Read Online Soothsayer: Magic Is All Around Us (Soothsayer Series Book 1) by Allison Sipe - Free Book Online Page B

could see the gash on the side of my head, just above my temple. It didn’t look too bad considering all the blood caked in my hair, but I guess head wounds did bleed more than other injuries. There was already a little bruising around the cut and the whole side of my head had swollen. I knew I was in for one serious headache tomorrow when the shock wore off. I checked out the rest of my face: a little swollen but otherwise intact. Next, I held up my wrists, turning them over so I could see the damage the rope had inflicted. They were incredibly sore, the flesh rubbed raw from my frivolous attempt to escape. I ran my hands under cool water to try and soothe the burning pain. My shoulders relaxed the tiniest bit as the pain in my wrists subsided. Last, I traced the tiny scars across my stomach and chest. It was hard to believe they’d been gaping wounds less than an hour ago. How did Robert save me? That question repeated itself over and over in my head: how did he save me ?
    With my assessment done I slipped into the jeans Brett had generously loaned me and instantly felt a little more like myself. I threw on the t-shirt and turned to look at myself in the mirror. Robert was right, Brett and I were about the same size. I fixed my hair as best I could, pulling it back into a loose ponytail, careful not to touch the cut on my head, and rushed back across the hall. I needed to talk to Robert; I needed to make sense of everything that had happened tonight.
    “You look better. How’re you feeling?” Brett asked as I reentered the room.
    “I’m okay, I think. A little confused,” I replied.
    “Here you go.” Brett handed me a glass of water and two pills. “Aspirin. I thought you might be feeling a few of your injuries by now.”
    “Thank you.” I tossed the pills into my mouth and took a sip of water. With a gulping sigh, I sat down on the edge of the bed to wait for Robert to come back.
    “You must have been pretty bad off if some of your injuries are still showing. Normally, Robert can make it look as if nothing ever happened.”
    I nodded my head and touched my stomach.
    A few minutes passed without either one of us talking and I could feel the anxiety building inside me. “Err… Brett?” I asked.
    “Yeah?”
    “Do you know where Robert is?”
    “He’s making sure you stay safe. I’ll see you out to your car when you’re ready,” she said coolly. “You’ve got a pretty serious gash on the side of your head there.” I blinked with confusion at the sudden change in the subject as she walked over to the dresser.
    “What do you mean see me out? He promised he would talk to me once I got changed,” I said.
    “I know he did, but he’s making sure you stay safe. I’m sorry but you’re just going to have to talk to him some other time.” She spoke quickly but she sounded genuinely apologetic as she walked back toward me with a box in her hands.
    “But…” I started to contest but she cut me off.
    “Listen, Violet, I know this can’t be easy for you but you just have to trust that we’re trying to do the right thing and keep us all as safe as possible.”
    “I don’t even know what that means.” I shook my head and took another sip of water.
    “I know you don’t. You just have to trust us,” she said, touching my arm. “Do you mind?” She raised a bottle of disinfectant.
    “No go ahead, thank you,” I said.
    She cleaned the wound on the side of my head and placed a bandage over the cut. I waited until she finished before continuing our conversation.
    “How am I supposed to trust the both of you when I don’t even know what’s going on?”
    “That’s why it’s called trust.” Brett smiled.
    “But he promised me. I thought he’d… I just want to know what was going on,” I sighed. I was so frustrated and tired. I just wanted someone to explain what was happening.
    “I’m sure this is all very confusing. I do understand how hard it must be for you, but you have to understand