This won’t do.
I need to do something else. Something... more than a pillow. A horrible, repulsive idea pops into my brain, and I can’t resist. Traipsing to the bookshelf, I traverse the sea of covers, barely tripping and grasping at the bookshelves for stability.
Panting lightly, a wicked grin spreads across my face.
I gently slide a paperback book off the shelf and hold it in my hand, wondering if the inanimate object can forgive me for what I’m about to do.
Just as I’m opening the book, the door opens tentatively. It’s as if the person on the other side doesn’t want to disturb anyone who might be sleeping.
Almost immediately, the door drags over a corner of the cover and is halted by a super-plush pillow. Erik’s face pops into the room.
“What,” he shoves the door open a bit more, “the hell,” he pauses a second to jiggle the handle so that he can squeeze his large body in, “have you done, Helena?”
His eyes make contact with mine. My cheeks heat, and I blink my underlids to piss him off. The book is in my hands, barely open.
His focus snaps to the book in my hand. “Helena,” he warns. “Put the book down.”
My toes curl. He is furious with me. It’s written all over his face.
This is what I wanted. This is the type of relationship he and I have. I do not care about him or his things.
He steps towards me, and my instincts tell me to run. There is no kindness in his face as his lips twist into a sneer. “Are you listening?” he says. “Put the book away.”
I shake my head defiantly and snatch a hardbound book. He reaches for me as I rip the dust jacket off. His hand swats at mine, and the dust jacket tears.
Theripit makes is like ice, causing me to freeze.
Erik lets out a strangled cry and grabs my shoulders, pushing me back into the wall and causing the book to fall.
“What is wrong with you? What are you doing to my things?” he whisper-yells. His eyes gleam with fury.
Perfect.
Now, I just need him to return to despising me, and life can return to normal.
I stare back at him with clenched teeth. It is nice to have things back to how they used to be—before I had shown him my utter, despicable weakness. I am a coward unworthy of my crown, seeking affection from a dangerous human man.
His grip tightens as he shakes me. I continue to stare into his eyes, baiting him. He will hit me soon, I am sure of it. I just need the blow to come, and the spell will break. Once it is, I can stop needing him so damn much.
There is darkness in his voice when he speaks. “Why are you destroying my books?”
Anger and self-loathing course through my veins. Unable to stop myself, I twist my head and bite him.
“What’s gotten into you?” he roars, snatching his hands back. Red indents mark his hand from my teeth.
Immediately, I miss the contact, and the voice in my mind murmurs,You have gotten into me.
I spit on him, and he makes a disgusted sound.
A head pops into the office. Anders. Excellent. “Sir, is every—“
“Get out!” Erik roars. He whirls around to throw a book from the shelf.
Anders disappears as the book hits the space where his head had been a moment before.
Good. I stare at Erik, hoping he’ll do something to break the spell. Hit me. Hurt me. Just... make things go back to the way they were before.
I silently goad him as he turns back around.