Love Through The Shadows (Chapter Nine)

“Shadow!” 1

My frown only deepened at the little voice at a high tone. When would she give?2

Constance didn’t seem to have heard the voice. She was still staring blankly, but blinked once or twice. Her mind was still processing something.3

“What do you want, Lily?” I growled, just as she came, standing beside me. Even with me sitting I was still taller than her. So I could glare down on her still to intimidate her and make her leave.4

She was watching Constance as I was. “What’s wrong with her?”5

I turned, glaring at Lily. “Do not ask me dumb questions. You already know what is wrong with her.”6

Her shoulders rose in a shrug, a smile directed toward me. “Your watching over her, aren’t you?” she asked, that urge in her voice.7

I looked from Lily to Constance. “Only by force.” I hated Zeus more than anything for this.8

Lily laughed. “Aww, that’s cute! But, Shadow, don’t smother her.”9

Was she seriously giving me advise? “The only smothering I am going to do to her is the one they die from.”10

“Your going to kill her?” she gaped childishly. 11

I wished.12

“You can’t do that!”13

I turned to her again, my expression dark. “I can do whatever I want.”14

She frowned. “Not for no reason.”15

“If I want to kill her just because, then I can. No one can stop me.”16

Lily put her hands on her hips like she was Miss Mighty. “I can.”17

I stared at her for a moment, only to find that she was serious. Then I stood, her head not even to my waist. I picked her up with one hand by her shoulder, putting us face-to-face. “You were saying?”18

Her arms were folded across her flat chest stubbornly. “You would never hurt me.”19

To prove her that I had no mercy from anyone, especially not children, I threw her from my hideout as harshly as possible, sure that she received a bruise from the throw as proof. I closed the secret entrance door, going back to the room.20

It was all darkness, Constance no longer on the bed. She’d taken the gas lamp with her wherever she’d gone. I followed her scent, finding that she’d only made it down the second hall. She was in search for a bathroom, I knew. 21

She sensed me, stopping to turn around. I wasn’t directly in her path anymore. Now I was in the shadows of the halls corner. But she wasn’t convinced. “I can smell you,” she said hoarsely. “I don’t know how or why, but I can.”22

I said nothing, not in the mood to explain anything to her. 23

She went on once I didn’t answer. 24

For long minutes I waited for her to exit the bathroom. Only when she took ten minutes did I get a mental picture of her. She was staring into the full-body mirror on the back of the bathroom door. Those scars were there, still bruised. I’d healed them so there was no bleeding or pain, but not so they weren’t visual. She was staring at her body curiously, confused to where those scars and bruises came from.25

Being that she was only in her bra and panties, most of her body was exposed. She could see every scar and bruise easily. Her undergarments were stained with blood, but she didn’t seem to notice any of that.26

I broke out the image, going to the door. Having her strain her brain until it fried wasn’t on my agenda. I had no intentions on having to carrying a mental woman around with me because she wasn’t in her right mind.27

I knocked on the door. “Come out,” I commanded.28

She only opened the door enough for her face to stick out, covering her body with the door. “What happened to me?” she whispered, staring into my eyes with so much questioning.29

I ignored the question. “Come with me.”30

“I need clothes.”31

I removed my t-shirt, handing it to her for temporary use. After she took it off, I’d burn it. 32

She put on the shirt then followed me, inhaling it along the way. I scowled at the action. 33