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Elina

CHAPTER EIGHT

I don't think I've ever had to make such an effort in my life not to cry.

For me, faking is not uncommon—I already told you that, remember? I learned to bury what I feel very deep. Even my father, who is a master at unraveling people's souls, doesn’t know me anymore.

An emotion impersonator needs to be a good actress too.

Today, however, I came close to breaking.

There were too many things to process at once: at the same time I realized that Naim was inside my house, I was informed by the disgusting man that my parents had run away.

It all unfolded very quickly: the certainty of being alone and then the aggression that followed.

First, my survival instinct screamed. I fought as best as I could, kicking and clawing the bastard. After all, I'd rather die than let him take my body against my will.

By the time Odin arrived, I was even considering using the card cutter on myself to prevent the sheik from hurting me anymore.

But then, once the man who destroyed my family entered the room, I knew, in a bizarre way, that the greater danger had passed .

As the dread of being attacked subsided, the feeling of abandonment finally overtook me.

It's the second time I’ve felt this way. The first was when I was still a little girl and believed I was happy.

My parents took me and my brothers on a trip to Athens. My three sisters had already been born, and Theo was just a baby. We are all a year apart from each other. My mother was constantly pregnant, as I recall.

That day in the capital, we went to a park and I got away so I could watch a man doing magic tricks. The kids were sitting on the ground, and after picking out a free patch of grass, I sat down too. I don't know how much time passed. I was mesmerized by the way he made colorful scarves flow endlessly out of his hat, but at some point, I looked back and couldn't see my family anymore.

I remember the exact sensation.

Even though I was so young, I can remember how my heart skipped a beat at the thought that I was alone and that there was no way I could go back to my house.

Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind, and when I saw it was my father, even though he didn't like being cuddled, I hugged his neck tightly.

I couldn't let go.

Today, what I felt was a thousand times worse.

I am no longer a child, and after what Naim said and Odin's speech last night, I know they are gone forever. My father and mother left me behind, in the hands of that hateful man. I don't have anyone else.

I squint to keep from crying while the doctor takes my blood pressure. Not now. In a little while, when there's no one else in the house. I can't allow myself to cry in front of a stranger.

“Apparently nothing is broken, but you have a bump on your head. I would like you to go to Athens for a closer look. The island clinic doesn't have the necessary equipment.”

“I'm fine,” I say without looking at him. I know he's watching me, though.

He has known our family for many years. Despite never being our doctor, he attends the islanders. When we had a health problem, we always went to a clinic in Athens .

My head hurts, but I can't accept his suggestion for the simple reason that I can't afford the exam.

I’ve never had to worry about money. My father wouldn't even let us have access to a bank account. All my financial movement depended on credit cards that he made available for me and my sisters, when they were still single.

What am I going to do?

I can't count on my sister's help, because they’ve hardly spoken to me since they got married.

I could ask Theo for guidance, but I'm also not sure he would be willing to help me.

Not having the resources to pay for the exam, however, is only the first reason why I don't want to go to Athens.

The second one is the dread of leaving here and not being able to return.

Odin didn't confirm whether what he said yesterday at the party was valid, if I still have six more days to stay here. But the truth is, even if he gives me that deadline, I have no idea what I'm going to do when the time to leave comes.

“I don't need any more tests,” I reply, trying to keep my voice free of emotion.

“What about talking to the police?”

“No.”

“No woman should be subjected to domestic violence.”

I feel my face heat up, and I stare at him. I immediately see what he's thinking. “Odin didn't hurt me.”

I don't know why I need to defend him, but I do. I know Odin is our enemy, but he protected me for two days straight, while my father left me to my own devices. It's not fair that the islanders think of him as someone capable of hurting women.

“Who was it then?”

I get up from the bed. “Are we done yet?” I ask, trying to put some reassurance in my voice.

“Miss Argyros . . .”

“Thank you for coming, but I don't need your services anymore.”

He still seems to hesitate, but I'm not willing to leave room for further questioning. I don't want people to feel sorry for me. It's enough for me to feel like nothing myself.

I get up and hold the door open in a clear gesture indicating that he must leave.

The doctor still takes a few seconds to finally go.

I took longer than usual in the shower.

Not only did I need to relax, I wanted to erase any trace of that despicable man from my body.

I didn't allow myself to cry. I was afraid that once I started it would be unmanageable, and Odin is still in the house—which is now his house—waiting to speak to me.

I put on a light dress with long sleeves. Even though one side of my face is bruised and the corner of my mouth is cut, I manage to disguise the injuries with some makeup. I've seen my mother do this countless times. She has become an expert at touching up her own body and facial bruises with concealer.

I untangle my hair, and after setting the brush down on the dresser, I start walking towards the door, until I hear a knock.

My heart races.

He wouldn't dare come into my room.

Why can't he just wait downstairs like a gentleman?

But a voice in the back of my mind says that Odin Lykaios doesn't follow the rules of social convention, and despite his expensive clothes, underneath he hides a primal side.

In any normal situation, I would stand up to him, but I don't have the energy for another fight right now, so with no alternative, I say, “Come in.”