Hesitantly, Eleanor lifted her hand to clasp his. “If you try anything, I will run you through with my poker.”
Elias laughed. “I can see why he likes you. Come on then, let us get you up.”
Elias began to straighten, pulling Eleanor along with him. But, as she moved to stand on her own legs she stepped on her dress and lost her footing, sending them both crashing to the floor with a loud bang and the sound of fabric tearing.
Eleanor groaned as the full weight of Elias’ body hit her chest.
Of course this would happen. The first time she sees the Horseman, she tries to kill him. Then she meets a vampire, and she almost gets killed under the crushing pressure of his body weight.
“Apologies,” Elias started, pushing himself up so that his knees were between her legs, his arms on either side of her head to allow her the luxury of oxygen into her lungs, “I did not mean to-”
Eleanor blinked and Elias was no longer on top of her. His body went flying backwards through the air, crashing into the wall behind him.
22
OSIRIS
Tomorrow.
The music box would be ready tomorrow. Osiris hummed the melody he had chosen for the box as he rode Shadow back home.
The trail had already darkened, and the birds had since ceased their melodies. Still, the forest sung as it always had. The whistle of the wind, the choir of crickets, and the drumming of small animals running to their burrows.
Eleanor would like to hear this, I am sure.
Nonetheless, even in the peace of the forest he could not rid himself of the worry that had been seeping into his mind since earlier. He should have left sooner. He should not have taken as long as he did.
Osiris moved through the clearing of the trees surrounding his home. Soon, Eleanor would leave. Come the end of the month he would need to secure a horse and send her on her way, or, find her horse that had run off. He did not see any signs of it on his way into the market, so chances are it returned to wherever it came from.
Osiris swung his right foot over the saddle and stepped on the ground, pulling the reins off of Shadow before he removed the baskets and the saddle.
Just as Osiris was about to lead shadow to her feed, a heavy thud sounded from behind him. Slowly, he turned his head over his shoulder to look back at where the noise had come from.
He no longer felt his feet but was vaguely aware that they were moving faster than before as he darted towards his home, ripping off his gloves and throwing them to the ground.
He took too long.
He was too slow.
He was foolish for leaving her alone.
His heart beat loud enough that he could not make out the voices from inside.
His shadows grew intoragefultendrils as they shot out ahead of him.
Not Eleanor. Anyone but her.
His tendrils grabbed someone, sending them flying as Osiris ran inside.
His blood ran cold as he saw Eleanor partially exposed, laying down on the floor, the fire having long since gone out. This was not his home. This was desolate. This was empty of her beautiful scent. This was infected.
He did not stop to see who the attacker was. Instead, he knelt down beside her allowing both his hands and his shadows to caress every inch of her skin, purging the scent of another from her delicate body.
“Osiris,” Eleanor called, grabbing his shoulder.
He did not listen. Her dress had been torn at the base and her body smelled of another. His flames brightened as his shadows ran over her hands where the scent had been focused. As he leaned closer, his hand brushed against her poker that had been discarded next to her.
She tried to fight back.
