Ashfall: City of Shade (UNDER EDITING)

Chapter 46 | Scars

GRETA

At first, I thought it innocent.

When it comes time for my prayers, Brommy has started to come into my temporary home here.

This day is no different.

He never prays with me. There is little else to do in here but stare at plants or Rog. I quite like my new simple life. I did not think Brommy would be coming in here daily though.

I unfold my tunic, using it as my bedding. I try to ignore his presence but it is hard to now that he brings our child in here too.

"You should not look at me when I am without my tunic-"

"Why is that? You are a man in my eyes."

But he does not watch me like a man watches another man. I leave my lower half covered watching him as he sits down beside me with our child in arm.

"It does not matter what I am. You did not seem so enticed by my body before," I say in a waver.

"That's because I wasn't."

My heart trembles in a painful way as his response is curt as though I've annoyed him.

"I don't think Adler likes my body either," my ears burn as I say it, "I wonder often...I wonder what true pleasure feels like. I'm not, well, I suppose I wasn't very good at it, with him, I mean, I just think I wasn't good enough, or perhaps, there is something very wrong with my body. It won't let me be so happy during sex."

"What about with me? Wasn't that true pleasure?"

"You tricked me too, Brommy. How could it be pleasure when Adler forced you to do that with me-"

"Adler does not make me do anything," he says with a sly smile. The smile disappears and my heart goes cold as he watches me with the same cold gaze as his brother. "He does what I tell him. Adler does not plan very well. That is why I am needed. Enoch is a planner, but he is too fragile to apply force."

"Force?"

"Yes," Brommy answers. "Adler is very much a child as I'm sure you have gathered at this point. I am the one who looks out for him."

"Why would you do that for someone so evil to you?"

"Why would you make love to someone so evil? Someone who has beaten me several times without any remorse?"

I tremble as a fire of withheld emotion grows in his dark gaze.

"You have beaten others too with no remorse!"

"Don't be afraid of me," Brommy's tone softens, "I would never drop you."

His words cut deep. I drift backward, laying down at a loss of words, as I fall into memory. Adler is the true evil. He did drop me. He laughed at my pain. He hurt me.

He hurt me so badly.

"He doesn't love me-"

"It doesn't matter."

I go still as he settles behind me.

"He doesn't deserve to be loved by you. He didn't bother to save you. He let you suffer. He let you die."

***

ADLER

Golden hair lays spilled over my clout. The body of a woman is warm and keeps me safe.

What healthy, perfect skin. What a glimmer in her gaze. Longing for every second of my attention.

Peace, finally, I can have peace after a long night of lovemaking.