WHO: Noelia & Knox WHEN: April 9th WHERE: Noelia's Room WHAT: Knox ignores Noelia's wishes to be left alone.
Since returning home Noelia hadn't exactly been herself. It was clear to anyone who knew her and even those that didn't, the experience being held by Ajax and The Damned had rattled the swan princess. Physically she hadn't even been quite as bad as her aunt had been when she'd been returned to the Flock day earlier. No, for the future Swan Queen, Ajax's torture had been more psychological. He'd broken her spirit and shaken her confidence and security. She'd been starved. The few physical injuries had been more to be used against her fellow prisoners. To put the scent of the vulnerable prey animal into the air and frenzy the other starving prisoners who had animal natures.
With the drugs given to them before they were dragged into the arena, Noelia was barely aware of anything that was happening around her. There was a part of her brain, even under the drugs that was aware of the hundreds of predators around her, the tension and violence in the air. But the silver and tranquilizer in her blood made it hard for her to focus on anything. Silvery blue eyes had seemed to find Knox's eyes in the crowd without needing to. Seeing the fury and fear in his eyes had given her a mix of feelings. Guilt, relief were her main ones. Ajax had shown her exactly how helpless she was, how weak she was in this world of predators and stronger men.
She hadn't been able to focus on what Ajax said when he dragged the lion's prisoners forward, not with the way her head swam. And when all hell broke lose and she could scent the blood in the air she knew it was bad. As she was dropped into the sand, she couldn't catch herself and the world swam. It was moments later that she felt strong hands on her and she flinch, but looked up into Knox's eyes. Which was when she'd given into the drugs, letting the darkness welcome.
Since then she had waved everyone off, told them she was fine, she wasn't nearly as bad as Rhapsody. It was obvious she wasn't okay, but she refused anyone's comfort or company, even her parents or Knox. She'd said she just needed to be alone. Because alone was where she could break down, where she could cry and feel all those scars, new and metaphysical. After a long perfumed bath, Noelia had put on one of her favorite robes and sat at her vanity, brushing her hair, applying her favorite perfume and some light make-up. It made her feel a little more normal.
As hyperaware as she was, she heard the front door of her penthouse suite in the hotel open. There was a moment her heart sped up at the foot falls on the hard wood floors, noting they were distinctly masculine. Her heart pounded in her chest like a bird in a cage, with each foot step on the stairs leading up to her bedroom, but she didn't move from the vanity, gold vintage brush in hand. The door opened and she could see Knox's reflection in the mirror. She took a deeper breath than she meant to to calm her racing heart as their eyes met in the reflection. He smiled softly at her and she dropped her eyes as she drew the brush through her white hair.
"I'm perfectly fine," she said softly, keeping her voice as even as she could and not looking him in the eye as she did.