Under Pressure.
1591 Words
Knock Knock Knock!
"Come on Conrad let me in!!" A voice whined loudly, rousing me from sleep, I rubbed an eye, looking blurrierly through the other, as Conrad grumbling, made his way to the door.
I yawned, as he unlatched the chain and pulled the door open, He looked a monster of a man standing in the doorway, he easily filled it, his stance tense as he address the person on the other side.
I tried to look around him, but couldn't see whom he addressed.
"Come on Conrad, she said protect and serve her, not possess and perv on her!" the voice hissed clearly unhappy with his barricade of muscle that prevented them from entry, I laughed at the chosen words, causing Conrad to turn in surprise.
That's all the gap his addressor needed, as Florain took the opportunity to squeeze pass the mass of him into the room, I heard Conrad's growl of annoyance.
"Hey Ivy, day 4 now, and you're still in bed, have you grown roots into the mattress?" She teased waggling her eyebrows, Conrad moved to seat at the table by the window, pulling the curtains back halfway, whilst Florain came to sit on my bed.
"No, I have not grown roots, it just seems my body needed more time to regenerate from death then the average injury." I reply pointedly.
"Oh! Calm down crabby, you're clearly feeling like yourself again with that attitude." Florain scoffs happily, I snort, and thats when I smell it.
Sniff* Sniff* Florain looks embarrassed and blushes at my investigation, she looks away awkwardly, thats when I see it.
"Oh my gosh Flo! You..Jace.. You've marked each other!" I shriek, my eyes bulging out of my head, in a blink Conrad's at my side looking concerned, but I wave him off, as I sit up further.
"Yes we did, last night.. Are you mad?" Florain asked in a small voice.
I thought for second, how did I feel? nothing really, I was happy for her and Jace, I was currently still debating staying single for a while so didn't feel hurt.
"I feel nothing but happiness for you both." I reply truthfully, with a smile, Florains breathes a sigh of relief clearly ecstatic to have my blessing, she leans forward hugging me.
I hug her bare firmly, that's when I begin to feel it, the warmth first blossoms in the center of my back spreading outwards like spilt ink, I gasp at the sensation and then clench my jaw at the pain.
"Argh!.." I cry, Florain quickly pulls away, confusion in her eyes, Conrad kneels beside me.
"Are you ok?" He asks, I blink focusing on my words.
"Florain can you please come back later.." I manage to say through my clenched teeth, I try for an apologetic smile, thankfully she nods and leaves quickly with Conrad, whom quickly locks the door and returns to my side, I flip onto my stomach.
"Cut off my shirt." I rasp, Conrad says nothing but does as he's told, cutting the t shirt I'd changed into through the night in two.
"Holy s**t Ivy.." Conrad breathes, I turn my head, his hands hover above my back.
"What is it Conrad? Am I bleeding?" I ask, suddenly feeling panicked and unsure.
"No Ivy, No it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen..." He whispers, a finger lightly traces a swirl on my back, the touch is cool compared to the heat everywhere else.
"What is it?" I hear the awe in his voice as he answers.
"It's the most intricate lacework I've ever seen, black tattoo like lines make up the lace work, it spreads from the center of your spine outwards, in millions of lines and spirals, covering the entirety of your back, it's disappearing into your hairline and below your pyjama pant's waistband." Conrad explains.
"I can see lace flowers, wolves, birds and what look like hundreds of different lacework paths intertwining." He continues, he traces as he speaks, the sensation calming, as my back starts to cool.
"And at the base of your neck they left a oval of skin bare, at the centre is a red crown similar to the brand on my hand and the one left by the blood moon necklace."
I hear his pause and swallow then, I close my eyes for the next question.
"Did you make a deal with the goddess to come back here?" Conrad's voice shakes as he asks.
"Yes." I reply simply, my voice sounding older and weary.
"What was it?" He presses in a whisper, his tone concerned.
"I am to serve eternally as Alpha Queen on earth until such time as I take over from the goddess...permanently as successor." my words sound rehearsed but I felt the weight in each one as I speak.
