Anger forcing itself up her windpipe, Integrity lashed out at the woman's face with everything she had in her. The sound made was brief and surprisingly loud, but, although her head had turned to the side from the blow, the woman had not lost her balance. She turned her head slowly back to Integrity, locking eyes with her. With incredible speed, she grabbed Integrity by the hair and forced Integrity's nose to meet her knee. Blood flowed freely.
Integrity crumpled to the ground, fighting to stay conscious. She could see nothing but swirling colors, feel nothing but the throbbing of her nose as with each heartbeat more and more blood flowed down her front. Instinctively, she reached up to staunch the flow, only to cry out at the pain that flooded over her anew at the slightest brush against her nose. She could feel her tears mingling with the blood.
Gradually shapes swam into focus, only to give way to splotches of color once more. Integrity was aware that her attacker had left her alone since breaking her nose, but she was in too much pain to really care one way or the other. She could hear people talking around her, presumably those in the bleachers. Obviously their tempers were high, voices growing increasingly louder. She vaguely saw two people hurrying toward her, her intermittent sight revealing her two guards. They stood, one on either side of her, their black pant legs breaking up the swirling colors randomly.
The voices moved away from her, the spectators leaving the room. Integrity's faculties were returning with more reliability, but she was not clearly aware of her surroundings until the majority had left. She heard one man order, “Doctor her nose, then return her to her quarters,” and saw the speaker stalk to the door.
Integrity gently wiped the tears from her eyes, igniting the pain once more. She blinked, her vision clearing more quickly now. She looked a short distance away to see the man who had entered her room and stabbed the prisoner. Her chest constricted in fear. Looking at her with mild disgust on his face, he told the two men beside her, “Stand her up, will you? Let's get this over with.”
Thoughts raced through the girl's mind, most of them focused on the chances of her life ending in the very near future. The man walked toward her, then stopped a short distance away. “Hold her tightly.” This was obviously directed at her guards. Integrity tensed automatically, and their grip cinched down even more. When the man before her raised his hands, she tried to break away, but made no progress. “Hold still,” the man before her commanded. “You'll only make it worse on yourself.” Integrity stilled, more out of hopelessness than anything else, and watched the man's hands raise toward her face. He linked his fingers together swiftly, his palms facing her, then abruptly clapped the heels of his hands together directly on the bridge of her nose. She yelped, her vision obscured once more.
“What is wrong with you?!? Why did you do that?!?” Pain rolled over her in waves, her knees floppy enough for her to have to be grudgingly grateful that her guards were holding her up. It wasn't until the pain had subsided that she realized what she had said, and how dangerous it was to have said it. I'm completely at their mercy! Why did I say that?
She opened her eyes hesitantly, waiting at any moment to experience more pain. The man still stood before her. He studied her for a moment, his head cocked slightly to one side. Finally, he spoke. “If you don't jar it, your nose should be straight.” He turned to go, his emotionless state making her brave. Steeling herself, she called to him to wait. He stopped, but did not turn back to her.
“What's your name?” Her voice sounded oddly stubborn and weak at the same time, as though she were giving an order she expected to be obeyed, although she knew she could force no action. The man uttered one word before walking silently out the door, never once looking back.
“Evan.”
Đ
Galia was horrified when she saw the state Integrity was in. Between Integrity's blackened eye and her inability to move with ease, Galia's concern was well founded.
“How did this happen?” Galia asked. She had to stop herself halfway to keep from touching Integrity's broken nose.
Integrity pulled back, but relaxed when Galia didn't touch her face. “I got in a fight.”
Galia laughed shortly. “A fight? With who? Yourself?”
Integrity shrugged, then winced at the pinching she felt in between her ribs. “I don't know who she was.”
Galia sat down. “This isn't working. Will you start from the beginning, please?” She folded her hands gracefully in her lap.
Integrity could feel a headache building up behind her eyes. “Last night the guards took me to some room and some lady beat the crap out of me. That's about it.”
Galia's fingers clenched momentarily. “Truthfully?” She looked troubled.
“Of course it's the truth! Why wouldn't it be?” Relax, don't take it out on her.
“I apologize. I did not mean to imply that you were telling a falsehood.” Galia's gaze drifted vaguely to the side. “It is simply that I usually know what happens at Westmarch, and I have heard nothing of this. Peculiar.” After a moment, Galia refocused on Integrity. “Describe your attacker for me.”
Integrity struggled to remember specifics. “She was a little taller than me, skinny. I think she had dark brown hair; it was pulled back. I think she was Hispanic or Latino, something like that.” She shrugged, at a loss for more.
Galia pondered for a moment, then asked, “Was anyone else present?”
“My guards were there, some people were sitting around, but I couldn't see them. There was one guy I got a good look at. He said his name was Evan.” Galia could not hide her shock. “What is it?”
Galia regained control quickly, but hesitated, obviously choosing her words carefully. “The name was familiar. Can you describe him for me?”
Integrity shrugged. “Dark hair, really average. I did recognize him, though; he was in the car when Ben and I were captured. Who is he?”
