Chapter 9

Snow runs all the way back to the den, where he sets up traps to warn us of any intruders in the future. I sleep soundly in a pile of old clothes from Snow's stolen pack.

Snow also snores throughout a whole day on the other end of the pile, but he is the first to wake.

I simply remain weary and wrapped in blankets, upon plentiful pillows, staring at the ceiling as my ankles swell, my cuts turn to scabs and my ass is sore in any position.

I can barely move without feeling incredible pain.

I watch now as Snow sits on an uncomfortably small stool, eyes closed as he thinks, forehead pressed into his palm.

"...hmmmm..." he growls the sound, frustrated.

We have not spoken.

What is there to say?

Snow eventually glances up from his deep thinking when I start to move in rapid discomfort, I kick off some blankets and I wince as I try to find a position that is more comfortable, on my side, but not too far or one ankle would have too much weight and pressure upon it.

I whimper when I make things worse; and then I suck in a deep breath and stare at the door.

Hopeless.

Useless.

What could I do right?

"Stop staring at me," I beg Snow in a whisper, glaring at him once before glancing away from his intense blue eye. Snow has made himself a rough left eye patch but it needs readjusting.

"The Queen wants your face and a small part of me would rather trade it, to gain back my pack than hear you whimper uselessly in that pile of blankets; you're in my house, Ellie, I will stare wherever I so choose," Snow is needlessly cruel.

"I am sorry about your pack," my eyes tear up and Snow shifts uncomfortably on his stool.

"No. Ellie. Wait. I didn't mean what I said just before - you are safe here," Snow slams a fork into the wood, just to release his pent up anger.

"Why do you do that, say something mean and take it back? You've already said it," I hiss.

Snow avoids my eye and my question, instead he changes the subject, "The Queen will send us a message soon, as is her way, to turn us against one another," Snow speaks in riddles, "I can't think of what she'll do, but we must learn to thwart it."

"I have been cursed with the strength to hunt you down. She's already planted her seeds."

"I was made a hunter too, a killer, it's what she does; The Queen brings the bloodiest bits out of your soul, to the surface, and makes it easier. She enjoys making predators, then making those predators bend to her. So, Ellie, do you feel an urge to kill yet or is it still growing?"

"I feel no urge, only sadness," I sigh, "And soreness. Everywhere."

"You're welcome," Snow jerks the fork out of the wood, "I am grieving myself. I never thought I'd be alone - I always thought I'd have my pack until my death."

A silence ensues and Snow stares at his boots, sniffing, as if remembering something, but I can't imagine what.

"...I have no one, either," I answer, "I guess we have each other. Beast and little beast."

"You are no beast," Snow glances at his hand, smirking, "I have bad hand eye co-ordination now; I need another eye. You'll do," he glances up, "You can be my second eye - and my third."

"You won't actually take my eyes will you?" I start to panic.

"I meant what I said as you are my - uh - f-friend. You fool," Snow stands up suddenly, a blush creeps up his neck and he takes himself out the door, "Get up! You need an ice bath to fix that state you're in!"

"You said you don't have a bath!" I yell out as I scramble out of the blankets and attempt to stand.

The pain is so great I can not move.

"...I'm waiting?" Snow growls from outside.

I sigh and breathe heavily multiple times, making strange noises of complaint, before I give in, "I can not walk! Perhaps you'll be my legs?!"

Snow slyly shows himself in the doorway, raising a very smug brow.

"That I shall do," he eyes my naked body but at this point I just don't care. My lips twitch and I hold out my arms like I'm a -"Child," Snow scoffs and stalks in, leaning down and picking me up.

"Then you are friends with a child, there, how does that feel?" I'm just glad to make fun of him.

"Pathetic come back, Ellie."

I try not to feel offended but my chest constricts regardless.

Anyway, Snow has scooped me up gently, so proper I can barely believe he's bothered to be so kind.

Snow turns to stalk us out while he holds me close into his warmth.

"Ellie," Snow sounds sombre now, "I deserved to lose my eye. For what I was going to do to you."

"I'd rather not think about that," I hiss.

"The problem for you, is if that feeling rises in me again - to possess you in that way... I can not stop it," Snow admits, "It's in my nature. I have bursts of Heat I can't control. The Queen enjoyed me that way. It's how I... I've, uh, killed many women, Ellie. You understand why she made you a hunter? You need to match me to live," Snow is not proud of his failings, or the Queen's control.

"How often do you lose that control?" I ask, tenderly.

"It's not... timed," Snow growls now, "It's all about context. Don't piss me off. Don't excite me. Don't tempt me."

Uhh...

"...okay," I murmur and turn my head, to notice Snow is taking me to the melted ice river. I decide it is best to change the subject at this point, so I use the river as a point of interest, "I don't think I can swim with these sprained ankles, Snow."

"That won't be a problem."

"Hmmm, because you'll be kind and heroically carry me into the water?" I ask, trying to find a reason to smile.

"You can't handle it. I'll have to forcefully hold you down into the cold water so you get maximum healing benefits. I can't have you legless, Ellie," Snow shakes his head, "No, I can't have that."

"You wanted my eyes-"

But then Snow interrupts me, stating calmly, "I want your pussy, so I'll need your legs."

I shut my lips.

So bold.

Snow just looks ahead to that river. Confident. Relaxed.

I don't reply. But I wish I knew how to, in this moment.

I just feel uncomfortable when Snow is so honest to me, because I am only accustomed to liars.