Chapter 86 Make him bleed
Ira's POV
A shiver runs through my body as a hand grabs my face from behind, I scream, feeling the nails sinking slowly into my eye, nose and mouth.
But it doesn't stop there. Dozens of them, like the first, reach out of black mist. They claw over my wrists and my ankles, thighs, shin, neck.
“STOP!!” I yell, feeling nauseous and cold like I'm being pulled into the bottomless pit of the dead.
“Stop hiding, little one.” Several ancient voices echo, deafening me as fingers crawl into my ears.
“Stop hiding what you are.”
“GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” I cry, involuntarily tasting the saltiness in my tears
“Show yourself. Show us where to find you.”
I jerk awake with a gasp. Like someone yanked out of water.
My eyes tear up when the next air I take in comes in a whistle.
My chest is on fire.
The realization causes my breathing to worsen, producing a stabbing, burning pain from the inside out.
“Help,” My voice barely gets out my lungs as I crawl out of bed, clutching at my chest.
Scared I will find blood or an open wound, I shakily pull the neckline of my sweat-soaked nightdress down just enough.
Goddess. What… what is this?
There, right over my heart… A mark I have never seen before.
The black mark looks freshly carved into my skin, leaving the surrounding skin red and irritated.
It's shaped like a curling wave with seven tiny halfmoons surrounding it.
It looks… beautiful, but it's terrifying.
I touch it with one fingertip. Pain strikes through me and I yank my hand back, hissing.
The mark stays perfect though. It's not as glossy as it looks.
“But what does this mean?” I whisper under my breath, realizing only now that my breathing is no longer laboured.
Is this a sign? A curse?
The thought makes my stomach twist. I pull off my nightdress, knowing I need something with a higher neckline to cover up the redness of my skin.
The moment I'm done changing, the churning in my stomach has doubled, spreading all over my body.
It doesn't hurt but it does make me feel like throwing up.
I have to get out of this room. It feels like those hands from the dream are still waiting in the shadows.
Outside, the cold air bites my cheeks. Not feeling really confident today, I duck my head when I walk by guards.
My nose twitches , picking up the smell of every and anything around me. The ground, the smoke from the distant kitchen, the odor from the fourth guard's mouth…
I can feel the atmosphere better. My body flinches and I fling myself to the side, avoiding nothing. Guards lift their brows at me in annoyance but before I step back into the pathway, a heavy gust of wind blows dust into their faces. It would have done the same to me if I'd been standing on the pathway.
I stand still for a solid ten seconds, watching as the guards cough out dust. And deep down inside me I know that I'd felt that wind way before it blew.
But how?
Striding into the training field as though something is hot on my heels, I fail to see Cath running after me.
Sia waves for me from the field. A pass round, avoiding clashing swords and angry faces from the warriors.
“Yo, wait up,” Cath gasps, dropping her bucket and causing the water in it to slosh. But it's covered so nothing pours out.
“Here, and Cath stop putting your whole weight on my friend.” Sia says, handing me a bucket.
“Ira?” Both of them call my name and I blink.
“Yeah?” I stutter, forcing my attention back to the present and out of that dark dream.
“You okay? You’re white as snow.” Cath mutters quietly.
I smile, but even I know it's weak. “I uh, didn’t sleep much.”
Sia frowns. “You sure? You look…” She reaches like she wants to touch my forehead.
“I’m fine,” I cut in harshly. “Really… let’s just get on with the day.”
Both hesitate, watching me closely. Eventually they nod. I turn my face away, feeling guilty for snapping. But I spot piercing grey eyes staring right back at me.
I look below his face, the glistening sweat on his throat catching my attention. Muscles shift under his shirt with every controlled motion.
It's impossible to forget what those arms felt like around me. What it felt like to have them gripping my hair in the woods. Guiding me, using me.
The fire in my chest this time is different. It does not hurt. But dear goddess does it roar to life, spreading low and urgent.
I swallow, feeling slightly different than the last time I did when I imagined making him cum down my throat again.
This time I do not just want his touch.
I want to shove him against the nearest wall, fist his shirt, drag his mouth to mine and kiss him until he cannot think.
Fuck, I want to do things to him until he cannot do anything but groan my name. I can imagine those lips under the mercy of my teeth.
I need to feel him lose control. To feel him give everything to me. My breathing changes as a dark, starving hunger claws up my throat.
It's like an awakened urge for Control and Power.
It scares me how much I like it.
I am so lost staring. I do not notice the warrior backing toward me. Until his shoulder slams into mine.
The bucket in my hand flies. My eyes widen as water soaks the ground immediately.
“I’m sorry…” I start, taking a cautious step backwards.
The huge warrior’s hand cracks across my face.
The sharp sting is immediate as my head shifts to the side, my gaze catching Sia and Cath's panicked faces.
“Stupid girl,” he snarls. “Next time watch where you’re going.”
I glare at him, suddenly furious. Something inside me just didn't like getting hit. My hands fist beside me, the urge to punch him right across his tomato red cheek swells inside me.
I barely notice how the cloud darkens in response to my emotion. I feel the wind run through my hair like a thousand encouraging whispers.
Make him bleed.
The field gasps as a fist smashes into the warrior’s face, forcing his head to snap sideways.
He staggers to the direction of the slap but Ruel grabs the front of his shirt, yanks him close, then punches him again.
The warrior cries out as blood bursts from his nose
Again Ruel hits him.
And again.
The warrior’s knees buckle but Ruel does not stop. His face is stoic, there's barely any emotion but those golden eyes I only saw once are back.
And goddess does it make him even hotter.
“Commander,” Elric steps in, placing a hand on Ruel's shoulder.
Ruel’s chest heaves. Blood drips from his knuckles. For a second his grip tightens but then he lets the unconscious warrior drop into the dirt.
Sunlight breaks through the clouds and I stand there with burning cheeks, my heart racing as I stare at Ruel.
Goddess forgive me. With blood on his hands and fire still in his eyes, I want him so badly I can barely stand it.