CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Torrance
Well doesn’t he just look the picture of fucking repose over there.
I glared daggers at Asha Wylfrael, stretched out and relaxed in his chair like a smug cat. What the hell is he even doing here?
I couldn’t understand why I’d graduated from being stuck in here alone to suddenly having a bedside guard. Especially after I’d been so nice and obedient today while he’d been gone. I hadn’t given Aiko or Shoshen any trouble. I’d eaten all my meals and been a good, quiet human.
So why, then?
And why the weird inspection of my open mouth?
The memory of his touch on my jaw and neck burned almost as his bright blue eyes had as he’d wrenched open my mouth like some kind of violent alien dentist.
Fuck him. I’ve never even had a cavity.
But that only reminded me I had no goddamn toothbrush here. If my teeth start falling out because they didn’t give me a toothbrush, I swear to God...
I sighed tightly, reminding myself to keep my priorities in check. Dental hygiene was lower on the list than staying the fuck alive in captivity here.
I remained upright, back against the headboard, my arms crossed over my chest. My neck started getting stiff after a while – Asha Wylfrael was at the side of the bed, so my head was turned to keep him in view. But I didn’t care about how sore I got. My head could feel like it was going to pop right off my shoulders and I still wouldn’t turn away.
I wouldn’t sleep, either. No way. Not now. Not with that silver-haired sentinel at my bedside. I doubted I could sleep even if I wanted to – the cortisol thumping through my veins would no doubt keep me alert.
At least, that’s what I’d thought. But as the minutes ticked by and turned to hours, my eyelids grew hotter and heavier. Each blink lasted longer than the one before. I pinched my forearm, the one that wasn’t bruised, until my skin was red and splotchy.
Stay awake. Stay... awake...
Suddenly, I was awake.
And it was morning. Bright light from outside made the chamber walls glow, casting a pink haze down upon the white fur bedding. Bedding that was wrapped snuggly around me where I lay. Apparently in sleep I’d completely abandoned my seated pose and had snuggled right down, all warm and happy once my brain had switched off.
Traitor, I said silently to my body as I righted myself.
Asha Wylfrael was right where I’d left him, but now his eyes were open. And he wasn’t lounging in the chair, but sitting up straight. I frowned at him, keeping the fur bedding tight around me like some soft, fluffy shield. He looks different.
He must have left the room at some point while I was sleeping, because he was dressed in fresh clothing. Similar tight black trousers that he always wore, and black boots. There was another black leather-looking vest like yesterday’s, but this one had crisscrossing straps across the bare strip of skin between the vest’s sides, fastened with shining buttons the colour of copper. Where the vest revealed skin, I could see there were fewer bandages than before. How the hell is he healing so fast?
His hair was what looked the most different. No longer long and loose, it was smooth, as if just combed, and held behind him in a simple low ponytail, tied in place with a ribbon of blue fabric that looked like silk.
If I hadn’t hated him, I would have admired the way the blue ribbon complemented the icy blaze of his eyes and the silver-sapphire glow of the lights strewn over his skin like shimmering tattoos.
But I did hate him. So fuck him and his pretty ribbon.
He rose from the chair, the movement one of perfect grace and controlled alien power. He said something, his wings shifting behind him as he gestured with an open palm towards the table on the other side of the room. Breakfast was waiting for me there. I practically cried with relief when I saw there was only one plate this time. Good. He isn’t planning to stay.
In fact, he was already on his way out the door, the soles of his boots making his footsteps crisp and loud in the space. He paused in the doorway, as if he were about to say something. His wings twitched. But he said nothing.
And then he was gone.
I wasn’t alone long. Less than a second. As soon as Asha Wylfrael left, he was replaced by Aiko. She strode into the room and stationed herself beside the tray of food on the table expectantly.
“I know, I know. I’m going to eat,” I grumbled. I rubbed my hands roughly over my face. My head felt hot and heavy, my mouth dry and tasting awful. “Do you have anything I can use for my teeth?”
Aiko’s head tilted, her ears arching forward to better hear the words I knew she couldn’t understand.
“My teeth.” I mimed cleaning them. “Do you guys use toothpaste? Toothbrushes?”
I was sure she knew what I meant now. She straightened, her ears perking up, and smiled.
I smiled wanly back.
“Thank God.”
She hurried to the door as if off to fetch one for me, and I sagged with gratitude and relief for her kindness. But when she reached the door, she froze mid-step. Instantly, she turned around, marching back into the room.
My heart sank.
“You’re not allowed to leave me alone, are you?”
Something had changed since yesterday. It seemed like I was to be under constant supervision every moment going forward.
I thought being alone up here was bad. But this was worse.
At least it’s Aiko now and not him.
Defeated, I slid out of the bed. I walked past Aiko in silence, heading for the small bathroom. I wondered if she’d even follow me in there, but thankfully she didn’t.
I did my business, then washed my hands. I washed my face too, splashing water until it rolled down my neck and soaked my T-shirt. I ended up removing it entirely, leaving on only my bra so I could clean under my arms. I washed my hair in the sink, lathering the soapy cream stuff and rinsing as best I could. It was a bit of a shitshow, between how long my hair was and how awkwardly high the sink was positioned. Without a mirror, I had no idea if I’d rinsed out all the suds when I was finished. Oh well. I twisted the long, soaked hair, wringing it out as best I could before putting my shirt back on.
I should have washed all my clothes in the sink and let them dry when I was alone, I lamented. I could have done that last night instead of bawling my eyes out in bed. If there was going to constantly be someone in my room going forward, I didn’t see how I’d get the chance, now. I guess I could wear my snowsuit while my clothes dry... Or maybe wear half of it at a time. Wear the snowpants on trouser-and-panty-washing day, the parka on shirt and bra day...
It was utterly depressing just how quickly I was establishing the practical details of my life in this tower, this world. Brushing my teeth, cleaning my clothes. Learning how to live here because I’d never get to leave.
Hair dripping and leaving sopping dark circles on my shirt, I headed back out into the main chamber. Aiko started towards me, as if me being out of her sight had made her nervous. She stopped when she noticed my wet hair and shirt.