Shatter Me

rage

His face is smooshed against the pillow as drool pooled out. He always seemed clean so getting a peak at his messy side put me at ease. I still can't forget his harsh words to me the first time we met but at least now he seems more human. 

Knowing he didn't get into bed until sometime after two I slip out of bed quietly. After a quick shower I dress and head towards the hotel's restaurant to eat breakfast. To my surprise Jareth is waiting outside the door. 

"Jareth?" I glance back and listen to Kaleb sleep before closing the door behind me. 

"Is everything okay?" Jareth stares at me for a moment as if deciding whether or not it would be appropriate for me to know. I cross my arms making sure the wedding band is seen. 

"The merchant from yesterday wanted to bring Mr. Valora a gift of an apology." I stared at Jareth in disbelief. Even fi our marriage is a sham would he really permit someone to disturb Kaleb's honeymoon?

"He is the brother of the current Grand Wizard of the North. Silvius Noelle." No wonder Jareth brought him here. He's royalty. I look back to the door knowing I should wake up Jareth but at the same time I should learn how to handle myself in front of royalty

"It's just a gift. Take me to him." I command looking to Jareth expectantly. He stares at me and doesn't move. 

"Or is this a situation too difficult for a beast to handle?" I ask tapping my fingers on my arm. Jareth looks away before looking back at me. 

"He's in the lobby, Mrs. Valora. Please, follow me." I follow Jareth quietly wondering what he was really thinking. I didn't think my antagonizing would work. Needing to be a proper wife of a Valora is a must, but now that we walked down the hall my nerves spiked. As a werewolf, we had an hierarchy and a way of going about those above and below us but this is wizards. They are more human than any other creature. 

When we reached the lobby, that was big enough to fit two Class a Gryphons inside, Jareth took me to a sectioned off sitting area for smokers where a man waited inside. My first thought about him as he moved his cigar in his mouth is that he could be a half-beast as he resembled a gorilla so much.  

"Jareth, I think you need new glasses. this is not Valora Junior." His gruff voice even sounded beastly. 

"This is Mrs. Valora, wife of Kaleb Valora." Jareth bows slightly as I choose to sit. I watch the man look surprised before grinning that grin I see most men get. My dislike for him is already set. 

"Hello, Mr. Noelle." He sits in front of me and leans back as he absorbs my image with his eyes.

"Hello, Mrs. Valora. I didn't expect to receive such a pleasure." He takes a drag of his cigar and blows the smoke out of his nose as he grins at me again. 

"I'm glad to hear you find my presence a pleasure, but if you don't mind I would like to know why it was so urgent that you had to disrupt my honeymoon." Even if the smell from the cigar wasn't giving me a big enough headache this man alone tugged viciously at my nerves. 

"Now, now, is that how you treat guests? I would like to get to know you a bit. The least you could do is show me your beautiful smile." He leans forward trying to close distance between us. I wanted nothing more than to lean over and slap that cigar right out of his mouth, but right now, I'm representing not only Kaleb, but the Valora family. So taking a deep breath I gave the brute a smile and ignored his comments of how beautiful I am when I do. 

"I heared you brought my sweet husband a gift." I keep the smile on my face and do my best to keep my voice soft. He seems pleased as he sets a suitcase on the table. 

"I did. I've brought you siren feathers and mermaid scales." He opens the suitcase for me to see black feathers and various colors of scales with both packed neatly and tightly in plastic bags. I glance to Jareth expecting him to tell me why Wizards need such things. 

"How did you obtain these?" I asked smiling tightly trying to hide my disgust. It's possible the mermaids and sirens gave them. They, too, had official territories even if they are more beast than sentient. 

"Oh, you're interested in the business?" His chuckle tightened my hand into a fist. If I was still with my father this man would have been knocked out for showing so much disrespect. 

"It's  not an easy job. That's for sure. Those bitches certainly know how to put up a fight if you let them." Anger consumed me as I slammed the suitcase closed shaking the table and catching the oaf off guard. I glared at the surprised Noelle and felt a growl crawling up my throat. I'm going to rip his throat out. My mind whispered reminders of the Valora family but I could feel only anger motivate me. This could end the centuries old deal between wizards and werewolves but how could I just sit back and accept such blatant disrespect on the lives he is supposed to be protecting? 

Get out. Now. Leave before it's too late.  My sound mind warns as the anger boils like an active volcano. Red smoke clouds my eyes leaving only Mr. Noelle's putrid face clear. My sight already holding steady on him as prey. I can't do it. I can't rage. I can't go into a rage. Not here. Not now. 

"I think it's time for me to go now. Mr. Noelle, please, take your gift and leave." I stood quickly and started to leave when a burn on my arm startled me. With a soft cry, I swiftly turned and hit his nose with all of my strength. I thought he burned me with his cigar with the intensity of the burn and the residue of the sting, but as he yelled out I realized it was his rings. Silver. Anger bubbled over on the edge of rage and I wanted nothing more than to thrash him. 

"Touch me like that again and I will do a lot more than a punch." I growled out barely able to pull myself away from him. I look around the grand golden lobby. I grasp my arm as it stings with vengeance and make my way to the hopes of a bathroom. I need to stop the pain. I need to stop the burning. I need to stop the rage.