Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Eris
Ipanicked. I didn't know who else to turn to when I realized I'd murdered my husband.
It was self-defense but I know his prestigious family will throw their weight around and force my mother's hand.
Whether she wanted to execute me or not wouldn't matter.
One of the wealthiest families in Hydra would demand my execution and to keep the peace, she'd offer them my head on a silver platter without question.
Maybe a tiny piece of her would miss me, but she'd forget about me quickly and wouldn't shed a tear when I was gone.
"Queens do not cry," she would bellow whenever any of her daughters showed an ounce of emotion. "That's why none of you are fit to wear my crown."
I shake my mother's voice free from my mind only to slip into a repetitive nightmare.
My husband's lifeless face haunts me.
His blood pools around his body and stretches until it tarnishes the rug he had imported from Bava.
The floor is littered with broken glass and water from my magical outburst.
I tried to stop him. I begged him to stop hitting me, but he wouldn't listen.
When he came home from the celebration, he was drunk. Far worse than I'd ever seen him before. Despite the unsteadiness of his gait, his punches landed fast and true.
He screamed, swearing this time he was going to kill me. And I knew, deep down I just knew, he meant it.
I had no choice.
I did what I had to do to survive.
It was me or him. And I chose me.
A clipped knock on the bedroom door rips me from the nightmare. I shoot upward with a gasp, tugging the quilt against my heaving chest. Wiping the back of my hand against my sweaty brow, I do my best to steady my breathing by looking around the room and identifying objects to ground myself.
There's a clock ticking.
A fireplace with barely burning embers.
The curtains are drawn across the windows, denying the morning light from streaking inside.
There's a painting of a girl sitting by a lake at sunset hanging above the wooden mantle.
Finally, my heartrate evens and my lungs cease to ache.
This isn't my bedroom in Hydra, nor is it the crapped quarters aboard the Tronovian ship. It's the guest room in the Harland brothers' row house. I'm safe. I'm safe here.
The journey here is all a blur.
I remember Finn graciously offering me his cot on the ship, claiming he could bunk with one of his brothers for a few days.
The treacherous part of my wicked heart wished he had stayed in the room with me.
I barely slept the entire way because every time I closed my eyes, I relived my crime.
I felt numb on the ship and for weeks I've been numb here.
"Eris?" Finn's soothing voice calls from the other side of the door. "Your breakfast is out here. Let me know if you need anything."
Every morning without fail, Finn brings me breakfast and a cup of tea to start my day.
He doesn't stand outside my door and ask pestering questions.
He doesn't even attempt to come inside and visit with me.
He's been doing the same thing since he carried me aboard their ship.
He's given me space and respected my privacy.
He's ensured I haven't missed a single meal, tended to my wounds, and I highly suspect he's baking different desserts every night to see which one I like best. So far, the blueberry scones have been my favorite.
Maybe one day I'll gain the courage to request them again.
I stare up at the ceiling and sigh. I feel like shit.
He has put his entire life, and the lives of his brothers, on the line to harbor me and I can't pull myself together long enough to share a meal with him.
I swipe a tear from my eye before it has the opportunity to stain my cheek.
Today is the day.
Today is the day I get up from this bed.
Today is the day I start to put the pieces of my shattered soul back together.
Today is the day I eat breakfast with Finn Harland.
"Finn, wait!"
I slide out of bed, throw a robe over myself, and beeline for the door. Hopefully he hasn't disappeared down the stairs. "Finn – "
I swing the door open to find him standing in the threshold, his hands pinned on either side of the doorframe.
"Is everything all right?" His hazel eyes scan me head to toe searching for some invisible ailment.
"Yes," I nod, swallowing hard, staring at his taut forearms.
A sudden jolt of fear grips my heart, and I hesitate about stepping foot outside these four walls.
No.
No.
Today is the day.
Today is the day I reclaim my peace.
I glance up at him and will a small smile to my face. "I would like to join you for breakfast."
