Until Death Do Us Apart

Just Between Us

Another successful day is left behind me. I didn’t die, although my body and my muscles hurt like hell. AGAIN. Will this become some kind of a rule from now on? I’ve been trying to concentrate on the training, but the only thing I can think of is just one joke which reminds me of my situation.

Never challenge the grim reaper to a pillow fight.... Unless you’re ready for the reaper cushions!

I can finally take Xena’s clothes off. Sophia is on a state business (whatever that means) and I can browse through my favourite books. I haven’t been reading too much lately. Oh, I can almost sense the smell of a paper book. The very moment I open the book somebody knocks on the door.

Seriously? Nobody’s home.

I put on a bathrobe. I just wouldn’t be bothered to wear anything at all, but I must so then bathrobe must be enough. I guess somebody has been tempted by the idea to prank me otherwise I can’t explain why would anyone knock on my door.

“Coming,” I mumble, because the knocking repeats.

I open the door carefully and I can’t believe my own eyes.

“Oh, so you know something else than a banging?” The words escape from my mouth without me even knowing. I swear this hasn’t been meant as a double meaning. Having second thoughts, he deserves it.

Oh Yara, what should I do? I should just smile and wave. Why do I even bother to talk to him? He’s not worth it.

William is clearly taken back by my remark. He has nothing to say (for the first time). No sarcasm. No good advice. No humour. Nothing. His eyes just slide my body. He tries to hide it. For a mere second, I can see lust in his eyes. My boobs stole his attention.

Oh, c’mon.

I should be flattered. He called me an obese duck, but now, this OBESE DUCK has actually caught someone’s attention and the chosen one is none other than Leather-Jacket. This irony is very tempting to laugh at.

“What do you want, William?”

You definitely didn’t come to stare at my boobs.

He suddenly remembers where his eyes lay and he’s trying to cover it up.

Too late.

“To check upon you,” he replies with no emotions, and then he steps closer.

Wait a moment; we’re not that kind of friends. Actually, we aren’t friends at all!

I don’t wish to talk to him, but I don’t want him anywhere near me either so I step back. His intentions are unclear until he steps in and closes the door.

“I see you got cosy,” he grunts while checking the room and also staring at me in a bathrobe.

I fold my arms on my chest. The purpose of this visit is a mystery to me.

“What do you want?” I blurt out and my intonation is not polite at all. I don’t care whether somebody hears it or not. He is my room and my room only.

Get the heck out of here!

“How are you?” He scans me with his deadly eagle eyes.

“Is this some kind of a sick way of how to say ‘I’m sorry I’ve put you in a grave and mortal danger’?"

“Yara, Yara,” when he pronounces my name shivers go down my spine and chills get to my whole body. He purrs like a cat, “I’ve just wanted to check upon you. You seemed not to be yourself lately.” His voice is low and dangerous, it sounds like a promise.

I wish I could give him a fine shout, despise him for eternity, but the truth is my body warms up a bit when he talks in that manner. It’s just that I can’t really help it. He’s like a magnet. Stupid Yara! I know I’m probably mad as a hatter; he will undoubtedly screw me up as the last time, yet I can’t resist. He’s dangerously close. My head spins.

“That’s what happens when somebody wants to take your life away,” I murmur angrily.

He makes a one step closer to me. I’m doomed. I have nowhere else to run. My heart starts to beat even faster.

“There you go,” he hands me a knife and a blade.

I recognize them, because I’ve already seen them in the combat room.

“They’re yours for the time-being at the Last Place. Keep them and take care of them.”

He tilts my chin up and I’m frankly too astonished to even move. Even if I don’t want to I glance up at his eyes. There’s a wild battle behind those blue orbs.

“Yara, you’ve survived, haven’t you?” he switches back to his normal poser personality.

I watch his eyes and then his Adam’s apple desirably when I realize what the meaning behind those words is.

“Yes, it was more of luck than anything else. I suppose there’s going to be another, similar situation?” I remark, because I want him to confirm it.

“You mean similar situations,” he emphasizes the plural while smiling poisonously.

Here we go, there’s this bastard I know.

I don’t wish to support him in his cruel games.

“Have you found out who has scratched my door?” I turn the conversation into a direction I’m interested in. He can spare me his small talk.

His face is stoic and there’re no emotions. Maybe there’re reactions, but they’re buried deep under the impenetrable mask.

“I didn’t even notice,” he smirks smugly.

I want him out of my room and I open my mouth to tell him that. However, before I can even start, he silences me with his words.

“You’re so tempting, you know. I’m having a hard time to control myself when I’m around you. Every time you speak, your mouth just pleads for…” his face is full of desire and unspoken wishes. If it continues in this way, I won’t be able to resist him.

“Was it a werewolf, William?” I start courageously. I need to keep my feet on the ground.

“There’s no such a thing as…”

Of course, he’s trying to deny it.

“Oh, William, don’t mess with me!” I bark out. “Do you think I’m a naïve little girl, who is not able to bear the truth? Spare me your crap and lousy excuses,” I sigh.

“Little Yara, so you think you CAN live with the truth?” he laughs in disbelief. “The truth is I’ve no idea who has done that,” he blurts out with little desperation in his voice.

“It might be so, but you’re not dumb. Apparently, there’s something like an educated guess of yours!”

William folds his arms while examining the window. After couple minutes of silence, he finally breaths in and out. Too loudly. Too slowly. It's getting to my nerves and stretching them to the point where it's painful, but suddenly he ends my misery.

“They might seem as a werewolf’ claws, but in fact, they’re much bigger. There’re two possible options. Either someone took a wide, sharp tool and decorated your door or…” he pauses while thinking hard. “Nope, there’s no other option,” he states peacefully after couple of seconds as he wouldn’t have pointed out before that there’s something.

“What is the other option?” I demand.

“Forget about me mentioning anything. There’s no other option,” William grunts.

What could possible scare William to the fact of him not telling the truth? What is the other explanation?

“This stays between us, Duckie,” William commands.

“No,” I object.

His alpha posture and his deadly eyes express that he dislikes my attitude.

“I’m no Duckie!” I complain. “i***t,” it slips out of my mouth.

Ups!

“Yara, as I said before, don’t push it,” he suddenly declares with his lethal voice. “I’ll not punish you for your insults and your cheeky comments, not today, because you’re clearly still upset about what has happened lately. However, you can bet I’ll torture you later on during your training, because I’ve had been recommended to become your supervisor at the Academy,” he smirks.

What did he just say?

“The real hell hasn’t even started yet, little Duckie. You’ll curse the day you decided to call me an idiot.”