BLESSED BONDS

CHAPTER 07

MORANA

For once, I didn’t dream.

No nightmares.

Just the deep empty void as I was dead to the world.

I’ve never slept so fathomless before — so peaceful?

I can’t elaborate much on how it felt to be in a space where nothing existed. Floating timelessly in the dark crevices in my mind.

It was odd, a feeling I wasn’t familiar with.

I contemplated on wanting to stay here longer — maybe even forever.

Naturally, it was impossible.

I could see from the distance a small speck of light gradually growing in the pits, in the twinkling of an eye, the darkness was swallowed by golden light. Too bright.

Adjusting from the sudden burst of brightness, I make out noises around me. A voice. Not mine. Multiple voices. Not even one of mine.

I forced my eyelids to stay half open, and what greets me was a nicely painted ceiling, a decorative chandelier hanging by the middle and surrounded with curved moldings.

Amongst the voices, I could only make out one thing said.

“f**k you and your foot.”

A foot?

Whose foot?

Confusion is what fills my head first thing in the morning, taking account from the early luminous sun through the window.

Gathering my strength, I push my body up with my elbows. I lightly wince, my body aching everywhere and I willed myself from falling back into the softness of the bed.

The sound of a harsh hush made me turn to where it came from.

I couldn’t see much, the fog of that deep sleep still thick in my eyes. Raising one of my arms, I gently rubbed my face. My skin shivers a bit from the hit of the cold morning, the covers slipping down my shoulders.

It takes a moment for my sight to clear, narrowing my eyes to focus on where the noises came from.

I see what seems to be someone’s back. A few feet away were two— no, three crowded figures.

“Damn, the ink’s everywhere.”

Finally, the parts of my tired brain rapidly go back online. And it finally registers to me that there are people in the room.

I felt another cold shiver and realized a second too late that I was bare to the people in the room.

Displaying everything.

My body immediately heats to infinite heights and a loud screech leaves my throat.

“What in the f**k?!” Practically clawing at the blankets, and pulling them up to cover whatever modesty I can still hide from them.

“What the f**k are you guys doing here?! I’m naked for god’s sake!”

It seems their own heads were still processing cause it took them a moment to visibly jolt. The one nearest to my bed practically jumps out of his skin, and starts stringing out apologies.

“S—sorry! My god, we’re sorry—” Luca scrambles away, not even glancing back — thank god — as he starts pushing the other three. “Move!” His voice was pitchy.

As much as I wanted an explanation on why the hell we ended up in such an embarrassing situation, I rather they get out before I lose whatever dignity is left in me.

“Get out! Get the f**k out, y—you perverts!” My shrieking went basically ultra sonic by now. I dove under the duvet to try and erase my existence in the room.

“You got them pierced too, huh?” Without even seeing, I already knew who was that insensitive enough to comment, before they even berated him.

“Calix!” Came multiple hisses. I even hear a number of loud slaps and a low yelp.

“Out!” I wanted to bury myself further into bed and just make it my grave now. No words were forming out of my mouth any more, just continuous shrieking.

It takes a while, letting out my frustration and utter humiliation, barking and snapping at them through the closed door after they left.

“Are you f*****g kidding me?! What kind of desperate sickos go inside a girl’s room while she’s asleep!?”

I barely hear the small apology through the door, “We apologize, we didn’t mean to barge in your room.” It was Hael, “We’ll explain later just uh— just get dressed first and meet us out here.”

Picking up a pillow, I fling it hard and it makes a loud slap to the door on contact, “Freaking perves!”

Letting out a furious groan, I was kicking and slamming my limbs on the bed like a kid having a tantrum. I palmed my warm face, wishing all that just never happened. I lamented for a while, finding my pride to calm myself.

Going to the private bathroom here and blasting myself with freezing water close to getting hypothermia just so I can cool myself down.

I resisted punching the tiled wall. Opting to throw the bottle of shampoo here to the floor instead. Of course, I pick it up after to pump some product and start scrubbing hard on my scalp.

