Misinformed: Chapter Nine

Was he dreaming? He couldn’t tell. Everything was so still and peaceful like the world had become frozen. He couldn’t remember falling asleep. It had been so long that he’d done it properly that it felt like some alien behavior in himself. He turned, hearing her breathing so soft and even beside him. This was alien too, waking up with some creature in his bed.

Sophie looked peaceful and still like a statue but she was very much alive. He stared up at the ceiling, just listening to her breathe. Perhaps it was her that kept him asleep, the sound of her breathing.

Silas braced himself up on his elbow and found outside the blankets that the room was cold. Perhaps the world was frozen after all. He slid to the edge of the bed and wiped his eyes.

“Come back,” her fingers grabbed the elastic of his boxers and tugged them. “It’s cold and you took all my heat.”

Silas smirks back at her. “I was going to check and see what damage that blizzard did,” he growled. “You can store up more heat for me when I come back inside.”

Sophie pouted at him, tugging on his boxers again. “Or you could just stay,” she grumbled.

Silas stood, her hand tugging his boxers down before she let go. He pulled up his pants as soon as she did and tugged on a shirt. “I’ll be back, remain comfy.” He said as he stepped out of the bedroom. 

Outside the world was white and frosted over, a good thick layer of snow on the ground. He checked a few things outside, making sure the power was still on and that the gas hadn’t busted and water hadn’t frozen in the pipes. The power wasn’t running, but at least the water was fine.

After freezing outside without his jacket he went back to the bedroom. Sophie was still curled up under the blankets, looking as warm and peaceful as ever. “Power is out,” he sat on the edge of the bed and took the prosthetic off, setting it under the mattress.

“Mm,” Sophie sat upon her elbows. “How was it out?”

“White, cold,” Silas replied as he eased back into bed.

Sophie bit her lip, “did you check upstairs?” She looked up at him,slight fear in her eyes.

Silas laid on his back beside her. “I didn’t,” he grunted as he eased into the mattress. “But Persephone didn’t make a noise at all. I trust her judgment.”

Sophie was silent for a long time, and she made no move towards him. She seemed in deep thought and worry, her eyes downcast and mouth screwed into a tight line. “So no power?” She asked.

“None,” he grumbled. “The water should still work, and the gas is fine so we shouldn’t freeze to death.” He turned his head, expecting her to lay her head on his chest. She still didn’t move towards him.

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

“Thinking,” Sophie muttered, chewing on her nails. “All these things that keep happening, what they could mean.”

Silas rolled onto his side and reached out to her, petting her hair and stroking her cheek.

“I can only be pulled from the fire so many times before I start to wonder if it’s me,” Sophie croaked, tucking her chin against her chest.

“It’s not,” he growled at her.

“I’m the common denominator,” she hissed.

Silas pulled her into his arms and held her fast. Her small hands pressed against his chest, her cheek on his neck. “Don’t blame yourself,” he snarled. “Not in front of me.”

Sophie sighed, her breath on his neck. She smiled again, taking his embrace and melting into it. “I keep finding myself in the middle of these messes. I can’t help but think they’re my fault when the trail leads to me.”

“That is what assholes do,” Silas snarled. “They make a mess of everything and then pass the blame onto someone, usually someone innocent.”

Sophie pushed him away and sat up, tucking her knees to her chest and holding them. “I should tell you something,” she muttered.

Silas sat up, looking over her. She looked pale and small. Her expression reading like someone before the executioner. “Sophie-”

“No I…” she smiled at him. She tucked her hair behind her pointed ear. “I want to tell you because I know you’ll understand.” 

She slipped her legs to the side so she could face him. “I think back to when I was young and I just see this stupid, stupid girl,” she scoffed, a sound like her heart shattering. “I want to yell at myself and tell myself to open my eyes and ears. But that’s who I was, young and naive and….” she bit her lip, closing her eyes, “so fucking desperate to be loved,” she spit.

Sophie cleared her throat. “I met Avery Makepeace when I was young. Our fathers were friends, we had known each other most of our lives. Puppy love and all those silly things childhood has. In high school, we made it official. He loved me and I loved him. Well…” she scoffed, “that was what he told me.”

Silas moved so he was sitting before her, meeting her eyes when she wanted to give it. He reached out, putting his hand over her own.

