what? It's late and we should be sleeping.”
“Then come, sleep with me.”
I didn’t mean to say that but those words slipped out of my mouth before I even realized it.
I hadn’t meant it the way it sounded and I saw his eyes widen in surprise.
“Uh, you should really go to sleep with Cassie.”
The way he was avoiding looking me in the eye made me feel sad and angry.
“No”
I stated firmly and he finally looked at me.
“Is this about Nate. or rather the words he said?”
Elijah’s throat bobbed and I could feel I had hit the nail right on its head.
“Maybe get the maids to sleep here with you.” He began getting up but I firmly placed a hand on his shoulder and shook my head.
“I feel safe here. With you”
I took his hand in mine, holding his impossibly large hand in mine but I heard him make a noise in his throat that sounded like choking.
“Violet, I should go”
“Why? Because you hate me?” I asked which made him look up at me.
Those eyes were black and stormy and I was looking for answers in them which his lips refused to give me.
“I could never hate you, Violet.”
His voice was so soft when he said that. My eyes kept looking into his, as I tentatively raised my hand to cup his face.
His eyes fluttered shut when I delicately touched his face, letting my fingers gently brush over the light stubble.
I saw him shudder lightly and I continued to brush my thumb idly over his chin. Slowly, I cupped his face in both my hands and raised it at my level.
Elijah’s breathing was shallow and I saw him gulp nervously, something I didn’t think I would ever see him do.
“Thank you”
I murmured and brought my face closer, planting a kiss on his cheek. Elijah shuddered again and I brought my nose close to his to gently rub against his.
“Violet, we shouldn’t..”
He began but I stopped him from saying anything further with my index finger that I placed on his lips.
“Nate is an asshole. Both him and Nicole twist words and use it as weapons. Just like you said earlier, remember?”
“But what he said is the truth. You are younger than me by a decade.”
“He doesn’t get to decide who I spend my time with. Not after breaking my heart and walking all over the scattered pieces.”
Elijah reached for my hands and gently clasped them over mine.
“But it is the truth no matter how we look at it.”
I placed my hand over his, gently squeezing his fingers.
“The way I look at it…is beautiful.”
“You don't know the secrets I have, Violet nor the burden I carry.”
“Shh, you talk a lot.”