Next was lathering some awfully sweet scented soap, cursing as it burned some of my healing cuts and wounds.

Staying under the shower for god knows how long, I stepped out when my skin was horrible pruning already.

I walk over to the mirror and stare at myself. Through the reflection I take in the interior of the bathroom. It was massive, maybe even bigger than the place I was currently renting.

Fucking perverted rich people.

I curse them internally.

Placing my hands flat on the counter, I take in a long, deep inhale, closing my eyes. My shoulders dropped when I exhaled a few seconds later. I do that a few more times until I finally stop seeing red.

Wrapping one of the fancy towels around me, I walked out of the bedroom and straight to the door, checking if it was indeed locked. It was, but why does that even matter when they still got inside here and I specifically remembered I locked it before I had fallen asleep.

My fist lands on the door with a boom, more profanities stumble out my snarling mouth afterwards from the resulting sharp pain on my already aching knuckles.

I made my way to the other door inside here, which I presumed was the closet. That too was bigger than my tiny apartment.

My mouth drops open at the amount of clothes in here, all organized — coats, dresses, blouses, tops, pants, shorts, and skirts. Below were neat piles of shoes and even a variety of heels — women's stuff basically.

Either this room belonged to a female — relative or not, maybe even a room for the lady friends they undoubtedly invited over the years — they are still men. Whatever it was, this room only made me uncomfortable.

Especially when I realized that everything here was undeniably all brand new, crisp and clean. Tags even there, all branded.

Whether or not they were recently bought, there was an inkling thought behind the back of my brain, that I was certain that all of these were meant for me — hell, even the room was too girly to be just a guest room.

It was as if the room was supposed to belong to me.

I bit my lip anxiously. Opening one of the drawers, I flush, horrified at the wide arrangement of undergarments.

I don’t really know how to react. Creeped out? Hell yeah.

I take a pair from the drawer and hastily grab the most decent, normal looking clothes and get out of the closet and the heavy pressure I felt in there.

Slamming the door shut, I let out the breath that I was unconsciously holding on to for dear life. Eventually dressing myself — an oversized hoodie and a pair of shorts. Next, I slipped my feet into some fluffy, disgustingly pink house slippers.

Looking out at the windows, I wondered if I threw one of the chairs hard enough, would the glass crack? If not, changing targets, would their heads crack if I put my back into it?

An irked moan rumbles my throat. Not wanting to deal with them yet, I crouched on the floor beside the window. As my hands were busy drying my hair with the towel, my eyes absentmidedly take in the high view of the Capital — f**k, I hated this place. Too many buildings. The air was stale and heavy. Too many people. All arrogant and pompous.

Leaving this massive hell was one of the best decisions I’ve made. No regrets at all, not even planning on coming back here ever again.

Yet somehow, here I was —having the best spot to view this concrete landscape.

Why? Why am I back here, again?

I feel my eyes warm and blink back the tears if there were any.

In misery, I spend hours just blankly staring outside, completely ignoring the knocking on the door that came here and then.

My stomach was already hurting at this point, needing food. My throat is also too dry now.

Another knock comes from the door, “Hey, it’s past lunchtime already. I know you’re hungry, so please just come out and eat.” I didn’t bother trying to figure out who it was.

But he was right, I needed to eat or I’ll pass out. I rather not be unconscious around these guys — they already lost that privilege earlier with seeing me naked after I had stripped myself in my sleep. s**t, I really need to fix that bad habit.

Now, standing by the door, I steel myself for what was on the other side. As quietly as possible, I turned the doorknob and slowly opened the door.

Cautiously looking, the hallway was empty. Not far from here, I could hear distinct sounds which I assumed came from the living room. I make my way out and towards the smell of food, my stomach loudly gurgling.

I freeze on my next step, eyes wide as I see Hael sitting on a chair facing the hallway. Acting like a King on his bigass throne — his legs crossed as he leaned his chin on his propped hand, a glower permanently plastered on his face. I could see how his brows knit, as if impatiently waiting.

He doesn’t stand, just keenly watching me. Not even announcing my appearance yet to the others I was sure were there with him.

