It was later that evening when Leana had retreated to her old, worn apartment. She couldn't bear to be in that place any longer than she had to. She had told the king what she had found, being nothing, and left immediately. He had thrown a little temper tantrum though it was nothing that Leana wasn't used to.
Perhaps it was the tyrant in him, or perhaps it was revenge for his mother. Did he even care about his mother anymore? Was this a glimmer of humanity left in him that hurt at the thought of her lifeless, bleeding body? Leana had to admit that the king was right, the Seelie had started this war when they killed Ariana and sent the men to sabotage her own betrothal but she just could not understand what assassinating the White Knight would do for this war except piss the queen off more.
Nightmares plagued Leana's sleep every night since that afternoon. The scene played over in her mind as though she was an onlooker to the horrific ordeal. She watched every night as the king slowly entered the room, a dark look in his eye that she had never seen before that day. As he slowly pushed down the shoulder of her dress and her own body shook at the sensation of his now cold fingers against her skin. She felt as though she wanted to scream though no sound came from her mouth as she saw her fourteen year old self begging him to stop only earning her a harsh thrust into the sandstone wall which grazed her face and chest.
Being a knight who trained for months, she knew what pain felt like; to her surprise, dulled swords still cut they just didn't kill. Leana knew what pain felt like, though, until that day, she had no idea of that pain. What could have been a tender moment between the two of them where she was well taken care of and tended to, turned into a mess of blood and pain on the stone floor of her chamber. Pain from a cut or even a break was different to that. She felt as though it were trying to force a carriage through a solid wall. The numbing feeling of pain and agony filled her entire body.
As if on cue, Leana jumped up caked in sweat from her ordeal, her legs shaking in real time and eyes bloodshot. She stood as best she could with her less than operable legs and dashed to the bathroom, flicking on the shower and sitting on the floor under the water. She clawed for her lily and began to scrub violently. After a while, the water began to run red, once again her skin would be covered in all sorts of scabs and marks – perhaps he wouldn't like her then. No matter how hard she scrubbed at her skin, the sensation of filth didn't go away.
Leana stood in the shower, wrapping a towel around her bleeding body after turning off the water, and made her way to the front of her home. She sat on the small porch of the flat and stared up into the clouded sky. It may have been August, but the wind was still cold against her exposed, wet skin. She looked at the trees surrounding her complex thinking what a wonderful place the human realm was. She longed to stay here, run away to another corner of the globe, away from that madman but it just wasn't possible. He would hunt her down and find her. He always did. A quality that she once held as highly romantic. Now it chilled her to the bone. Pulling out her phone, she scrolled through her incredibly short list of contacts.
It was as though just seeing Jonathan's name calmed her. She wasn't quite sure what it was about him that relaxed her so. Perhaps it was the how he respected her boundaries and kept his distance when he sensed she was upset? Or perhaps it was the reason that Leana had tried desperately to disprove – he reminded her of Deploma – before he changed. She knew that it was unfair on the boy to think of him like this, especially when he knew nothing of her world but she could not deny that it had some truth to it. She tapped his name, reluctantly as she was worried the message would wake him, and asked if he was awake. Not ten seconds later, her phone lit.
Jonathan – Yeah, how come you ain't sleeping?
Leana smiled and set to work replying.
Leah – Bad dream. I didn't wake you did I?
Jonathan – Nah, I don't sleep well anyway. Don't worry about it.
She had a sneaking suspicion that he was lying but she admired his friendly nature. What he sent next shocked her beyond belief but brought back all of that anxiety she felt earlier that day.
Jonathan – Want me to call you?
After taking a deep breath, Leah decided to beat him to the mark and call him herself. The thing barely rang before she heard the muffled sounds of a hand sliding the phone between a head and a pillow along with a tired groan. She knew he was lying! "Hey," He mustered quietly. Shaking a little as she replied, Leana responded to him. He waited a moment as if cautious about how much he should pry but he always knew his limit. "Are you alright?" He asked. Leana calmed and bit her lip trying her best to sound okay – thank god he couldn't see her face.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bad dream," She stuttered with an anxious smile. She interpreted Jonathan's silence for scepticism, but he didn't call her out. After a moment he moved in his bed, she could hear the sound of rustling sheets.
"Leah," He asked with a little more urgency to his voice this time. "Are you outside?" He asked almost mortified and worried that she could be somewhere other than inside her house at this time in the morning.
"Yeah, I'm just outside my place," She assured him. "I just had a shower. Wake myself up a bit, you know?" Jonathan sighed down the phone. Leana wasn't quite sure if he was relieved or fed up. She hoped it wasn't the latter.
"Well get inside, you'll freeze if you're still wet," Leana wasn't one to take orders from someone. After doing nothing but that for nearly four years, she used the human world as a way to rebel almost. However, knowing that he meant well and was trying his best to make sure she didn't freeze, she complied. "Thanks," He said almost as if she had done him a favour and not the other way around. "You should get some sleep," He advised. Leana could tell he was sleepy even though he would later deny it.
"Thank you, Jonathan," she whispered down the phone. Although she couldn't see him, it was as though she could feel him gently smile against the device. Bidding her goodnight, he hung up. There was a new idea; perhaps it was his voice! Something about the way he spoke, almost too calm and collected for his age as though he had matured at a far speedier pace than most human men.
For the first time since she had left her house, Leana looked down at the towel to see that blood had caked multiple spots on the white towel that was wrapped around her body. How foolish had she been! Tearing off the soiled linen, she sauntered to her kitchen where she kept bandages for just this occasion however, this time it was different. She realised how pointless it was! Looking at herself in the reflection of the window. She looked a mess! Unruly violet hair and crumpled wings; which she went outside with! How could she have been so careless! What if someone had seen her! Gripping the curtains, she yanked them shut and fell onto one of the kitchen chairs. She felt like a stupid child! Burdened by a single man who made her life hell.
Collecting her thoughts and emotions, Leana peeled away the towel and tossed it onto the table, she would deal with it tomorrow. Slowly, she began to wrap the bandages around her arms. Of course, they would be noticed! When she went on that date with Jonathan, she would have to make sure that she wore long sleeves. Pain on contact wouldn't be a problem, he wouldn't dream of touching her for fear of sending her off on one of her fits. After all of her wounds were sufficiently covered, she took to her bathroom to rinse away the last of the bloody water, like she always did afterwards; it was like it never happened.
As she was leaving the bathroom, she noticed her own reflection in the mirror. She looked terrified. Leana scowled and wiped away the watering in her eyes, leaning on the sink to balance herself. She said nothing but made herself a promise that night. She would not be a victim any longer. She was nearly eighteen years old, a woman by far and someone that should not be diminished by a monster like Deploma Dondarion. She was going to go out with that kind-eyed human boy open minded and without fear. She would make a life for herself, no matter what the king had to say about it.