"Your strength will return. Thesugovanhas been out of your system for twenty-four hours now. You will start to heal again."
"But I will always have these scars," I counter which she doesn't argue with.
"It seems whatever wounds were inflicted during your time without magic will remain with you. However, with medicine and time to heal, they won't be as noticeable."
"Looks like you've met me at my lowest," I scoff, shifting in my seat. "I used to be better looking than both of my brothers. Now – "
She puts her hand beneath my chin and yanks my head back so I can look at her face hovering above mine. "I won't tolerate such talk. I don't pity you. You shouldn't pity yourself."
"Why are you like this?" I brush her hand from me and straighten. "What ancient deity did I anger – "
Hagar wraps in front of me, matching my tone. "Do you blame Aurelia for your state?"
"What?" I gasp. "No, I don't blame her for what happened to me."
"Then why did she leave your room in tears yesterday?"
"Do you think it could be because she's also dealing with the trauma of what happened to her in captivity?" I bite back. "Her wounds might not be as physically disfiguring as my own, but mentally – she might have nightmares for the rest of her life."
"She might."
"Finally, something we agree on," I tease bitterly. "Why don't you let me be? Surely there is something else you could be doing with your time than – "
She slaps her hand across my chest, applying ointment and preventing me from escaping her. "When I was injured, everyone looked at me with pity. They might not have said anything aloud, but I could see it in their eyes. Their sorrow infuriated me. Depression was my closest companion, and no one extended a hand to pull me from the miry pit I found myself. Except Helios. He didn't give a shit how many times I told him to leave me alone. He wasn't deterred by my insults, nor the countless daggers thrown his way."
"Shit, woman," I tense, unsure if I feel threatened or aroused by her. "You threw daggers at him?"
"My point is," she ignores my question and presses onward with her pep talk, "Helios didn't give up on me. He didn't leave me to my own undoing. He forced me to get back on my feet, even when I didn't think I could. I will be your Helios. Hate me all you like, but you will rise, Nyx Harland. The bottom of the barrel doesn't suit you."
When her hand finally stills, I slowly tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear and whisper, "How is it possible, I've only just met you and I don't think I could possibly hate you more than I do right now?"
Hagar smirks and it's the closest thing to a smile I think I'll draw from her. "I highly doubt it." She wraps my torso with fresh bandages with a quickness Finn would envy. Grabbing her tray, she heads for the door and disappears without another word.
What just happened? I'm not sure if I want to fight her or fuck her. Either way, I'm hoping to run into her again.
Forty - Four
Shaye
After a few days to recoup, I'm back on my feet and the strength of my magic has returned.
This morning, I'm not sitting beside Nyx's bedside and feel an enormous amount of guilt weighing on me for my absence. With my magic restored, I've been helping him heal. But his scars. I can't make those go away. It's hard not to blame myself. Every day when I leave his room I weep. Not because I see him differently, he will always be Nyx to me. But because he sees himself differently and I'm the reason. Had he not been taken alongside me during the attack, he wouldn't have endured the torture and cruelty he did. Perhaps all Vesper's pent-up anger and viciousness would have been speared my way instead. Although, Bastian put his foot down and wouldn't allow me to be mistreated by her, it didn't stop the Demon King from harming me.
My healing process has been slow, but what would typically take weeks for burns like mine to clear up, is taking far less time.My head, although not bruised and bleeding anymore, still has a mending cut and from Hani has expressed, will probably scar. I glance down at my right palm where Vesper's blade was dragged across to open the portal and grimace. I put up the fight of my life to escape but still failed. The realm is in grave danger and that, too, is my fault.
I can already hear Atlas' voice chastise me for thinking such thoughts. What could I really have done while drugged and pinned down by several grown men with demon strength?
Suddenly I feel the weight of their bodies crushing me, one of them pressing their knee into my neck cutting off my breath and will to fight. I feel their eyes on my naked body hanging for all to see. Shame, guilt, and embarrassment throb in my chest.
Hani's face appears in my mind spurring me to shove those traumatic memories from the forefront of my mind, swiping the tears they conjured. I will reclaim my power. I survived. I survived when I was meant to break.
Wiping my face clean, I ready myself to meet with General Naziri. The last thing I need is to appear as a weak bumbling fool. Silly girls don't sway mighty men. Powerful ones do. I intend to be the latter.
I follow my escorts through the winding and twisting hallways of General Naziri's house. It's not a palace – they made sure I understood that early in my stay. I suppose since I come from Midori and grew up in the Golden Palace they judged me, expecting me to belittle their home. But I'm no longer accustomed to, nor do I crave the grandeur of castles. I have fallen in love with the Harland House and the comfort and coziness it offers. Every room serves a purpose and there's nothing frivolous involved.
General Naziri's home reminds me of the Tronovian row house. Although it's much larger than the Harland House, it's not overwhelming. It's also not separated from the rest of thecity by a wall. General Naziri's residence is amongst the houses of all citizens. And by the looks of it, his home isn't much larger than an average family.
The trek from my borrowed quarters to General Naziri's meeting room takes a couple minutes. My escort opens the double doors. I expected to see General Naziri on a throne, instead he and Helios are seated on plush pillows, lounging in a luxurious space of rugs, colorful patterns, and intricately arched windows overlooking the city. Both men smile at me and motion for me to join them.