With the heavy drag of my feet, I go over towards him. Never once did I break eye contact with Hael, daring him. It was a short walk and I stepped into the living area. The talking that was there came to a stop, and I abandoned my eyes from Hael’s to shift my attention to the others.

They quietly stare at me like I was a ghost, long dead years ago and came back to haunt them — Funny, that practically summarized our whole situation perfectly. I might as well act the part of the tormenting apparition that would make their lives a living hell.

“Boo.”

The sardonic act of mine was received with frowns.

Boo-f*****g-hoo, asholes.

I wasn’t planning to falter at their intense gazes.

My arms crossed as I leaned my hip to one side, giving them a bored raise of my brow, “Guess you guys had a fun morning.” I declared, the corner of my lips twitching from holding back my bite, “If you asked me to come all the way here in the Capital for a strip show, you should’ve said it sooner. I could’ve done a little show consciously.”

A loud hacking sound made me glaze over and came to witness Luca choking on what appears to be coffee in a mug. His face blooms a pink color and I even notice the small detail of how the tips of his ears burn red.

He refuses to make eye contact with me. It only made me click my tongue at him. Man was acting like he was the one being displayed t**s out earlier.

Next to him was Calix. Our eyes met and he had the audacity to drop his and land them on my chest. I feel my cheeks warm, raising my crossed arms higher as I growled, “I’m guessing you enjoyed the early showcase a little much, huh? Should I start charging you guys if you all have a bad habit of either ripping my clothes or forcing your way into rooms I’m occupying?”

Something in Calix’s eyes spark and his face twists to a shrewd look that I want the sole of my foot to meet.

“Should I prepare spare change, then? That’s gonna be hard, I only carry cards with me.” He belittles, running his tongue over his teeth, “Or maybe you think none of us can afford something that cheap? Lucky for you, we’re loaded.”

Luca chokes out, “Calix!” Threatening to smack his mug to the other’s forehead with how mortified he was with the whole vulgar exchange.

I, on the other hand, let out a mocking snicker, “Even with all the money in the world, I would rather end up dead in a ditch next to Kylo than let you even breathe near me, let alone being naked alone with you.” I even grin in satisfaction at his savage glare. I could tell that my resolve of ever, if ever, sharing skin with him — any of them — was going to be non-negotiable that they may as well try to convince a concrete light post to bend without breaking.

“Hey,” Kylo voices out, flashing me an offended look, “I’m sitting here quietly, why the hell was I part of the narrative?”

Easy, “Because I still desire you dead.” Was the answer. I turned away from his rambling of disbelief, c*****g my head at Hael, who was silent still.

“Get up.” Came my command.

At first, he does a series of blinks, “Excuse me?” He questions the audacity.

“My knee is still killing me and I rather sit as far away from Kylo and Calix.” I point at them on the sofa, “Well, unless you guys want to see first hand how I bashed someone’s face in. I know you read the assault charges.”

Hael didn’t seem fazed at my open choice to wreak violence, so I did a different way to threaten him, “Or I can always just take my seat with you still there.”

“What?” Comical confusion was the only thing I could describe it.

“Don’t worry,” I assure him, “I’m not heavy.” I boldly took my seat — just hovering a few inches from his lap before Hael springs up to swiftly stand, having pushed me away. He towers over me and I have to crane my neck for the expectant look of outrage. It seethes out of him, but I don’t fail to notice the tinge of a flush on his face.

Man, I am a natural when it comes to poking fun at men. My mother — with her endless lessons on how to be a proper lady — would be so proud. Blegh.

Through gritted teeth, he says, “Have a seat.”

Despite the animosity, I gladly do so.

Tossing myself to the massive arm chair, I make myself comfortable. Then give him and the others a lazy look.

“So?” I start, “Going back, what the hell were you guys doing in there while I was sleeping?” They still owe me an explanation, “You guys get to see me naked, lucky you. The least you can do is tell me the context on why I get my privacy to be perversely crossed.”

