Page 25 of Bound By Darkness

“Thank you again for?—”

I held up a hand. “It’s fine,” I said as my head leaned against the crumbling stone.

My head never seemed to stop aching either—a residual pounding as if someone was drumming against my skull.

Ellia coughed, bits of blood splattering her sleeve as she wiped the sickness from her mouth. “Hold on.”

With a grunt, she stood, her body swaying with each step as she headed toward the man who had shoved me out of the way. Multiple pouches of water rested beside him as he downed one after another.

Was she suicidal?

My eyes floated to the dim ceiling, not a drip of light touching my skin. This was worse than the prison. Even more harrowing than living at home with my father under his tyrannical rule. As the sounds of munching filled the tunnel, I couldn’t help as my mind wandered to Thalia. Was she alright? Was her new master treating her okay?

At least she wasn’t in the prison rotting alone. If she hung her head low, she’d even have a shot of a normal life if she was at her new province. A life lacking freedom, but a life consisting of necessities. A life I’d accept. A safe life where only one man would touch me. I’d give anything for a bit of comfort and food.

“Here,” a meek voice said. I followed the sound, my eyes landing on Ellia as my mind stilled.

In her stained hand rested a pouch. Unopened and unused.

“How—”

Ellia sat down, another cough bellowing from her gut. “We made a trade. I’d fill the rest of his cart for two pouches of water.”

I gripped the pouch tightly, feeling the water slosh back and forth beneath the smooth hide as my head snapped up. “You did what?”

Ellia took a large swig. “You needed water.”

“I… I can take care of myself,” I said as I glanced at the man across from us.

Was it my pride stinging me? That a girl half my age refused to back down from a challenge?

“You looked pitiful sitting here,” she said. “Your face is easy to read.”

“My face is not?—”

Ellia chuckled, a grin crossing her flushed cheeks. “Drink the water and thank me later.”

A frown stitched itself onto my lips as I reluctantly raised the water, savoring the lukewarm liquid as it trickled down my throat. I squeezed the pouch, making sure every last drop hit my tongue.

“Breaks over!” A voice echoed against the walls as everyone scrambled to their feet, groans emitting in the room.

Tossing the empty pouch into the cart, I picked up the rusted ax as the blisters on my hands tore.

Ellia grabbed hers, nearly knocking into the wall of stone.

It was pitiful seeing her like this.

She’d added more work to her load to give me water. She had done that to a mere stranger, and the overwhelming feeling of guilt pressed into me as I stared at the worn ax.

Before my head talked me out of it, my hand reached out to touch her shoulder.

She jumped in response, her ax whipping around.

I barely had time to step out of the way before it sliced my hair. “Watch it!”

“Sorry,” she replied, her mouth dropping in a grimace. “You startled me.”

My hand rose to touch my hair. It was okay. Nothing had been cut. My breathing flattened as I tossed it over my hunched shoulders. Was I sure I wanted to do this? Was I— “I’ll finish the cart,” I blurted, silencing the wheel of thoughts.

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