brought me nothing but heartache and pain. We've only just begun, and I despised how there wasn’t even a simple friendship
between us. I tried to remind myself of Vanessa’s and Morgana’s words. Tried to keep them fresh in my memory, to remind
myself there was some good in him.
Even if he had locked it away.
“We shall dine together, there is much we need to discuss. We can discuss some of it now? Or are you in a rush to head
back?”
He eyed me closely, watching my every movement. My heartbeat loudly in my chest, the ringing in my ears growing louder
as I tried not to panic or feel any dread. I hated how these feelings would wash over me, like the very ocean itself. I had no
control over it or understood why it happened. It only seemed to happen when I began to panic.
I didn’t answer, only set Eira into a faster pace before we began sprinting down the other side of the beach. I needed to put
distance between us as I begged the ringing to stop, for my heart to slow but it refused.
The beach seemed everlasting, longer than I imagined it would be. Nicholas kept his pace behind me and without warning
rain started to pour, heavier than earlier. Vanessa, perhaps? Or maybe this was just the way of things.
“ORNELLA! STOP!” Nicholas shouted over the sound of the beating waves and downpour.
I had reached a part of the beach decorated in rock pools. It was only then did I slow down and as Eira reared back with
the sudden pull of the reins, I leapt off and ran forward.
Tears streamed down my face, or was it the rain? I wasn’t sure anymore as I heaved over, my breath uneven and for a
second or two I thought I’d bring up breakfast. Thankful when I didn’t, the ringing in my ears faded to the back of my mind.
My clothes were soaked all the way through and all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball. My tranquil world dissolved by
a simple question from him.
“Ornella?”
He stood behind me and I stopped shaking. Anger begged me to release it, release the cavernous wrath that wanted to cause
someone pain. Anyone in pain.
Hearing the sand shift behind me, I lifted myself up and straightened myself out. Without thinking, I turned towards him,
racing to him and I felt my palm hit the side of his face then my fists hit his shoulders.
Again.
Again and Again.
He didn’t fight back once or take hold of my wrists to stop me from hitting him. My rage continued to pour out of me as I hit
him again. Another smack this time on the other side of his face. When I raised my hand again, he gripped my wrist.
“Are you done?” he growled.
