Aria's POV
I couldn't take it anymore. The nightmares were getting worse, and I was starting to feel like I was losing my mind. Every time I closed my eyes, I was transported to a world of terror, where the hooded man awaited me.
Today's nightmare was the worst one I've had yet.
My throat had been slit with a dagger, it's sharp end digging into my flesh before finally piercing through it. The man kept running it over and over again, while I gurgled and choked on my own blood. My hands were covered in blood as I desperately tried to stop him, while knowing it was a futile attempt.
My hands fell limply to my side as I felt the life seep out of me, it was at that moment I woke, covered in sweat while clutching my neck desperately.
I had never felt so terrified before in my life.
I couldn't shake the memory of it, no matter how hard I tried. It was like my mind was stuck on repeat, reliving the moment over and over again.
I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. I hadn't slept in days. I was too scared to sleep. I hardly ate, I knew I needed to find a way to stop the nightmares, but I didn't know where to start.
I felt like I was trapped in a never-ending cycle of fear and terror, and I didn't know how to escape. I was starting to wonder if I would ever be able to sleep again, or if I would be forever haunted by my never ending nightmares.
As I sat in my room, trying to calm myself down, I couldn't help but wonder if I was losing my grip on reality. Was I really being haunted by some kind of dark entity that never lacked creative ways to kill me, or was it all just a product of my imagination?
I didn't know, and that was the scariest thing of all.
Lyra and Namarie stopped by when I hadn't shown up to the archives in days.
I had waved them off, assuring them that nothing was wrong. I was just feeling a little bit sick.
They looked at me, their eyes filled with concern. They knew that something else was bothering me, but they didn't push the issue. They just nodded and smiled, telling me that they were there for me, that I could talk to them anytime I needed to.
As they left my room, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I was glad that they had come to check on me, but I was also glad that they had left.
I was grateful to have friends like them, and I deeply appreciated their concern but the thought of them looking at me like I was crazy made me shut my mouth whenever I thought of opening up to them.
So I decided to let it be. It was probably nothing, just my imagination and stress.
Yes, it must have been stress.
I let out a frustrated scream, burying my face into the pillow.
I hated this so much.
I felt so disgusting, I hadn't taken a bath in days. I reluctantly raised my arm sniffing my armpits, regretting it immediately as a wave of putrid smell assaults my poor nose.
I needed a bath, urgently.
I stood up, my legs wobbling a little bit probably because I haven't used it in a while. I leaned on the bed frame for a while before getting my bearing.
I opened the door peeking both sides for any signs of Elara or any maid but instead I came face to face with Jax.
I rolled my eyes internally trying to stop the grimace from appearing on my face.
I put on what I hoped was a pleasant smile instead. "Jax, Could you help me find Elara. Tell her to have a bath drawn up."
He nodded, his eyes lustfully roaming over my body and then finally stopping at my chest region.
His eyes felt like spiders crawling on my skin, making me shudder. I moved behind the door glaring at him when I realized I was in nothing but my chemise.
"My eyes are up here." I snapped fed up with his nonstop leering.
That seemed to break him away from wherever his disgusting mind had wandered to.
"Yes, my lady" He said with a bow. His tone unapologetic.
I shut the door letting out a relieved sigh after he disappeared down the hall.
I disliked Jax a lot, the worst part was that I couldn't do anything about him. I was stuck until Ryker gets back.
I let out another sigh before sitting on my bed waiting for Elara.
A few moments later, a stream of maids come in with water, Elara trailing after them as they filled the tub with water and swiftly exited the room.
"That was fast." I said, turning to Elara.
"I couldn't have you changing your mind now could I?" Elara said teasingly.
"Besides you really stink so it was an emergency" She said wrinkling her nose.
I let out a laugh. The sound surprising me.
It had been so long since I laughed so hard.
Elara joined in, laughing which made me laugh harder as her laugh was like that of a wheezing pig that had been deprived of air.
It took a while before we were both finally calm enough to utter more than a single word, without falling into another bout of laughter.
I missed this.
I hadn't realized how long it had been since I had last laughed.
The realization was enough to make tears well up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I quickly blinked them away before Elara noticed.
I was scared that if I let those tears fall, I wouldn't be able to stop. So, I decided that I wouldn't cry today. I knew I would end up falling apart, it was inevitable but it wasn't going to be today.