Page 66 of Glass and Bone
“Stop!” I scream as I struggle to get away. The hand releases and I look back to see Tobias. Blood is dripping from his nose, splattering onto the ground as he drags himself out of the crevice.
“Where do you think you are going?” He asks as he stands. He bends down and grabs my arm, pulling me up to him.
“Tobias, please.” I cry out as his hand finds my neck. “Tobias, I can’t breathe.” I spit out, struggling against his grip.
“This is your fault, Elaenor. You get to watch it all burn down.” He spins me around, so my back is against his chest, but his arm replaces his hand, cutting off my oxygen as he forces me to look at my home burning to the ground.
“Ple–” I try to beg, but his arm tightens around my throat. I can’t breathe. My eyes are clouding over, and I can feel my chest starting to burn. I hit his arm, but it’s no use. My legs grow weak as I struggle to stand. He brings me down to the ground, holding me against him as I fight to take my last breath.
My eyes open to a man’s face right above mine, his hands around my throat as I struggle to get him off of me. His face is red, as if he is straining to apply pressure to my neck. My nails scratch his face, leaving bloody gashes across his cheek. His dark eyes bore into mine as I try to scream, but nothing comes out.
“I gave you a choice. You should have listened.” He snarls. I reach over the side of the bed, looking for my dagger, but it’s not there. I look around, but all I see is the pitcher of wine on the table next to the bed. I reach for it with everything I have, fighting against the darkness that threatens to envelope me. My chest is burning, my pulse rapidly slowing with each failed breath. My hands are tingling, losing function.Oh Gods.Jeremiah grunts as he applies even more pressure. My hand finds the edge of the pitcher, but I knock it off the table instead of grabbing it. The metal crashes to the floor, echoing across the room.
“Your Grace?” There is a soft knock on the door before it opens. I push and push to get Jeremiah off of me, when finally his hands break free from my neck. I inhale in desperation and cough out the blood that has built in my throat. I vaguely hear screaming and struggling as he’s being detained, but I can barely focus on it. I gasp for air at the same time as my body forces me to vomit. Blood and bile cover the wool blankets as an arm grabs my waist.
“Ela!” Tobias cries out as he pulls me onto his lap. His eyes are filled with panic as I stare up at him. I can feel the blood dripping out of the side of my mouth as I take slow, painfully deep breaths. My head spins and my limbs burn. His fingers gently brush my neck where I am sure there are growing bruises. “Ela, talk to me.” He begs.
“Your Grace.” Someone says from behind.
“Not now.” He snaps back.
“We will take him to holding, Your Grace.” Tobias nods and I can hear muffled yelling, probably coming from Jeremiah, as he’s pulled out of the room.
“Talk to me, are you okay?” I nod slowly, still struggling to control my breathing and clear the fog that has formed over my eyes. I blink rapidly, trying to clear the cloudiness, but it’s refusing to move. We are silent for a few moments, but it feels like forever has passed. My breaths come in short wheezes, and I resist the urge to fall asleep. It hurts. My neck feels as if I swallowed a thousand daggers. Tobias’s arms are wrapped tightly around me, scared to let me go. I cough and see blood splatter across his chest.
“I’m here, Your Grace.” I can hear Apollo entering the room and coming up to the bed. His white hair is in a low ponytail like always, and he is wearing a robe over his bed clothes. Tobias scoots me over to the side of the bed so he can take a look at me. Apollo’s cold fingers press down on my neck, and I wince. He opens my mouth and looks inside before softly touching my cheek. “She will be alright; she will just be sore for a few days. There will be some swelling, but she will heal quickly.” Tobias brushes the hair out of my face, and I close my eyes, exhaustion washing over me.
“Elaenor.” Tobias shakes me and I open my eyes again.
“Keep her awake, Your Grace. Just for a few short hours to ensure there is no damage to her brain. Elaenor,” He touches my face gently. “It will be painful to talk for a small while, drink this.” He pours a cold liquid into my mouth, and I swallow with a wince. The sweet nectar coats my throat and I almost want to cry with relief. A deep cough escapes my throat as I feel blood pooling in my lungs. “This will reduce any pain you may feel, but please try to drink some water.” I stare up at his concerned face, fuzzy and shaky.
“Thank you, Apollo.” Tobias whispers as he turns his attention back to me. My eyes close again as he adjusts me, so I am sitting in his lap. I can hear the door shut as he holds me against his chest and rocks me. I’m exhausted, but restless all at the same time. I push at his arms and force myself up. His face is filled with worry as he watches me slowly slide to the end of the bed. I plant my feet on the ground and stand. I sway for a moment as my head spins and my eyes close. I don’t dare to move until I feel balanced, using the bedpost to keep me steady. My breathing is ragged as I force myself to take a few shaky steps.
“What are you doing?” He asks, his voice is soft, concerned. I walk over to the vanity and fall against the table with a groan. I shakily lift my head to look at my appearance in the mirror and a wet gasp escapes my parted lips. My skin is pale and slightly gray. My eyes are red and swollen. A small trickle of blood is drying at the corner of my mouth. I try to avoid it, but my eyes fall to my neck. Two perfect handprints made of bruises sit on either side of my neck. My fingertips brush the skin and I flinch.
“I told you.” I whisper, my voice is gone.
“What?”
“I told you who he was.” I whisper again while turning to face him. “I told you, Tobias.” My voice comes but it’s weak and strained, little more than a croak. I swallow against the pain, but it just makes it worse. “You didn’t believe me.” He looks down as he gets off the bed and comes to me.
“I didn’t believe you at first, I know.” He runs his hand through his disheveled hair. “I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to find proof. I needed proof, Elaenor.” I scoff and fall into the chair in front of the table, unable to hold myself up anymore.
“Was my word not enough? I told my husband that the man who helped his wife get raped has a spot on his council and he asked for proof. Here is yourproof, Tobias.” I close my eyes and rest my head in my hands. I’m too tired to fight with him, nor do I want to be in his presence. The dream was so real. It was him. It was Tobias who was strangling me, both in the dream and indirectly in reality. That man said Tobias would cause my death. What if he is the one who will actually do it? “Where were you, Tobias?” I croak, realizing that he never came to bed.
“I was tending to some matters.” He responds, his voice a little higher than normal. He’s lying.
“Tobias, where were you?” I ask again, lifting my head from my hands to look at him. He’s chewing on his bottom lip, his hands on his hips, refusing to make eye contact with me. “You were with someone, weren’t you?” He sighs in resignation and nods.
“Yes.” I shake my head both at myself for trusting him and at him for breaking that trust again.
“Damnit, Tobias.” I sob into my hands. He wasn’t here to protect me; he was in the arms of another after we professed our love to one another. After he promised me he was in this. I take a painful swallow as I look up at him, my head spinning. “Who is she?”
“It does not matter; she is leaving court.”
“Sending her away before she has the chance to out herself as your mistress?” I snap with whatever voice and energy I have left.
“No, Elaenor. She’s leaving because she’s pregnant.” I freeze, my mouth slightly falling open. Oh my gods. He got another woman pregnant.
