Don't Judge A Flower By Its Color

Chapter Eleven 🌼

The evening's chill broke through in the form of aggressive winds. The lowering temperature was a push awake from my dreamless slumber. It was a lot more demanding than an average alarm clock.

I shiver slightly and arose from the marble porch floor, reaching towards the dark sky. There was no moon tonight nor any stars. It was an empty black canvas full of many possibilities.

I wouldn't take the sky's lack of bright gas as an omen of hope. It didn't have any idea what he would do once he saw me. No one knew what his reaction might be. He might not even have one.

Maybe he would run away at the sight of me as some form of revenge.

It was unlikely but anything was possible, right?

My lower lip curled over my teeth at that thought. I couldn't let him escape again. He only came back.

Even if I was disappointed with him, we both knew we needed to be with the other.

Our lives intertwined at this moment for a reason. I should just accept my fate and be happy to see him healthy. If he could do that so could I.

The swish of the thick curtain caused me to look up. There holding a steel throwing star in between his pointer and middle finger was Dark Shadow. His dark chiseled face had no sign of mercy.

The sight made me shrink and place both my hands in mid-air. A high pitch shriek sung through the peaceful night as a cry. He was going to hurt me.

He froze at the sound. It took a second before his straight grimace soften into an apology. He shoved the stars into his pant pocket.

"Rosalind!" He fell on to his knees beside me and took hold of my shoulders, "I'm so sorry."

My throat was quite tender so I breathed slowly through my nose. He watched in worry. Those irises so similar to a wild field. Looking into them made my racing heart settle.

"Are you okay?" He asked gently while brushing a few bangs away from my face.

I nodded, sitting back up a bit to get a better chance to throw my arms around him.

He jumped at the sudden embrace. His words a mush in one sentence.

"Rosalindwhyareyouhuggingme?"

I kept from cringing at that name and tried to tighten my hold on him.

His larger figure was difficult to collect. We were so close together I got a hint of his scent. It was similar to green tea and honey. It made my nose twitch happily.

"Rosalind, why are you hugging me?" He said with more control of his words this time.

My cheeks went hot in embarrassment and I hid in his neck.

"So you don't run away." I muttered softly.

He placed a palm on my left hip and used the other to push me off him slightly. He studied my every imperfection and crease on display.

I expected him to comment about the large amount of scars on my arms but instead he ignored them. He focused his attention on my unnatural hair. He brushed it behind my ear.

"When did your brown curls turn into sleek green locks?"

I swallowed hard, remembering the change like it was yesterday. It didn't happen gradually like the doctor expected it too. It was after my tenth dosage of serum that the differences begun to appear.

My skin became similar to alabaster. My lips always had a hint of blue. My bones turned frail. My body weight fluctuating. My hair a vivid green that never vanished.

"After Dr. Manor gave me a few hits of his serum." I told him nonchalant, planning to leave out the gruesome details.

He didn't answer. His sights locked on the roots above my head. I had a feeling he hoped I was lying.

"Do you like who you are now versus then?" He suddenly wondered aloud.

I was taken a back by the question. Did I like being a meta human? A servant to the man who beat me on occasions?

"Do you?"

He grabbed my face, "there are some benefits."

I don't know what took over me. Somehow, a yellow rose bloomed right before us. The flower caused him to share that enchanting smile.

"Yellow, huh?"

"Do you know what yellow roses symbolize?" I ran my thumb over the slick petal avoiding eye contact.

"They mean joy, delight, friendship, new beginnings and-" he stopped to collect himself before saying, "welcome backs."

I broke the flower's stem and handed it to him. The butterflies fluttered in my belly. It felt like my nineteen year old self turned back into that shy little girl with huge hopes.

"Welcome back, Darien."