Nothing like Aeneas, when everybody knew exactly what he felt for Avy. The way he was so transparent, so obvious in every look and every word he spoke around her. It wasn't like that with Rebekka. Not in the slightest. With Aeneas, you could feel the weight of his emotions, his feelings were like an open book. But Rebekka? She was lost, drifting through this chaotic mess of a world, trying her best to find her place, but so visibly unsure of what was expected of her.
"I... I was just walking around... I didn't mean to bother any of you," she spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes were locked on the floor, avoiding mine, her body stiff with apprehension. "I'm sorry. Please, don't kill me." Her words were a pleading rush, and I could hear the faint tremor in her voice, the fear in her posture.
I sighed, deeply, a wave of exhaustion washing over me. This wasn't anything like Aeneas. Not even close. He was so obvious, so clear with his intentions, his feelings always apparent to everyone around him. But Rebekka? She was just another piece in this giant puzzle of confusion and survival. A puzzle she didn't even choose to be a part of.
"Close your eyes, Rebekka," my voice was gentle, almost coaxing. I wanted her to feel safe, wanted to calm her down, to erase the panic from her. I could feel it, thick and heavy in the air. She didn't hesitate. Slowly, she closed her eyes, her long lashes fluttering shut like a feather falling from the sky. I could tell she was trusting me, at least for now, and that trust meant more than I could ever put into words.
I stepped closer, careful not to make any sudden movements that might set her off, slowly lowering my weapon to the ground. I didn't want her to think I was a threat. I wanted her to see that I wasn't like the others, not like the people who would hurt her without a second thought. "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you," I said softly, taking another step closer. "And neither will anyone else while I'm here. You're safe. I promise you."
She nodded slowly, her body trembling, her hands still shaking faintly, even though her eyes remained shut. I reached out, my fingers brushing through her hair, running my hand down the soft strands in an attempt to soothe her. She was fragile, her vulnerability almost too much to bear. It was hard to watch, but I knew she needed to be grounded, to feel something real.
"Why are you in the trials, Rebekka?" I asked, my tone light but laced with curiosity. There had to be a reason, something deeper behind her presence here. I was certain of that.
She swallowed hard, her throat constricting as though the words were hard to say, harder to admit. "My... my dad made me come," she finally admitted, her voice small, almost a whisper. "I didn't want this. Not at all. I don't want to be your enemy, please, don't get me wrong. I don't want anything to do with the Crown Prince!" She seemed desperate for me to understand, her voice filled with a mix of fear and genuine remorse. She didn't want to be here. She didn't want any of this.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly, trying to ease the tension, to let her know I wasn't upset with her. "Neither do I, Rebekka," I said with a half-smile, hoping my words would bring her some comfort. "You don't need to worry about me. I'm not here because I want to be. I'm here because the Queen and the King told me I had no choice. They sent me here to these trials as their pawn, just so their son could get his kicks torturing me."
The bitterness in my voice wasn't lost on her. It never was. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the anger that bubbled up in my chest whenever I thought about it. But I couldn't let it consume me, not now, not in front of her.
"But that's not important right now," I continued, my voice softer, more measured. "What matters is that I'll guide you to sit down, alright? Keep your eyes closed. I don't have full control over... what you know I can do."
She nodded, still unsure, but trusting enough to listen. I gently took her hands, leading her to sit down on the cold stone floor, careful not to hurt her. But as she settled herself down, she didn't let go of my hands. Her fingers tightened around mine, as if she needed something to hold onto, something real. I didn't mind. If anything, it made me feel like I wasn't alone in this moment.
"Are you scared?" I asked, my voice quiet, but piercing through the thick silence that surrounded us. I could feel the tension in her grip, the uncertainty in her every breath.
She didn't answer right away, and I could feel her hesitation in the stillness. When she finally spoke, her voice trembled, soft and unsure. "I..." She didn't finish, and I could see the struggle in her expression, the words caught in her throat.
I let out a quiet sigh, shaking my head as I tried to keep my frustration in check. "Rebekka, my dear, you're not going to survive in this viper's den if you keep shaking like that." My tone softened just a bit, but the urgency was still there. "The other girls will think you're just playing a part, trying to look like a helpless, innocent little girl, trying to win that asshole's favor. And that, my dear, will make you a target. A prime target. You don't want that, do you?"
"No!" she exclaimed suddenly, her voice weary and panicked all at once. "I don't want that at all."
I nodded slowly, recognizing the fear in her voice, but also the resolve beneath it. She didn't want to be here, didn't want to be a pawn in this game. That much was clear. Sighing, I turned to Sohan and Adonis, who had been standing off to the side, staring at me as if I had grown two extra heads.
"Don't just stand there staring at me like a pair of idiots," I snapped, frustration creeping into my tone. "Get over here and do something useful. Help this girl calm down!"
"Us?" they said in unison, their voices dripping with reluctance. "You're the one who scared her, not us!"
I rolled my eyes at them. "She didn't scare me! You two—" I began, ready to argue, but Rebekka cut me off, her voice soft but sincere.
"You're... You're calming me down, Princess," she said, and the words nearly froze me in place. My mind scrambled, trying to process what she had said.
"Gods above," I muttered, my tone exasperated. "Don't call me that. It's awkward. I've been calling you by your name, so you should call me by mine. Eileithya. Or just Thya, please." I shook my head in mild disbelief, trying to keep the mood light. "But don't you hate me?"
She hesitated for a long moment, and then, almost hesitantly, opened her eyes. It was only for a split second, but I couldn't bring myself to look directly at her. I couldn't handle the vulnerability in her eyes.
"Why... why would I hate you?" she asked, her voice genuinely confused, her gaze searching mine for an answer. "You've never done anything to me."
The boys stiffened, and I could almost feel their judgment hanging in the air. But I wasn't sure they even understood the weight of the situation. Rebekka was caught up in something far deeper than any of us realized, and they didn't even know the half of it. But Adonis, being the stubborn idiot he was, spoke anyway.
"Don't you know all this girl did?" he said, his voice laced with disdain.
I turned sharply, ready to snap back, but my voice cut through before I could even process what was happening. "She can't control it! She didn't ask for this gift, this curse. It's not her fault!"
The anger bubbled up inside of me again, but before I could say anything else, Rebekka spoke again. Her voice was quiet, steady, but her words hung in the air like a weight.
"So... you don't hate me for... hmm... knowing about Avy's death before anyone else and keeping it a secret?" Her voice faltered for just a moment, the mention of Avy's death causing the air to thicken with tension. But Rebekka didn't flinch, didn't shy away.
The boys, on the other hand, looked like they might explode. I could feel the heat in their eyes, but I noticed that Rebekka, this girl, didn't look at me with judgment. She just looked confused. And maybe even concerned.
"No," she said softly, her voice almost too gentle. "Why would I?"
"Because you—" I started, but I stopped myself. They didn't know the full story, and now wasn't the time to explain. "Because of your... hm... feelings."
"Her feelings?" It was Sohan who spoke this time, looking entirely lost.
I let out a long, exhausted sigh. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that, Rebekka, I thought you hated me, just like everyone else does."
Her face softened as she looked at me. "Everyone else is stupid. I don't hate you, Thya! I was... I was worried when I heard that you wouldn't be with us because you'd had an accident."
"Oh, those two beat me up, broke five of my ribs, and I ended up hitting my head on the sharp edge of a table, lost too much blood... almost died," I replied with a half-hearted giggle. "No big deal."
The humor didn't quite reach my eyes. But it was fine. At least for now.