Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
With a serious look, Ryu walked into the room. His eyes scanned her complexion, and it wasn’t in the way they did before when he’d studied her scars; it was with concern and concentration. “You look like you’re running a fever.”
“You could always tell with her cheeks,” Grandmother agreed.
“I’ll get you some water,” he said right before leaving.
She tried pushing back the blanket again, knowing what was coming. “I feel okay, Grandma; I promise.”
“Nope, you need to stay right here till it passes.”
That was what Eira had been afraid of. She could stay in her bed when she was sleepy and night came, but she hated it during the day, knowing what demons always waited in her sleep. She had been grateful every morning to leave it and dreaded when the time came for her to enter it. To stay here all day for consecutive days was, for lack of a better word … a nightmare.
“I’ll head to the market to get you some medicinal tea.”
“I can go,” Ryu offered, returning with a glass of water.
“Shouldn’t you be on your journey home by now?” Eira asked, giving him a not so subtle hint.
“Eira!” Grandmother scolded her of being rude before turning to Ryu. “That is so nice of you to offer. It’s hard for me to make it to the market these days.”
Ryu smiled, unbothered by Eira’s words. “Of course. I don’t mind at all.”
“I’ll go make a list of the things you need to get.”
Eira’s eyes turned into slits at him when her grandmother turned her back, and she waited until she disappeared into the kitchen before she spoke. “What are you doing?”
“Going to the marke—”
“No.” Eira gave him a look. “What are you doing?”
“Let me make this easy for you.” Ryu took a seat on the edge of her bed again, making himself comfortable. He then lowered his mask a bit more. “I am not leaving without you, Eira. Once you’re better, you will be going back home with me. So, get used to me, darling—you’re going to see a lot of me.”
With each word he spoke, Eira’s mouth had dropped further and further. Right when she gathered enough of her thoughts, she went to speak, but Grandmother’s voice could be heard yelling from the kitchen.
“Ryu!”
When a now satisfied Ryu got up to leave at his cue, Eira tried to find her voice again.
“Shh, darling,” he shushed her rather lovingly. “You’re too sick to speak. Drink your water and feel better. I’ll be back soon.”
Too sick to speak … Eira’s mouth only dropped somehow more as she watched him walk away proudly.
… try too stunned to speak.
Grandmother’s medicine for any kind of sickness, no matter what it was, was first, strict bedrest, and then a small cup of her “medicinal” tea every three hours that might as well have come from the depths of hell. Eira didn’t know what all was in it, and she’d rather not ever know, because there was no way in hell she would ever have plans of making it.
“Here you go, honey.” Grandmother placed the cup on her bedside table, waking Eira back up.
She hadn’t even realized she had passed back out; the sickness was really starting to take over now.
“Thank you, Grandma.”
“You know, that boy is going to come in handy. It’s been a long time since we had a strong man able to work around the house.” She smiled widely, her mind clearly running rampant with all the chores a tall Ryu could do.
“Um …” Eira started to say as her jaw dropped to the floor yet again. “Grandm—”
But she was already running back to the door, not even hearing her contest. “Get some rest, Eira.”
The door slamming shut had a dumfounded Eira left with nothing to do but pick up the piping-hot tea. She downed the gross liquid and made a grotesque face.
That was only the first cup, and it was always the easiest to stomach. It all quickly went downhill from there. Only one thing could give her pleasure out of this …
Please let Ryu get sick, too.
Crack.
The sound of broken bones greeted her ears as a baseball bat slammed down onto a limp body.
Snap.
Another flash of the bat making contact with the man’s leg, the man who lay practically lifeless on the floor.
He raised the bat once more, pausing only to look her in the eyes. An evil pair of blue-green eyes stared back at her, making her blood run cold.
She watched his hands grip the neck of the bat with a force so intense she was positive it was going to shatter before the bat was brought down for its final time.
Crunch.
As she watched the man inhale the air around him, he looked crazed, his appearance disheveled. Then he slicked his overgrown hair back in place, and you could see the slight smile come to his lips …