The Last Priestess

Chapter 8: Bad Blood

Psyche's POV

"You're so childish!" Scion exclaimed.

His cheeks and lips are inflamed because of the bees' stings. If only he had not been stupid enough to fall on my bait, he wouldn't have reached that kind of dilemma. It was all fun and games, but he was foolish, which is why he ended up with a puffy face. It may be his karma for not sending me back home, too. The stings had served him right. A well-deserved compensation from the bees.

"Only stupid people would eat honey with bees swarming on the surface," I noted.

He had the option of shoving the bees away before consuming the honey, but he didn't. He seems to have made the bees his main meal and honey as his appetizer.

"You said that was normal and eating it was organic; I trusted you, so I did what you said," he grumbled.

He's employing an appeal to guilt to make me feel responsible for the situation. He's old enough to understand and be aware of basic life skills. There was something called common sense, but he didn't apply it. The audacity to blame me for his dumb actions.

"Shut up, Scion. Just admit that you're stupid."

Scion glared at me. "This is making me feel so uncomfortable."

He's a stinger, but he's not resistant to stings, therefore his power is pointless. It's only a bee sting, yet he's already complaining. I've been bitten by bees a few times before, but I don't overreact like this. He's such a baby.

"Are we going home now, or are we going to keep looking for food?"

This was not my idea at all. Scion wants to do this for experience like what he claimed earlier, but he is now continually fussing about his swollen lips, which is a normal case in food hunting. There are really instances for such things to happen, considering that the forest is home to all animals and insects. He should have expected it already.

"Let's go home; I'm unwell."

He took my hand in his and we were back at the hut in an instant. We just collected a jar of honey, some wild grapes, blueberries, and papaya. I believe that if we do not leave straight soon, we will be able to get more food. He's no fun at all.

"Why is this becoming bigger, Psyche? Is this normal? Or am I going to die?" Scion questioned, his face filled with terror.

He looks extremely serious, as if he is in a life-or-death scenario. A wicked idea suddenly flashed through my brain. I'll ride along with him and see where his fear takes him. Or what he'll go through just to save himself.

"Don't worry, you won't die," I reassured him. "However, be prepared since your lips might blow out any moment."

Scion's eyes widened in horror. "Is that true? What am I going to do now? Can it be helped?"

I pursed my lips into a thin line in an attempt to appear serious, but inwardly I was laughing too hard at Scion's unmistakable appearance. My words had made him appear extremely anxious and stressed. I had no idea he was this gullible to believe something so easily. It was so unlikely with his nature. I thought so highly of him—and his acting in this manner was unexpected.

"It can be helped," I revealed.

Scion promptly put his hand on my shoulder and met my eyes. "How?" he demanded.

I decided to playfully tease him more since his expression entertained me.

"You need to kiss the woman you love and the swelling will go down and your lips won't burst out."

This is all thanks to those fictional movies that I've seen since childhood that gave me these bizarre ideas.

"Are you sure?"

I shrugged my shoulders. My replies, "Yes, but in your case—" were cut short as my eyes grew wide. I was kept still in my seat, and my world seemed to cease spinning.

I'm at a loss for words. My mind was not operating properly and failed to grasp the scenario. I was flabbergasted till Scion parted our lips.

The situation made my heart sink into oblivion. As I gradually digested what had occurred, reality struck me like a thunderbolt. It wasn't until I realized something that made me come back to my senses—fully. That was my...first kiss.

He f****d up my first kiss!

I reached out to my lips to make sure it wasn't a dream. It wasn't. The kiss happens. Scion kissed me. He f-cking kissed me.

My palm landed on his face seconds after I confirmed it, prompting him to recoil in pain.

"What was that?" he pondered, stroking his face.

"That's for the kiss, you dummy; who gave you the right to f*****g kiss me?"

"You said I should kiss the girl I love to keep my lips from bursting," he grumbled.

I nodded. "Yes, but that doesn't mean you'll kiss me. I said the girl you love, not me, you weirdo."

Scion gave me a puzzled look, as if talking to me made him appear unintelligent.

"What?"

"You're hopeless, Psyche," he commented before walking away.

I disregarded Scion's words and walked directly to the sink to wash my lips. A shameless man just freaking stole the kiss I reserved for my future lover. I felt grossed out at the thought that his swollen lips landed on mine and the mere reminiscence of it made me puke in disgust.

It was already night when Scion got home. His face is no longer swollen and his mouth is no longer puckered. He also brought some food. My gaze lingered on his icy face before resting on his full lips. I held silent for a moment until being reminded of the kiss.

"Can you slap me?"

Scion looked at me with a baffled expression. He seems to be weirded out by what I say and act. Maybe a slap can clear out my thoughts and stop me from thinking further about the things that happened earlier today.

"What's wrong with you?" he pondered.

"Just do it."

He arched his brows. "Are you serious?"

I nodded.

After a few minutes, I received a heavy hit to the face. The intensity of the smack almost makes me feel as though my cheeks will break off.

"What the hell, Scion?" I complained, massaging my cheeks.

It wasn't a light slap. It was hard, as though he held a grudge against me. I didn't anticipate him slapping me with such force. Simply tapping it or giving it a light smack would have sufficed. He appeared to be waiting for this opportunity to arise, and now that it has, he is handling it so seriously. Maybe he did this to get back at me for slapping him earlier.

"You asked for it," he replied shortly.

"Yes," I agreed, "but it wasn't supposed to be that hard."

Has he forgotten that I am still a woman? He didn't take into account the fact that the two of us have different strengths. He gave me a hard smack, as if I was a man capable of withstanding his strength.

"You're confusing me, woman," he shook his head in surrender. "You wanted me to slap you, and I did, but now you're complaining. You're giving me a headache. Psyche."

I glared at him as he prepared the food. A reflection instantly flashed as my eyes rested on the mirror. My cheek was still red from the smack, and it seemed like it would bruise considerably worse the next day. I guess asking him for a slap is a bad idea.

"Let's eat now."

I wanted to sulk and refuse to eat, but my stomach was rumbling with hunger. I can't ignore starvation just because of what happened; else, I'll get sick. Health matters more than pride.

We eat quietly. No one spoke. Only the crickets nearby and the sound of the spoon on the plate produce a sound. We didn't say anything till we were done eating. He was the one who cleaned off the table where we had dined, so I stepped outside and chose to stargaze.

The sky was bright, with no clouds in the line, and the stars sparkling like fireflies in the middle of paradise. The scenery was calming and ethereal and it would have been nicer if my thoughts were clear like that. I took a deep breath, feeling the chill of the night, trying not to think about anything.

"Drinks?" Scion uttered, handing me a can of soda.

I looked at him for a moment before accepting the drink.

"I'm sorry earlier, Psy. It wasn't my intention to offend or hurt you."

He sat next to me and gazed up at the sky. While drinking, we looked up together at the beautiful splendor above, enjoying the peaceful night.

"It's all right," I said.

I don't tend to sulk or be angry with anyone for a long time. It's tiring to do that. It's best to let go and forget past events rather than linger on them longer. By forgetting— though not necessarily to forgive— I will be able to obtain true peace of mind.

“Anyway...”

I took a glimpse at him while shoving the beer at my lips. “What?”

“We are going to meet Orion tomorrow,” he declared.

It's been months since we resided here. Months of being away from home. Months of suffering from homesickness. Months of being worried about Miriam. And months of being absent from school. I've been here for quite a long time and I don't know if I have ever had a chance to go back home.

“Will I be able to go back home after meeting him?”

Scion did not say a word and only gave me a pitiful expression. I already expected this kind of response—but it still pained me.