Ch. 28
My sob was lost as a feral groan of pain sounded from around the corner. I gasped and without hesitation, I pushed past Prabir and ran towards the sound. He was moaning, muttering to himself. I could hear him before I saw him, and I ignored Prabir's calls for me to return. There was no way I would stop running for him, because I was running to Henry.
He had fallen on one knee, crouched forward and holding his hand with one hand. The other was holding him up as he shook. "Edward…Stop…Please, enough!" He was muttering, that and the like over and over like mantra. What was Edward doing to him? Why would Edward attack Henry now?
I dropped in front of him on my knees. He jerked up and stared at me with wide eyes full of pain. He grabbed my arm and moaned my name in agony. Oh Kali, what can I do to help him. I could not think of anything, for I could not call out for Edward to stop, and Henry's eyes were cast to the floor, so my hands were useless.
There was nothing I could do to help him. I could not stop Edward from hurting him, and I felt helpless beside him. "Not my choice…! Her choice…! If it makes her happy…!" He was muttering again, and I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Was it because of me? Was I the she, and the proposal what would make me happy?
I gasped in horror; the engagement was causing Edward to do this! Without thinking, I pulled Henry to my bosom and held him tightly. He shook, still muttering incoherently, and I held him tightly. If Prabir was lurking, I would not know, for all my senses all I could feel was Henry in my arms. Hear his mutters, smell his scent, feel his shakes.
I hushed him softly with my breath for a long time. Finally, his shakes stopped, and he stilled, silent except for his gasping breaths. I rocked him softly until his breathing calmed, and then we sat there.
The bliss of having him so close to me was shattered as someone cleared their throat, and I knew Prabir was still lurking. I picked my head up from where it rested in Henry's hair and glared at him. He merely sneered at me and spit out, "Are you quite alright, doctor?"
It took Henry a few moments to pull away, and his breathing was going ragged again. He was squinting, as though suffering a twinge of pain, and I could only imagine what horrors Edward was telling him. Indeed, his eyes seemed wild with inner rage. Was Edward trying to force his way out?
My eyes widened in horror and I yanked Henry's shoulders to face me. He stared at me in confusion, and I quickly signed, "Edward, stop it!" Henry's eyes glazed, and suddenly he was blinking. He looked around shocked and confused, and finally he looked at me with a tilted head.
"'W-why should I?' he wants to know," Henry told me as he held his head in his hand. I blew a blast of air through my nose in hostility at Edward. "Because if you keep causing Henry pain I will personally stab you with a rusty fork! In the eye!"
Henry blinked in surprise, and then stuttered, "Y-you'll make the- the good doctor blind as well, then." I sputtered on air, for I had not thought of that. "You'll stop or I'll…Or else!" I finally signed, and nodded my head firmly frustration.
Henry smiled softly, "He's laughing. Thank you Marina," he said as he stood shakily. I watched him anxiously and took his hand when he offered it in relief. I grinned at him before it dropped when I heard Prabir clear his throat again.
"I'm glad you're alright, doctor," he said as he stood before us. Henry's thanks were cut off as I was suddenly pulled away from his hand as Prabir pulled me into his arms, "But in the future I would prefer you restrain yourself from being so intimate with my fiancé."
I was so shocked I did not think to move. How dare he say something like that to Henry! Indeed, Henry held his head in a new pain and nodded awkwardly, "Of course," he mumbled, "Forgive me my folly. If you'll excuse me…" And he stumbled away as I watched in horror.
My wits did not return until Prabir tried to get me to walk. I was his puppet, wasn't I? He had turned me into his puppet! With a sneer, I shoved myself away from him and backed away. He looked at me startled, then the sneered back, "You should not treat your fiancé so, dear Marina,"
"Stop calling me that you vile heathen!" I snapped, glaring at him. He merely half-smiled and said, "Vile, am I? Well if you're so against marrying me, why not I help you tell the one you do want to marry?" I froze in horror; he would not dare, would he? I mean, it is not as though he knows…
"You seem surprised, dear Marina. Such a pity you grew up with men, for it has made you dull. Do you really believe you've hidden it?" he asked, and he seemed so confident I quaked. It took me a moment to respond, and what I signed was, "You're a man!"
