8. Oarus

8

OARUS

Ilet the rest of the blood pour down her throat as her eyes flutter closed. They don’t open again, and I know she’s asleep. But not dead.

She looks so pale, so sickly. I surveyed her body, making sure the monster didn’t inflict any other wounds that I needed to worry about. She appears mostly fine, though her bare feet are bloody, probably from running so fast.

A surge of anger rises within me at the reminder that we’re in this situation because she tried to run from me. Me. But I shove the anger side for the moment, wanting only to keep her safe. Nothing else matters right now. And she is not safe here.

My eyes shift to the monster I destroyed, lying in a lifeless pile of shreds on the opposite side of the cave. The stench of its blood fills the small space, mixed with a smell that I’m almost sure is its venom.

“Worthless creature,” I snarl, wishing I could kill it all over again.

I turn back to Yvonne and carefully pick her up, pulling her close until she rests against my chest. I stand up, cradling her as I leave the cave, reentering the tunnels that will lead back to my lair.

I move as fast as I can, passing cave after cave, feeling and hearing all the creatures lurking nearby. They likely all heard the ruckus and are waiting for me to leave to claim the remains of the monster.

Yvonne stays sleeping throughout the entire journey, her small head bouncing off of my skin as I run. Once we reach my lair, I immediately take her to the soft human bed, setting her down as gently as I can.

She stirs slightly, rolling from side to side before settling. I sit next to her, pressing a hand to her face. Her skin is on fire. I’ve heard of humans getting fevers when they’re sick.

That must be what this is.

I curse to myself, looking around my lair. Perhaps the creature’s blood only steered her away from the brink of death but didn’t completely heal her. I need to find something that will help her heal quicker, before the fever escalates.

I stand up, walking over to a small basket of healing items I’ve collected. Most of them I’ve collected from different creatures after killing them, and some I found on the floor of Perf. I rummage through them, coming across a plant that contains a gel-like substance inside its leaves. Out of everything I have, this one is the most likely to work on a human.

I return to the bed, where Yvonne is shivering in her sleep. A hand on her cheek confirms that her fever is already getting worse.

“Mmm,” she murmurs, her brow furrowing. Her eyes remain shut, but she starts squirming around.

“Shh,” I whisper, gliding a hand across her arm. She shivers again, but this time I’m not sure it’s from the fever.

I crack open one of the plant’s leaves, gathering the gel into my hand before bringing it to Yvonne’s face. I smear it around before rubbing it in more thoroughly. Her skin should absorb it and it should begin healing her after that.

“N-no,” she mumbles before her body relaxes and settles once more.

I continue rubbing the gel into every inch of her skin that is visible. Once done, I toss the plant aside and take up a spot next to her.

For hours, I continue to watch her, monitoring and tending to her. Only after her temperature returns to normal do I allow myself to drift off.

A few hours later, the veil of sleep lifts. As I return to the waking world, my thoughts immediately drift to Yvonne. I open my eyes, my gaze falling upon the spot next to me where Yvonne had been sleeping. I jerk up when I see that she’s no longer there.

My head whips around, searching for her in my lair. Fury courses through me, betrayal burning hot for the second time since capturing her. After everything, after saving her life, she still ran.

I stand, not thinking twice about going out to look for her. Perhaps I will have to come up with a creative way to keep her here. Or perhaps, a less creative way, like a cage, would be more appropriate. At least until she stops trying to run.

Before I can reach the exit, a figure appears in the doorway. I immediately assume a defensive position, ready to fight whoever it is, until I realize that it’s her. Yvonne stands there, her arms laden with what looks like different kinds of food.

She gives me a soft, tentative smile, and I feel some of my anger dissipating. Some, but not all. After all, she did run once, and I’ve yet to forget about that or forgive her for it.

“Where were you?” My voice booms throughout the cave.

Her smile falters only slightly, and she takes a step inside.

“I’m sorry I… I should have woken you before I left.”

“Yes, you should have,” I say, cutting her off. I feel my temper rising again.

“I just wanted to make us a meal, so I went out to find some food.”

She walks across my lair, setting the items down on the desk. I don’t even bother to look at them. I just stare her down, my relief at her health returning to normal spiking for only a moment, until I once again remember the reason she was in such bad health.

“You are not to go anywhere without my permission. Do you understand that?”

Her mouth opens, and fear shows in her eyes. She just nods before looking away.

“Speak,” I commanded her.

“Yes, yes I understand. I won’t do it again.”

“No, you won’t.”

“I, um… I still would like to cook for us.” She bites her lip, appearing to be nervous. An emotion I know nothing of.

“You lied to me yesterday. You told me you had to tend to your needs and manipulated me into letting you have a moment of privacy.”

“I know, and I’m sorry –”

“Don’t speak. You have broken my trust and all but spat in my face when I have shown you nothing but kindness. You must pay for that.”

“Pay?” she asks, looking worried. Her eyes shift to look at the exit behind me. Probably thinking up another way to escape.

“Yes. Your actions must not go unpunished.”

“I don’t understand. I made a mistake.”

“No. A mistake is an unintentional action. What you did was intentional. Are you going to lie to me and say that it wasn’t? That you somehow wandered off on accident?”

She remains silent, looking down at the ground.

“Look at me,” I demand. She obeys, her amber eyes brimming with tears.

“There is no excuse for what you did. You must accept your punishment.”

After a moment, she speaks. “Okay, I accept it.”

I look at the desk full of the food she gathered, and the idea lights up in my brain. A cruel smile spreads across my face.

“You will fast.”

“Fast? You can’t mean…”

“Yes, I do. No food, and no water. Not until I say.”

“But I almost died! I haven’t eaten or drank anything since before that!

“You should have thought about that before you ran away from me.”

Her lips tremble, but I hold no pity inside of me.

“How long?”

“As long as I deem necessary. And you must know something. If you try to run again, I will find you. I will always find you. And if you think this punishment is cruel, then you will be in for a rude awakening. Your punishments will only get worse. Next time I will not show as much mercy.”

She nods softly, sniffling. Her face is tear stricken, and she continues to watch me with eyes that beg for mercy. I will not give it to her.

“Sit,” I state, pointing to the bed.

She walks past me, sitting on the bed. She crosses her arms and stares at the wall. After a few minutes, her tears dry up, her face taking on an expression that leaves the fear and sorrow behind. The new look is something like determination. Resolve.

I let out a small laugh at this. It seems this human has a stubborn streak, and I wish nothing more than to stamp it out of her, by whatever means necessary. I will prove to her that her strength means nothing against me. Not when it comes to defying me.

Her eyes meet mine, and she shoots me a look of discontentment. It only fuels my need to dominate her that much more.

Hours go by, and Yvonne says nothing. She doesn’t whine, she doesn’t fidget. In appearance, she is perfectly fine. But we can both hear her stomach growling. I can see her difficulty swallowing, thanks to her dried-out mouth that begs for liquid.

After a while, I become bored, but I’m not done yet. I just need something else to entertain me.

“Stand.”

Her eyes snap up at me, surprised to hear my voice when we’ve been sitting in silence for so long. She hesitates, and it’s obvious that she does not want to do as I say. I watch as she fights herself, obedience eventually winning over. She slides off the bed, standing in front of me.

I look down at her, admiring her perfectly beautiful face. A face like none I’ve seen before despite studying humans for much time. It only makes me feel more possessive of her.

I long to hear her beg, to see her lower herself under my direction. I narrowed my eyes at her, wondering how much longer it would take for her to do it herself without being told. She narrows her eyes back, giving me my answer.

It seems I have my work cut out for me.