Galia's lips flattened into a straight line. “I can't say for sure. Your description could match many of the men at Westmarch.”
Sensing that Galia was being evasive, Integrity said, “Yes, but how many of those men are named Evan?”
Galia shifted slightly. “I do not know the name of all who live here, let alone those who come and go. This Evan could be anyone.” She changed the subject. “What I would like to know is why you were taken and attacked last night. It doesn't make any sense.”
Integrity sighed and leaned back against her chair. “I know. I've been trying to figure it out ever since, but I can't.” She shoved her hair back from her face, once again feeling the strain in her muscles. She was surprised that she wasn't more bruised—she felt like she should look like one giant plum.
After Galia made the bed and gathered the dirty linens, she gave Integrity a sympathetic smile and a small wave. Integrity said, “Bye,” and then was left to her own devices.
She picked up the current book she was reading, Bleak House, and thought briefly that her eyes were glad for the break Galia had given them. Integrity often read for such long periods of time that her eyes would grow dry and her vision would blur, no matter how many times she blinked or how much she rubbed her eyes. Thanks to focusing on something other than the tiny print, Integrity was now assured she would be distracted, possibly even entertained for the next several hours.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed before she looked up from her book and glanced at the window. She jumped slightly when she saw someone standing there, looking in. Before she consciously recognized Ben, she was halfway across the room. She fumbled with the latch on the window for longer than she was comfortable with, acutely aware as she was of his eyes on her. She reached through the window and helped Ben step through, anxious lest he should fall. “Ben! How did you get up here?” Her eyes flashed to the dizzying drop below them before she closed the window and latched it once more. “You could have fallen! What were you thinking?”
Ben gave her a a half smile, making her stomach clench. “Is that all you can say? I thought
you'd at least be happy to see me,” he gently teased.
Before she could stop herself, Integrity lunged forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Ben, automatically protecting her tender nose by turning her head. Realizing that, once again, she was acting without thinking, she stiffened and started to pull away, but Ben wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, emitting a comic groan of pleasure. “That's more like it,” he murmured.
Integrity felt a huge smile spread across her face, along with a blush. She was grateful that he couldn't see her reaction to his words. Elation pulsed through her with every beat of her heart, making her extremities feel like they were losing circulation. When she could get the silly grin on her face under control, she eased back, pleased that Ben still kept his arms around her. Don't start grinning like an idiot again! she chastised herself.
“How did you get up here? I thought you were in jail. I've been so worried about you! Are you okay? Are you escaping?”
Ben chuckled and put one finger lightly on her lips. “Whoa, slow down. One question at a time, if you want answers.” He grinned again and her heart throbbed once, harder than normal.
“Okay.” She was trying really hard to keep her smile under control, but Integrity thought there was a good chance she was grinning like a total goober. “Are you okay?” She forced herself to stop, wanting to elaborate further.
“I'm doing much better now.” He pulled her tightly to him again for a moment before relaxing again. “Are you okay?”
“I'm fine.” Integrity caught herself laughing from sheer glee and forced herself to stop, resulting in an odd noise, somewhat chicken-like. “How in the world did you get up here? We've gotta be on the third floor.”
“Fourth, actually. I climbed up the bricks.” Ben laughed at the look on her face. “It's really not that hard, or that dangerous. C'mere.” He led her a step or two to the window and they looked down, his arm casually around her waist. She forced herself to focus out the window and tried to gather her jumbled thoughts. “See? They're all really uneven and there's all those decorative things that jut out. Easy.”
She scoffed. “I don't think so. I'd brain myself if I tried to climb up the side of a building, no matter how many hand holds there were.” She shivered. “You're not going back down that way, are you?”
He laughed again. “I just got here, and you're already talking about me leaving?” She ducked her head in embarrassment. “Would you prefer I walk out past the guards?”
She laughed, too. “That's probably not the best idea. So how'd you get out of jail?”
“It's my turn to ask questions. What happened to your beautiful face?”
Integrity glanced down, feeling awkward. “Some lady kicked the crap out of me.”
Ben raised her face, putting one finger under her chin. “Who? And why?”
She shrugged and walked a few steps away from the window, uncomfortable. “I don't know who she was or why she did it.”
Ben walked over to her and gave her a gentle smile. “Why don't we sit down?” Sensing that she was still uncomfortable, he changed the subject. “I got out of jail with the help of one of the guards.” The pair sat down in the armchairs, angling toward one another. Integrity purposely chose the chair that would hide the bruised side of her face most, even though it made Ben walk farther.
“So why are you here? Why didn't you just leave Westmarch? Not that I'm complaining.” She was eager to make him feel welcome now, though she knew he was only joking before.
“I'm not leaving Westmarch.” A small thrill rolled through Integrity. Ben trailed one finger along the pattern on the arm of his chair.
Integrity cleared her throat. “Why not?” She hoped she didn't sound as desperate as she felt.
Ben looked up slowly and locked his eyes on hers. “Why do you think?” Integrity flushed and dropped her gaze. “I can't get you out of here. At least, not yet I can't.”
