Chapter 115 - She isn’t human

EMMA

The silver band is delicate around her finger. The sapphire is deep blue and shimmers in the morning sun. It catches the light and glints as I twist her hand in mine.

“It’s gorgeous,” I say in awe.

Julie beams as she takes in her engagement ring. Her happiness is so bright that it spreads around and I see smiles appearing on the customers in the diner. Her smile is infectious and I can’t help smiling too.

The sapphire stone resting on her finger matches the color of her eyes and even has the same sparkle.

I always feel an instant connection to anyone with blue eyes, even when mine were gray. I’m so happy for her that she has found love and happiness.

But there is also a darker part within me that is jealous. It eats away at my chest as I watch the display of love between them.

Arthur stands beside her with his arm wrapped around her waist and a proud smile on his face. Julie doesn’t have to hide her love for him. She can be open and people will be happy for her. She can have a wedding and a husband that adores her.

My mind wanders to a fantasy world where I could marry Hadrian. Where I could have a wedding with thousands of flowers decorating the venue. Where I would wear a long white dress and Hadrian would wait for me at the end of the aisle dressed in a tux. A world where people would celebrate our union, instead of degrading it.

It’s an impossible dream.

I release her hand and keep a smile plastered on my face as I look at the couple. “When is the wedding going to be?”

Julie bounces on her toes and excitement shines in her eyes as she peers up to her fiancé. “Actually we were thinking, in two weeks.”

I fail to hide my shock. “So soon?”

“We didn’t want to wait and Dex suggested that sooner would be better,” Arthur says as he rubs his hand up and down her arm.

Dex is moving up the timeline for the mission. Waiting for long might not even be possible. The reality of the situation casts a cloud over joyful news.

“Right, of course. If you need any help, please let me know.”

Their presence makes me almost feel chipper as well if I wasn’t so tired. I didn’t sleep a wink last night and my body feels drained. I feel like I ran a marathon or something.

“That would be much appreciated,” Arthur says with a wide smile. Everyone in town likes Arthur. He’s a big teddy bear that always finds a way to make you smile. I’m not surprised that Julie so easily fell for the buoyant owner of the diner.

“Do you want coffee?” He asks as he moves to the bar.

The deep, rich scent of black coffee is abundant and always present in the diner. It’s why I came here in the first place. “Yes please.”

The diner is bustling in the morning. The people in town live their lives and have their routines. Nobody knows about what happened last night.

“Are you okay?” Julie asks as she tightens the apron around her waist.

I shake my head to dispel the memories of last night. “Yeah of course.”

The weight of two tattooed hands lands on my shoulders. “Good morning, Princess.” His smooth voice is closer than I expected and his breath brushes over the shell of my ear.

I turn around and take a step back. “Will you please stop that already?”

Dex knows that it annoys me when he calls me Princess and still he keeps teasing me. He gives me a wink and a wide smile. *Someone is in a good mood this morning.*

Arthur places a steaming mug of black coffee on the counter. “Morning Dex, you want coffee?”

“I’ll just take this one,” Dex says with a greeting nod, snatches the mug before me and turns towards the door.

I stand there for a second and I’m slow to catch up with what’s happening. *Did he just steal my coffee?*

“Hey, that’s mine!” I call behind Dex as he steps out of the diner. Arther gives me a shrug as if to say ‘What can you do about it’.

Instead of waiting for another mug and letting it go, I charge through the door and follow Dex outside. He stole my coffee, that is basically declaring war.

“Give it back,” I say when I reach him in the middle of the square.

“This?” He asks with boyish innocence and offers the mug to me.

I reach for the mug and he pulls it back. I step closer, but then he moves it up and I have to stretch my arm to reach for it. I can feel his breath brushing over my face and notice how close he is.

I quickly step away from him when I realize what’s going on. “You know what, enjoy. I’ll just get a new one.”

I turn back to the diner, but Dex is quick to reach for my hand.

“I'm sorry, here.” He takes my hand and places it against the warm mug. “I was just teasing you.” Dex doesn’t let go and I catch him staring at my lips for a moment.

*Oh no.*

A tug in my stomach demands my attention in another direction. I pull my hand away when I spot Hadrian walking into town with a girl in his arms.

For a second I think that it's Alex. One arm hangs limp at her side. I walk towards them before I really think about what I’m doing.

Hadrian has been searching after she ran away. She didn’t come home yesterday and this morning there was still no sign of her.

When I come closer I realize that this isn’t Alex. The girl is unconscious and I don’t recognize her. She’s thin and her cheeks are sunken in. Dirt covers every inch of her skin and her long hair.

“Who’s this?” Dex asks as he joins me.

“I found her wandering in the woods,” Hadrian says and there’s a light strain in his voice, but he hides it well. “She collapsed before I could ask.”

Dex hums in understanding as he examines the girl. “She needs a doctor.”

——————————

I run a sponge over her dirt-stained skin and avoid the IV sticking out of her arm. Dried-up blood coats her fingers, but I don’t see any injuries.

The girl is young, maybe even around my age. She has something familiar, but I can’t place what.

“The girl is malnourished, dehydrated and has not seen daylight in a while.” Doctor Harold says as he lowers his glasses. “The combination with exhaustion probably resulted in her current state.”

“Will she be okay?” I ask and the doctor turns his scowl my way.

“Her body needs rest and hydration. She will most likely wake up today or tomorrow.”

Dex nods and places a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you, doctor.”

Hadrian is leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He stands separate from our circle. His eyes are focused as he takes in everything in the room.

Dex takes a seat at the other side of the bed and a frown knits at his brows. “Their army probably held her captive.”

Hadrian snaps his head towards Dex and copies the frown. “You think so?”

“What other explanation is there?” Dex asks, his scowl deepens. “They probably tortured her or something. Maybe even brainwashed her.”

I watch Hadrian from the corner of my eye. He doesn’t seem convinced.

It does seem far-stretched, but we don’t know everything about the army. General Zeno is near, I wouldn’t be that surprised. He has killed many girls, even poisoned them with wolfbane. He could very well change his ways. Maybe he is holding them captive.

“They are monsters,” Dex grumbles and I know his pain runs deep. If I was in his position, then I would probably think the same. Like he said, what other explanation is there?

I run the sponge over her underarms and squeeze the dirty water out and into the bucket next to me. “She can stay in the house when she wakes up.”

“I don’t think that's a good idea,” Dex says. His anger turns into concern when he looks at me. “She might need psychological help. It’s probably better if she stayed here.”

I continue to clean her arm and determination takes over. “It wasn’t a question.”

I don’t know what this girl has been through and I fear the worst. But I won’t treat her differently because I expect something to happen. She deserves care and a home. I won’t change my mind and I think that Dex knows it too. He rises with a sigh and leaves the room.

“You also think it isn’t a good idea?” I grumble at Hadrian as I clean more and more of the dirt away.

“She isn’t human, Emma.”