I would like to know that my readers understand that I update very regularly. I won't update as much on school days. I would also like to note that some people want the chapters to be longer. Break My Bones was actually never meant to be an actual ongoing story. It was originally a poem. That's why the first chapter is so different from the rest. I then noticed that I liked it and people wanted to read more so I wrote a little more. I have been trying to make the chapters a little longer for a while but the length of the chapter depends on the topic of the chapter. Anyway, here's the chapter that three people have asked for since this morning. I want you guys to know true angst at the end of this chapter. :^)
I woke up with Sennia's hair threatening to suffocate me. I turned my head to gasp for air, failing to do so due to the impossible amount of hair that entered my mouth. I started coughing and choking violently.
Sennie shot up with a fright. "What's happening? Are you okay? Do I need to get help?"
"Your fucking hair was trying to kill me!"
She was trying to hold in a laugh. "I'm sorry."
"Go ahead. I know you want to laugh."
"You don't want to hear it. You're angry."
I held her face in my hand and kissed her. "I always want to hear your laugh. Even if you're trying to kill me in your sleep." I smiled.
She giggled. "There, are you happy?"
"I'm with you."
"Cheesy."
I laid back down and she rested her head on my chest. I pulled the blanket over her shoulder. She wrapped her leg around mine as I threw an arm over her.
"I feel like sleeping in. Do slaves get to do that?" She laughed lightly, but there was no real joy behind it.
"I'm sorry that you're in this situation. I've been trying to think of ways to get you out of here."
She looked up at me with curiosity.
"Hopefully, after this power struggle is over with the Hoover Dam, we can go to Flagstaff. You'll be a free woman."
She perked up at that. "You mean I won't be a slave forever? I thought I was going to just die a slave."
I didn't know how to respond to that thought. Many slaves die as slaves. I could hopefully prevent that. If I was a respectable man, I could protect her from suffering.
"Are you happy here?"
"I'm not very thrilled to be a slave but people leave me alone now. I guess you could say I'm happy. You're here. I love you, Vulpes."
"I love you, too. I want to promise you that I'll make sure you're free by the end of this year but I don't know if I can."
"I know. I've accepted the fact that I am a slave. Trust me, it's easier when you don't reject it."
"Doesn't that mean that you've let the Legion get to you?" I was concerned for her. She didn't seem the same. I would hope to Mars that Otho could come back so I could kill him again.
"Acceptance isn't surrender. It just means I'm not looking to get killed."
A man was calling out for me outside of the tent. It didn't sound familiar.
"Excuse me, love. This sounds important. I'll be back as soon as possible."
I stood up and rushed out the tent after giving her a kiss. I met with a man in ill-fitting Legion armor.
"We have a mission for you. You need to deliver The Mark of Caesar to the Courier."
"Who is the Courier and why does he need the Mark?"
"The Courier is the woman we met with in Nipton. The one with the Pipboy. She will be granted safe entry to Cottonwood Cove and the Fort. We have predicted that she will be on the Strip in three days. You will be the one to give it to her."
"I shall leave within the hour. Tell Caesar that I shall get the Mark in several minutes."
"Ave." The man nodded.
"Ave."
I walked back into the tent. Sennia looked up with sad eyes. She was scared to be left again. Caesar wouldn't allow me to bring her with me. It was too dangerous anyway. I shall ask Lucius to keep an eye on her. Hopefully, I left a strong enough message with the last man to touch her.
"I'm sorry, love. I need to leave soon. I shall be back in a few days. I'll ask Lucius to look after you. I should have left a good message but ,unfortunately, people are very stupid."
"I want to come with you." She looked so pitiful.
"I would bring you but there's very dangerous people out there. And Caesar would assume I was allowing you to escape."
She looked down as if she was ashamed for asking. "I understand."
I sat down next to her. "I'll miss your stew."
"I'll miss you."
"I know, love."
"Remember Flagstaff. We have a part of a plan. A future. A life."
She looked like she wanted to say something important.
"What is it?"
She looked at her lap."Are we going anywhere with this?"
"Like, what, the relationship?"
She looked back up to meet my frantic look. "Well, yeah."
How the fuck am I supposed to answer this?
"Vulpes!" Lucius was calling me.
I must have taken too long to answer her surprise question.
"Just go." Sennia turned on her side, away from me.
I turned around and poked my head out.
"Caesar wants you."
"I'll be right there." I looked back at Sennia, still facing away. I walked out.
"Oh thank Mars for your timing."
"What happened?"
"She asked if we were going anywhere with the relationship."
Lucius whistled. "What are you gonna do? You can't just leave her angry before you leave for a few days."
"I don't know but I actually needed to talk to you about her. I need you to look out for her. She's scared after what happened during the Nipton trip. I can understand why but I thought I handled the problem pretty fairly."
"I'll look after her but that doesn't solve the your situation. What do you want to do? You drooled over her for weeks. The trick to keeping a girl is treat her like you're still trying to get her."
"I guess I could settle down with her after a while but it's moving fast. She has very nice traits. She's an excellent cook. And she's so selfless. I really do love her, don't get me wrong. It's just that I still need to focus on the war. I can't do that and still focus on a successful family. After the war, I'd love to."
"Now why the hell are you able to tell me this, but not her?"
"I see what you've done."
Lucius looked smug as he opened the flap to Caesar's tent. Caesar was sitting at his throne with his mark dangling from his hand.
"Where have you been? I've been waiting."
"I'm having some hurdles to jump with the love."
"I never thought I'd see the day when you call someone 'love'. What kind of hurdles?"
"She's upset because I didn't know what to say when she was asking about a family. I can't leave with her mad."
"That sounds like a pretty big hurdle. I pray that Mars guides you to your decision soon. Back to business. You've already heard the details of the delivery. Here's the Mark. Don't let her leave without it."
"Yes sir. I must get back and tell Sennia of my thoughts."
"Have fun. Ave."
"Ave."
I rushed to the tent. Sennia was still under the blanket. Her shoulders shaking indicated she was crying. Just great, I made her cry.
"Sennia. I need you to hear this."
She didn't turn to look at me. She sniffed and rubbed her eyes.
"I love you very much. I want to have a family with you. I just want it at the right moment. I want to go to Flagstaff after the war is over. You'll be safe there. What do you think?"
"I think you're just saying what I want to hear."
"Sennia, what can I do for you to believe me? If you have children now, do you know what they'll do? They'll take the kids and you won't have access to proper healthcare."
"I want to be happy. I want you to be happy... Just go on your mission. I'll still fucking be here when you get back."
"Love, I want a family with you, what more do you want from me?"
She finally turned to look at me over her shoulder. I wish she hadn't because she gave me the dirtiest look I've ever seen.
"Just go."
"You know what? Fine. Since you so badly want me gone. Bye!"
"Bye, asshole!"
I stomped out of the tent and into the small crowd of Legionaries. Lucius was in the front.
"She just kicked you out of your own tent."