“We eloped,” she finally spit out, her hand grasping his tightly. “I thought it was all...so romantic and meant to be. We got married and we were going to run away together...but it…” her voice hitched and her chin start to tremble. “I knew he was prone to anger,” she muttered and her voice choked. “He had a temper and was so used to having his way. I...I often gave in to him because I just didn’t want him mad at me,” her voice pitched and cracked and she pulled her knees back up, hiding her face there. “I realize now he just wanted to own me. To keep me tied down so I couldn’t run away from him. I was property to him,” she whimpered.

Silas wanted to wrap her up in his arms, keep her safe and reassure her. But she needed to continue without him.

“We ran away all right,” she hiccuped. “We broke into his father’s summer home and he held me prisoner there. And he-” her voice choked off, she raised her head and wiped the tears away. “I thought because we were married...I couldn’t say no,” she swallowed,throat tight. “And when I tried once to say it, he saw I received a fit punishment.”

“Sophie,” Silas snarled.

She held up her hand. “Luckily they found us, I was taken home. Beauchamp protected me and he fought hard. But because of who Avery was...who his family was, everything was wiped under the table. Beauchamp was able to grant me safety and he was able to get the marriage annulled but...Avery got away.”

“Sophie,” Silas snarled again. “I know.”

Sophie looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. “You knew? How?”

“Beauchamp hired me, the first job he ever gave me, to find you,” Silas wiped her cheeks, her eyes. He used the hem of his shirt to wipe the snot from her nose. “You locked yourself in the bathroom and wouldn’t let anyone in, I had to kick the door down and I carried you out to your mother and father. You were so small like you had the bones of a bird.”

“I…” Sophie covered her mouth and she fell back. “It was you-” she gasped. “I thought it was my father who did that!”

Silas ducked down his head. “I didn’t realize who you were when I first met you. Beauchamp had to tell me who you were. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t feel like it was my place.” 

“Oh my god,” Sophie whispered. “It was you.”

“I would never have guessed that shivering, frightened little girl would grow up and become such a woman,” Silas cupped Sophie’s cheek in his palm. “You were broken and you somehow made yourself into steel.”

Sophie sniffled and covered her face, sobbing into her palms. He pulled her into his arms again, holding her as she cried. He pet her back and hair, squeezing her.

Sophie sniffled as she she calmed herself down, clinging to him, her forehead pressed to his chest. “No wonder I felt safe when I first met you. I always thought it was so strange I wanted to reach out to you, but now it makes sense.” She lifted her head and smiled at him. “I really have no idea what to say,” she sighed as she caught her breath.

“You say nothing,” Silas kissed her cheek. “There’s nothing left to be said. I don’t want any thanks, and I don’t want you crying again about how I’m some bleeding heart knight. You’re here. You’re well. That’s all fine enough for me.”

Sophie chuckled and rose up to press a soft kiss to his lips. “I knew you’d say that.”

Silas dipped his head, kissing her. She sighed as he did, her fingers grasping at the collar of his shirt.

Silas cleared his throat. “I’ll make us something to eat,” he replied. “Then...if you want we can go take Persephone out into the snow.”

Sophie nodded, “that sounds great. But I’m not too hungry right now. Could you make some coffee?”

“Coffee pot won’t work,” he moved to the edge of the bed, reaching under for his leg. “But, if you feel like it, I’ll show you the camping way to do it.”

Sophie came up beside him, watching as he pulled his pants leg up. He glanced over at her, clearing his throat. “What?” He coughed.

“That looks old,” she said to his prosthetic. “It doesn’t look like it would be comfortable at all.”

“It isn’t,” Silas grumbled, still waiting until she looked away to fasten it. “The new one should be in soon. I just keep this one for emergencies, and thank god I did.”

“William said he tried to pick up the pieces, but it was beyond repair,” Sophie murmured, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Sorry, it got ruined.”

He swallowed, his throat bone dry. “It’s none of your concern. I handle myself fine.”

Sophie slid her legs off the side of the bed. “If it’s too uncomfortable today, I don’t mind laying down all day,” she purred into his ear. 

Silas snarled, his lip curling up over his teeth. “It’s best not to tease Orcs, little master,” he said as she just smirked. “We have a hard time discerning it.”

Sophie giggled and she stood up and stretched, his shirt she wore rising up over her thighs, her bottom peeking out from underneath.

“Oh now that’s just not fair,” he growled, half angry, all hungry.

Sophie peeked over her shoulder and smirked. “I’ll be right back, just going to powder my nose,” she winked at him as she walked into the bathroom.

