I turned in my sleep, or at least I tried to. I was jolted awake by the pain in my side when my body went to move.
I tensed up and eased myself back to my original position. Taking deep breaths, I laid there with my eyes closed waiting for the pain to fade. As it did I took a moment to try and remember what happened.
I had just gotten out of the hospital after the fall. Bella had come to the house asking for help with something. She needed money I think.
The relic.
I saw the Tome flash in my mind's eye. Chills ran up my spine as the scene played out before me.
He wanted Bella.
Bracing myself, I sat up and carefully pushed the covers off my bare skin. When I looked down, I couldn't help but begin to shake.
My entire torso as bandaged, but I could still see the bruises and the cuts that lie beneath. Pulling the covers off more, I began to see the shape of the rest of my body.
I had a bandage on my right ankle, it appeared to be swollen and throbbed painfully. I saw another on my left thigh. A soft tinge of pink had leaked through, staining the fabric.
"What are you doing?!" Damien came running into the room, grabbing my hand as I tried to get up.
Setting my feet on the ground, I used his hand to lift myself up and began moving toward the chair by the window. My legs were screaming with each step but I didn't know how long I had been asleep, which meant I didn't know how long I had been here.
"Where's Bella?" I asked trying my best not to make eye contact with him. I knew he was angry at me for helping Bella. I shouldn't have asked about her but I had to know.
He sighed and took a seat on the now vacant bed behind me. "I sent her home this morning. She hasn't left your side in days." I nodded at his words.
I could feel the tension in the room, the words that were left unsaid. Then Damien spoke again "You are acting stupid, Lea."
"I am acting like myself." I stared blankly out the window. I didn't want to hear this.
"Really? You are telling me that any day, any time you would go and confront a drug lord over a whore?"
"Isabella is my friend."
"Friends, don't get other friends nearly gutted!" he jumped up in exclamation and looked at her with angry eyes. "Ugh!" He began pacing back and forth.
'There has to be something we can do until then' I heard his voice but his mouth didn't move.
'There isn't much. Merrill will be back the day after tomorrow.' I recognized Anders voice.
I felt my head begin to throb.
"You expect me to sit back and do nothing?" Damien…. Sebastian… I was getting very confused. Rubbing my head, I tried to ease the throbbing. "I think that's the best part of this whole mess." He let out a sarcastic chuckle.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, wincing as the pain in my head increased when I turned to face him.
"I don't know what's going on with you, but it has led to nothing but problems for the last two months." He paused and looked at me with sad, pleading eyes "Ever since your mother died-"
"Ever since she died, what?" I felt the anger burn up within me. "Have I been acting strange?" My hand ticked with frustration. "Not normal? How about we talk about you for once?" I stood up, maybe a little too quickly with my wounds but I ignored the pain. "You didn't care about anything when your family died! All you wanted was revenge! And even when you got it, nothing changed. You didn't change."
"Why should I if you're just going to throw yourself at every request you get, no matters the dangers? Why should I care about you if you don't even care about yourself?!" He pushed me back and I fell to the floor hard, grabbing my side in pain.
"Lea I-"
"Get the fuck out." Damien looked hurt but he rose to his feet and walked out, closing the door behind him.
I stood up, staring at the door for a moment, shaking from the anger I felt.
You have changed.
A voice in my head whispered in a matter of fact tone.
The scene before me changed. I must have fallen back asleep.
Looking down, I saw that my bandages were still in place, but the pajama bottoms I was wearing were now replaced by some type of leggings. My daggers hung from my hips.
"The fade." I knew what it was this time, where I was.
Don't worry, child. You are safe.
I looked around for the source of the voice, hoping to see the familiar witch from last time. Turning around, I found her behind me, but this time she did not wear red and black robes. No, this time she was adorned in jewelry, wearing nothing but small leather underwear. Her long black hair had been pinned up in way that made her look mysterious.
"What do you mean?" I looked the creature in the face.
She smiled. You do not wish to lose anymore.
I shifted uneasily under her gaze.
But tell me, what would your choice be if it were between saving a friend or being with the man you love?
Sebastian watched as Lealia's face changed. Lines of worry began to crease her skin and he could feel her body tense. Whatever was happening to her, it did not look good.
He looked to Anders asleep in the corner by the fire, wine bottle not far from his reach. The mage had taken to keeping himself intoxicated. Not to the point of complete stupidity, but to the point of silence. Or at least that is what he had told Sebastian when the archer had asked the other day. He had been tired of wondering about the voice Anders as "quieting".
Seeing him now, it had made Sebastian change his view of the mage. The entire week they have been there not once has he heard anything come out of the mage's mouth that was not somehow related to Lea. He was worried for her…
And after their words that first night, Sebastian could clearly see how strongly Anders felt about Lea.
And seeing that made him question his own feelings.
Before now, he had always pushed anything he felt for any woman to the side because of his vows. But Lealia was a woman who kept coming. Without even knowing it, he found himself enjoying her company, enjoying talks with her and practices with her. She made him feel like his old self. He was unafraid to tell her about his previous exploits, the usual shame with the stories nonexistent with her unlike with their other companions.
Before he knew it, he found himself surrounded by thoughts of temptation, all of them featuring Lealia in some way. And unlike other women, he feared his attraction. Not because of his vows… he feared rejection.
He didn't see what Anders saw. He didn't see whatever feelings the mage claims she may have for him.
So he tried to distance himself. He kept to the chantry, ignoring her messages, attempting to fill his mind with only the words of the Maker.
Perhaps if he had answered when her mother was missing, she would not be going through this.
He remembered that night. She had come to the chantry, screaming his name, but he never left his room. He heard the Grand Cleric tell her he was not there and she ran out slamming the chantry doors behind her. The news came the next day, and he felt his heart stop. She had come to him in her time of need and he had let her down.
Anders spoke of him being a possible 'desire' of hers.
He looked down and cupped her face in his hand. Her expression softened and her body relaxed. Slowly he began to caress her face.
Once upon a time, mage, perhaps. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, before lying down on the floor beside her bed.
Be strong, Chroi.
A/N So I know it's only the end of act two so technically Sebastian just joined the part but I would be interested in a prince who lived in a chantry and hired me to kill some mercenaries. He would at least be good conversation. So here we see a little bit of the kind of relationship Lealia and Sebastian have developed over the years so far.
We also see why Sebastian has been the way he has been since she has gotten amnesia. I might write more about their past together, not sure yet. Totally depends on how you guys like this. So let me know with a review please. I have been out of commission for a while and would love to know how I'm doing since I started back up. Plus Reviews are all I ever want lol
Shout out to KoraKendalls! Thanx for all the help with grammar and such!