Below the Peak (Sola)(80)

Nara’s mind reeled back in time, eleven years ago when she had felt small. Small because of the sneer that had been thrown her way by Baz and the rest who’d bullied her. She wasn’t going to be thrown back inside the blackhole of insecurity. She won’t allow him to subdue her into inferiority. Nara’s nostrils flared. Nara clenched her fists on her side, gaze narrowing in rage.

“What I do is none of your concern. Now tell me!” Nara gritted, her breath coming out harshly. Her teeth clanked violently when his sensuous mouth twisted into a sinister grin. “Or what?” Calemir taunted her. “What are you going to do if I don’t?” he goaded. The dark side of him that he locked deep within reared its depraved head growled and snarled. It wanted to retribution for being punished for transgressions he had seen no wrong of committing. He wanted someone to punish. The human posed to be one sweet prey.

“Why are you cruel?” Nara demanded. She didn’t understand where this nastiness was coming from. So far, they had been living together civilly despite their differences, respected his personal space and life. She hadn’t done anything to procure this spite.

“Have you mistaking me for something else?” Calemir’s low, eerie voice sent a shiver down her spine. Calemir smacked his lips, tilt his head to the side, his darkening eyes devouring her. “Ah little human, so na?ve and stupid.”

“You are an arse” Nara hissed, despising him with every fiber of her being. She glared, eyes shooting daggers in his direction. Angry at him. Mad at herself for being a fool to forget the evil nature of the elves. Suddenly, it started as a fever would, a light tremor, heating of the body, her skin flushing. A red haze swirled in her skull, making her momentarily dizzy. Her muscle tightened as a sudden rush of anger washed over her. She wanted to hit something, inflict pain and kill. She was mad at him but this anger…rage… it bored no reason nor a cause she could attribute to. It felt invasive and foreign. It was dark, dark like the jealousy she had felt when she had encountered the nykr.

“Stop!” Nara hissed at him. “Whatever you are doing to me, stop it!”

Calemir blinked, stunned at her perceptiveness. He indulged in the torment he was causing her. Her suffering to control the rage he was feeding into her mind. His eyes glazed in pleasure, his skin heating as the vein on his neck pulsated.

“I’m not afraid of you.” Nara snarled, nostrils flaring. “I will hurt you if you don’t stop this now!”

Calemir didn’t stop, the monster in him wanted more after being deprived for so long. Hence he unleashed his unbridled hunger, enjoying the fury displaying on her face and body. Caught up in irreverent indulgence, he didn’t see the fist she had thrown until it hit him square in the jaw. His head whipped to the side. He blinked, the haze leaving his gaze. Calemir flexed his jaw before shifting his eyes to the brown depths of hers. Perversely her sudden attack quenched his dark desire and made him stop.

Nara stepped back, her pulse overworking as she felt the fury oozing from her pores, leaving her body. Chest heaving, Nara spun on her heels and left his room. Shaking her head in disbelief, she stomped into her room. She couldn’t believe she had given the benefit of the doubt that he was different and not devious as the tales spoke of the elves.

****

Calemir stared at the opened door, a hollowness burrowing in his chest.

*****





Chapter Thirty-eight


After the night, the following two days Nara stayed clear of Izza’s presence. When the friendly elf talked to her, she shortened their conversation in curt and almost rudely reply. Nara stood and left when the she-elf joined her in the parlor. She refused to engage in the elvish language lessons when Izza offered, citing she wasn’t in the mood to learn. After that Izza only frowned but muttered nothing. Izza also distanced herself, only alerting her when the food was ready and when she was leaving for her home in the evening. The hatred she had of the kind had rekindled. Nara couldn’t look at the elf without seeing Calemir and what he had done to her. Her body shuddered. He had hurt her in what she considered to be worse than physical assault. To have no control of your own emotion is threatening but having the power to manipulate is dangerous.

At night, Nara couldn’t sleep, she no longer felt safe, living under the same roof with him, knowing he was only one room away from hers. She dreaded what he might do. Hence she slept with a sword beneath her pillow. Sleepless, she began to suspect Izza too. Her friendliness, was it even real? Or was Izza hiding her vileness behind that warm smile and eyes? Nara remained apprehensive as she rested with one eye open through the nights.

The next day went by in the same slow boring and monotone pace. Nara had been heading to the stable when she caught a glimpse of Calemir entering the house with Finn and Leena. They hadn’t spoken or seen each other since you know incident, but Nara had heard his voice and knew Calemir was around and hadn’t left all two days. Izza had taken food to him both two times of the days. Nara wondered if he was avoiding her, then stopped herself in speculating more into his behavior. She was still pissed at him.

Back from her ride in the evening, Nara warily entered the house, expecting to see Calemir’s friends lounging in the sitting room or hear them somewhere in the house, but fortunately, they weren’t there. Nara walked into her room and stayed there. She had just finished dressing after taking a bath when Izza knocked on her door softly.