He frowned, "Indeed, but if you think I'm blind like the others, you are wrong." He stood before me once more, and grasped a strand of hair, "Go help your friend, dear Marina, and give him back his tie. It's not right for a lady who's spoken for to wear the clothes of other men," he told me, and I glared. He was ordering me to do what he knew I was planning to do. Thus, it portrayed that he had power over me.
I slapped his hand away. Despite his quest for power, my need to check on Henry was stronger than my need to hurt Prabir. Henry might be hurt without a cure now, I could hurt Prabir any time I wanted. Without a second glance, I ran down the hall as fast as I could, and only stopped when I saw Henry leaning on the wall. He had not made it two halls away…
When I made it to his side, he was in no state to talk. He was there, but not present, and did not acknowledge me when I took his arm. He merely leaned against me, and we walked awkwardly to his room.
It was my turn to put him too bed again, and I did so carefully. He was not intoxicated this time, and I could not hope he would forget me doing something embarrassing. Like kissing his forehead, perhaps? In any case, Henry finally seemed to become coherent, and smiled up at me.
"Thank you, Marina," he whispered, and then his eyes went downcast. "You should hurry back to your fiancé. He's probably worried," he said softly, and he seemed to force himself to look up, and then smile. I felt my chest tighten, and my smile fell. I forced a nod as I saw his expression change. I did not want to see though, and turned before I could figure it out.
I made it to the door when he called my name, and I almost did not stop. Almost being the key word. For with hesitation I did, but I refused to look back at him. I did not hear him stand up, and I shrunk where I stood as I waited in anticipation.
"Do you love him, Marina?" he asked, and I cringed. How could I tell him no without Prabir seeing it as me crossing him and he tells Henry that I… Did it matter anymore? My feelings were useless now, were they not? I was trapped in a locked room, and there was no window to escape.
"Then you shouldn't marry him," he said, and I finally turned to him in confusion. I had not said yes or no, so why did he assume-not that he was not completely correct-that my answer was no? I gasped as I saw he was right in front of me.
"It would be horrible if you didn't marry for love," he told me softly as I stared at his chin, for I could not meet his eyes. All was silent as I watched his chin go from its pale complexion to a deep red. "I-I would very much dislike you marrying that man…Hyde says!" He stuttered, and his hand rose to touch his mouth.
Sign one.
"Hyde?" I asked him, and he sputtered at being caught, for he usually called Hyde, 'Edward' around me. "W-what, I can't be a bit flustered after his outburst earlier? Forgive me not feeling like using his first name!" he told me defensively.
Sign two.
"So Edward said he would dislike me marrying Prabir?" I asked again, and he looked to the left as he said, "He did."
Sign three. Henry was lying to me, and if it was not Edward saying those things, it had to be Henry. I grinned widely and threw my arms around his neck without hesitation. He had time only to gasp before I released him and waved goodbye. The shock on his face had me laughing as I sprinted down the halls. Henry did not want me to marry Prabir, which meant he did not want me claimed!
Therefore, I would not be. I would go to Prabir and force him not to tell. I would make him see reason and if not, threaten to toss his useless arse into the ocean for the sharks!
…
Well, maybe not that, but something else…What did it matter? I was not going to marry Prabir! I saw Maitreya heading towards me, and his sullen face startled me. My joy was swept away as he stared at me with hardened eyes and said, "I can't believe you're marrying Prabir!"
I stared with wide eyes, "What are you talking about?!"
"Don't act innocent! Prabir hasn't stopped bragging! He just asked Captain Nemo for his blessing, and he gave it, Marina!" Maitreya told me harshly. I froze in shock; Captain had given his blessing…
"I hope you're happy with him," Maitreya spit out as he brushed past me, and I could not stop him. I could not even stop my own anger, how could I quell his…?