Chapter 19
Genevieve
Suddenly, I wake up to someone coughing, my senses weaker than ever before.
That coughing irritates me, making my head hurt immediately. My body is cold, freezing, and for some reason, I feel dizzy.
“Genevieve? Genevieve, wake up.” A worried male voice calls my name.
Unable to understand what’s happening, I try to open my eyes from what seems like an odd dream, but I can’t. Everything feels heavy, my whole body feels numb.
“Genevieve, please. Please don’t die.” That dark voice keeps calling my name, his voice so close yet so far out of reach.
“Please..”
Feeling two cold hands gripping my waist, my body begins to lift only to sink onto something softer. And it doesn’t take long before I feel the warmth spread through my body along with a flame of strength.
“We need to be careful from now on.” Is the one sentence my brain decides to focus on.
My eyes fly open and I gasp for air in panic. Eyes darting around, someone holds me too tight for me to move. I look at the person who has their arms wrapped around me, and that’s when all my thoughts and memories flood back. Ice blue eyes are staring back at me, red cheeks with tears pouring down.
Ector.
“You piece of shit I thought you died! You scared me!” Was the first thing my mouth decided to scream at him, not in anger but in pure fear. The fear of losing someone you hold so close to your heart.
Suddenly, I realize how red his eyes are. It wasn’t the type of red your eyes get when they’re itchy, it was the type of red that made someone instantly worry for someone’s well-being. I look at him in confusion as I ask myself why he’s crying.
I try to remember what happened but most parts are blurry.
The memory of Ector jumping into the water and me diving after him is strong. I remember how I couldn’t breathe, how my body started to instantly hurt and how it started to cramp. I recall how I saw so many of the best memories of my life until everything went black.
“Did I die?” I dare ask the question even though the thought terrifies me, but he doesn’t answer me. Instead, he pulls me closer to his chest and hugs me tighter than he ever has.
“I... I don’t know. I was so scared, I thought I killed you.”
“I thought you were the one dying, how are you still here?” I ask, and at the same time, my eyes fill with tears.
He looks at me like he’s disappointed, but not in me, disappointed in himself.
“I need to show you something,” He says before standing from the ground.
Slowly turning around, it only takes a few seconds before his back is on display. My hand flies to my mouth and tears build up even more than before.
His wings are... gone. And his back is covered in thick, horrific scars. What has this poor guy been through?
“What happened to you?” I ask him carefully, not wanting him to shut me out.
“My father lost his temper and cut them off with his dagger.” He answers with sadness coming through.
Suddenly, it was impossible to ignore the hand squeezing my heart. Staring at him with tears running down my cheeks, I don't know what to say. No words could ever change what he's been through and it kills me.
“Why did he do all this?” I ask, my hand reaching out to touch his scars, his body tensing.
“He had an extreme temperament and he always took everything out on me.” He pauses. “And my mother.” The last three words don't come out without his voice breaking in the most awful way.
His hands immediately covered his beautiful eyes.
Imagining what he’s been through makes me sick to my stomach.
“Do you live with your mother now?” I ask, hoping he’s at a safer place.
“No.” His mouth wobbles. “She’s dead.” He answers me with a cold and sad tone.
“What happened to her?”
“He was furious and killed her after he put me in a cage and threw me out into the woods.” He breathes. “My father is a psychopath, something I had to learn the hard way.”
“I am so, so sorry for what you have been through.” I say, putting my arms around his. Because sometimes, an embrace can say more than a thousand words.
—
“Genevieve, your dress.” He says, making me look down.
“Oh.” I let out, realizing that my favorite dress is completely soaked. “Looks like I’ll have to sunbathe for a while.” I say, trying to lighten the mood.
“I’ll get a new one for you. I don’t want you to get sick.”
“I won’t get sick, Ector. It’s in the middle of summer, it’s warm outside, and the sun is shining brighter than ever.”
“I would still like to get a new one for you.” He insists.
“Okay, where is the next place to stay? Guess we’ll need to do some shopping now that you insist.” I add, even though it felt wrong.