Chasing Merina

ng in framed her like a person from another world; her curls caught in the soft light. She sat upright, her face expressionless, as

t something the instant she awoke, and to his relief, she'd listened without complaint. Y

ed. The gaze never left the window as she ate on. The weight in the silence of th

e deepness of his voice f

him. "Fine," she said simply, the tone a

helpless. He'd spent years commanding respect, leading empires, and solving problems w

to sound soothing; his voice still held the

if that had been her cue, she stood and moved bac

, but the indifference in her gaze built a wall between them he didn't

aid. "If you need anything,

ent, with his hand on the doorframe, he finally turned and walked away.

of work offered him respite from the turmoil swirling inside his head. For the

he bed and stared at the ceiling-too soft, too much the tra

low. She looked at the shut

t stay

ing cared for. Adam might have meant well, but she knew better, he only wanted to be nice due

ng across the soft rug to the door. She crac

l. The house was huge, its long corridors lined with expensive artworks and sleek furni

t bitterly. I have nothing to offer. I'm nothing b

her like a slap, cold and sharp. She swayed for a second, looking backward at the ho

********

indow panes and chipped paints-a true reflection of what life was like within them. She went up the wo

o the cold shower. It rained on her skin in minute needles, but not one shiver ran up he

dow, staring out at the gray sky. Her mind raced, a s

for more than two years.

erted, but alive. She had People she loved, people she trusted.

heir image, hating the weakness of them. She clam

pity. Not his. Not anyone's. I'll f

op in front of him. He had tried burying himself in his work, but his mind kept drifting

arced around the room, taking everything down to the minutest details. The glass of water

s boom of a voice threa

as no r

The halls were also empty. Panic tugged at his

h authority. Downstairs, he found both the

?" he questio

ach other guiltily. "W-we do

rous. "I told you to watch over her. I trusted

rembled und

ose, fury lacing every word. "She's my woman! Do you understan

eir heads, too terrifie

rdered, his voice slicing t

ow

unyielding as stone. Inside, though, his c

where