Hael, who was still steaming from me stealing his spot, gave me one last perplexed peer, before he made his way to the others at the sofa. Now four of them there, they cram the three-seater sofa and rambling curses were shared between them.

I couldn’t care less here in my spacious comfy chair. Kylo gets kicked out and he shoots me a blaming glare. He plops himself on the rug with a grumble not even bothering with the other chairs available in this massive living area.

“Since everyone is comfortable now.” Sarcastically saying, “Talk.” I still need to decide whether I should blind them or not. Depends.

“Jesus,” my eyes fall to Luca, who was rubbing his temples, “Kylo—”

“Kylo again?” I gnash out his name, “What the f**k did you this time?” Glaring daggers, I try to stop myself from finally decapitating him. Halfway off my chair, I see him jolt and brace himself from a rabid attack. f*****g drama queen.

“H—he didn’t have any ill intentions. He was just checking if you were okay.” Luca explains, hands gesturing all over in an agitated way, “He took his time, so we all got worried and checked for ourselves.” He wasn’t lying but also not telling the whole truth, I could tell.

“He—We didn’t know you were, well…..not dressed under the covers. For that we sincerely apologize.” He awkwardly rubs behind his back. Still not meeting my eyes. Oh, how the tables have turned. Look at us now, I’m the one scrutinizing them while they’re the ones on the hot seat.

“You’re basically saying it’s Kylo’s fault you all saw me naked at the top.” I raise my brow, crossing my legs and propping my elbow on the chair’s arm before leaning my chin on my palm. Basically a mimicry to Hael’s power position earlier.

“I can’t stress this enough,” once again glaring over at Kylo, “what the hell, dude?” Ripping shirts, pinning me to the ground, groping me and now, just earlier, inviting the others to watch me sleep. I do hope this list doesn’t keep going. “What’s the matter with you?”

“You.” Someone quickly interjects, answering as if it was the most obvious thing, “You are what’s the matter with him.”

I flicker my eyes at Calix, quite lost. I really don’t want to take credit for someone’s weird hobbies.

He sees the confusion in me and loudly jeers, “Don’t be acting now. Kylo’s a bit loose in the head because of you. You have a tendency to do that to people, you know?”

Sucking in a breath, I speak, “A tendency to drive someone insane to the point of watching other people sleep? If it has come to the point of somnophilia,” Now, I was mildly concerned, “shouldn’t he…..be locked up by now?” Kylo makes another displeased sound, “Maybe even a therapist?”

Hael says, “He already has one.” Thumb pointing at Luca who gives a grim smile. My god, poor Luca, I have to admit.

“There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m not that sick.” Finally defending himself, Kylo lashes, “You’re the one who clearly has issues. And I speak that for the whole room. Heck, even for the whole f*****g universe.”

“Duh.” I confidently admit it, snorting even, “Doesn’t still mean you get to see me with my t**s out, man. Pulled the blankets off a smidge, my v****a would’ve been on full display.”

The man goes full red, voice pitched and even cracking, “I—I’m not a pervert! Okay?!” I didn’t say he was. But it’s sure fun to see him label himself that.

“Last time we were that intimate Kylo, you were proposing to marry me when we were thirteen.” I stoked his embarrassment even further, making him a mess of incoherent words and sweat.

“Low blow, dude. So f*****g low.” He squeaks out, burying his face in his hands at the amused looks he got from the other three.

“I didn’t even see much anyways!” I narrowed my eyes at the implication and he’s quick to follow, “I saw for like five seconds. Tops.” He swore. “Calix was the one who took his time.”

“The f**k?” Calix didn’t expect his sudden turn in the spotlight, “Way to throw me under the bus.”

I sneer, “Not a surprise.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

I was kind enough to let him know “Well. For someone who vehemently disregards me, you seem to like what you saw.”

Calix lets pass a snortle, looking at me in mockery, “You must be kidding yourself? My standards are not that low.”

“Of course it isn’t.” I agree with him, then add, gesturing to myself, “You do know I look in the mirror, right?”

“Is this brat serious right now?”

But I am, though.

