I woke up groggily, my eyes were hooded and my lips were curled up into a grimace — my stomach growled loudly, expressing its hunger while a wave of bitter bile trailed up my throat quickly.

"Ugh." I gagged while pushing my numb body off of Marina's bed, I felt slightly dizzy when my feet touched the cool floor and my temples were pounding; creating a major headache.

I swiftly ran to the bathroom, my feet were twisting and I kept stumbling as though I would faint once more; my feet were barely able to keep my body upright.

Once the toilet was in front of me, I collapsed beside it and emptied out my stomach with harsh, loud coughs — I felt as though I was tearing my throat out as I heaved and coughed aggressively; later this all resulted to dry heaving, and shaking shoulders.

When I finished, my whole body trembled wildly beside the cool toilet, I felt another round of sour tasting bile rise in my throat and I leaned my head against the seat, burping lowly when I managed to swallow it down.

I inhaled deeply a couple of times and rubbed my stomach, using my empty hand to flush away the disgusting vomit and growing odor.

I slowly stood up from the cold ground, my whole body felt heavier then usual and my fingers continued shaking, I felt something stirring inside of me — it felt exactly how I imagined whisking eggs or any type of food would feel like.

I groaned and craned my neck in pain, I clenched and unclenched my fingers before the sudden pain eased, I huffed out in annoyance before walking slowly towards the sink.

I washed my hands and face, later using a new toothbrush to brush my teeth; ridding myself of the vomit and the odor.

When I finished, I tiredly gazed at myself through the mirror, wiping away a stray tear as the sight of myself managed to break my heart once more.

I looked down abruptly and noticed that the veins that I remembered being slightly grayish, managed to get darker — closer to a more coal color, I shuddered in fear of what that meant.

When I managed to compose myself I walked out of the bathroom and shut the door behind me, my heart was completely shattered and I barely felt a pulse under the layers of my thin skin.

I took a sweater out of Marina's closet and put it on, hoping it would hide away the attention calling veins that were evidently ecstatic at the fact that they were taking over my poor body.

•
•
•

"Dina! Dina please, talk to me." I heard Elijah before I saw him and ended up bumping right into him once I entered the kitchen, I groaned and rubbed the tip of my nose before walking past him.

I didn't bother to acknowledge the confused stares or the smiles, I just walked towards the table and sat down, begging to be fed.

"Hey Celine, how're you feeling?" Elijah asked me, but I didn't even look at him, I just gazed at my hands which were placed over the table.

"Celine?" This time it was Dina who called out to me, I just shook my head slowly, trying to tell them that I can't talk; that I do not want to talk.

Was it me? Am I the cause of what happened between Dustin and I since our first encounter?

Am I the cause of all the problems that I have gone through?

Do I deserve all that I have been given? Or am I merely just a pawn in the Moon Goddesses game?

I was shook out of my thoughts when a large hand shook my scrawny shoulder, making my short hair fly wildly, I fisted my hands tightly and snapped my eyes open.

"Ce-"

"What?!" I growled out angrily, my chest was heaving up and down as I panted, annoyance was clearly written on my face as I turned to glare at the person that shook me from my thoughts.

"I-I, Princess, I have some information that I need to share with you." Luke said cautiously, his eyes were wide in shock and slightly in fear, I sighed lowly before trailing my embarrassed gaze to Elijah who stood behind Luke and Dina who stood across from Elijah.

"Please Luke, let me eat and then we will talk. I have all day. Now please, all of you leave me alone. I would like to have at least a moment to myself." I stated sternly, my face remained as emotionless as I could make it and my clenched fists made my nails dig into my skin — that stirring feeling came back, and I managed to hold back a hiss.

"Yes, of course Princess." He replied with a curt nod of his head, I nodded back and raised my brow an inch, my gaze once again leading back to both Elijah and Dina, they both nodded warily.

"Good." I grit out before turning my attention back to my hands. Once their dismissing footsteps echoed in my ears I relaxed against the seat and felt my stomach fall in regret.

How could I do that? I inhaled deeply to prevent sobbing out and instead I unclenched my tight fists, revealing my palms which were red with slightly bloody crescent scars from digging my nails and piercing my delicate skin.

"Please, anyone just make me something to eat." I whispered upon feeling my stomach growl, I would honestly do it myself but something made me hold back from doing that since this wasn't my official territory.

"And who are you to order my people around?" That deep, husky voice managed to awaken a building fire in my lower stomach, I felt goosebumps rise up and down my cloth covered arms but I couldn't help but jump in my seat once he spoke up.

I didn't even respond, I just firmly kept my gaze on my scarred palms, not even bothering to acknowledge his well known presence. I quietly took deep inhales of the air because even though I was indeed afraid of him, his scent managed to calm me down nonetheless.

"Oh, I see, silent treatment. Well, I didn't even think that all I had to do was kick you out of a room and tell you that I indeed attempted to kill you, would shut you up." He stated teasingly, but I took his words to heart and they really stung, I felt my throat clog up and my stomach continued feeling really heavy, trembling once or twice in hunger.

"Celine!" He yelled out, his scolding tone and his loud voice made me jump in my seat and let out a small whimper, while my eyes shut tightly in fear — because every time he spoke, he scared me more; he made me feel as though I was being slapped, each and every time.

"So you are able to express some type of emotion and it just so happens to be my favorite one — fear." He mocked from directly behind me, I could feel his towering presence almost subconsciously — taunting me, and beckoning me to turn around. But I held my ground, with my eyes shut tightly.

"Celine." He warned lowly, his hand going directly over my shoulder making me jump out of the wooden seat, frantically trying to get away from him because I feared what his hands could do to me.

My eyes were wide open and my hands were hugging my upper body warily, he watched me in sadistic amusement making me gulp in fear, a proud smirk was showcased on face.

"Now, that I finally have your attention-"

"Please, I beg you, not now. Any other day, but not now — not today. Just leave me alone, please." I begged silently, pleading him weakly with my wide eyes making his brows furrow in confusion.

I walked closer towards him, trying to get passed but I suddenly felt faint and my body tilted forward oddly, I placed a hand over my temple and inhaled sharply.

"Celine?" He whispered breathlessly, his hands grabbing onto my body to keep me from falling, and I leaned my forehead against his broad shoulder to remain in balance as the wave of dizziness faded.

"Celine." He grit out but I pulled away all too quickly upon feeling a fresh wave of bitter bile rise up my throat, my eyes were glossy as I gazed at him once more before pushing past him and running towards the nearest bathroom to spill my guts out.

When I finished, I was curled up in front of the toilet, my forehead was pressed against the seat as I panted — trying to catch my breath.

I flushed the toilet numbly before pulling my head away from the seat slowly, the smell of Dustin's scent cooled my insides and sent sparks down my spine, I inhaled the air around me deeply before locking gazes with Dustin.

"It's true, she was right." He whispered breathlessly in disbelief making my brows furrow, his wide eyes were glued on me and I felt small in front of him; I felt like a coward under his sudden attention.

I didn't even have time to adapt to this change because with one last glance, he stomped away from me and out of the bathroom, and I just watched him walk away tiredly.

It was nothing new.

It was nothing I wasn't used to.