08-21-2016, 07:57 AM
For a while it seemed things were going to work out okay. Nox brushed off the confrontation, and though Cain's ire kindled like flame, he didn't put voice to it. Asha made the mistake of letting herself relax, just a fraction. Nox's usual good humour was infectious.
Then Elias stood and the tension grew very still.
Nox could have ignored it; she sensed his amusement, knew that he wasn't truly angry at Elias. But pride gilded his tongue, and he couldn't shut his lips against criticism. He had a good heart, and he was well intentioned. But he desperately needed to learn when to keep quiet. The spark ignited, fluttering dangerously close to a trail of gasoline. Though they all insisted it was her decision, not a single one of them took breath long enough to give her the opportunity to speak for herself. Her name whipped like a razor as she stood there, journal hugged to her chest, face ashen. She sagged against the edge of the desk.
The argument was juvenile. Misunderstanding. Judgement. Pride. Arrogance.
And then it was over. Cain stepped in with calm words. Nox turned his back on Elias. Like land and sea, irreconcilable. She didn't want his money, but wanted to illicit bruised feelings even less, so said nothing. Instead she handed Nox the journal he'd apparently forgotten about. Made a point of eye contact. "Thank you for changing the locks."
Weariness tugged at her expression. She had more questions about Dane and whether she really had cause for concern, or if these were just precautionary measures, but the opportunity for that was lost. Her control was fraying, and while they both claimed to care about her safety, neither seemed willing to remain civil for her sake. He was already leaving.
She held the door for them. "Nice to meet you too, Cain. Hopefully next time will be under better circumstances."
And then they were gone.
She waited a heartbeat to draw herself together as the door clicked shut. It took a moment for their essence to fade. "You've a talent for making friends, Elias."
She sighed, leaning on the door, but it was said without malice. Elias hadn't said anything unreasonable, just couched it in too much needless hostility. "Please don't be angry."
Then Elias stood and the tension grew very still.
Nox could have ignored it; she sensed his amusement, knew that he wasn't truly angry at Elias. But pride gilded his tongue, and he couldn't shut his lips against criticism. He had a good heart, and he was well intentioned. But he desperately needed to learn when to keep quiet. The spark ignited, fluttering dangerously close to a trail of gasoline. Though they all insisted it was her decision, not a single one of them took breath long enough to give her the opportunity to speak for herself. Her name whipped like a razor as she stood there, journal hugged to her chest, face ashen. She sagged against the edge of the desk.
The argument was juvenile. Misunderstanding. Judgement. Pride. Arrogance.
And then it was over. Cain stepped in with calm words. Nox turned his back on Elias. Like land and sea, irreconcilable. She didn't want his money, but wanted to illicit bruised feelings even less, so said nothing. Instead she handed Nox the journal he'd apparently forgotten about. Made a point of eye contact. "Thank you for changing the locks."
Weariness tugged at her expression. She had more questions about Dane and whether she really had cause for concern, or if these were just precautionary measures, but the opportunity for that was lost. Her control was fraying, and while they both claimed to care about her safety, neither seemed willing to remain civil for her sake. He was already leaving.
She held the door for them. "Nice to meet you too, Cain. Hopefully next time will be under better circumstances."
And then they were gone.
She waited a heartbeat to draw herself together as the door clicked shut. It took a moment for their essence to fade. "You've a talent for making friends, Elias."
She sighed, leaning on the door, but it was said without malice. Elias hadn't said anything unreasonable, just couched it in too much needless hostility. "Please don't be angry."