Another thing my mother was proud of — good looks must run in the family.

“I specifically remember a comment you made to my parents.” Recalling, I further elaborate, “How you said my face was perfectly your type.” I spat it out. I was sixteen when he — near twenty— said that. Younger me was not so thrilled and flattered by that back then.

I then run my fingers through my hair suggestively in a way to spite him more.

“Must’ve been a b***h trying to replace me, didn’t it?” The wink I sent his way sets him off.

Calix moves to stand, looking like a ticking bomb. Hael comes to the rescue and intervenes.

“Don’t,” was his firm warning, “Can’t you see? She’s purposely trying to rile you up. Rile all of us up.” He said like he just announced a great discovery to the world. Yipee for him.

He was right, though.

I live for drama and hell — I’ve been told before.

“Don’t let her get to your head.” Hael tells it like I was some kind of viral brain disease. I couldn’t help but bend over to chuckle.

“Funny how you mention getting into someone’s head.” I wipe the imaginary tear from the corner of my eye, “You would know that the best. Right, Blackwell?”

It was ironic really.

Hael definitely knew what I was saying and he might as well have already shot me with a bullet with how fiercely he was scowling at me by this point.

“Watch your words, Sinclair. Female or not. Fated or not. I will retaliate. Mercilessly. So you better bite that tongue of yours.” He advises in a firm dark tone. The rest doesn’t say anything, eyes flickering from Hael to me, as if expecting one of us to fall dead.

But what’s a bark with no bite?

“Last time you tried to silence me, Luca had to physically pull you off me.” With a smile and a voice filled with malice, I watch his icy exterior crack.

His face darkens and hands make a grab at him instantly. Although no attempt from Hael was made, Calix had him restrained.

Luca comes between me and this bastard’s stare off, trying to de-escalate things.

“Let’s all just calm down. The plan was to talk things out. In a civil way. Not talk with our asses.” He sighs, whirling his head towards me, “Please.”

Asking me to do that was impossible, with how I was still absolutely livid with the whole threat of my family getting involved.

I don’t know how Luca coaxes Hael, even with Calix and Kylo still cursing me, but he was successful.

They openly talk and argue about me and I wait for them, bored and starting to feel hungry again.

“Just. Just give her a chance. She’s been through a lot.” For some reason, although not surprising to me, Luca defends me.

Now. I kinda feel bad —

That I have to break him as well.

“You know,” I talk out loud. They all turn to my attention, “I still have you to chew out.” My finger points out at Luca, who seems to show he wasn’t going to be thrilled about it.

Well, at least I gave him a heads up.

To my utter shock, he turns to face me, shoulders rolling once, twice, before relaxing them. Taking a final deep inhale and exhale, he bravely accepts his fate.

“Fire away.”

I don't know what was more annoying — how confident he sounded or how calm he looked — either way I sank my fangs into him.

“I always liked you the best, Lucy,” I confess, even adding the old nickname I had for him just for the nostalgic touch. It hit straight to the heart as he softened a bit. f**k, even I did. His eyes glazed, hopeful even, yet I stared at them in indifference.

Continuing, “You always protected me, even when no one else knew I needed protection.” A lump forms in my throat and I had a hard time shoving it back down.

Luca waits for me to finish.

“Even….e—even when I didn’t know I needed to be protected, you tried your best when I didn’t ask you for it.” Locking eyes with him, I steel myself, face set in stone, “But when I finally asked you to protect me, you didn’t.”

I watch his facial expression drop, and I relish the remorse coloring his once soothing demeanor. For the last touch, I finally shot him through the heart.

“And I’ll always loathe you for it.” Even with my previous resolution to tear them down with my bare hands, I look away. No liquid courage will get me through from watching what Luca looked like after I said those words.

They weren’t the mean and snarky remarks like I did with the others. Instead, Lucian Ambrose was who I broke the most today. The older boy who promised to be my shield. Who I tried to trust. Who was the first guy I tried to accept as my fated.

He was neither of those now.

He broke me first.

And I hate him more for what he was about to say.

“I’m sorry.”