Promise

HOUSE OF GRIMSBANNE

"Ugh…" Abel grunted as he sat up on the edge of his bed, stretching his neck from one side to the other. His hands were gripping the edge of the mattress, eyes shut. 

When he reopened his eyes, a glint flickered across his naturally sharp eyes. "You should learn how to knock, sister. Else, you might give someone a heart attack."

Standing meters from the bed was Abel's sister, Tilly, in her plain white dress and plain countenance. Her long white hair had grown so long that, even when it was tied up, its tip could still reach the floor. Tilly remained silent as usual, but her eyes sized up his back.

Abel was wearing a robe, but she could see bruises reaching up around his nape. They looked bad. 

"Those bruises…" she trailed off as she blinked ever so tenderly while Abel looked back at her. "... will you not change your mind?"