"I made a deal too." Conrad confides, this surprises me but I'd suspected something when I'd seen the tattoo's.
"What did you agree too?" I ask my heart beating rapidly in anticipation.
"I agree to serve also, for eternity, under you as your beta and servent." His voice hoarse.
"Do regret it?" I ask surprising myself.
"No, I don't mind if you never chose me as your mate, though it would make eternity easier, but at least I'll have forever to make it up to you." He says with a choked laugh.
His words hit me hard, Conrad agreed to spend eternity with me with no guarantee of forgiveness, mate or not, he wanted to remain by my side forever?
"Well use the time well I suppose." Was the only reply I could conjure, I was feeling relief at the knowledge of not ruling alone but wasn't ready to forgive and forget just yet, his betrayal still stung, as did the memory of the pain I had endured before and after my death.
"What does the tattoo appearing mean?" Conrad asked pulling me from my thoughts.
"I suppose it means my immortality is complete, the tattoo marks that as well as confirming myself as Alpha Queen now." I say offhandedly.
I close my eyes the pain has receded sufficiently, thanks to my werewolf's sped up healing process, and I take this opportunity to flip onto my back.
I cringe, screwing my nose at the sting of laying on back, I open my eyes, noticing how Conrad eyes me wearily from where he sits on the bed beside me.
I raise as eyebrow, spurring him to talk.
"Do you think we may be Mates again one day?" He asks, his voice breaking a little.
I exhale looking away, I think for a moment before frowning.
"I'd like to say yes, but I don't know, after I landed on those rocks the pain had been unimaginable and I'd be ready to give up then, sadly Agni had not, so instead I had to suffer for hours in varying types of pain, only to die anyway, that's traumatic to put it lightly." I finish honestly, I slide my gaze back to him, he nods slowly his gaze pained but understanding.
It's in that moment my phones rings, breaking the tension and causing us both to flinch.
I move to grab it when Conrad raises a hand.
"You're still dead remember?" He reminds me, I pout but nod, it had been my plan.
He presses answer.
"Hello? This is Conrad" Someone sounds annoyed on the other end, and Conrad frowns, then a growl rips from his throat as the caller laughs loudly at something.
"Yes, I have been.." He looks away from my curious gaze "demoted to beta." He replies, annoyed.
"I'm answering because..Ivy's dead..." Conrad says his voice cracking slightly, he holds the phone for a minutes only silence can be heard from the other end.
Then the voice says something, causing Conrad to tense but a moment later his shoulder slump.
"She died..It was my fault..that's why I was demoted.." The voice screams into the phone, Conrad takes it keeping his back turned.
"She won a match, I felt insulted and chased her in a rage...right over a cliff...she fell..30feet onto some rocks and sunk into the water.." He pauses again as the voice interrupts "No she didn't drown she died 7 hours later from her injuries and the cold." Now the voice sounds murderous even from where I sit, it finally dawns on me who's on the other end...Garrett.
"I didn't save her because I was an i***t, no I didn't search myself, I sent pack members, no Florain found her...yes I know I'm not worthy of the title of Alpha or Mate." Conrad nods, With a final growl at Conrad, Garret hangs up, I can hear the dial tone but still Conrad holds it to his ear, a second longer than necessary, before dropping his hand to his side.
He exhales, then addresses me still not turning to face me.
"I'm just going to go for a quick shower." He says to me, though it sounds more like a informative statement.
He turns walking into the bathroom, his expression blank, but not before I see a stray silver tear, fall from his clenched jaw.
I nod, but let him go, suddenly feeling guilty for having to make Conrad lie and cover for me, I stare at the phone for a long while, listening as Conrad showers, I wish my mother was here, she'd know what to do, or would she.
I hang my head in my hands, I let myself cry, loud ugly sobs wrack the room, I'm so distracted with my breakdown, I don't even notice Conrad presence until he wraps my topless form in a fluffy blanket, pulling me to him.
I suddenly feel self conscious for forgetting my bare chest, whilst talking to him, I laugh through my sobs at my mindlessness.
Conrad only holds me closer, kissing the top of my head as he comforts me.
- Writer
