Page 68 of Upon Buried Embers
I raise a hand to the cut. It’s not bleeding much, but I’ll need to clean it.
He eyes me curiously for a moment. “Okay, but be careful, Rohan won’t take too kindly if you get sick or something.”
“O-okay…” When he moves to the side, I pass him as fast as I can.
It isn’t until I’m inside Rohan’s cabin that my shoulders relax, and I breathe out a sigh of relief.
I head for the bedroom and the glass bowl of water on the table, with a mirror behind it.
Using the cloth next to it, I dab at the cut just above my eyebrow, wincing at the sting.
Bruising is already forming around it, and my shoulders slump.
I don’t look too closely at myself, knowing what I will see.
Fearful eyes, trembling lips.
Weak.
Always so damn weak.
“Elf?” Rohan shouts from within, and I jump, not expecting him to be here and the bowl goes crashing to the floor, water splashing everywhere.
Oh no.
I crouch down, grabbing the smashed bowl with shaking hands, stifling my cries as it cuts me.
“Elf!” Rohan calls again.
Quick quick quick, I have to be quick, and then I can find another and replace it somehow and hopefully he won’t notice—
A shadow looms at the entrance of the bedroom, and I scramble back, wide fearful eyes on Rohan as I clutch the glass in my hands.
“What are you doing?” He demands, stepping into the room.
“I-I’m sorry, it was an accident.”
He looks at my head, then to the glass on the floor, and then to my hands, his jaw tense.
“Come here.” I can’t, my feet are rooted to the spot. “Elf,” he takes a step forward, and I take one back, causing him to freeze.
He looks at my hands once more, before he slowly shakes his head.
“Don’t do that.”
“What?”
“Hurt yourself.”
My brows furrow, and I look down.
Blood drips from both of my clenching hands, and I uncurl them, letting the glass drop to the floor, but some stick into my skin.
I didn’t even realize I was doing that, and I’ve made more of a mess.
“I’ll c-clean it up, I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” His tone is low, scary, and I raise my head as a tear falls from my eye.
