Chapter 57 Hopelessly gone
Ira's POV
I wake slowly, remnants of sleep clinging to my limbs like a heavy log. My eyes flutter as my vision adjusts to the dimness within my room.
Faint rays from the rising sun barely touch the edges of the curtains. And with a sleepy groan I stretch lightly, trying to shake off the lingering ache in my shoulders.
That's when I notice it… A faint sensation of being watched.
I pause all movement as my senses heighten. I listen to the sound of rushing wind moving behind me.
Then slowly the weather changes, the atmosphere growing cold. I shiver as it becomes freezing in an instant.
That's when I gather the courage to turn around, my fearful eyes scanning the room.
I glance at the floor… Nothing's there.
Still, the sense of a presence persists, along with the teeth freezing cold trickling down my rigid spine.
“W…who's t..there?” I stutter, about to jump off the bed when I hear a whining sound.
I turn with my heart slightly racing, and see it. It's a book I thought I’d hidden safely under the bed that has slid out on its own.
TRUE HISTORY OF THE SEMPYRS
The title stares angrily at me. The worn out leather cover is now a bit more dusty than it initially was when I stole it from the library.
I couldn't read it then. But there’s no one here. And I'm not being shoved underground.
With a sigh I kneel slowly and pick it up.
“You could have been more… I don't know, natural? There certainly was no need to scare me like that… Mr wind.” I say, expecting a reaction. But all I get in return is silence.
My fingers brush against the cover, and an odd chill snakes up my arms.
Hesitant, I open it.
The words inside make my head ache. There's names, dates, numbers…. Lots of numbers.
I pass my thumb over a peculiar drawing of fire and blood. Suddenly I feel like I'm invading someone's privacy. Like this book belonged to someone.
It's quite a silly thing to think but I close it quickly, shutting out the incomprehensible bundle of words and numbers. Feeling as though if I stare too long, I will summon the soul of the books dead owner.
I shake my head– “where the hell did that thought come from?” I mutter to myself.
Then the room is silent again. I drop the book beside me, staring at the brightening day when the book flips open by itself. Pages splay violently, the cold in the room deepens madly, my teeth chatter…
And even though I instantly wrap my sheets around myself, my whole body spasms briefly as an icy gust of wind snakes through my bones.
“I don’t need to know about sempyrs,” I whisper shakily, my voice barely audible over the noise of rushing wind.
But the book shakes as though urging me to pick it back up.
“I said no! I can barely understand what's written there. I'm not interested in literature.” I shoot.
A knock comes on the door. The sudden sound startled me… and well, the wind too, considering how swiftly the book snaps shut, tumbles off the foam and slides back under the bed before I even have a chance to react.
I straighten, my heart pounding in anticipation, and then I see Sia enter.
She immediately shivers, rubbing her arms. “It’s freezing in here!” she complains, rushing to pull open all the curtains. “You must have somehow trapped last night's cold in here.” She says and I stammer, trying to answer, but before I can, she’s already talking, walking closer with that familiar urgency she always carries.
“Ira, how are you feeling? I… I was sent to the servant quarters for my safety. They wouldn’t let me stay with you, no matter how hard I pleaded so I didn’t know how you were.” Her hands reach for mine as if she can steady both of us.
“I’m fine,” I murmur, finally regaining my voice.
She squeezes my hands gently, her eyes searching mine. “It’s true then, isn’t it? Commander Ruel stayed three hours beside you?”
I groan softly. “Not you too. Tell me Catherine didn’t run around the whole quarter talking about it.”
Sia’s eyes widen dramatically, almost comically, and I can’t help but shake my head, surprised I'd even hoped otherwise.
Another knock echoes within the room and my eyes immediately find the door as it opens.
“B..Ben,” Sia whispers, her eyes wide in surprise.
The moment his eyes find Sia, they light up. I notice the slight blush creeping over her cheeks, the way she bites her lip nervously, while swaying slightly…
Hopelessly gone.
“Ira,” he mutters with a shy smile, “I’m here to walk you to the commander’s office.” As if he's not addressing me, he keeps his eyes on Sia.
With a slight frown, I silently wonder why Cortis, who usually handles this, is nowhere to be found lately.
Ben glances at me before turning back to Sia. “you look… beautiful.” He says softly, almost awkwardly,
Sia gasps, covering her mouth. “I… I think you’re beautiful too. Uh… handsome…” she blurts out, flustered.
The corners of my mouth twitch in amusement as I let the moment pass, secretly glad that Sia's finally getting the reaction she's always wanted.
When we reach the commander’s office, Ben steps aside, letting me in.
Ruel is already there, bent over documents or maps. He doesn’t look up.
My chest tightens for a moment, noting how something in the room feels different, heavier.
Ben excuses himself, shutting the door behind him.
I don't hesitate before speaking. “Why am I here?”
He doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he gestures to a chair. “Sit. Quietly,” he commands.
Knowing there no point in arguing with him, I sink into the seat, trying to obey, though my body feels tense, waiting for anything.
Minutes pass but the constant scratching of his pen across paper becomes louder and sharper in my mind.
I shift in the chair, annoyed at the unending sound.
“Thirty minutes,” I mutter, voice louder than intended. “You’ve been at this for thirty minutes straight.”
Ruel sighs, sets his pen down, and lifts his head. But the moment his eyes meet mine, they darken yet sharpen like knives.
“The fuck happened to your neck?!” Commander Ruel suddenly growls, startling me.
Before I can react, he moves with terrifying speed from his chair, turning me so that my chair crashes back against the edge of the desk.
Then his hands rest, one on the table and one on my neck.
His other hand presses softly against my neck, and the touch is gentle… but firm, demanding attention.
“What happened?” His sounds furious, his eyes piercing into mine.
My breath hitches when his finger brushes against my neck, adding just a fraction more pressure.
A sound I’ve never made before escapes my throat, startling me. My body flushes instantly as heat pools in places I have never expected.
Ruel freezes. His eyes snap to mine, sharp and alert, like he’s trying to gauge every reaction, every subtle shift.