Red Lines
POV: Elena
I push my bed to block the door and walk into the bathroom. I open my makeup case and pull out a small package with some razors that I use to pluck my eyebrows.
I sit on the floor and rest the razor on my arm, thinking carefully before I begin. Silas would hate to find out that I've fallen back into my old habits.
But I have nothing to fall back on.
The first cut is the most painful, the skin tingling a little from the new open wound.
Blood wells up around the razor as I cut and runs down my arm. I make six cuts in total, familiar lines that ease my anxiety, replacing it with pain.
I carefully stand up, washing the razor and drying it before putting it back in the bathroom. I wipe the blood off my arm and the floor so no one suspects anything.
Not that I care. But I don't feel like answering questions.
I move the bed away from the door and make sure my shirt completely covers my arm before I leave the room. My stomach is aching with hunger, so I head to the kitchen to get something.
I make myself a hot chocolate and two peanut butter rolls.
"You're going to ruin your dinner, bambina." Luca walks into the kitchen and grabs one of my rolls.
I glare at him and he just laughs.
"I don't plan on coming down for dinner," I reply, eating my last piece of bread.
"You don't have much of a choice, dinner is mandatory for everyone on Mondays and Fridays, no exceptions," Luca informs me in a serious voice.
"I'm sorry, but for once you'll have an exception," I reply, putting my cup in the sink.
"Lorenzo won't be happy," Luca says, looking at me carefully.
"And what's he going to do? Punish me? Hit me again?" I ask irritably. "Oh, he already did that."
Luca gapes at me as I leave the kitchen, go up to the second floor, and make my way to a library I discovered while exploring.
I pick up a novel and start reading.
I lose track of time because I'm so caught up in the story. I don't have a phone or a wall clock to tell me the time, but I don't care.
I finish the book hours later. My eyes are heavy and I'm tired.
I close my eyes for five seconds.
I wake up to someone shaking me. I mumble and curse at the person.
I can hear laughter and an angry grunt in the background.
"Elena, wake up," Vicente says and I open my eyes.
I jump away from him and take a deep breath. For a few seconds, I feel lost.
I look ahead and all my brothers stare at me with dark eyes. I don't know if they're angry because I missed dinner or because I let my mask fall.
"We looked all over the house for you," Sandro says and I yawn.
"I ended up falling asleep," I say tiredly. My body feels heavy. "Can I go back to sleep?"
My eyes close involuntarily and it takes all my strength to open them.
"Let's eat and then you can sleep," Lorenzo says and approaches me.
I move away and he stops.
His eyes convey guilt, but it is soon replaced by the usual cold look.
We all leave the library for the kitchen, the staff serving the food as soon as Lorenzo authorizes it.
I see simple dishes and this surprises me positively. As for Eloisa.
"What is this?" she asks pointing to a potato salad with eggs. Her tone is one of disbelief and disgust.
"Eloisa, if you don't like the food, just let me know," Lorenzo says in an overly sweet tone.
"Great, because I didn't like it," she says and puts the napkin on the table to emphasize her dissatisfaction.
"Then next time, you will be responsible for making your own food," Lorenzo says and I hold back a laugh.
Eloisa looks at him in shock and opens her mouth a few times like a fish out of water.
"But I don't know how to cook," she answers in a tearful voice.
None of the boys interfere and I delight in watching my sister dig her own grave.
"Then complain about the food you have," Lorenzo answers coldly and goes back to eating.
I smile at Eloisa and focus on eating a little.
"Elena, didn't you like the food either?" Leonardo says and I give him an irritated look.
"It's delicious, but I had already eaten it before I knew that dinner today would be mandatory," I answer coldly.
"She's telling the truth," Luca says, looking at Leonardo.
I laugh and turn to Luca.
"I don't need you to confirm my words, Luca. It's his decision to believe it or not," I say irritably.
"Can we have a quiet dinner, please," Vicente asks as he eats.
I sigh and nod.
I eat two more spoonfuls before pushing my plate away satisfied.
"How was your first day at school?" Lorenzo asks and Eloisa, wanting to be the center of attention as always, starts talking.
She tells me that she joined the cheerleading team and that she made amazing friends. Yes, amazing.
I listen to her talk non-stop for half an hour. My ears hurt.
"And you, Elena?" Lorenzo asks me and I sigh.
"It was good" is all I say. I don't want to waste my time telling them about my friends that they will probably never meet.
"I heard you needed a half-hour pass at the nurse's office" Lorenzo says casually and I lift my head to look at him.
"Girl things" I reply with the same excuse that Anabela gave her brother.
"If anything happens to you at school, I want you to call one of your brothers, no matter what it is, use the phone of whoever needs it, as long as they let us know" Lorenzo says.
"Understood," we say together.
Dessert is served as soon as the servants clear away the dirty plates. I look at a chocolate and strawberry dessert that looks delicious.
I dare to try a little and it tastes divine.
I hear laughter and see the boys staring at me with amusement.I blush and frown at them.
Eloisa gives me an irritated look every five seconds and I smile at her whenever I can.
Teasing her is risky, especially after what happened at school. But seeing her angry face is priceless.
When we finish dinner, I help the servants clear the table, Eloisa pulls Vicente into the living room saying she needs help with his homework and the others follow Lorenzo to the office.
I go up to my room with a sharp pain in my shoulder and cuts, but it distracts me from my anxiety.
I'm halfway up the stairs when my vision blurs. I reach for the railing and hold on tight.
I need to take a few deep breaths and close my eyes to feel better.
A few minutes later, I return to my room, open the door a little dizzy, and pass out on the bed.