"And do what? Wait as you're molested, robbed and murdered?"
“Like I have anything to be robbed of.” I taunted him with an eye roll, but deep down, I knew he had a point. "I need you to teach me."
"What?"
"Teach me to recognize sin," I clarified, though from the look of horror on his face, he did actually understand the first time. I hated it when men played dumb. It was like they didn't realize women would figure them out. They'd been the same back before I'd opened the stupid box too.
Alex cleared his throat loudly.
That was interesting. I wondered what kind of sin he was thinking of? Maybe it was something sex related. Though when that had become a sin was beyond me. It'd been a great part of life when I was free.
He'd over-reacted to the woman in the street though, so maybe...
I blushed, sitting up properly so I could shift my head and hide behind my hair. I'd rather he didn't find out how much that thought was affecting me.
"It's the best way," I added when he was silent for a little bit longer than was comfortable.
"You might be onto something there..."
"But?" I prompted innocently.
He didn't respond. This was going to get old really fast.
I rose to my feet and closed the small gap between us. "You were sent here to protect and help me," I said as sweetly as possible. "That means actually doing that. The quicker we do this, the quicker you can be rid of me."And in all likelihood, the quicker I move on to whatever torture the gods have planned for me next.
"Fine," he admitted gruffly, his eyes wandering to where our bodies were nearly touching. "You have a lot to learn." His voice came out a little raspy, and I wasn't sure why.
Probably best I explored that one later. When I was alone, maybe.
"Who better to teach me about sin than one of the gods?" I asked. "After all, they know it better than us mere mortals."
Alex gave a barking laugh, his face lighting up in amusement. He was blatantly handsome when he smiled. "You still think you're a mere mortal?"
"I must be. I'm hardly a god," I said.
"Mere mortals don't live for thousands of years, Dora."
He might have had a point there, but it wasn't going to be one I lingered on. "They do if they're being punished," I said flatly. There was something vindictively cruel about extending a life just so someone could suffer more.
"True. And you do deserve punishing."
I glared at him. "I've done my time. Now you need to help me win my freedom," I replied, turning away from him and storming back to the bed. "But first, I'm going to have the first decent night's sleep I've had in years."
Flopping down onto the bed, I kicked off my heels and leaned back, not bothering to see what Alex was doing with himself. I really couldn't care less, so long as he didn't try and join me.
He could find something to busy himself with. He wasmykeeper, not the other way around.
As long as he didn’t get in the way of me and this amazing bed, then we’d be friends of sorts.
Or at least… not enemies.
For the moment.
Chapter Four
"Up." A grumpy voice broke through my peaceful slumber.
I peeled open my eyes, wishing I was already back asleep. There was too much light in here. Too much air. And there was far too much comfort. I wasn't used to it, and the change in circumstances was confusing me much more than I cared to admit.
