“Darling, what happened?” Silas’s mother had asked, in a concerning tone of voice. The two of the girls explained the terror of what they’d witnessed. How someone attacked their mother, and how their father was nowhere to be found. Scarlett only half teared up, Liveria a mess of hysteria. Together, they all figured that both Scarlett and Liveria were too traumatized to go on, so they called it a night.
When the scene had died down, Scarlett decided that she needed a shower. Liveria didn’t feel the need to sleep, but wanted to ever so desperately get away from her reality. So she did.
In the bathroom, Scarlett gazed at herself in the mirror. Terrified of the reflection that she saw. She took the piercings from her ears, and placed them on the wooden counter. There was a slight but faint mark below her nose where the Glycarian had burned her. When she ran her finger over it, it still stung. There were three gentle knocks on the bathroom door.
Chapter|Seven
“Come in.” She called out, her voice hoarse. It revealed Silas.
The dimly lit torches of the bathroom reflected against his face gently, as it smoothed over his harsh features and made them appear soft. He wore a black tunic which exposed his collarbones, and cotton pants. His thick brows drew themselves together, “I brought you a towel.” He said, his voice low. In his hands contained a dark woven fabric, and he set it on the counter.
Scarlett was paralyzed, her hair appearing black, in the dim light. She felt numb. She wanted to escape the feeling. She longed for unicorn dust. Tears sprang out of her eyes. It’d been a year. Why was she still addicted? Why did she still have the urges? Why couldn’t she just deal with her own emotions, why did she need a substance to take her away from them? She felt light on her feet. “Hey, hey.” Silas spoke, when he rushed over to her in a quick Vampiric-like fashion, and caught the weight of her body. He held a fixed gaze on her.
“You’re not leaving, are you?” She finally said, and turned her chin up so that she met his eyes. Scarlett’s eyes were wide, and she bit her lip. She shook her head slightly. “Please don’t leave me, Silas.” Her voice shook, “I-I feel like using again.” She cried silent, ugly, repressed tears as he stroked his fingers through her hair, and gently silenced her.
“I wish you could take me away from this. I don’t want to die, Silas...” She admitted, in a small voice. Scarlett hated crying, she hated being vulnerable. She didn’t have the heart to say it or express what had happened. It hurt too much. Her parents were gone. She watched her mother die in her arms. Saying it out loud just meant that it was even more real than what she’d like to believe that it was. “I won’t let that happen.” His words were like the hot fire that burned her insides. Flavors of passion exploded throughout her entire body, as she blinked back tears. Silas then detached himself from her and went over to the shower to turn on the water. He locked his jaw. “So I’m going to go to my room, and—”
“No, stay.” Scarlett blurted out when she wrapped her arms around herself and pursed her lips. Silas felt like home to her. He felt like familiarity, he felt safe. He cared about her, and she liked that. “Please.”
He narrowed his dark eyes, and pressed his lips together. “You want me to shower with you?” Silas hesitated.“Scarlett—”
She let out a peal of laughter that filled the sadness, as she threw her head back. “No, definitely not. Just, stay here.” She spoke and walked over to where the bathtub was. She stopped the water from running. “I don’t want to be left alone.” Silas turned away from her, as she started to undress. He tried to restrict himself from imagining the things his mind wanted him to. “Not now.”
“Okay.” He said to Scarlett reluctantly, and faced the bathtub again once he heard the bathwater splash, as she got in. She pulled her knees up against her chest, and cocked her head at him. Their eyes held a conversation, as Silas sat next to the tub. He then grabbed a glass bottle of purple liquid that sat on top of the sink.
“Turn around.” He spoke gently.
Scarlett gave him a small smile, as she turned. She felt him pour sweet-scented soap over her head, as he grabbed a cup and began rinsing blood from her hair. The water was warm, his hands were cold. Like all Vampric hands were. It was a beautiful eruption of actions, and everything seemed to happen in a blur. The only thing there was his presence. And she realized that was all that she wanted. His hands felt nice, Scarlett thought. They raked through her hair delicately, and moved in slow circles. When he finished washing her hair he started to leave. Scarlett pulled his arm gently, water droplets raced down her cheeks, and to her neck. “Silas, wait.” She said, in a low voice, as her hands clung to his arm.
She looked at his eyes, then his nose, then his lips, and
