Page 25 of Wanted
I jumped when I reached my bed, and I bumped into a rigid body, sitting there in the dark.
“What can I do to make it better? I’m sorry.” It was the first time Fylox sounded remotely human. I could hear the sincerity in his tone.
“Leave me alone and get off of my bed,” I demanded coldly, stepping back from the spot where our legs touched.Lies are everywhere, sweetie. Stay strong. Mommy loves you.
Fylox obeyed. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his shadow rise above me. I didn’t cower. Men like him didn’t make me bow. I had spent years wasting away. I wouldn’t allow it any longer.
“I want to tell you what happened to me if you want to hear it.”
My heart yearned for what he had to say. I shut my eyes, feeling as if I was drowning. “Get out.”
I cleared my throat, adding, “You could’ve told me without splitting my fucking head open. I’m done training with you. I don’t want your hands on me. I don’t want to hear your voice either. Whatever feud we have, I’m not ending it. I’d like to leave. I don’t care what you do, but I want out of here. And I want to know what’s happening back home. It’s been too long.”
KAMILA
This wasn’t the best time to remodel a garden. I’d been told we were lucky that it hadn’t started snowing yet. Yet, I couldn’t stomach the chaos Fylox permitted in the backyard. I’d started cleaning up the leaves. It took me a day or two to get rid of every spare leaf.
Without having to ask for it, Fylox brought me a selection of seeds and soil. I sorted out the crops that would require a lot of communication with Fylox, and I picked the easiest ones. There was a foundation of wood for me to build my little garden.
Dressed in a monstrous brown winter coat, I went from pitchfork to shovel and round again. I let out my frustrations on the soil.
You’re the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen in my life.Shut up, cockroach.
I wasn’t used to the cold, so I spent most of my time shivering and shaking. My lip was almost bloody with all my chewing on it.
“Are you finished any time soon? Dinner’s ready,” Fylox called from the house.
I ignored him.Listen up, cunt. Get that smirk off of your face. You don’t avoid me. When I address you, you come crawling to your daddy.
Days passed, and I found myself outside from the moment there was sunlight until it faded. Barely eating anything, I let my passion take over. This backyard was nothing like what I called mine at home, but I worked on it until it resembled something beautiful. It was soil and wood for now, but in a couple of weeks, the fruits of my labor would start showing.
After a week or two of slow and dragged out work, I had nothing left to do. Keeping up with the little unwanted weeds didn’t take much time, so I found myself sitting out here in the cold, staring at nothing.
Once again, I had no outlet. Training with Fylox had distracted me for a while. Gardening had derailed my withdrawal symptoms. Doing nothing allowed the voices in my head to celebrate on the grave of my inner peace.
Traitor cunt. You’ll pay! I’ll sew you up. That’ll teach you a lesson!
My shaking had become a constant, a nuisance I couldn’t get rid of.
One day, Fylox stopped addressing me altogether. Going through the motions, I existed without paying him any mind. He didn’t seem to care, which surprised me. In fact, he almost felt comfortable that way. At night, I sat by my door, eavesdropping on what went on outside.
Nothing. I heard nothing.
I had no idea what went on in Katantia or where Jordan was.
You’re a clueless cunt if you think he’s going to take pity on you. When the king gives an order, they obey. If I tell him to kill my daughter, he will. If I ask him to fuck my daughter until she’s a sobbing bloody mess in my throne room, he will. Cunts like you don’t get what they want.
Cunts like me didn’t get what they want, no. I received what Aram allowed me to have. It was starting to become clearer every day. Aram had successfully shattered my mind. I left him and my home behind, yet I couldn’t free my spirit from him.
♥♠♥
“Can you say something other than ‘I’m fine?’” Alex urged me. We sat at the dinner table, and I was munching away on my pasta. Alex and Fylox watched me. Fylox understood the new reality of our relationship. The wound on the back of my head had healed. My embarrassment hadn’t vanished just yet. I still felt like shit every time I saw them looking at me like I was a victim.
I was a victim. But I didn’t need them to remind me of the fucking fact when I tried to improve myself.
Alex didn’t understand that I was mad at both of them. “It’s been a month, baby. I brought you everything you need. I got your nice clothes. I got your red hair dye. Everything for you. We’re sorry you got in the middle of our dispute.”
I hadn’t accepted any of his bribes as adorable as they sounded.
