The feeling of icy fingers combing through my hair stirs me from sleep and I mumble incoherently. When nails scrape my skull sending shivers of pleasure down my spine I snap my eyes open. Bright maroon eyes meet my pale blue one, Aurora lay beside me on top of the covers propped up on an elbow. Had she been watching me sleep?
A soft smile comes to her full lips. "Good afternoon pet."
Last night plays through my head in fast forward causing a dull ache to build. I put a hand on my forehead. "Finnick-!" I try to sit up but gasp at the pain spiking my ribs.
Firm and cold hands push me gently back down. "Rest," Aurora's lips were pressed in a hard line of disapproval though I wasn't sure if it was because she didn't like seeing me in pain or the first words out of my mouth being my fiancé's name. "The boy is fine, minor cuts and bruising, he woke up hours ago. He gave a statement of what happened so you wouldn't have to."
When I try to sit up again sharp pain shoot through me so I settle with laying down. I turn my face to look at my sire. "What happened after I passed out?"
"Someone called the police about people screaming and fighting near The Strand. They thought it was just some Mythic squabble but when they got there...I was told it looked like a massacre." I flinch at that. "The girl is in the hospital recovering; she may be in there for months. Your ribs are broken in several places, slight neck bruises, and a concussion. I think a few cups of blood and sleep will do you good."
I smile at the thought of laying in bed with Aurora all day. "That sounds like a plan."
The plan lasted exactly 30 minutes before Jason and Anthony burst in with food and the nurse. My little brothers fuss over me while the nurse changes my bandages and gives me a glass of blood. Aurora had moved from the bed to sit in her usual spot on the chaise in the corner reading that Edgar Allen Poe book. Jason lays across my bed playing with toys he left in here last time while Anthony ate the breakfast they brought and chatted about his school. Later in the day Lang and Ellie show with snacks and games.
In the end, I still spent the day in bed but with four others in it playing board games. Ellie threw a fit when she lost for the third time at Clue. Lang at some point states he is bored and if we don't do something fun he'll do something crazy, Anthony quickly suggests a movie knowing he will be the object of Lang's attention when he gets bored. It was cute and sad really, Lang was always flirting with him and Anthony would always turn red as a tomato. Everyone agrees to a movie except Aurora, who sat silently in the same spot reading. I stole little peeks at her throughout the day taking comfort in just having her close by.
——————————————
Once the sky started getting dark my mom comes in and shoos everyone out, Lang and Ellie saying goodbye to me and head out. My mom had to carry Jason out who was crying that he didn't want to leave me. Aww. Casting a wary glance at Aurora mother closes my door and the quiet sets in for the first time all day. I breathe out in relief and slump against my headboard.
"I feel all gross, I need a bath," I say sniffing my wrinkled shirt.
My sire says nothing just sets down her book and starts to exit the bedroom. My heart thumps hard when her hand reaches for the handle. I don't want her to go yet. "Rory?" I watch her body tense up at her name slowly looking back at me over her shoulder. "Where are you going?"
Aurora blinks once then shifts to face me, her hand still gripping the doorknob. "You just said you needed to bathe."
Now or never Van Byrne. I tell myself. "Can...you help me?" A black brow quirks up followed by a smirk and I lose all my confidence. "I can't really move on my own a-and I don't want anyone else to-"
Scooping me up with no effort at all Aurora looks me in the eyes and gives me a smug smirk. "Just couldn't wait for me to undress you huh?"
That makes me glow scarlet my whole face heating up from embarrassment. "That's not-"
"Hush pet, I'm only teasing." Aurora chuckles walking into the bathroom.
Setting me down on the toilet she plays with the water temperature until it is just right, the tub filling with hot water. I watch the back of her head as she grabs my shampoo looking at it with a scowl. "So this is how she gets that smell," Aurora murmurs to herself but I hear it.
I giggle causing her to twitch her gaze sliding over to me with curious eyes. "If you like it you can use it."
Looking away quickly Aurora busies herself with the bath again and I grin at her turned back knowing I just made her blush. Karma is funny though soon enough I'm blushing a bright red hue as I clumsily try to get out of my clothes. I take a deep breath to steady myself as I pull my shorts down, minimal pain as I do so. Yet when I try to tug my shirt off cursing when my ribs protest and I let out a loud hiss of pain. Immediately at my side, Aurora's cool hands take over. She makes a noise of displeasure when she's sees my injuries.
"Guess you truly did need my help." She mutters and looks down at me, no shame in her eyes when they slowly drag up and down my body. Aurora lets out a shaky breath and steps away. I blush and step out the rest of my clothing only to yelp when she picks me back up and sets me in the warm water.
"I-i could've gotten in by myself!" I stutter and all she does is a smirk.
Once I am fully submerged Aurora helps me clean all the parts of my body I can't reach on my own, my mind going crazy whenever I felt her skin against mine instead of the washcloth. We both stayed quiet until she was finished cleaning me. Her fingers working magic on my scalp and it's hard to keep from moaning. I'm trying not to fall apart by the time she dries me off and gently helps me into fresh PJs. Every time her hands brush against me I shiver, feeling heat rolling over me from her cold touch. All I wanted was to touch her, kiss her. I was afraid to though, not knowing what she might do, Aurora liked to play but I got the feeling if she wanted something she would take it. Gods this was a bad idea. This is torture.
I barely knew her and yet here I was thinking of kissing her. I wanted to get to know her better but she kept her wall up at all times, never revealing much. While she combed my hair I watch her in the mirror, red eyes focused on my thick red locks.
"Where are you from? Originally?" I ask quietly the words slipping out before I can stop.
The brush stops mid-stroke for a second before resuming through my hair. Aurora looks at me in the mirror hesitant to answer me. She stays silent and I can't tell what she is thinking.
"I was born in Galle, on the shore near Sri Lanka, a beautiful old town." Her voice is distant when she replies, relieving a distant memory.
"Sri Lanka," I mumble "is that where you learned Tamil?"
She only nods and I let the subject drop thankful that she is willing to give that much information after a month of knowing her. My hair now untangled, Aurora steps away from me and walks into the bedroom. I follow after her laying down on the bed and stare at her as she lays down next to me. When she catches me staring she just smiles and rolls on her side to face me.
"What are you thinking about?" She asks.
"I'm thinking about that poor couple," I say honestly shaking my head at the vivid memory.
Aurora reaches up and caresses my face with her thumb while her other hand tangles in my hair. Her eyes locking with mine and I have to look away, those eyes saw right through me and it was scary. So I lean into her comforting touch instead, focusing on how nice her fingers feel in my hair. "You scared me yesterday." Her voice is just a whisper her accent thick as she speaks.
I close my eyes as she continues to rub circles on my cheek. "I'm okay now."
Pulling me close Aurora wraps her body around mine, careful not to hurt me. The feeling of her makes me melt, every muscle in me relaxing at last. Even her myrrh and citrus scent lulled me into comfort. Gods, why does she make me feel like this? All I could do when I was being attacked was call out for her, hoping she would come and protect me.
My voice is tight with sadness I whisper into her chest. "What those....monsters did to that couple...." I shiver and drag myself closer to her. "It made my decision easier."
"And what's that aḻaku?" She mumbles rubbing my back working away the knots.
I try not to moan at the feeling, my muscles were so tense it almost tickled. "I'm going to end this war." Aurora's hands and the warmth of the blankets were making me drowsy.
"Are you sure you're ready for that?"
I nod my eyelids feeling heavy. "I can do anything long as you stay right here."
Kissing the top of my head Aurora says "I'm not going anywhere."
Drifting off in my sire's arm was easy, peace settling in me even if it's just for a moment.