She's Awake

*Ryatt*

Rain pours over the glistening cobblestone street as I follow behind an anxious Ella. She’s wringing her hands beneath the floor-length cloak I draped over her head and shoulders before I hurried her out of the house and into the downpour.

I debated letting her sleep. I paced for nearly ten minutes after Ravenna sent one of her minions to alert me of the change in Ella’s maid, waking me up from the first night of sleep I’d had in weeks.

I’d gone to check on Ella after returning from my meeting with Ravenna. I had no right to go into that bedroom and stand there in the dark watching her silently cry in her sleep. Not after what I’d said to her.

I should have left, but I sat on the edge of the bed, my body trembling from being flayed open by the hellhounds–wounds I refused to allow Ravenna’s healers to tend to–and laid back. I only shut my eyes for a moment, and woke up cradling Ella like an infant while someone banged on the door downstairs.

Now, we walk a few feet apart, o