Counting stars

His words made her rethink her hasty decision to go training. Her situation was not that good— true. But she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he was right. Her recklessness was on full mode as she tried to sidestep him but his body was wide enough to block her every way of escape.

'Should I start shouting the others' names now?' she asked herself and folded her arms across her chest.

"I need to train." her voice came out a little more miserable than she originally planned. She hated that feebleness in her voice. "Just let me go, you promised not to trap me—"

"Is that what you think I'm doing?" his tone held resentment and she knew she had hurt him in a way she had not intended to.

"It's not that." she grabbed onto his arm and a rush of adrenaline flooded through her veins, entering her body like waves and drowning away the previous dullness and ache. Her features managed to remain surprisingly normal as she breathed out and wondered how she was supposed to explain.

"I don't want to be considered weak." he opened his mouth, most likely to interrupt and say that nobody saw her as weak but she stopped him by raising her hand.

"The others might not see me like that but I want to become stronger. I want to learn how to fight, I want to be able to stand on my own without you being there to hold me up no matter how much I'm grateful to you for that," she spoke and watched a variety of emotions flicker across his face at the same time.

Her hand didn't leave his arm as she patiently waited for his answer in the very same position. His scent was close and she tried to hold her breath in for as long as she could. His scent was similar to a drug, it made her want to give in and ask him everything she had wanted to see with her very own eyes. The things she wanted to feel, and experience but only with him. Because nobody other than him could make her feel as if everything was alright even when the world was cracking up into pieces.

"I overreacted, I'm sorry." he bowed his head slightly, his posture submissive and she despised seeing him looking so worn out and... broken. He was the most powerful person she had ever met (apart from Davina now) and yet he was giving in to her of all people.

She was nothing.

Placing a hesitant hand on his cheek, she raised his face so that his eyes were now looking into hers. And she wanted nothing else than to just let him take control and make her forget everything. Everything that had happened after she was born, because now the happy memories were haunting her to death too.

"You don't ever have to apologize to me. Not for anything," she whispered and that spark that had left his eyes now flashed brighter than anything else. It reminded Eva of a dull midnight sky without stars and suddenly a shooting star, as bright as the Moon's light, flashed across the dark sky and made it feel breathtaking again. His eyes were the very picture of that scene and her heart wasted no time in getting lost again. His eyes made her want to count the stars in them forever and ever.

"Go train. Do anything you want. Jump off a cliff, I'll catch you but don't ever let anyone make you feel trapped again." he said in a soft yet dangerous tone. Months ago, it would've made her tremble in fear but she only felt protected.

Protected in the right manner yet still free to do whatever she wanted.

"But if you feel sick again, promise me that you'll take a break and rest?" it was a question and his expression showed that she was free to refuse. He wouldn't say a word again because he understood. She didn't know how but he understood her better than anyone else could've done.

"I promise."

The nod that he gave her felt like it wasn't enough. She wanted him to smirk, smile, chuckle, anything but that wretched expression on his face and the pain in those orbs that she loved more than anything.

The thought made her gasp out as her walls emerged back again. She backed away and Theo looked shaken as if he didn't know what he had done wrong; it only made her feel even more miserable.

"It's nothing, I just felt lightheaded," she assured but now he looked worried. 'Just smirk and forget it all happened!'

"Dress up and come down to eat first. Then you can train as much as you want." he turned around, making his way back to the door and that wave of loneliness found its direction back to her. 'Should I ask him to stay?'

His hand met the doorknob and yet she still didn't find the courage to open her mouth and speak out that one word.

Eva watched as the door closed behind him and everything felt the way it was before he entered the room.

Monotonous and cold.

Sighing, she walked toward the closet and slid the door open. The design of all the furniture was different from anything she ever saw. It was more lavish and modern and she figured it was related to the human world that he was telling her about last night.

Her eyes were the size of huge plates as she surveyed the scene around her. This was far from a wardrobe, it wasn't even close to one.

It was a medium-sized room with each of its walls covered with all sorts of clothes and gowns. Eva slowly stepped inside, observing everything with the appearance of a curious bird. Did every room have such a closet inside it?

Pulling open a drawer, her jaw fell slack as she saw all sorts of undergarments laid perfectly and neatly according to their types. Closing the drawer, she got a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her cheeks looked as if they were on fire.

Nightgowns of all sizes were hanging from the hooks. Her eyes fell on the smallest gown available and now her whole body felt like it was on fire. Something inside her wanted to wear it and see how they looked on her. She pushed away all such thoughts into her trash collection and focused on selecting clothes that were better suitable for training.

Her gaze traveled to a set of breeches and shirts hanging across the other side of the closet. They were black in color and she wondered who had picked them. Her mind traveled to only one person but she dismissed the idea away. It only made her feel more lonely now that he was gone and no one was here.

Picking the training attire up, she made her way to the bathroom, shutting the door close behind her and preparing herself to get ready for the day that awaited her.