8. Florencia

8

Florencia

" H ow will you rescue me if we only meet like this?" I said the second my eyes opened to the bright nothingness.

Back in Elio's stark vastness, he was just as beautiful as I remembered, yet today, I was unimpressed. I was cold, colder than I'd been even inside of Nightmare's dark, drab stony walls. Just as the thought took seed in my mind, the blurred whiteness began to take shape around me.

A yellow warmth draped the both of us, forcing my eyelids shut as I tilted my chin up to bask in the soothing glow of the Sun. I began to defrost, my tight muscles slowly unclenching as I relaxed.

He chuckled behind me, his hand hot as it fell to my shoulder. "How is my brother treating you?"

I swallowed hard, his fingers grazing down the side of my arm. He entwined his fingers into mine without a second thought, tightening his hold on my hand like it had always been his.

With a breath, I answered, "He treats me fine."

I turned my head to find him staring me down with an arched eyebrow, waiting for the truth.

"I'm a captive in his castle." My words grew harsh, unsure what he expected.

His eyes narrowed. "Is he cruel to you?"

My cheeks heated at the memory of his brother's fingers inside me, the way I unraveled on the dinner table as if I was the meal itself, the way he reveled in the taste of my blood on his fingers.

Was he cruel?

I laughed awkwardly, refusing to answer him. "Last time I was here, you told me that not all nightmares are bad. Now, here you are, asking if he's cruel to me."

He shrugged. "I want to make sure my queen is…" He paused for a brief moment, not breathing, not moving, not showing an inkling of a human trait as he thought of the right word. "Safe."

"He introduced me to Kame," I blurted out, wondering if maybe it was best that Elio thought his brother was closer to making me cat-chow than burying himself between my legs.

He frowned hard. "Wretched beast."

I lifted a shoulder, ready to come to Kame's defense, when I decided it was probably a smarter decision to pretend like I was afraid of it all. The nightmares, the jaguar, the King of Fears.

"Are you more of a dog person?" I asked instead, a bratty little smirk on my face as I waited for his response.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed down his response. "Something like that."

I rubbed my hand over my face, as if it would somehow get rid of my exhaustion. "Look, this whole ‘get to know you,' dreamy-first-dates portion of the nightmare is great and all, but I want out."

"I will rescue—"

I faced him at once, stopping him by placing my finger over his lips. "No, Elio. Not shuffled to some other castle. I'm ready to go home."

"My queen, this is your home. Just tell me what you need to make it so." His smile was warm, gentle, inviting, off putting.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I want answers, the one thing I can't seem to get around here."

"I'll try my best to answer. What would you like to know?"

With a loud exhale, I uncrossed my arms. Yesterday, I remembered what day it was. I had a vague memory of what was happening, but still, the pieces weren't making sense to me. Today…well, today, I wasn't sure anymore.

"How did I end up here?" I remembered the parade. Hallow's Eve, the dress, my sisters but after that, it was too fuzzy. To see into a dream, I had to touch a sleeping person, but Camazotz said I was here in body. Hell, he proved I was here, with pain and with pleasure.

So I wasn't out there, somewhere in the middle of the street, touching some sleeping person during the All Hallow's Eve parade. I was here. Wherever here was.

"It wasn't me who dragged you here, my queen." His eyes never once broke their hold of mine. "You came of your own volition."

I took a step back from him, confused. "What?"

Elio's image blurred in front of me as I felt a cold grip on my neck. "Will you tell him how you fell apart on my fingers?"

I fought to hold on to Elio, his warm hand still clutching mine as he disappeared into the darkness. My eyes opened, Zotz's face slowly materializing inches from mine as he hovered above me on his bed, a puzzled look on his face while he watched me.

I frowned. "That's invasive." The words were free from my mouth before I could stop them, before I could remind myself that I was guilty of seeing into the most private subconscious moments of others as well.

"I heard my name," he says in a curt tone. "I thought something was wrong."

He came because…he thought I called him? That I was in trouble? Worse yet, was I calling out to him in my sleep? In my dreams, while his brother visited me?

I cleared my throat, as if it would somehow clear the thoughts from my head. "I'd like to go on a walk."

"It is too dangerous alone," he responded with a single shake of his head.

"I could take Kame?" I suggested, feeling bold enough to try.

"It is too dangerous," he growled under his breath.

"More dangerous than the beast who protects the King of Nightmares?" I challenged, knowing damn well how to get my way.

The corner of his lip turned up, like he was impressed I'd managed to confound him. "Very well. Do not venture near the forest. Even the creatures there will dare to face him."

I squealed, jumping up from the bed in pure delight and wrapping my arms around his neck. I was going to breathe fresh air, see more than these gray stone walls. Just the idea of putting some distance between myself and the silent maids had my heart soaring.

I dangled awkwardly from his neck until I was no longer strong enough to hold myself up. Brushing the weird girl vibes from my dress, I power-walked toward the door before he could change his mind or tell me to take one of the Stonecrux with me.