At first glance, the man he spoke with appeared human, but as she looked closer, she noted the tapered ears and the sharpened canines.
Her eyes widened as cold tendrils of fear wrapped around her chest.
He is alerting others. He is going to bring them here and steal me further away just like I was warned.
Eleanor fell onto the balls of her feet and backed away, trying to keep quiet when suddenly a loud metal clatter sounded from behind her, as she bumped into something.
Her heart fell into the pit of her stomach as she whipped around to see a fire poker that had been leaning haphazardly against a chair.
Picking up the fire poker, she turned around and ran to the wall beside the door as the sound of footsteps approached. She aimed the weapon at the entry, pressing her back against the wall, holding her breath.
If he comes here with that other monster, it is over.
Her eyes did not move, she did not blink until the door flung open.
Without second thought she thrust the poker forward, only making contact with Osiris’ neck for a split second before what looked to be black shadowy tendrils shot out from around him, slamming her hands against the wall and pinning her in placeas the door closed. Her eyes widened in alarm at the strength he held over her without so much as touching her.
No—no, not yet!
Eleanor closed her eyes, unable to stop the tremble from coursing through her body as she braced herself. She knew what to expect. She clenched her jaw and waited—waited and…
When she realized she was not overcome with any physical pain, she tentatively dared to open her eyes.
Rather than seeing rage in Osiris’ eyes as she had expected, he looked scared.
Shaking his head, he carefully dropped her arms, his shadows dissipating into the space around them.
“Eleanor,” he said, “I-I am sorry, did I hurt you or-”
This was her chance. She cut off his words as she brandished the poker once again, silencing any lies or possible threats.
Mistrust and what felt like disbelief had her brows knitting together as she held the weapon against his throat while he did nothing but stare down at her.
“It’s okay, Eleanor,” he whispered.
She could not stop herself from glowering at him. How could she not stare? She watched as his mouth moved. The fire in his head brightened and darkened with his words, almost as if giving an insight as to how he was feeling.
She pushed the fire poker deeper into his neck, reminding him of the weapon. Though, now she knew that even defending herself like this would be futile against him.
Osiris slowly lifted his hand to grasp the poker. “You ought to be careful wielding such things, you could get hurt. If you are meaning to escape and protect yourself,” Osiris said, moving it down to his chest, demonstrating as he spoke, “you should know that my head isnotmy weak point. You should aim here, at my heart.”
Her eyes flicked up to his searching for any sign of trickery, but to her growing concern did his eyes—which were cut out and revealing the flames within—not only seem almost human-like, but they also appeared sincere.
She shook her head, tightening her hold on the iron weapon.
“Tell me why I should not kill you right now,” she snapped. “Why shouldn’t I, when you looked ready to sell me off to whoever that man was, orwhateverhe was.”
Osiris shrugged his shoulders, using his grip on the end of the fire poker to press it firmly against his chest. “You have no reason to believe the words of someone you deem to be a monster, yet they are true nonetheless,” he said coolly, almost as if he were detached from what was happening. “Still, I have not done anything untoward, have I?”
Eleanor stared at Osiris in disbelief. Her brows knitting together as her muscles strained. Osiris seemed to notice as his eyes, or what seemed like his eyes with the dancing flames, looked down at her hold on the weapon.
“You have not, but you are keeping me here, you are not letting me leave. If I unknowingly crossed into your land I apologize,” she said vehemently, “but it was not my intention to tread upon it.”
Osiris just gazed at her, his flames dimming. He did not respond right away, instead, he took a slight step back, offering her enough space to breathe without the scent of amber and sandalwood invading her senses.
What was she supposed to do? He was like a wall, towering over her. Even with the poker, she would not be able to overpower him. Not before, and especially not now that she knew he possessed more than just brute physical strength.
“Please, Eleanor,” his dark voice once again forcing unwanted reactions from her body, as the once cool fear in her spine began to heat to something different, “settle your worryingmind. I would just like to talk. You can even keep that with you until you feel safe enough to put it down. All I ask, is that you stay inside. Please.”
