Wonderland Ch. 12 -- Teaser

As promised, the (unedited!) teaser to WLand Ch 12!! Sorry that's a bit short, but it sets the tone for the entire chapter, and it's the part I like the most. =)

Wonderland Chapter Twelve

When I woke up again, I found myself back in my hut. My mouth felt sticky and hot, a definite contrast to my clammy cold skin. I sat up stiffly and shivered as the cool air from outside blew in, bringing the last person I wanted to see along with it.

“You’re awake,” Talon murmured, sounding relieved. “I brought breakfast.”

I eyed the tray in his hands that was overflowing with fruits, meats, and a thick puffy roll of bread. My mouth watered at the sight of the meal, but at the same time, my stomach rolled as I remembered the man who used to make and bring me meals.

“He forced me into unconsciousness,” I asked my knees, wanting to just get the questions over with.

Talon hesitated but approached anyway. He set the tray down in my lap and handed me a glass lined with a thick animal skin. I eyed the glass and saw it was juice. Taking a tentative sip, I set the glass on the tray.

“He did what he had to do,” Talon answered slowly.

I tore at the roll with a snort. “Coward.”

Talon said nothing.

I swallowed the bite. “Thanks for bringing me breakfast,” I said slowly, manners not a courtesy I was willing to extend, least of all to Talon.

“Of course,” Talon said quietly. He stood up without another word and left the hut, tugging the furs back over the door as he left.

I ate my breakfast without tasting it, each bite weighing like a pound of lead in my stomach. When I was finished I set the empty tray aside and crawled back under the covers, pulling the furs high over my head.

For the rest of the week, I followed this same pattern: eat, sleep, pee, then repeat. Not once did I have any visitors for no one entered the hut except for Talon, and only to change out food trays. Finally I relented in his request that I shower, but as soon as I was finished, I was back in the hut, sleeping the rest of my life away.

Soon the days began to blur together. One week blended into three, then five, then eight. It was the start of the ninth week when I was woken up for breakfast in a slightly different fashion: a bucket of ice cold water was dumped on my head.

“What the hell was that for?” I yelled, shooting up out of bed.

“Time to get up,” Talon quipped shortly, his voice laced with a growl. “Breakfast is at Lennox’s tent in five minutes. If you aren’t there, we’ll eat without you and you can wait until dinner for food again.”

I rubbed the icy droplets out of my eyes and peered up into Talon’s face through slits. “I hate you,” I grumbled as I threw my soggy furs in his direction. Talon caught them and tossed me a dirty look, but said nothing as left my hut.

I fumed briefly before standing up, shivering as the cold water trickled down my skin. Quickly I went to my “closet” (actually just a stand where my clothes and furs were folded up), pulling out a new outfit before hurriedly stripping out of my old one and changing before the water could freeze on my skin.

I tossed the wet clothes into my rickety hamper on the way out, just barely stopping short of the strong blue-grey chest that barred my way.

I looked up at Talon, squinting against the sun and the blindingly white snow. “I’m ready,” I said flatly, peering through slits up at him, though this time not out of anger but to make sure I didn’t go blind.

“I gave you two months to mourn,” Talon said slowly, his voice a little rough. “That’s all you will be allowed. From now on the only time you go inside that hut is to sleep or change before meals.”

I shook my head in disbelief, my anger rearing its ugly head. “Unbelievable… So, what? You think that since Thatcher’s gone you get to boss me around now? That I’m subservient to you or something?”

Talon caught my arm as I brushed past him and tugged me closer to him. “We are leaders, Tempest,” he growled quietly, his eyes flashing silver with anger. “Táxim asked that we take command of the Elites, which I have been doing, by myself, since the day he left.”

“Do you want a medal or something?” I snarled as I tried to free myself from his grip. “Gods, Talon, I just want‒”

“To curl up into a pathetic ball on your mat and pretend that there isn’t a greater evil out there than someone rejecting you? You did that, Tempest, for two months. It’s time to quit being a child.” Talon released me and I stumbled away from him, nearly falling on my face in the snow. I straightened up and glared at him, brushing the falling crystals off my coat.

“You are not the only one who has been rejected by someone they love, Tempest,” Talon said quietly as he passed me. “You should take care to remember that.”