Surprise flashes across his face.
"If that's ok?" I add.
What if he prefers his privacy too? What if he's not interested in spending unnecessary time with me? After all, I've been living in his house for weeks and I'm still virtually a stranger –
The wrinkle marring his forehead irons out and his gaze softens. "I would love for you to join me."
"I'll get dressed and meet you downstairs then." I tighten the ties of my robe, very aware of how little I'm wearing.
Ever the gentleman, Finn's eyes don't stray past my face. He picks up the tray with my breakfast and smiles. "I'll meet you downstairs."
I speed through my morning routine. I brush my teeth, fix my hair, throw on some comfy clothes, and ditch my robe on my freshly made bed before bounding downstairs.
My bedroom is on the third floor of the rowhouse but once I make it to the main level, I find the wooden dining table suitable for six guests is intimately set for two.
There's a vase of freshly clipped black dahlias displayed as a centerpiece that beckons me forward.
Finn pushes through the revolving kitchen door and brings a freshly brewed pot of tea to the table. "Make yourself comfortable."
"Which seat is yours?" I ask, sure he has a favorite spot.
A smile tugs at the corner of his lips, and he stands behind the chair closest to the kitchen. "I typically sit here."
I find my way behind the chair directly across the table, slipping my fingers over the top of the headrest. "Then I'll sit here."
He slides around to my side and pulls my chair out and pushes me inward once I sit.
"Thank you," I place my linen napkin across my lap.
"You're welcome." He claims his seat and pours tea into my cup. "What made you decide to come eat breakfast with me?"
My hand hovers above my plate for a split second before I spear my fork into the fluffiest omelet I've ever seen. "Thought it was about time I stopped hiding."
He nods in understanding. "I'm glad you came to that conclusion."
"Oh?" I wiggle my brows. "And why's that?"
"Every morning when I wake up, I pray today is the day I'll be able to spend time with you." He offers me a sheepish grin, his cheeks blushing slightly. "I almost abandoned hope you'd ever share a meal with me."
"I'm sorry, Finn," I stammer. "It's been really diffi – "
"You owe me no apologies, Eris," he cuts me off gently. "You needed time to adjust and heal. I suspect you're not fully there yet, but I'm happy you've gotten to the point where you can come downstairs."
His warmth draws a smile from me. My heart pounds.
Sitting across the table from him is really nice.
I can't remember the last time I shared a meal with a man who wasn't my father.
My deceased husband never ate with me, which was a blessing, but also reminded me of how truly lonely a life I led.
There's something about Finn that makes me feel so safe.
I'm not sure if I should be worried about the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
Suddenly fear I'm misinterpreting his kindness for some kind of affection spider-walks up my spine.
The clink of his fork hitting his plate summons my hazy gaze.
"So, I heard stories about your magic from Atlas and Nyx." He wipes his glasses clean and slides the frames up his nose. "It might be too much to ask, but I'd love to see what you can do. That's if you feel up to it sometime."
"I'll show you mine if you show me yours," I toss flippantly with a chuckle and bite into my toast. When he doesn't respond, I glance across the table and by his ashen face realize what I said.
Shame overtakes me. He's a pain inflictor. He hurts people. And I went and stuck my foot in my mouth. Maybe I should have stayed in my room after all.
"F-F-Finn," I stammer. "Finn, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to sound – "
"It's fine," he waves his hand dismissively. "You meant no harm."
"But I did hurt you and for that I'm sorry."
He plants his hand on the table inches from mine. "I promise it's all right." He reclines in his chair. "I would show you what I'm capable of but I'm afraid I can't."
"Afraid because you don't want me to see you like that?"
He smirks. "Afraid Nyx isn't here to be my test subject. I could never use my magic on you. And I can't use it on myself. Trust me, I've tried."
A sadness washes over me, and I wish I could hug him. "Finn," I say softly.
"Since I can't show you my magic," he cuts off what I'm about to say, "maybe you can indulge me and show me what you can do."
