Page 77 of Saviour
He barely speaks about Puck. Neither does King. I think they’re both trying to forget it ever actually happened. But in their life, people die every day and you move on. I just wish I could do something to make it all better.
I resented Theo for a few days, even more than I did before. Since coming into our lives, she’s caused nothing but trouble and now Dax and King have lost their best friend.
Can I blame Theo for that?
From everything I’ve heard, Puck put himself in harm's way when someone tried to stab Theo and suffered the consequences. Puck was a good man, and if Puck was willing to die for Theo, then she can’t be as awful as I’ve made her out to be.
I’ve just finished up another session in the gym when I hear female screeching coming from the hallway below. I lean over the bannister and see King storming down the hallway with a kicking and screaming Theo over his shoulder, heading into the Rhivers cells. Interesting.
Later on at dinner, I sit next to Dax, my feet up on his lap as he rubs my legs without even realising he’s doing it. Dax decided to cook us all his famous pasta dish tonight and even nine years later, it’s still my favourite.
Light conversation is flowing between the three of us when a figure, now dressed in normal clothes and not covered in blood, stands in the doorway.
I get my back up immediately, even though I know it’s petty. She looks at King, and from the lack of eye contact on his behalf and the way her hair is a mess and she has that just fucked glow on her cheeks, I know he up and left her.
She then looks at Dax, who from the side of my eye I know is smiling kindly at her. And then trailing her eyes over me, starting with my legs up to my face, her eyes land on mine, but I keep my face blank.
“Come and sit, Theodora. There’s a place for you,” King says and she slowly walks through the room, uncomfortably sitting next to King. It makes me feel a little joy that she looks intimidated and unsure.
“It’s good to see you up and about, Theo.” I almost roll my eyes at Dax’s politeness. I hate that he’s always the nice one. “This is Rori.”
I keep my face neutral even though she’s smiling at me.
“Hi, I’m Theo.”
“I know.”
I can feel Dax’s eye roll, but he should know better. All I’ve done is moan about this girl because she’s taken too much time away from me with my family.
Speaking of time.
“So, how long do you intend to stay?” I ask before popping a tube of pasta into my mouth and I instantly feel a little bad for her. The girl hasn’t done anything personally to me to warrant my rudeness. I was new here once too.
“Until the prison is safe for her to go back to,” King says sternly and all of us whip our heads in his direction. From what Dax told me, Theo was here for good and when Dax questions him, I know he thought the same.
“Since when are we sending her back to the prison?” he questions cautiously and King huffs.
“Since I decided about half an hour ago.”
I can’t help it. A bubble of laughter bursts out of me and everyone now turns their eyes to me.
“God, King, you’re such a dick,” I say through a smile but start to lose my temper when he glowers at me.
“Excuse me?”
I feel Dax’s hand squeeze my leg and I know he’s trying to stop me from running my mouth, but I can’t help it. I’ve been strung up for months with no one here to talk to. It’s about time they had a piece of my mind.
“Don’texcuse me, King. You’re gonna fuck the girl, then just send her back to the prison like some criminal booty call?”
“Watch your mouth, Aurora.”
“Why? Because I’m right? The girl has been locked up in your stupid little prison for months for you to drag her here, get in her knickers, and send her back because you’re scared of your feelings. How petty.”
I have no idea why I’m now defending her, but the whole situation has me fired up.
I haven’t had Dax around because he’s been obliging King’s wishes to hang around Theo in that prison. Now he finally gets her and he’s trying to push her away. Well, fuck that, they didn’t turn my life upside down for no reason at all.
Dax grabs my chin in his hand and warns me gently. I know I’m poking a sleeping bear. I know they’re all grieving and life has been super fucking shit recently, but sometimes it just is what it is.
