<3 Married At First Sight </3

"She seemed more heartbroken, than anything. She was convinced it was part of my curse, that I could turn into a phoenix, never mind I could control the shift."

---

Paige jolted awake, just before the sun, stock still and completely silent. Only five minutes before, she'd been making distressed noises in her sleep but was now wide awake.

((I'm good, mostly. I had my last stitch taken out yesterday - it lasted 2 weeks longer than it should - so now I have a tiny open wound I have to make sure doesn't get infected. The pain I went into hospital with hasn't gone, so it wasn't my appendix. I've given blood and need ultrasound scans in the New Year so they can get an idea of what's wrong. Other than that, everything is okay over here!))

((Oh my I hope everything's alright and they figure it all out soon for you))

Amber sat herself at a table. "So she didn't understand that it's who you are?"


Ian was in and out of sleep for the moment.

"It's recessive. My great-great grandmother also had the ability, but it was at a time of prejudice so she kept it hidden. I happened to be the one to receive the gene near on a hundred years after her, in a marginally more understanding time."

---

Paige stared at Ian's shoulder for a moment before shuffling away and standing quietly, padding over to the bathroom silently.

((I've been told it isn't serious if the pain has lasted this long, so it's just something to get checked out ^_^))

((Well that's good then at least))


"But it is still dangerous for you im sure." She asked looking up at him.


The very second she was off the bed his eyes opened landing on her, watching her in silence.

((So, I just have to make it this week and then I can relax over Christmas break! lol))

Leonidas offered a tight smile. "Lucky for me, I was in the position to survive being hung, burned at the stake, or lynched. Others were not so fortunate."

---

Paige pushed the door shut behind her, but it didn't click into place. She seemed to think he was asleep though, because there was silence for a moment, before there was a quiet clatter and the sound of muffled crying.

((It's always nice having a break. Lol))

Amber flinched slightly. "None of which sounds very pleasant. I am glad you are here today though."


Ian was going to go back to sleep until he heard the crying. Pushing himself into a sitting position he tried to decide I he should leave her be or go to her.

"It is a bit of a bother, I agree," Leonidas murmured, rubbing her hand with his thumb. "But how about breakfast?"

---

Paige was sat on the toilet lid, knees drawn up to her chest and her heels balanced on the edge of the lid to keep her balance. She'd pressed her face to her knees, hugging her legs as she sniffled.

"Breakfast sounds nice." She agreed with a warm pleasant smile.


He waited several moment before raising to his feet and crossing the room to knock on the bathroom door. "Paige?"

"Do we order, or do they greet us?" Leonidas moved to pull her chair out for her.

---

Paige scrubbed a hand over her face and mumbled a muffled apology, sniffling quietly before reaching for the tissue.

"Oh well um I think here they will come to the table." Amber answered sitting herself down. "Thank you."


"What's the matter hmm?"

Leonidas gently pushed her in, before taking a seat himself. Hester chose to lazily slither from his wrist, lazily spreading across the table, tail hanging off the edge.

---

"I always get bad dreams after people die because of me," Paige admitted quietly, voice a little hoarse. "Even if they're bad people. I dream that they had families, that I've ruined lives more than those I've taken, that they drag me down and drown me in the blood I've spilt..." her voice petered off towards the end, and her tone of voice had turned from upset to nearly empty. Then, she cleared her throat and muttered, "But it's nothing to concern yourself with. M'sorry for waking you. I'll be out in a minute."

Ian didn't give her a chance to come out rather pushing the door open and kneeling beside her wrapping her in his arms. "It's alright..."


She reached across the table to take his hand smiling at Hester.

"You don't have to..." Paige uncurled slightly to loosely hold onto him in return, face pressed to his shoulder. "M'a murderer, shouldn't be comforted. Don't have to. I've dealt with i-it well enough until now..." Despite her words, she didn't let go.

---

Leonidas squeezed her fingers gently in return. "Hopefully they won't mind the snake on the table."

"Shh you do what your instincts tell you to do." He soothed rubbing her back in small circles.


Amber giggled. "If they do then we'll simply ask for our breakfast to be sent to our room."

"It's not fair for you." Paige hiccuped and shivered quietly. "It hasn't been a full d-day and I'm dumping this on you."

---

"You're allowed to take food out of the dining area? Ah, though times have changed and it's seen as less of a rude action..."

"It's nothing to be ashamed of Paige. In the beginning when I was learning what I was I hurt and killed many people. Each time I came to again it took a long time for me to come to terms with what I had done."


"Oh yes. Most hotels will bring food directly to the rooms if so asked."

"I'm just tired of it. But there'll always be people that I need to hurt if I don't want to die so...Gale is fine. He made it through the army and killed dozens of people and doesn't even flinch and then I...I feel pathetic. And not only that, I'm complaining to you and who knows, a year from now we might be strangers but you'll still be in danger from people trying to find me." Paige felt silent and then mumbled, "Sometimes I feel as if I've had enough and want to just end it, but neither Gale or Emma let me do what I want." Paige gave a watery laugh and gently pushed him away. "Sorry. Just...I tend to ramble. You didn't need to hear all that."

---

"It just seems like an excessive expenditure of energy. If they're busy, do they still have the staff to cater to those who want to eat separately from the dining hall."

Ian sighed using his thumb to wipe a tear from under her eye. "Whether or not I needed to hear all that I did. And right now we're married, made into one. So whatever you're feeling you can tell me you don't have to deal with it by yourself."


Amer thought a moment about that. "That I honestly do not know the proper answer to. I would like to think that possibly they have a certain amount of staff to handle such matters."

"It's just not fair, though. Married or not, it isn't an excuse to burden you." Paige scrubbed at her face. "I got a message on my phone from the staff, but they said they looked after Areli last night while we were busy, but they're bringing her around before eight, before breakfast."

---

"It seems rude, paying for services just to hide away. That could just be me, however."

"You're not burdening me with anything." Ian insisted yet again with a deep sigh. "Alright that's fine."


"I suppose you're correct I haven't thought of it really."

"I need to set up Areli's cage," Paige mumbled and grabbed a handful of tissues before ducking away from him, silently ending the conversation.

---

"I hope Hester causes no trouble. I don't want to have to eat sequestered away." Leonidas brushed the back of a finger down Hesters spine.

Ian let out a quiet sigh getting to his feet and stepping aside so she could leave the room.


"I'm sure it'll be alright." She assured him reaching forward to pat his hand.

"Could you get the door?" Paige called through softly, since someone had knocked and there was a loud scuffling noise.

Paige was just setting the cage upright and unfolding it.

---

"When he's bigger, it will be more difficult to have him around. I don't enjoy being separated, not with how often I move from place to place. I'm always frightened I will forget them, though it has yet to happen."

Ian gave a nod moving to the door and opening it a crack to see outside. "Yes?" He questioned to whomever was there.

----

"I highly doubt you would ever leave someone you care for so much behind." She assured him gently patting his hand.

There was an almost haggard and frightened looking woman, the receptionist, at the door. She was holding the leash of Areli who was determined to get into the room, almost dragging the woman.

---

"Because of friends and family who have left behind, however unintentionally, I don't want anyone or anything else to suffer from that feeling of abandonment."