Chapter 66: Rip It Out

Cruden's stare and silence were living beings. Two, demonic creatures wrestling to keep each other's sanity at bay. The room around them seemed to shrink, the air thick with tension and unsaid insults. Curses, even. 

Roselia trembled. She tried not to, realizing what she had done wasn't bravery. It wasn't even courage. It was stupidity. There were no words to describe the kinds of emotions running through his blank expression right now. She couldn't think straight with the way he seemed to have her pinned in place without doing or saying anything. They sat in silence for a good thirty seconds where she ran through all the ways to apologize to him.

Roselia could beg for forgiveness. She could say she was sorry. That she didn't mean it. That it was just a joke. That she just wanted… wanted… his attention? His affection? Or, just a hint of emotion from this man that wasn't dark amusement or unwilling concern.