Without looking up, Integrity mumbled half-heartedly, “So why don't you just go? Why not save yourself?”
A moment passed in silence, then another. Integrity looked up, her head still bent. Ben was watching her silently, his elbow set on the armrest, his thumb under his chin, fingers curled over his mouth. Hardly moving his mouth, he asked, “Don't you know?” Integrity thought she could sense a hint of sadness in his voice. She felt her heart beating painfully against her ribs and dropped her gaze once more. He can't really mean that, she tried to convince herself. You're just misinterpreting.
Rubbing a hand across the back of her neck, Integrity tried to come to grips with herself. “So what are you going to do, if you're not leaving Westmarch? Won't they miss you from the jail?” She heard him sigh and glanced at him briefly; he had shifted further back in chair and slouched a little more.
“Yeah, I will be missed. They're much more concerned about me and where I am than they ever were about you. I'll have to go back to the cell.” He rubbed his eyes roughly for a moment, as though suddenly fatigued.
Pain clenched Integrity's stomach. Her head snapping up, she exclaimed, “No! There's got to be some other way!” Memories of her own time in those cells, of her constant fear, made her head swim. She was so fortunate to not have been returned to the very placed she dreaded most.
Ben sighed and shook his head, his gaze focused blankly on the wall. “I wish there was.” When he saw the distraught look on her face, he forced himself to smile. “Hey, don't worry about it. It's not so bad. Especially now that I've seen you again.” He rose easily from the chair and came toward her. Crouching down in front of her, his eyes were only slightly lower than hers. He took both her hands in his own. “I had to see you, had to make sure you were okay.” He reached toward her face and, ever so lightly, traced her bruised cheekbone. She shivered involuntarily. “I'm so sorry this happened to you. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.” He dropped his face into his hands, then backed away and stood up. “I should go. I don't want anyone to notice I'm gone.” He moved to the window.
Rising, Integrity followed him to the window. After he swung over the low sill and onto the dangerously narrow ledge below it, he stopped to look at her. “Will you come back?” Her voice was hardly more than a whisper.
He gently moved her hand off of the window and brought her fingers to his lips. Integrity found it hard to breathe. “Nothing could keep me away,” he promised, his cool breath flowing against her fingertips. He moved smoothly and silently down the wall, Integrity tensely watching the whole time.
Chapter Six
It was so infinitely hard for Integrity to not tell Galia about Ben and his visit, especially as more and more days passed without his return. Was he okay? Did he get away with leaving the jail? What about the guard that had helped him? Who was it? Could he or she be trusted?
Integrity spent a lot of time staring out of her window, hoping to see Ben scaling the wall once more. She never saw anything more interesting than the trees moving in a breeze. Granted, it was growing colder by the day, but she still expected to see a bird or two, especially this close to a forest. Why did she never see any animals? She should have seen something, after all the time she had spent staring outside.
Galia visited regularly several times a day to bring Integrity food, and Integrity was forced to stay on her toes the whole time. When Ben was all she could think about, how easy would it be to mention him? Galia's visits became briefer and briefer. While Integrity regretted this, she was powerless to change anything; her thoughts were constantly elsewhere. Galia did not seem real; at least, not compared to Ben.
It felt as though it had been months before Ben returned. Integrity stared blankly for several seconds before she moved to open the window, not trusting that her eyes were telling her the truth. She felt herself tearing up, her raw emotions too much to contain. She rubbed her eyes roughly while Ben closed and latched the window.
When she looked at him, he gave her a half smile and held his arms out. Having no desire to resist, she walked into them and
buried her face in his shoulder, grateful that the pain and swelling had left her face. She thrilled at his arms around her, until she realized how cold he was. She pulled back and looked at him with concern. “You're so cold! Let me get you a blanket or something.” She turned to pull a blanket off of her bed, but he stopped her.
“Hey, don't worry about it. I'll warm up.” He had an odd expression on his face, a mixture of worry and something more primal. “It's just cold down there. It feels nice in here.”
“I still think you should wrap up in a blanket. It can't be healthy to be that cold.” She debated going to get a blanket, but decided it wasn't worth leaving the circle of his arms to do so, especially when he really seemed to not want one.
“I've got a better idea.” She felt bereft when the contact was broken. She watched in confusion as he pulled the top blanket off of her neatly made bed and shook it. The blanket fell slowly to the ground where it lay smoothly. “Do you have anything to eat?”
Instant regret rushed through her torso. “I'm so sorry! I should have thought of that before, you must be starving.” She hurried to the coffee table and uncovered the tray there, revealing untouched food. “Please, take whatever.”
Ben walked over, standing closer to Integrity than was really necessary, and picked up the tray slowly. “What do you say to a picnic, my lovely?” he asked with a funny accent. He stepped back, and the energy that snapped between them eased off. He extended an elbow, somewhat awkwardly, and Integrity laughed and slipped her arm through the slot provided. He led her to the blanket and carefully set the tray down. “My lady,” he said as he made an expansive bow, full of much hand waving.
Integrity: Book One of the Destine Series Page 7