Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Roses and Thorns
She had appreciated the dark humor of it all after she knew Vera was fine and the blood was nothing more than paint. It was clever payback for her earlier destruction. But somehow Peg couldn't move past that initial moment of fear, how her heart leapt into her throat…how she knew she was to blame for Vera's pain. That part was still true, even though the rest had been mere charade. But Vera was in pain and it was Peg's fault. She wondered if there would ever be a time when she would not hurt the people she cared about.
She should never have let Kevan court her. She was not the kind of woman that married. Maybe he would find someone better, though she knew he didn't seek that. It would be the kinder thing to push him there, wouldn't it? To Dona or Hayden or Arinelle…or even Victor. For all that she didn't much care for the man, he seemed to have exceedingly good taste in partners. Perhaps it was she that was the problem. Yet, Kevan loved her just as she was. Vera never blamed her for anything, even when she should. And all she could ever offer them was hurt. She surrounded it with layers, like petals on a flower, but once those fell away...
She felt the crushing need to get away. The voices in her head were strong, telling her she was not meant to be close to others. She was made to cause pain.
Give into it. Embrace it.
It had been a long time, she thought, since she broke something just to watch it break. Longer still since she had done that to a breathing feeling person.
You are denying a part of yourself.
A part no one could…no one should love. It was selfish to keep people close, but she was too weak to push them away. Instead, she just kept pretending and telling herself this person that people loved...that she sometimes dared to like...was really her.
She ran her fingers along the scars on her left arm and shoulder, now covered by her barrier tattoo…roses and thorns of ink that protected her flesh. Flesh she had never cared about while she'd had thorns protecting her heart. She needed some moments with unprotected flesh and a heart encircled in a wreath of thorns until she felt herself again. She let the tattoo fade, put on a dress meant to draw attention in parts where attention ought to be avoided, and headed out.
Continue reading...
-
Who Doesn't Like a Good Soiree?
-
Peg's Playlist
-
Memories in Rain
-
Consequences
-
Mother Knows Best
-
Always Too Much
-
The Early Days
-
The Akmon Appreciation Society
-
Who Are You Fooling?
-
Pretending
-
Grim Things
-
Childish Make-Believe
-
Failure
-
Afraid to Die
-
Loved Until
-
To Trust Yourself
-
A Normal Life
-
Roses and Thorns
-
Through a Glass Darkly, Part One
-
A Little Better?
-
The Younger Orlov Daughter
-
Choices and Actions
-
Through a Glass Darkly, Part Two
-
Roses and Thorns Revisited
-
Adventures in Avalon
-
Home
-
Eyes
-
Of Bravery and Cowardice
-
Heroes and Villians
-
Scars and Gaping Wounds
Find your way!
Resources
WHO WE ARE
LEGAL
Get the news
Listen to our Podcast
Our Allies
