Video: In The Air Tonight by Kelly Sweet
The following chapter has not been edited yet by myself. This is a first raw rough draft. Please keep that in mind while reading. The writing might not be as fleshed out as past chapters. I'm taking a break from this book but have 6 or so chapters written that I want to post for all my readers. I'll be back to this book after NANO is over. In the mean time check out By Winter's End. If you enjoyed Breaking Eden then you WILL enjoy that book as well. Trust me. : 0 ) In the mean time here is what I have written the past few weeks just haven't had the time or energy to do self edits.
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2 - Fifth Day with no Food
Another five days passed by in a crawl. Morning morphed into afternoons and before she knew it the moon was out and high in the sky while she remained trapped in her prison. Eden could focus on nothing but making it to the next auction ball.
With no food in her belly, her senses weren't as strong, her thoughts clouded and incoherent. She spent most of her time in bed now, occasionally getting out with use the bathroom. And it's been days since she showered. She figured if she smelled terrible Declan wouldn't want to touch her or have anything to do with her.
With a shaky hand, Eden brought the glass of water to her lips and took a long drink.
Matilda was busy in the bathroom filling the tub for Eden's bath. She had finally had enough of Eden's antics and was putting her foot down. That morning she'd stormed into the room and thrown the curtains open to bring some natural light back into the room.
"You smell like a pig pen." Matilda tone was harsh but true. Eden was fully aware of her pungent smell, but she didn't care. She was too hungry and too exhausted to give a shit.
But now she hadn't a choice. She was to get into the tub or face Declan.
Eden stood up from the bed a little too fast. Her vision blurred, wavering as all the objects around her shifted, doubled, then morphed back together. Then she saw nothing but darkness as her knees buckled beneath her and she fell backward onto the bed.
Matilda found her slumped on the edge of the bed, with her hands braced on her thighs to stop herself from falling forward onto the hard wooden floor.
"Eden!"
There came a slight sting against Eden's numbed cheek, awakening slightly her from her daze. Her vision began to clear in one eye. She was no longer perched on the bed. Instead, she had somehow rolled onto the floor and she had a clear view of the groves in the floorboards.
Footsteps hurried towards her. Hands rolled Eden to her back and a face appeared. A worried frown settled over Matilda's brow. "What -" Eden tried to make sense of what had just occurred but couldn't. She was standing up to get into the bath and then - she couldn't remember. "-happened?"
"Your foolishness is going to kill you." Matilda's lips pressed into a firm line of disapproval. "Such a stubborn girl!" She hoisted Eden up, struggling to drag her onto the bed. "A little help would suffice." She grunted through clenched teeth.
Eden began to claw at the covers strewn across the bed in an attempt to help. In the end, they managed to get her up. All Eden could do was lay there on her side as the world came back together.
"I will not tolerate this any longer." Matilda slumped on the corner of the bed. "You've given me no other choice. I'm getting Declan. He'll sort you out right quick."
"I'm fine." Eden tried to sit up but the dizziness overwhelmed her and she fell back against the pillows. "I'm fine."
"You most certainly aren't fine." The weight on the end of the bed shifted. Moments later the cover were once again enveloping Eden in its comforting warmth.
Eden rolled to her side, snuggling deeper to get warm. "I'm tired is all." She said this to an empty room for Matilda had already left.
Minutes ticked by, turning into hours. Soon the sunlight outside the windows faded, dark, darker, and then pitch black sprinkled with sparks of light. The night sky was alive, yet Eden missed all of it as she slept beneath the covers.
It was eight pm when Eden's bedroom door burst open only to slam shut seconds later. But what awoke her was the distinct sound of a door locking. There was only one person she knew of who locked the door behind them.
Declan.
He had finally made his appearance. This was done most likely after an urgent plea from a worried Matilda.
The protective covers were snatched from her body and tossed at her feet. Eden rolled to her belly and crawled her way towards the other side of the bed at a snails pace. There was no escaping him. Her movements were delayed.
A strong hand gripped her ankle. With a hard jerk, Eden was pulled backwards and flipped over. He leaned over her. As he did this Eden got an up close look at his features. They were set into a look of disappointment then changed to one of disgust as the smell of her hit him.
Declan leaned her back against a tall stack of pillows, propping her up to face him since she couldn't manage it on her own.
Tossing her a tinfoil packet, Declan spoke, "Eat."
Eden, still trying to keep up with her defiant ways, pushed the packet away. "No."
"You can either eat this or I'll drag you down to the medical ward and have a feeding tube shoved down your miserable throat."
When Eden didn't answer him quickly enough and he dragged her from of bed. "Have it your way then. Let's go."
Eden became dead weight in his hands, making it that much harder to move her. The numbness receded as panic bubbled up. The thought of going back down into that room, being strapped to the table, locked up for days in the cold was enough for her to admit her defeat. "I'll eat! I'll eat! Just let go of me."
And he did let go of her.
She slumped back against the mound of pillows, completely disgusted with herself. You're weak. You deserve all of this. She demeaned herself, which was followed with the reason why she needed to cave to his demand. I can't go back into that room. I won't come back the same person and he'll make sure of it.
Declan held the foil packet towards her.
When she opened it, she found a partially burned grilled cheese sandwich inside. Cheese had bubbled out from one of the sides and oozed over the side.
She hesitated, eyeing the buttered bread after prying the slices apart to inspect it. "What you lace with one with?"
Declan, had moved toward the desk, he pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat. "Eat."
But Eden couldn't bring herself to possibly ingest another drug that will end with her waking up in the medical ward. Her hesitation triggers his anger.
Declan grabbed the sandwich from her hand and took a bite. "See?" He tossed it back onto the foil. "Now eat.
With a shaky hand, Eden brought the grilled cheese to her mouth. She took a small bite off the corner Declan bit from and began to eat.
The hunger she felt overwhelmed her. Before she knew it, her small bites turned into bigger ones. Then she was all but shoving the bread into her mouth. If the steak she had days ago was the best meal she'd ever had then this was a Godsend, utterly divine. She wanted more of it, yet the foil lay empty.
"Did you enjoy that?" Declan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
Eden nodded while she folded the foil back up. Her stomach made an audible burble. To her dismay, she was still hungry.
"Have another one." He pulled a second one from the pocket of his blazer and handed it to her.
A laugh escaped her lips. "How many of these do you have in there?" She asked as she unwrapped the foil.
"It's good to see you laugh." His words made Eden's cheeks burn with embarrassment as she consumed the other sandwich. He watched silently as she ate the last bite. A grin played on is lips.
She couldn't help but take his smile as something genuine. It was one that she didn't necessarily want to end.
Why are you laughing with someone you hate? Their positive moment ended. Don't fall for his game. He's the devil with an angels face, a wolf in sheep's clothing. You are to tread lightly for if you don't you will suffer his wrath over and over until you learn he isn't to be trusted. She knew her thoughts were true but she wished they weren't. She wished that Declan was capable of mercy, of tolerance, but knew that he wasn't.
Declan stood. "Don't disappear on me."
Eden flinched away as he drew near her side.
He sat on the edge of the bed, his thigh pressing against hers. His warm palm came to rest against her bare skin, thumb running soothing circles.
"So be it." He pressed his lips against her forehead, kissing her gently. "Goodnight, Eden. And take a bath. You smell like a well used whore."
She bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.
Without another word, Declan left the room, taking the two foil packets with him.