Chapter 119 A troubled aura
Ira's POV
I wake slowly, feeling like I just had the most peaceful sleep ever. My body feels light against the sheets, and when I inhale the pleasant heartwarming scent of Ruel soothes my nostrils.
A smile creeps up my face as Ruel's touch last night still tingles under my skin, reminding me how he didn't hold back at all.
I shift a little then cautiously reach out, expecting to find him beside me. My eyes flutter open when I feel how empty the space next to me is.
But the mattress still holds a bit of warmth so I know he hasn’t been gone long.
I open my eyes properly. Blinking when the glow from the Sunlight nearly blinds me.
I squint, looking away but then my gaze falls on a blurry silhouette by the door. When I blink again, letting my vision clear, that's when I see Ruel, standing stiffly and fully dressed.
A sleepy smile curves my lips. “Morning,” I almost say, but the word dies before it leaves my mouth.
My smile fades as I really look at him.
His eyes are hard, almost like he's troubled by something. My eyes drop to his hands, his fingers are clasped so tightly that the knuckles look pale.
I quickly sit up, keeping my eyes on him. Something about his countenance doesn't seem right.
“Ru?” My voice comes out in a small yet rough whisper.
He shuts the door that I'm only now realizing was partly opened… like he'd just stepped in… and turns back to me.
“Are you alright?” I ask but shut my mouth when he runs a hand through his hair.
My heartbeat pounds so hard I can feel it in my throat. And suddenly I'm wide awake.
“What’s wrong?” I ask much louder.
He glances toward the door, then back at me. His eyes rest on my hair and stay there.
“Your hair, Ira,” he mutters, his words barely audible, as though speaking them louder is a crime.
I lift my hand slowly and run my fingers through my hair. The strands… they feel too smooth, soft like water sliding through my hands. For a moment I think I am dreaming.
I wish so badly that I'm dreaming but when I pull my hand back and stare, long white strands shine in the light. They look so bright and clean, almost glowing.
Even whiter than they've always been… like fresh glowing snow.
My heart beats faster as I touch it again, just to be sure. Tears well up in my eyes when the color doesn’t change.
I swallow and try to steady myself, but my hands start to shake, my breathing becomes heavy and then cold sweat breaks out on my skin.
“Ruel… I can explain.” I take a trembling step forward. “I swear I can explain. Please just…”
“Not now.” His voice comes out calm but tight. “I’ll be back,” he murmurs before turning to the door again.
I lunge forward, catching his wrist with both hands. “Wait. Don’t… don’t go please. Look at me. I’m still me. Nothing has changed. Nothing inside me has changed. I’m the same Ira.” My voice cracks.
Ruel's face crinkles up in an expression I fail to understand but he quickly covers it up and pulls his hand away from mine. “Ira,”
“No,” I swallow hard and force the rest out. “Give me a chance to explain.”
“Ira,” He lifts both hands and cups my cheeks, his thumbs brushing gently over the wet skin beneath my eyes.
“I don’t think you’re different.” he says quietly.
I blink up at him with tears stinging my eyes. “Then don't leave till you understand.”
“I can't do that. I've got to…” he pauses with a deep inhale. “Listen, your hair’s been white all night. I noticed it hours ago when you were still asleep. I just… I didn’t want to wake you. You looked so peaceful. And I thought it'll return to the previous color like last time.”
I sway where I stand as my legs go weak. Grabbing his arms so I do not fall, I whisper. “You’re not angry?”
“I’m terrified,” he admits without hesitation. His thumbs move slowly over my cheeks, gentle and steady. “But not of you. For you. Do you understand? This isn’t something small. This is…” He stops, takes a slow breath through his nose, then speaks again. “This is something they execute people for.”
New tears spill down my face. I try to hold them back, but I cannot. “Don’t hate me. Please don’t hate me. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want this.”
He bends down and kisses the middle of my forehead, soft and warm, and he holds it there for a moment.
“I could never hate you,” he whispers against my skin. “Never.”
I shut my eyes, breathing him in. But somewhere in my mind it all just seems too good to be true.
When he pulls away, something in his face changes. His eyes look sharper. “Stay here,” he says firmly. “Don’t leave this room, and don’t open the door for anyone but me. I’ll be right back.”
I catch his sleeve before he can step away. “Where are you going?”
“I’ll let you know when I get back.” He says, brushing a strand of white hair behind my ear, his fingers trembling only slightly. “Promise me you’ll stay.”
I open my mouth to say it but my throat feels too tight to speak. So I nod in agreement.
He searches my face for another heartbeat, then turns and carefully opens the door so that it's impossible to see me from outside.
I stand in the middle of the room, my arms wrapped around myself as I listen to his footsteps fade quickly down the corridor.
But my attention is swiftly stolen when a sudden gust of wind rushes through the window, strong enough to lift every strand of my hair so it's whipping around my face uncomfortably.
The wind grows rougher, pushing things out of place in the room as though it's troubled.
Just then I remember my dream. The Sempyr leaders were forced out of their seats by a strong wind, like something was pushing them to leave in a hurry.
I barely have time to think about it before the door slams open.