Silas huffed, shaking his head as his tried to clear his mind. He put his prosthetic into place then left to the kitchen. Persephone was still on the couch, her head resting on the arm. She watched him as he came out and her tail began thumping on the back.

“Yes, yes, good morning girl,” he yawned.

In the kitchen, he took out a pot and the coffee. He then took a filter and filled it with grounds and tied it with string. Sophie walked in as the water was beginning to boil. She hopped up onto the counter, watching as he dropped the packet into the water.

“Will it be any good?” She asked.

“Probably not,” he glanced over at her. “Since you mentioned William,” he started.

Sophie scoffed. “Oh god, what?”

Silas looked back to the pot. “Nothing. He’s a good man.”

Sophie nodded, “he is,” she raised her leg, her foot rubbing up his leg and side. “We dated for a while,” she explained. “Not long after I met Isla she introduced us. I attended a few of his support groups. We dated. That was it.”

Silas scoffed.

Sophie pinched his arm. “Yes, he was the first man I dated after everything I went through. He was kind and gentle, supportive and understanding.”

Silas rolled his eyes and grumbled under his breath. “And handsome. And wealthy. And perfect.”

“And boring!” Sophie snapped with a grin. “He’s a wonderful person, but dating William was like wading in waist deep warm water.” She slipped her fingers up under his shirt, feeling his skin and fur. “It was nice, it helped me heal. But he’s not what I really need. Nothing of what I want.”

“Should be ready,” Silas turned the eye off.

“Were you jealous?” She asked, hand snaking further up his shirt.

“There’s milk in the fridge, sugar just above you in the cabinet,” Silas motioned.

Her fingers rippled along his ribs. “Kiss me,” she commanded in a whisper.

Silas slammed the pot down a little harshly and he pushed himself against her, obeying the master’s command. Her hands gripped onto his chest, her legs wrapping around his hips. She had used his toothpaste, her mouth tasting of it. He gripped her hip, his hand pushing back the shirt and moving up underneath. Her stomach fluttering as he touched.

Persephone barked and they jumped, Silas turning around to see her staring at them. Her tail was wagging and there was a big grin on her face. Silas could have tossed her into the snow just then. 

He scoffed and Sophie giggle, covering her face with her hands. “I’ll just have my coffee black, thanks,” she purred, petting Silas’s shoulder.

Silas snarled, diving back in and kissing her neck and biting her shoulder. When she moaned out he pulled away with a laugh. “Since when do you take it black?”

“Fuck if I can remember now,” she fanned herself. She eyed him as he poured her cup. “You always do that,” she reached out for the cup as he turned.

Silas smirked. “Do what?”

“Pull away,” she murmured as she blew into the pitch brew. “Always gone just before the point of no return.” She took a sip of the coffee.

Silas was silent, which she expected. He poured his own coffee, taking it black just like her. He stood away from her, at the opposite end of the kitchen from her and leaned on the cabinet. He drank and Sophie frowned.

“Is it-” Sophie’s eyes flicked down and back up.

“It’s not,” Silas growled in response, quickly shutting off any self-doubting notion in her head. “Nothing to do with you either.” He added as he sighed, shoulders feeling heavy. “Trust me, I’ve had many a frustrated morning because of you.”

Sophie bit her lip. “You’re hard to read,” she admitted. “Sometimes I don’t know how to move around you.”

He scoffed. “You move around me just fine it seems,” he then shook his head. “I’m the one who doesn’t know how to move.”

Sophie released her lip and her eyes widened a bit.

“You’re the first good thing to walk into my life, little master,” he touched the burnt edge of his jaw and pulled his hand away. “I don’t know how to keep good things in my life. They all usually go away so I make them go away before they find out.”

Persephone whined and keened behind him.

Sophie furrowed her brow. “Find out what?”

Silas sighs. “What I am.”

Sophie slipped off the counter and Silas was sure she was going to walk away. He hung his head and in the next moment her hand was on his arm. Her fingers brushed down and took his hand, squeezing it tight. She brought it up and kissed his knuckles.

“I want to know who you are, Silas,” she pressed his palm against her cheek. “I owe you that much kindness.”

He squeezed her cheek with a soft touch then pulled his hand away. “You owe me nothing.”

“I do,” she corrected, catching his hand and holding it again. “There is nothing to be done today. We are snowed in and I do not want to be alone. I want you.”

“Want me,” Silas scoffed, rolling his eyes. “My story isn’t a pretty one,” he admitted in a grumble. “And there isn’t a happy ending like yours.”

