Chapter 68 Chapter 68
ADRIANA'S POV
Xander parked the car where Daciana did the day we came from the hospital. My brows creased trying to remember when that was. It was just a few days ago but it felt like a different lifetime. So many things have happened since then.
Xander walked to my side of the door and opened it, he gave me his hand and I so badly wanted to ignore it but I've tested my luck one too many times with him so I just took it and let him help me out of the car. His hand closed around mine firmly and he started walking up the short path that led to the front porch. I tried to keep up with his hurried footsteps, while looking around the place that looked the same yet felt different. There was a distinctive change there that I couldn't place my hands on but I knew of the presence.
Kind of like when you walked into a room and you know something has been moved or someone was in there, but you can't really place your hands on what exactly was moved.
He doesn't say anything even after we reach the foyer and he starts walking up the stairs. My thighs burned with each step that I took. I have been running for more than an hour through those woods, not to mention from this house. The distance from where he picked me up to here in a car was more than fifteen minutes, I didn't want to think of how many miles I had crossed.
"You should lie down, I have a meeting but I'll be back in a few hours at most." Xander said, his voice low as we reached the landing of the second floor and definitely not where my room was. My heart jumped thinking I was being moved to my-the-old room back. I halted for a brief second, was enough for Xander to notice and stop after me.
"What's wrong?" he questions, studying my face. I tried to shake my head but I was frozen in place. I was horrified, the thought of that place just made me feel claustrophobic. Whatever he sees on my face makes him sigh and he runs a hand through his hair. "I'm not locking you anywhere." He assured through gritted teeth.
I found that hard to believe, outwardly, I nodded and urged my feet to keep moving.
"Daciana is currently resting and I don't want you to be left alone," I heard the unsaid words. He didn't want me trying to leave again. I ignored that as the first thing he said clicked in my head and without thinking, I blurted. "Is she alright?"
My heart turned into little fists that squeezed when I thought of that happening because I was so selfish and I hadn't cared to even check up on her. It's just that, the second I was out of that window, the only thing I could think of was freedom, leaving this place and everything behind.
"Yes," Xander's voice was clipped, the anger in his tone present. I decide to hold my tongue, not wanting him to lash out at me. We weren't exactly the best of friends and he had to be holding me in contempt, though he was doing a great job of hiding it. "Just a few scratches, she'll be fine after she takes a rest." He added more o himself than me but I nodded.
The dread I was feeling lessened by a fraction when he opened a door at the end of the hallway, it was a double like mine. When we walked in, my breath caught in my throat at the sheer beauty of it. It was large, not that much of a surprise since every room I've been in was large. The décor was minimal, something I could describe Daciana with and it had bright colors. My eyes took in the large expanse of space that felt homey and welcome, not intruding and intimidating like the room I was staying in was.
My eyes traveled to the woman that was lying in bed and those little fists tightened some more in my chest. Her eyes were closed and she looked peaceful, her hair was spread on the pillow. Their full length and volume being shown. She looked vulnerable, but regal. She was very beautiful.
Unable to stop myself, I turned back and stole a peek at Xander. He was also watching his sister, a warmth I didn't know he was capable of feeling was in his eyes. He must have felt me looking because he looked down, and I saw the hard edges of him. I looked away sharply, not wanting to look into those eyes for a moment. He changed from the loving brother I caught a glimpse of to the monster I have heard so much about in a split second.
"Stay here and don't try anything this time." he released my hand that I quickly brought to my chest, I nodded. Hoping he could see I was being honest and I wouldn't run again. I didn't have any strength in me to run anyway. So he has nothing to worry about. "If she wakes up, call a maid." He points to a button beside her bed. I see it near mine but never really paid attention to it.
To be fair, I've been feeling out of place in that room. It was too big for me, everything in it made me feel like an imposter. "Don't leave here, Adriana. I'm serious." Xander repeated himself. I nodded again, something told me not to test him. I wasn't going to, I wasn't the type to be reckless. I have been forced to be obedient so much that I didn't know how to be anything but that. "If you do, there'll be consequences and I can promise that you won't like it." There was a fire in his eyes that made me want to submit immediately. I stood my ground and only gave him a nonverbal answer.
He moved back, but his eyes were still on me, studying me. I had nothing to do and being under his scrutiny made me jumpy. I turned around, giving him my back and walked to the bed. I slowly lowered myself into the bed beside Daciana and folded my arms in front of me, resting my folded hands on my chest. Xander was still watching me, I tried to ignore his presence and just do what was on my mind. I laid back, my eyes focused on the roof of the bed. Daciana's breathing was steady beside me and I used that to my advantage, liking how the chaos of the world seemed to stay outside of this room. I closed my eyes, listening to the calm inhale and exhale beside me. I somehow zoned out of the present and my mind shut off. The activities of the day caught up with me soon enough and I found myself drifting off, mere moments after I closed my eyes.