Putrid Pride

The haze of her mind was a heavy opponent to tackle. She was trying, but it was so fucking hard. All she wanted to do was sleep. Sleep to get away from the pain, the despicable desire for him to not see her as she was. Her thoughts were a jumble of pain and instinct to move and hide. But her body did fall, unable to complete the disjointed task she had set for herself. With a weak groan she found her limbs insolent in that they would not obey her.

Her eyes were slow to take in her surroundings. Though she could register… the scent of blood, and the voice calling her. Right. Aresenn. He was here. Seeing her so mangled. Fury and… and something else rose in her throat, her eyes beginning to tear even though she fought to swallow her emotions. Absinth didn’t do emotions. She couldn’t. She wouldn’t. But he spoke, and her ears twitched to listen involuntarily. God she wished she hadn’t.

He was assuring her. Grounding her. Focusing her. It was all so horribly evocative, she felt her chest burn and her throat choke with raw emotion. No. Don’t show him anymore pathetic things. Stop before it’s too late.

As she numbly felt herself lifted onto broad shoulders, ones that felt steady and warm at the same time – Absinth fell into the depths of sleep once again. Her only wish was to hide, even if that was in her subconsciousness.

[Exit Absinth]

wormwood