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“You just woke up or are you scared of being seduced?” He raised a brow, amused.

She looked him up and down. “I thought you usually don’t do it and I don’t want to be your practice target.”

He smiled smugly. “I don’t need practice. I am a natural.”

An arrogant bastard is more likely how she would describe him.

“And by what evidence have you drawn this conclusion?”

He chuckled, his white teeth shining in the dim light. “Well, you are the scientist. Maybe you can let me know if my conclusion is right?”

“I can’t. I am only one subject and I can’t come to a conclusion simply based on my opinion.”

“Your opinion is exactly the conclusion I am looking for.”

“My opinion is that as long as your intention to seduce is simply that, you can not seduce me.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Then what should my intention be?”

“You seem desperate.”

“I am curious. You are my enemy and seduction is a powerful tool.”

“Only if you know how to use it but… I forgot. You are a natural.” She smirked.

“You too.” He said with a subtle smile and intense eyes.

A silence followed, where they looked at each other, their gazes exchanging words unspoken. Words they were thinking of but not saying.

“Can I sleep now?”

He nodded.

She lay down on the sofa, facing away, and covered herself with the blanket he brought her. She did not hear him get up so she knew he was still there but ignored him. Closing her eyes, she tried to have that peaceful sleep she had earlier. She longed for it but that was not what she got.

The familiar nightmares returned, taking turns to disturb her sleep until the morning came. When she woke up, she was so devastated to find out that it was not the end. She was still sick and the nightmares continued. She remained laying on the sofa paralyzed and tears streaming down her face.

The tiredness, numbness, weakness, and hopelessness she didn’t know plagued her so much until after yesterday’s experience hit her harder today. She realized just how wrong everything was about her and that made her chest squeeze hard. Panic rose within her and the itch came back stronger.

Ravina sat up, trying to control her breathing, gasping for air between the tears and the pain in her chest. She did the only thing that would give her relief. She peeled off the crusting skin that began to heal on her hands. She began bleeding and she could breathe a little.

When her focus came back, she realized she had stained her white garment.

“Oh dear,” Araminta’s horrified voice caused her head to turn to where the sound came from. “Hold it to stop the bleeding. I will bring a bandage.” She said and left.

Ravine wasn’t sure which hand to hold to stop the bleeding. She had peeled excessively at her hands. So she stood up and decided to go find water to wash her hands with. In the backyard, where Malachi, had taken her yesterday to wash her hands, she wound pots of water and used it to clean her hands. Then she ripped a piece of the already stained garment to wrap her hands.

Araminta found her at last. “Here you are. I wondered where you left.”

“I took care of it.” She said, her voice void of emotion.

“I can see that, but what happened?”

“It is my compulsion.” She said curtly.

Araminta frowned but asked no more. Instead, she showed her the clothes she brought for her and allowed her to change.

“May I ask a question?” She said as she combed her hair.

“Yes,” Ravina replied.

“How was your mother as a person?”

Ravina felt as if someone sliced her chest open with an unsharpened knife.

“I am sorry. You don’t have to answer.” She shook her head.

Images of her mother came to mind. Her smile and laughter, her warm hugs, her beauty, and her charm. Ravina looked at Araminta through the mirror. Although she had been queen like her mother she had a different demeanor. In her son’s presence, she almost disappeared. She was not the kind of queen mother she had read about and she was certainly not like her mother.

“She was eloquent, elegant, and assertive. She was a woman of integrity.”

A small but noticeable frown settled between Araminta’s eyebrows and her brushing slowed down as if thinking of what she said. “She sounds like a good woman and a mother. I can see she raised you well.”

Ravina somehow left the world behind. Now she was lost in the memories of her mother. She remembered her mother hugging her and Corinna while they were scared. “Don’t be afraid.” She said cupping their cheeks and smiling gently. “We will all die someday, but we won’t die for nothing. Because we live for something and that is what truly makes us alive.”

“Ravina?” Araminta snapped her back to reality. “Shall we have breakfast?”

Ravina nodded even though she had no appetite. She was just happy not to be alone with Araminta. The woman made her oddly uncomfortable.

When she realized they were all going to have breakfast together she felt even more uncomfortable. They all sat at the table when she arrived with Araminta. Malachi watched her with a frown as she went to sit down. He looked at her wrapped hands but said nothing.

“What happened?” Aaron asked pointing at her hands.

“I cut myself.” She said as she looked up at him where he sat beside Saul who glared at her.

“Be careful.” He told her.

“Yes. Be very careful. After all, we don’t want our dear brother to hurt.” He said taunting Malachi.

Ravina began to feel disturbed that his brothers remained quiet but mostly his mother. Grief or not. Ignoring him as if he wasn’t there wasn’t the way.

“Aaron. Give me the salt!” He then ordered.

“Of course brother,” Aaron said reaching for the salt. He placed it near Saul. Then pushed his glass closer to him. “Pour me some water.”

Everyone paused as if he said something odd. Saul blinked, slowly putting back the salt while Aaron acted casually, putting cheese on his plate. Saul reached for the water with a frown and poured it into his glass.

“Oh, would you mind giving me some bread as well.” he nodded toward the basket of bread.

Saul grabbed the whole basket and moved it closer to Aaron, his gaze still fixed on him.

“Thank you,” Aaron still spoke casually.

Ravina tried to fight back the smile that crept to her face as she watched Aaron. When he continued to serve himself and eat, the others went out of their dazed state and began to eat as well.

Aaron met her gaze across the table and smiled with his eyes. Ravina returned the gesture. In all this pain, she felt a sense of respite.