Bella
I weave through the kitchen with Carrie as we make dinner, the scents of stew and bread filling the air. Ian and Marcus are discussing something about crops for next year while Sarah is playing with Sally. Troy broods in the corner, giving off a bit of Chaos energy. Thorne sits quietly on the couch watching everyone, but his presence has me jumping at shadows.
Carrie turns to the room, “Food is ready,” she says brightly.
Sarah picks Sally up and brings her to the table as Ian and Marcus make their way over. Thorne starts to get up too. The thought of him so near the others has me rushing to his side, “Don’t,” I say, trying to make him sit back down.
“I can stand,” He says gruffly.
I look up at him, one of the few times in recent memory I’ve looked up to anyone. I scramble for a good reason for him to stay put, “Your body isn’t strong enough to be moving around too much, now sit,” I point at the couch.
We stare each other down, he sways on his feet but doesn’t relent. At length, he shifts his weight and looks away; I relax slightly as he sits back down. He turns away and grumbles, “It’s rude to sit away from the Tribe during a meal.”
The reference to Tribes throws me for a moment, then I reply, “Those who are ill are expected to keep themselves apart for the safety of others.”
“I’m not ill,” He snaps trying to stand up again, “I’m fine.”
I put my hand on his chest, he tenses so I pull my hand away, “You may not be contagious but you aren’t well, so sit there and rest.” I pause for a moment, then meet his gaze and say softly, “Please,”
He opens his mouth as if to argue but sways again and nods, “Fine,”
I turn away and get him a bowl of soup.
When I return to him he’s pouting but still seated as I’d asked, “When you’re well again you can roam and stand and whatever else you want. Until then, you’re under my care.”
He looks at the bowl, then at me. Then sighs and takes the bowl, “Fine, but only cause you’re a ca-Kin.” He fumbles over the last word.
I frown slightly but return to the table.
As I start helping Sarah clean up Thorne clears his throat, “Um, Bella?”
I turn toward him, “hmm?”
He glances at the others who are also looking at him with curiosity. He swallows, “Can I talk to you somewhere private?” he asks quietly.
I frown, uncertain about being alone with him. The pleading look in his eyes sways me and I sigh, “Sure,” I go over to him, “Will you let me help you outside?”
He nods and lets me help him stand.
I put my arm around his waist and he puts his arm around my shoulders. His stride is more even than I expected, but he’s still wobbly. We get outside and walk over to the small barn. As we enter Bessie turns to moo at us. I help him sit on a bale of hay and step away from him.
We stare at each other for a while, uncertainty brewing between us. At length, I say, “What did you need?”
He rubs the back of his neck, “I have some questions and I didn’t want to put you on the spot in front of the humans.” He looks back up at me.
I relax slightly, “Oh, I’ll answer what I can.”
He pats the hay next to him, “Sit?”
I hesitate, “Uhh,”
“I make you uncomfortable,” he says softly.
“N-no!” I stammer, “I…” I trail off.
“That wasn’t a question.” He sighs, “Have I done something that’s made you wary?”
I look away and rub my arm, “It’s nothing you’ve done. I’ve just never met a Fae Hound who didn’t want me dead; Order Casters use them to oppress anyone who opposes them.”
His brow creases, “What do you mean?”
I take a deep breath and roll up my sleeve, revealing a jagged scar from a Hound, “I don’t really see what’s to misunderstand,” I reply quietly.
He stands up and takes my wrist in his hands, his fingers gently tracing the raised skin, “No Hound would harm a Caster,” his brow furrows, “it’s against our nature.”
“Order Hounds are thoughtless beasts who do the bidding of their Caster.” I counter, “You’re the first Chaos Hound… no the first Chaos Fae, I’ve ever met.”
His eyes widen and Chaos fills the air, “That can’t be possible, Chaos and Order Casters are equally common, you have to have met another.”
I shake my head.
He looks at me with fear and pain in his eyes, “How?” he mutters.
I frown as his emotions begin to taint the air, “How long were you cursed?”
“I don’t know,” he says, dropping my arm and taking a step away from me, “I barely remember anything from while I was cursed, and the last thing I remember before was…” he trails off.
His fear spikes and my emotions rise to meet it, “Was what?” I prompt gently, taking a step closer to him.
He plops back down onto the bale of hay and closes his eyes, “Something was upsetting the balance, a summit was called for the tribes to figure out what it was. I was on my way there when something happened, but I don’t know what.”
I settle next to him, “That summit was… a long time ago. Since then Chaos Fae have become shunned and hated.”
A shudder wracks his frame, “How long?”
I hesitate as his aura becomes even more volatile, I hesitantly set a hand on his shoulder, “I don’t think you’re well enough for that,” I whisper.
He clenches his fists and nods, “So, you hide your markings because…?”
“If I didn't I’d be hunted,” I finish.
“You live here?”
“No, I was passing through,”
“And you’re alone?” he continues.
I nod, “Yes,”
He looks up at me, “Can I join your tribe?”
The desperation in his eyes tears at my heart, “Of course,” I say before I can fully think the idea through.
He sighs with relief, “I want to know what happened. I…” he drops his head into his hands and shudders.
“Not yet,” I say, gently rubbing his shoulder, “When you’re feeling better I’ll tell you what I know, Okay?”
He nods, “Okay,” He looks up at me and smiles weakly, “Should we go inside?”
“Yeah, come on,” I stand and help him up.
He leans on me more heavily than before as we go back inside. I deposit Thorne on the couch as Ian and Marcus give us an odd look. “Try to rest. You’ll be feeling better in no time.” I smile gently.
He leans against the couch and smiles weakly back, “Thank you.”
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