Time
565 Words
"You could comb your hair every once in a while," Potts complained as she ran a brush through my newly wet hair.
Felix laughed as he held the blade. I felt Potts shift as Felix leaned forward. I heard a snip and felt wet hair fall against my thigh.
"How short?" He asked as he leaned forward to do it again.
"You decide. I trust you," I told him as I closed my eyes and waited for them to be done.
"Is it okay?" Felix asked nervously. I smiled as I looked in the mirror. My hair fell just above my shoulders. There were no bangs and the ends were all roughly cut the same length. I glanced over at Felix who was looking at me expectantly.
"It isn't the best..." I started. I watched his face drop and I laughed as I wrapped my arms around him, "but I love it."
"Really?" He asked as he smiled.
"Yeah," I said, "I really do. Thank you."
"Of course," he said.
"Alaina!" Jade burst into the room.
"What is it?" I asked.
"It's..." Her eyes were full of sadness and fear, "Maximus."
Me and Felix shared a look before jumping and following her out. We headed to where his quarters were. I heard yelled and things smashing as we burst through the door.
Maximus, his long blond hair was a mess unlike usual, looked at us with tired and bloodshot eyes.
"I hear her! She's in my head!" He yelled as he tired to block his ears with his hands. He looked at us with scared eyes, "is this how she got Fergus? To do that to himself?"
"Maximus?" I said as I stepped closer, my hands out in a gesture of surrender, "I need you to calm down."
"She's here, Alaina," he pointed to his head, "she's here and she just won't leave!"
"Maximus," I said sternly as I stepped closer and grabbed his hand. With a roar, he swung his fist.
With a yelp, I fell back, rubbing the cheek his hand connected with. I felt Felix's hand on my shoulder and watched Maximus as he looked down at his fist in shock.
"Maximus," I said calmly as Felix pulled my up, "who is she?"
"She is the woman of many voices. No, she has many more than one," he said as he collapsed onto the bed.
"Nezzura," I stated simply as I turned and walked out of the room. My cheek was throbbing as I made my way down the dark hallway.
"Alaina?" Felix asked from behind me as he hurried to catch up.
"How are we to stop her, Felix?" I spun around and looked at him, "how to we face a foe that could twist men's minds like she? Not even Norrix could do what is happening to them."
"We'll figure it out," he said as he grabbed my shoulders.
"Yeah? When?" I asked, tears falling, "time isn't exactly on our side."
"Alaina," Felix said as he pulled me into his chest, "I promise-"
"No! Don't make a promise you can't keep," I interrupted him. He had a sad look in his eyes and something seemed to snap inside of me.
Then I ran. I ran till my footsteps no longer graced the stone of the castle. I passed through the gates, through the cold rain, and into the deep woods.
I didn't listen for Felix's footsteps as I collapsed against a tree. It was then that I curled into myself and smiled as the rain washed away the tears.
- Writer
