Cursed

Chapter Twenty

A sex dream.

Why, Elora, why?

Truthfully she couldn't – wouldn't hold herself to any blame, it was perfectly normal and did not, in anyway whatsoever mean that she had had wanted to have sex with the man. Right?

Aside from Bunny, there had only been one other person she had known in such a way. His name was Tristen. He had been in town for work, a one night stand.

That was all it had been. She never saw him again and paid no stress to the thought. Elora didn't care, they had both been consenting adults. She had never had sex with a man before Tristan either.

Elora glanced beside her, the leather bound journal sitting there on the table, waiting for her to pick it up and indulge in its pages once more. She had been reading it, even after Leif's verbal attack in regards.

This queen, this Delilah, had been truly heartbroken.

It saddened Elora, to think, something–someone that important had been taken from her– she knew this journal was likely a work of fiction but, Elora hoped that it sang some truth, if even a little.

Deciding to read some more, she reached for it. Her fingers barely touched the cold leather when a noise behind her sent her jolting.

"For fuck sake, Leif, why are you sneaking around–" she glanced at the brown clock sitting upon mantle above the fireplace. "At six am, Leif. Why are you up so early?" She took one look at him and the heat rose to her cheeks the moment she remembered why she was up so early.

Leif stood there in his pyjamas. He brought his arm up to his hair, running his palm down the side, tucking his long black strands behind his ear. She couldn't help but notice the flex in his muscle.

"Why are you awake so early, you're not normally," He ignored her question, asking one of his own instead. She wondered just, exactly how long the man had been awake, considering she herself had awoken not so long ago.

Leif sighed as he dropped his arm down to his side and shrugged.

"I'm sick of waiting," it was barely a whisper.

Elora sat upright, retreating from the journal that had been consuming most of her waking thoughts.

"Me too." She needn't ask him what he meant when she knew. She knew all too well how it felt. To be Away from the others, not knowing what was going on. Not knowing when it was safe to return, if it ever would be.

If her life, their life could ever be normal again or so much as resemble normal after everything.

"I think I'm developing a case of cabin fever." She watched him for a moment. Leif ran his tongue along his bottom lip, before offering her an inch of a smile. Did he just make a joke?

"It will get better." he decided to take a seat in the other chair. His eyes darted between her and the leather bound that had come to stress him out.

Leif was starting to think...starting to...

Elora sighed deeply. She glanced down at her chipped nail polish.

"Poor Lex, I wonder if he's cold. Do you think he would want another blanket–" Elora had just remembered Lex had been here, outside asleep in his car.

"He's fine."

"I didn't realise you have a brother," Elora spoke with a calm, gentle tone. Leif had never mentioned a brother before, she wondered if it had been a slip of the tongue when Lex had been present.

Leif stilled. He remained silent.

"I'm...I'm sorry I didn't–"

"It's fine. Had. I had a brother, yes. This cabin belonged to him and his m- girlfriend, Matilda She's... interesting to say at least. Those books you've been reading, they belong to her."