Sophie took a deep breath. “I want to hear it,” she smiled for him. “I care about you.”

Silas looks at her, taking one long drink of her while she still held kindness in her eyes. He kissed her softly and nodded. “Ok fine,” he then took a step away from her.

“I killed my brother,” the words escaped. The dark things coming free for the last person he ever wanted to hear them. “And I do not regret it.”

Sophie’s lips parted, eyes wide and skin as pale as death. Her grip was faint yet remained in his grasp. “Was...was there a reason?” She was breathless.

“Look at my face,” he commanded. He slammed his palms down on the counter. “Look at it!”

Her wide, blue eyes stared up at him, granting him a small nod. She removed her hand and placed it on his melted cheek, her fingers brushing under his blind eye.

“This wasn’t the first of his many fits of abuse,” he snarled, leaning heavily against the cabinet. “He gave me these, and as I healed all I heard was his laughter. No matter who spoke to me it was his laughing I heard,” He swallowed. 

“After I got out of the hospital my mother was gone. I don’t know what became of her or my baby sister,” tears began to come to his eyes but he looked away from Sophie as she tried to reach for him. “She was so small, and he had broken her arm before so-” he shook his head. “My father was a weak man by Orc standards, he had no chance against someone like my brother.” He snarled through clenched teeth. “We suffered. Not that I didn’t have my own anger that I dealt out. I wasn’t a good son either, mind you,” his tone bitter.

“Silas-” her voice choked off.

Silas stood back and took a deep steadying breath. “I tried to run away one night, I was sixteen. I told dad I would try and come for him if I could, but dad went to told my brother. Told him my plan and everything. So he made sure I couldn’t run.” He swallowed, slowly slipping to the floor. He pulled up his pants leg and let Sophie see the prosthetic.

Sophie gasped, her fingers fluttering around her mouth. Tears fell from her soft blue eyes and she gazed up in horror at Silas. “How could-” she shook her head.

Silas dropped the pants leg. “This time, when I got out of the hospital dad was gone. I knew what happened to him, though,” he choked. “So I set the house on fire and sealed him in.”

Sophie’s eyes grew wide, her jaw went stiff.

“I let him burn alive like he did me,” Silas snarled as his chest ached. “The world is better off without him.”

Sophie's throat was tight and she was holding back her tears. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, touching his leg.

“You’re apologizing,” he scoffed, wiping his face. “Fuck,” he snarled.

Sophie put her hand against his neck. “I understand,” she cooed. “I...I can’t imagine what pain you suffered but...I know how it feels.” Her voice cracked. “The hatred. The yearning for divine retribution...I’m sorry it was your hand that had to deal it but…”

“I’m a killer, Sophie,” he snarled at her. “It’s fine to admit you’re afraid of me now. You don’t have to stay. You don’t need to act.”

“To be honest,” Sophie forced a chuckle, “I’m not sure how I feel.” She sat down beside him and put her head on his shoulder. “I’m staying for you.”

Silas scoffed, covering a sniffle. He wiped at his face again.

Sophie held his hand, squeezing again as she leaned against him.

“Now what?” Silas muttered, uncomfortable with silence for the first time in his life.

She lifted her head and looked up at him. “Why don’t we go upstairs and we can take a nice hot bath.” She stood up and held her hand out to him. “It’ll be nice.”

Silas sighed, taking her hand and lifting himself up with her help. “Whatever you say.”

It was dark in her tiny bathroom and she could barely see Silas’s outline. As the tub began to fill up and undressed, stepping from the shirt she had worn in his place and pulling down her panties. She moved to cover herself but stopped, her heart pounding hard in her chest. She reached out for him, feeling his bare chest and waist.

“Go ahead,” she whispered, unsure why she was being so quiet. “Get in.” She pushed him towards the tub and heard him slosh into the water as he eased in.

She sat on the edge of the tub and looked at his face. His head was slightly turned, the light catching on his throat as it fluttered. She eased into the water, sitting in his lap and laying her back against his chest. She sighed and his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

“See, it’s nice,” she nuzzled against his bicep.

“Yes,” Silas swallowed.

Sophie moved her hand down, cautious and slow as she dipped her fingers into the water and touched his thigh. She felt him flinch as she pet down until it ended. She rested her hand there and placed a gentle pressure there.

“Do you still want me?” He snarled close to her ear, kissing her ear through her hair.

Sophie took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes,” she answered.