I nod, swallowing the knot in my throat. "What's your favorite animal?"
He smiles and it ignites the fragmented pieces of my heart. "A wolf."
"A wolf?" I snort.
"Did you expect me to say something ridiculous?"
"Most people say tigers or elephants or even dragons," I shrug. "No one has ever said a wolf was their favorite."
"For starters, I'm not Nyx requesting the most outlandish creatures for you to conjure. I'm a simple man, Eris. I like wolves because they're clever, loyal, and intelligent."
"Like you," I put the pieces together. "They can be part of a pack…"
"Or they can survive on their own."
For a moment we just stare into each other's eyes. His hazel eyes are filled with pain. He's hurting. Maybe more than I am.
I swipe my hands to the side and water formulates into the body of a wolf.
Finn's face brightens in wonder as the water-wolf runs around the dining room table and beelines for the living room.
The creature bounces from one leather armchair to the next until I whistle and it sprints toward us.
The wolf has Finn in his sights, and he splashes up onto his lap.
"This is incredible," Finn whispers. "Can I touch it?"
"Of course," I nod. "It's just water though."
Finn strokes the palm of his hand from the water creature's snout down it's back.
I wish I could capture the joy in his face and keep it alive in my memory for the rest of my life.
I can't remember a time when people didn't see my magic and shrug.
Sure I can control the creatures and have them attack, defend, search, or destroy, but my affinity is seen as lesser compared to my sisters' magical abilities.
My mother can conjure storms, Jocasta has water mimicry, and Hestia can absorb water.
Despite being seen as one of the least intimidating of the Talays, I'm a crowd favorite during the tournament so I'm expected to perform.
But here in Finn's dining room, I see just how much joy my magic brings, and it chips away at the icy layer of my bruised and battered heart.
"Your magic is amazing, Eris," Finn peers over at me. "Thank you for showing me."
"You're welcome." I swipe my hand and the wolf dissolves into liquid and evaporates in my palms. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Anything."
"What is your dream?"
He tilts his head sideways. Granted it's a random question, but one I've been pondering for weeks.
"What do you mean?"
"If you purposely refrain from using your magic, surely there's something else you want in life. A dream of some kind."
He takes a moment to mull over my question. At first, I'm unsure if he even has an answer, but finally he says, "I've always wanted to open my own apothecary shop. I want to help people. I want to heal people."
"That's incredible!"
"Unfortunately, I was born to do the opposite and people don't tend to forget that."
"Why would they not accept your help?"
His eyes gloss over, as if he's disappeared into a memory.
"Finn?" I whisper.
He comes back to the present moment, but there's a pain streaked across his face that makes me wish I never asked any of these questions.
"In school a few years back, I… I hurt people. I couldn't control my magic and…" He takes a deep breath. "I've learned to control myself, but people don't forget your past mistakes."
"I'm sorry, Finn."
"Don't be." He offers a smile that doesn't stretch far. "Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to open an apothecary shop. Maybe one day people will give me a chance to show them who I am."
"For what it's worth," I rest my hand on the table, drawing his gaze, "I think they're missing out. You'd have an amazing apothecary."
"Thank you, Eris." He sighs. "I suppose I should clean up." He pushes his chair back and stands, grabbing both of our plates. "If you're up for joining us for dinner tonight, I'll be baking an apple pie for dessert."
I nod. "I'd like that."
"Me too."
I shoot upward before he disappears into the kitchen. "Do you need help?"
"Oh, it's fine, I can take – "
"I'd like to help, if you'll have me," I say, determined to stay out of my room. "I've never baked before, but I'd like to learn if that's ok?"
I thought I'd seen the entirety of his happiness when he played with the water-wolf, but I was wrong. The way he's grinning at me now, the crinkles at the corners of his hazel eyes, and the smile lines framing his face, shoot a surge of joy through my entire body.
"I'd love to teach you."