Chapter Twenty-One

The car ride back was silent. Inanis seemed to be stuck in his own head the entire journey home. I didn't feel like making more insults for him to spit back better insults too, so I kept silent, and patiently ignored every. single. time. he shifted in his seat.

I don't know why I agreed to help Felicity and Mr. Rodney. They were awful people, and did awful things, but some part of me felt for them.

No matter what they did, they didn't deserve to die by Inanis's hands.

I had no idea how I was going to convince Inanis to spare him. I knew now wasn't the time, as car rides always made him a lot more irritated than usual.

Later, I'll ask him later.

We finally made it back home, and Inanis once again hopped out of the vehicle the moment it came to a stop. I followed him into the house, but stopped when Leech ran up to me, and pawed at my legs. I picked up the puppy and kissed his forehead as Inanis took off his gloves and shrugged off his coat.

I watched him walk into the living room without a word.

I was tempted to go into the room with him and ask him now to get it over with, but I backed out because, in all honesty, I just dreaded talking to him always.

Instead, I walked up the stairs to the guest bedroom where I will be sleeping and changed my dress to something comfortable for the night. I hopped into the bed as Leech snuggled up next to me. The thought of actually having a bed to myself without having to fold myself up on the edge of the bed in fear of touching him, was wonderful.

I stared at the ceiling and basked in the silence. I attempted to fall asleep, but my mind was racing with thoughts of the dinner. It was an awfully long drive for the both of us to only insult Mr. Rodney and leave.

I considered the purpose of it but decided not to dwell.

Leech had long fallen asleep, as the hours ticked by, and I was still as awake as when I jumped into the bed. It was past midnight at this point. I began counting each second out of sheer boredom.

As much as I hated sleeping with Inanis, I had to admit he certainly didn't make things boring.

I hated myself for thinking that.

I rolled over, once, twice, and finally I kicked my feet up from frustration, making the blankets fall to the floor.

I wondered if Inanis was up.

I wondered if I should just ask him about Mr. Rodney now before the choosing ceremony that was in less than a week.

Even if he wasn't up, it's not like I cared to wake him. It'd be payback for all the times he rudely woke me up.

In fact, I hoped he was asleep.

Before I realized it, I had already gotten out of bed, Leech following me close behind, and was walking down the halls of the mansion. I didn't realize just how creepy the halls were with nothing but faint candlelight to see.

The cold of the marble flooring made me shiver, and I have never hated Inanis's overly-luxurious style more than I do now.

God, he was such a drama queen.

I made it to the door of his bedroom -our bedroom- and halted. Should I even do this? No, this is a good idea, a totally good idea. He deserves it for being such an ass to me all the time.

I knocked on the door, and suddenly my confidence dropped.

This probably wasn't a good idea at all.

Leech scratched on the door, as if knowing that we both wanted it open. I realized I didn't consider what I was actually going to say to Inanis, and that made my stupid heart beat quicker.

I turned to leave after waiting through a few seconds of silence. This was a bad idea. I terribly bad, bad idea.

As I took one step back, the door swung open.

Damn it.

I slowly glanced up to see Inanis staring at me. He wasn't decked out in his usual attire, but a simple black shirt and pants. For a split second I noticed the confusion on his face, before it was masked with his normal cocky, I'm-better-than-you expression.

"I get it." He said, leaning against the doorframe, a grin on his lips, "One night sleeping with me, and you just can't go back."

"Don't be an arrogant fool, this has nothing to do with me wanting to sleep with you." Why was I acting so defensive?

He crossed his arms over his chest, the smile never leaving, "Then what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I don't think you should kill Mr, Rodney." I blurted, "Find someone else."

It was that, that made his smile faulter, and my heart pound, "Why should I?"

"Because cheating on your wife is no reason to get killed on national tv."

He stared at me for a long, decisive moment, "No."

I blinked, "No?"

"In case you've forgotten, I don't like to be told what to do, so no, in fact, Mr. Rodney was never confirmed to be my next killing, but I think I want him now more than ever."

"Inanis-"

"If that is all, then go back and hide in the guest bedroom like a coward, I'm bored of you." He attempted to shut the door, but I refused to let him. I pushed myself against the door, so he couldn't close it.

"Just hear me out." I begged, as Leech ran past Inanis's feet into the room. "Am I not the Harvester?" I ask him, my brain thinking of hundreds of different things to say to convince him, "Does it mean nothing to you?"

Without warning, he grabbed my arm, pulled me into the dark room with him, and shut the door.

We were completely alone in the dark. Nothing but the sounds of our breathing, and Leech's paws scratching against the hard flooring.

My back was pressed against the door as our bodies were inches apart, I could feel his breath on my neck as he said, "What about me? I am the Bone Cutter, does that mean nothing to you?"

I thought about what Felicity had told me, despite my anxiety swelling up in my chest, I kept myself calm, and remembered her words.

I can control him.

Do I flatter him to get what I want, or do I demand it?

Inanis may be a terrible person, but he was no fool. He knows I hate him, and I think that's what draws him to me more.

"Inanis." I considered my words, "You know exactly how I feel about you."

He leaned closer into my neck, his chest against mine, "Yes," He said, "I do know exactly how you feel about me, but," He paused, "sometimes I do wonder."

The knots in my stomach were more disgusting than they were uncomfortable. The last thing I should be feeling is butterflies, "What do you wonder?"

He ignored my question, "What is it that you want, Mirea?" Mirea. I prefer him to call me 'rat' over using my real name.

I swallowed, my hand traitorously moving up his chest, I decided to tell him the truth. Because I have nothing else to lose, and because it may be the different approach that could work. "I told Felicity I will help her. That I will get you to show mercy on the man she loves."

"And how did you expect to do that?"

"By asking."

He pulled away, and took a step backwards, taking his warmth with him. My eyes were getting used to the dark, and I could his face almost perfectly. His eyes were locked on mine, with an unreadable expression on his face.

I stared right back at him with defiance, with confidence, with determination.

"Fine." He said, and my heart stopped, "For only this once, I will spare him." There was a sudden threat in his voice, that made me wince, "Now get out."

And that, I realized, was how it was done.

Not by treating him like he was better than me, or lesser than me. But by pretending that I respected him enough as my equal.

It's unlike him to do as others say, but our circumstances are unlike any other.

And now I have to accept that Felicity was right. I don't know how I feel about that.

"Okay." I say, still in a state of disbelief. "Thank you, Inanis." He said nothing, as I stared at him for a moment longer, opened the door, and walked out.