An Understatement

- VANESSA -

"I told Ivan what you told me," Dominik says, sitting on the chair facing where I have climbed back onto the bed. "About your… shadow vision. I wasn't going to, but after seeing you like that tonight, it seemed the best way to convince him to stay away from you. I'm guessing that will help."

"He's agreed to stay away from me?" The relief from that possibility is instant despite the fact that Ivan now knows the truth about what I can do. It's worth it. I don't ever want to see Ivan Volkov again. He might as well be the devil himself with how much suffering he's responsible for. 

"Well, mostly."

"Mostly," I repeat, grabbing the glass of water when the word grates against my throat.

Dominik watches me take a drink. "You need to eat something, too." 

"I'm not hungry." The reply is instant like a rehearsed script I've been repeating for so long, I can't even remember when it started.