I watched Aeliana walk away, her figure retreating down the hall. The thought of her going on a date with Nathaniel gnawed at me. I smirked, despite the bitterness in my chest. Well, maybe she wasn't that great. At least with this injury, it looked like Leora had given me back my magic. Small victories.
I focused on my hand, willing the familiar warmth of my purple fire magic to manifest. A small flame flickered to life, dancing in my palm. Relief washed over me. I had my magic back. Maybe being beaten to a pulp by that rogue demon yesterday wasn't entirely worthless.
I decided to take a quick shower, though the thought of moving around with my injuries made me cringe. Each step towards the bathroom was a reminder of the demon's strength. "Fucking bastard," I muttered, cursing the demon and its relentless attacks. But in a twisted way, I was grateful. The encounter had resulted in Leora restoring my magic, and that was worth a few bruises.
In the bathroom, I stripped off my clothes, wincing as the fabric brushed against my sore skin. Stepping into the shower, I turned on the hot water, hoping it would soothe my aching muscles. The water hit my back, and I let out a hiss of pain.
"Fuck," I swore, leaning against the cool tile wall. Every movement was agony, but I forced myself to stay under the spray, letting the water wash away the grime and blood from yesterday's battle.
As I stood there, I couldn't help but think about the fight. That rogue demon had been a real son of a bitch. Tougher than I'd anticipated. But at least it had gotten me my magic back. Small victories, I reminded myself again.
After what felt like an eternity, I managed to wash up and step out of the shower. Drying off was another painful ordeal, and I cursed the demon again with every wince and hiss. Finally, I wrapped the towel around me and limped back to my room.
I dressed in my usual outfit: black pants and a white shirt. Simple, comfortable, and easy to move in, even with injuries.
I sat on the edge of my bed, feeling a mix of frustration and boredom. I couldn't do much in this state, and the thought of just lying around drove me insane. My eyes drifted to the bookshelf. Maybe a good book would take my mind off things.
I scanned the titles and pulled out a novel that seemed interesting. It was a romance, something I usually avoided like the plague, but I was desperate for a distraction. I settled back on my bed, trying to get comfortable despite the pain, and started reading.
The story was about a pair of star-crossed lovers, their relationship filled with trials and tribulations. I scoffed at the sappy dialogue and melodramatic declarations of love. "What a load of bullshit," I muttered under my breath, flipping the pages with increasing irritation. The more I read, the more I despised the characters and their unrealistic love story.
After a few chapters, I'd had enough. With a frustrated growl, I threw the book across the room. It hit the wall with a satisfying thud before falling to the floor. "Fucking waste of time," I spat, feeling a bit better now that the irritating story was out of my hands.
I sat there, my mind wandering. I couldn't shake the thought of Aeliana going out with Nathaniel. The idea of them together made my blood boil for reasons I didn't want to examine too closely. "Why the hell do I care?" I asked myself, running a hand through my damp hair. But the answer eluded me.
I stood up, pacing the room. Sitting around wasn't going to do me any good. I needed to do something, anything to get my mind off this whole mess. That's when an idea struck me. "Let's see Aeliana's date," I said to myself, a wicked grin spreading across my face.
With my magic back, I could easily track them down. A little spying wouldn't hurt, and maybe it would give me some satisfaction to see how their date was going. I summoned a small portal, focusing on the place where I sensed Aeliana's presence.
The portal shimmered to life, and I peered through, trying to catch a glimpse of their date. My heart pounded with anticipation, and a part of me was curious to see if Nathaniel could actually make Aeliana smile the way I had seen before. The thought of her enjoying herself without me gnawed at me more than I liked to admit.
Through the portal, I saw Aeliana and Nathaniel sitting at a quaint café. They were talking, laughing, and Nathaniel seemed to be leaning in a little too close for my liking. "Asshole," I muttered under my breath, feeling a surge of jealousy.
I watched as Nathaniel reached out, touching Aeliana's hand. She didn't pull away. Instead, she smiled, and it was a smile I hadn't seen directed at me. It was warm, genuine, and it made my chest tighten with an unfamiliar ache.
"Fuck, what is happening to me," I grumbled, unable to tear my eyes away from the scene. Despite my irritation, I couldn't deny that Aeliana looked happy. But why did it bother me so much?
My mind raced with conflicting emotions. I hated the idea of Aeliana with someone else, but I also hated the vulnerability I felt whenever she was around. It was a confusing, infuriating mess, and I didn't know how to deal with it.
I closed the portal with a frustrated sigh, deciding that watching them wasn't helping. It only made things worse. I needed a distraction, something to take my mind off Aeliana and her stupid date with Nathaniel.
I picked up another book from the shelf, this time a thrilling fantasy novel that promised action and adventure. It was more my style, and I hoped it would be enough to keep my mind occupied. I settled back on the bed, wincing slightly as my injuries protested, and began reading.
The story was captivating, filled with battles and magic, and for a while, I managed to lose myself in the pages. But even as I read, thoughts of Aeliana kept creeping back into my mind. I wondered how her date was going, if she was having a good time, and if she would come back with that same smile on her face.
"Get a grip, Ciara," I muttered to myself, trying to focus on the book. But it was no use. Aeliana had a way of invading my thoughts, no matter how hard I tried to push her out.
Hours passed, and eventually, I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. Exhaustion from the day's events and my injuries finally caught up with me. I set the book aside and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.