Page 78 of Glass and Bone
“Are you there?”I respond after my heart has had a chance to relax.
“I’m here.”His voice is muffled, as if it’s far away. Like our connection, whatever it is, isn’t as strong.
“What is your name?”I don’t waste any time as I close my eyes again. I can faintly see him in the darkness behind my lids, just a mere shadow. He’s quiet for a moment and I thought he had left, but I can feel a small charge of electricity.
“You are quite persistent.”I can hear him smiling and I can faintly make out his perfect white teeth and the twin dimples on his cheeks.
“Just tell me and stop speaking in riddles, you loon. And don’t tell me you can’t say. That’s crap and you know it.”
“As you wish, my queen. My name is Enzo.”He replies eventually. I nearly yell out in accomplishment but stay silent.
“Is it short for anything?”
“Yes. It’s short for Enzo.”I mentally roll my eyes at him.
“Am I going crazy, Enzo?”He chuckles.
“No, Elaenor. You are not crazy. If you were, then that would mean I am and I think I am rather sane, in comparison to the rest of our cruel world.”
“Why can I talk to you? Are you real? How is this possible?”
“Yes, I am very much a real person. The answers you seek I cannot provide, not yet. You’ll know soon enough.”His voice stays soft, inviting. Almost as if he can tell I am not okay mentally. “Are you alright? It hasn’t been as easy to feel you as of late.”I am not alright, but talking about it doesn’t sound very cathartic. I ignore him.
“Please tell me something, anything.”I beg, needing something to distract me. Something else to focus on besides my current life.
“Promise me something, Elaenor.”
“Okay.”
“Whatever happens, even if you think you are going to die, do not fight back. I know that is asking for a lot, but if you fight back, I won’t see you. You won’t find me. You need to survive. He won’t kill you. You have to trust me.”My eyes open and my pulse skips.
“What do you mean?”I shut my eyes again, but I can barely see him now.
“Promise me.”I can tell he is yelling, but he’s getting quieter. The image of him behind my eyes is fading, returning to black.
“I promise.”It’s silent in my mind and I push out again, searching.
“Enzo?”The gentle drum of electricity dissipates, and I am left alone.
A chill runs down my spine as the adrenaline filters out of my system. What was that? How was that even possible? I have to be crazy. Speaking to someone that isn’t here should not be possible. And what about his promise? He won’t kill me. Who does he mean? Tobias? He told me to not fight back, that I won’t die, but that if I do fight back, I won’t find him. Is he saying that if I fight back, I’ll die?
What does he know that I don’t?
I stay in the bath until the water turns cold, before getting out of it and wrapping myself in a large towel. My mind is still reeling as I step out of the bathing chamber. Tobias is drinking coffee and reading a letter on the couch. He looks up at me as I step into the room, dripping water everywhere.
“Hi.” He says, startled. I walk up to the table and pop a grape into my mouth. I can feel my stomach devouring it instantly, starving after going a whole day without anything to fill the pit in my abdomen. “How are you today?” He asks as I pluck another grape off the vine and stick it in my mouth.
“Is the ball today?” I whisper as I pour sweetened cream into the other mug of coffee. He sets his letter down, watching me prepare my coffee silently. I don’t look up at him, but I can tell he’s confused. I don’t blame him. I was silent and comatose yesterday, and now I’m acting like nothing has happened. Numb. I just want to be numb.
“Yes, this evening.” I nod and walk around the table to sit next to him. My hair is dripping water everywhere, soaking the plush cushion and dripping down my bare back. I don’t mind that I am still in a towel, the cold air is causing a chill to run down my spine. That’s all I want to feel, physical sensations. My mind can’t handle anything emotional. I lean my head onto his shoulder, and he presses his lips to my wet scalp. “Are you alright?” I nod and lift my head so I can take a sip of the rich coffee, the syrupy cream coating my tongue. He stays quiet and just watches me pick at the various pastries on the tray.
“When the carnival is over, can we go to the beach?” I ask.
“We can, but it’ll be autumn. With the wind and the water, it’ll be rather cold and unenjoyable.”
“I don’t care.”
“Okay, then yes. We can go.” I nod and tuck my legs under me, cradling my mug against my chest. “Ela, are you alright?”
