Chereads / The Pyre / Chapter 8 - Chapter Eight: Odds

Chapter 8 - Chapter Eight: Odds

OSHA

I woke in a groggy haze, evening sun creeping across my swim in a warm embrace. I rose from my bed, rather Pasha's bed. My mind swimming with last night's escapades. I then remembered the girl and Misha. I couldn't help but become flustered at the thought. Not only those eyes of his boring into me, but the possible meaning behind them. The girl once again flashing across my brain, her hands on him. Her body naked before him. I felt myself burn from the inside, my skin being close to that of a person who solely tends to the fires.

I felt a deep sense of betrayal yet I knew that it was not. Why did I feel this way? Yes, he is the most beautiful man I've ever laid eyes on, even dare I say, more than Pasha. I know I can't help the way my heart jumps when looking directly at him or being in close proximity. That's to be expected as I have a human woman's heart. Fickle and foolish. However, knowing these things I realize it's just loneliness perhaps. So why did I feel as if I had a say in what he does in his leisure time? I thought I knew then with Pasha as I painfully do now, they do not love, not humans perhaps but their own kind. We are but mere vermin to them. Sometimes a cure for boredom, other times a repulsion, sometimes a servant, others a dog. A rebellion of sorts for those who wish to shock. A tool for trade. Nothing more.

We are replaceable, extinguishable, dreadful. I sighed with great sorrow as I swung off the bed. I had to remain focus on my goal. One day when they least expect it, from one they consider the lowest of low, will I bring about their destruction. Misha could have his whores and I… will have my vengeance.

I began to rush about to appropriate myself for the Queen's scrutinizing gaze. The night remains a fog and for some strange reason I cannot seem to remember what exactly transpired. One thing I do know though, I'll have to answer for Craster, I don't know what lied ahead only my fear of what was to come. Having tidied myself to approval I made my way towards the door. My hand claws around the cool metal of the knob, taking a steadying breath before opening. I stepped into the hallway, peering to see if anyone was around. Not a soul. I let a sigh of relief. I do not think I could hold up any type of conversation having present matters pressing. Misha once again came to mind before I pushed him back into the recess of my mind. Later. That is if I'm not dead or beaten by then. My guess being it was the former. I felt a tingle crawl from the base of spine all the way to my ears. I shivered and rubbed my arms, making my way for the Queen's Quarters. Escape was out of the question for I knew that if I was caught and THAT would a far worse fate than the situation at hand. I began praying mercifully for a quick death.

MISHA

The hag paced the sitting room in a furious frenzy. "Have you any idea what you've done?!" She shrieked, flying forward like some banshee, her talons out. "I needed him ALIVE!" She struck out at my face, slashing through my skin. I tightened my jaw but wouldn't give her satisfaction of showing her my pain. "He sought to betray us. I eliminated his chance to." I bit out through clenched teeth. "Oh? The last we spoke we had come to an agreement, and believe you me, he had quite a lot to be grateful for, so why would he throw it away hmm?!" Her pacing resumed, her eyes not once leaving me, like an animal stalking her prey. But I am nobody's prey. I squared my shoulders, leveling my gaze with hers. "The point of betrayal, is that you never see it coming. Perhaps that's why." In a single breath she was on me, snarling. "I could rip your throat out!" "Go on then." I replied flatly. She roared in close proximity to my face once more. "Did your little pet have anything to do with this?" I steeled myself, making sure I have not a single thing away. "As I've said, he sought to betray you, I listened in on their conversation, he asked my servant to report any and everything you do back to him in exchange for her freedom. She outright refused. I myself do not know why. He tried a few more times to convince her by saying he would kill you, us, set her free or let her rule beside him. Tried to play on her role in life. She still refused and called out to a fellow servant I assume to assist her in getting out of the situation all together. Once he parted ways with my servant, I sought to confront him." I breathed out cooly. "Then I killed him." Our noses touched as we glared into each other trying to figure out what one another was thinking. She huffed and receded to her chair in a swift breeze. "I'll have others confirm your story. Get out before I kill that pet of yours to teach you a lesson on restraint." I straightened back up and got to my feet quickly. I crossed the room to the door and cracked it open when out she called out to me "I think I will have a nice little chat with her myself." I almost froze but reminded myself she was watching.

OSHA

I was almost to Queen's Quarters, before I had known it my feet carried me here without even a thought spared as to where I was going. I paused for a moment, contemplating if I was an idiot for coming straight to slaughter and if I should actually try to escape. I bit my lip, chewing on it mercilessly. "Osha!" I bit my lip, startled and looked up to see Misha hurrying to me. "Ye-" He grabbed me, rushing me into the nearest room." Abandoned of people, he shut the door swiftly. This must be about last night. My heart fluttered in anxiousness and anticipation. "I-" His hand came up to my face warranting a flinch on my part. His finger wiped under my lip, red covering his fingertip. I saw his fangs lower and his eyes grow dark, his tongue darting around his finger in some savage swirl. I felt a heat rise within me, making me warm and flushed. His eyes held mine momentarily before they flew down to my lip yet again. My lips parted to speak but before I could utter a single word his mouth was on mine. The suction on his mouth on my lips made me bleed more, his hand became tangled in my hair, pulling downward. "Mmmm!" I whimpered. His eyes accessed me for a moment, pausing the suction. Time lingering in place for the smallest of moments. I was furious with him, though I knew I had no claim to be. His tongue ran across my lips, I felt my knees buckle from how tense I'd become. He smirked against my lips before pulling away and clearing his throat. "I've taken the suspicion off you with the Craster situation." He ran through what he told his mother and filled me in on what to say. All the while I was still stupidly concerned with what just transpired, not my life or the precarious position in which it was. Was he going to bring up last night? Are we going to pretend this whole basically kiss just didn't happen? It was not an exaggeration to say I've never in my whole life knowing him, have seen him act this way towards me. "Are you listening?" He snapped, bringing out of my idiot daze. "Y-yes, of course." He gave me a knowing look. "You know what to say?" The heat returned to my face, my eyes darted to the floor. "I know what to say." I replied hesitantly. That gorgeously strong eyebrow of his raised. "I-is that all?" I asked rather meekly. Why was I so flustered about this? This was all just a game of pure boredom for him. I KNEW that. "I don't know is it?" He replied, his gaze penetrating mine. The heat rose again. He took a slow agonizing step towards me. "You look as if you have something to say." Another step. I broke his stare, all of a sudden more interested in the stone floors beneath me. "I-I" "You?" He drew out. Another step. "I don't know what your alluding to Master Misha but-" I trailed off, the gleam of his shoes shown brightly up at me. No more steps. I peered up beneath my lashes focusing only on his clavicle. "Hmmm." His throat hummed. So beautiful. I felt the tip of his finger tilt my chin upwards, my eyes remained lowered. "You know, I can always tell when you lie." He leaned forward, his lips brushing my ear. "I can tell a great deal from just your heartbeat." I swallowed so loudly we both knew he could hear. His breath slid around my neck so deliciously I almost couldn't stand it. Almost. I gasped for an intake of air just as two servant maids came in the room. "Out!" He ordered. All of us ladies shivered before they hastily departed. His eyes were on me, once again sweeping me out. He leaned in "Later then." He promised, leaving me stunned in his swift gust.