Page 1 of The Revenge

I

Tori

Ican’t remember the last time I was really able to get more than five hours of sleep in a night, but the feeling of wishing I could fight off waking up just so I can sleep a little longer is all too familiar. Especially considering how awful I feel right now.

There’s a woodpecker trying to take up residence in my head—or at least, that’s how it feels. If there’s a part of my body that doesn’t hurt, I’ve yet to find it. And my throat…

Just thinking about the burning sensation in my throat sends me into a coughing fit. Each cough, like it’s shredding the lining.

My vision is still too blurry to be able to see who’s helping me sit upright, but a hand forces a glass into mine.

“Try to take a sip. Carefully.”

That’s easy for them to say. I can barely take a breath of air, never mind a sip of whatever they’ve handed me.

Eventually, I’m granted a reprieve long enough to take a sip from the glass. The water is tepid and flavored with something sweet. Whatever it is feels like it’s putting out a fire as it falls down my throat.

“You want some more?” Gemini asks once I’ve finished the glass.

Before I can lean back, Royal’s arm shoots out towards me. Instinctively, I duck away from his hand, raising my own to cover my face. “Don’t touch me!”

“I was just going to move your pillows so you can sit up,” Royal tells me, his voice a mixture of defensiveness and horror.

He steps back as I lower my hands, leaving a large gap between him and the bed.

Since waking, the only thing I’ve really thought about is the pain I’m feeling, but Royal’s innocent intention has triggered memories so hazy that I’m surprised I reacted as quickly as I did. It’s not until I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the vanity mirror across the room that those fuzzy, scattered memories become real and not the tail end of a bad dream.

My blue hair has been the most striking thing about my appearance for weeks. Even if it was the result of a cruel prank, I’ve gotten used to it, but the now damp strands sticking out at all angles are somehow not the first things I notice. Instead, it’s the giant, red blob on the left side of my face.

I have fair skin, but right now, it’s scarily pale and making the mark stand out like there’s a spotlight on it. The angry red is already starting to turn purple in places, particularly under my left eye, as it stretches towards my ear. There’s enough swelling around my eye to make me squint, but I can still see clearly—even down to the whites of my eyes, which are now bloodshot.

More red on my chin draws my attention down, and in doing so, I see my neck. Syn’s collar is gone, replaced with a deep red replica that I can even see the markings of the chain in places. Surrounding it are scratches made from my own fingernails.

Before I can look more, Syn steps between me and my reflection. “Who did this to you?” he growls. There’s a murderous look in his eyes.

“Wasn’t it you?” My voice is barely recognizable. What comes out is hoarse and scratchy. Worse, trying to talk normally feels like I’m drinking shards of broken glass.

And then, I burst into tears.

Not because he’s scared me, or even because of the pain. But because I’m still getting my muddled brain to process everything, and it’s just caught up to the fact that I nearly died.

Relief pours from me in liquid form.

“Stop scaring her, Syn.” Royal hisses at him.

Syn’s eyes widen as he looks at Royal. “Her? You know I wasn’t behind this. If anyone should be scared, it’s the one who did this.”

The tears fall faster, and I can’t stop sobbing, even though it’s making my throat hurt worse than any sore throat I’ve ever experienced.

Gemini takes a step towards the bed, then hesitates just long enough to ask, “Do you want a hug? You look like you need one. A fucking big one.”

I want one more than anything, but I can’t stop crying to tell him that. Instead, I manage to nod. Without any further hesitation, Gemini climbs onto the bed beside me. Before he’s fully settled, I lean into him. My right cheek doesn’t have a giant bruise on it, and even though it feels tender as I rest it against Gemini, I don’t stop.

Gemini wraps his arms around me and then silently, starts rubbing my back. “The water should still be warm. Go get her another one.”

I’m not sure what he’s talking about, but Royal leaves the room.

It takes almost until the time he returns for me to stop crying. Gemini’s hand hasn’t stopped rubbing my back. Syn also hasn’t moved. Neither has his curled lip as he stares at the two of us.

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