FALL (The Senses)

by Paterson, Cindy

  “Delara?” Xamien’s voice was that deep demanding tone.

  “Wait,” Waleron said then walked to the car.

  Delara joined him after he did a scan of the immediate area. He wasn’t taking any chances that another play wouldn’t go down. The warnings were deadly. At any time one of them could’ve been killed. Waleron opened the car door for her and closed it behind her. Always the gentleman.

  As they drove down the driveway to the gates, she looked in the side mirror to see Xamien standing outside the front door. She shivered when she saw his expression.

  “Kitten? I need to know…are you okay? Don’t lie to me. I need to ensure that you’re safe, even if it’s him you’re with.”

  “I’m fine, Xamien. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Yeah.” His voice sounded disturbed, with a hint of sadness.

  Chapter 8

  The gates were open by the time they reached them and Waleron pulled out onto Post Street. Waleron picked up his cell and pressed a number. “Need the jet checked. No. Now. Guards on it all night. No one gets near it.” He pressed the End button and threw down his phone into the console. Her guess was he’d called Balen.

  Delara jerked as Waleron placed his hand on the nape of her neck. She went to pull away, but Waleron’s fingers curled and held tight. He never said anything—he didn’t have to. He knew the emotions that were scintillating across her mind. Uncertainty. Confusion.

  “Tomorrow you will go to Spain as planned.” He paused. “Abby will be pleased to see you.”

  “Think she’d prefer Damien.” She jerked her head to the right to avoid his touch. It hurt too much. The anger and sorrow were drowning her beneath him, she needed air, but she didn’t know how to get it.

  “She is a vampire, Delara. It’s impossible for them. And better this way.”

  “It’s impossible because you don’t believe in love conquering all.” Damien loved Abby, he’d begged Waleron to end his life when Abby was departing for execution.

  Silence.

  “True. It doesn’t. A vampire’s craving will overrule love. It is just the way, Maitagarri. In time, I will tell Damien.”

  “He’ll hate you.”

  He shrugged. Of course, others hating him were of no concern. He did what he thought was best and screw everyone’s feelings. Emotions rarely got in the way of his decisions—at least not anymore. Maybe that was why he was good at being Taldeburu. Why couldn’t the Wraiths see that? Because she was getting in his way. Even them going to his home was her fault. She pushed him by being with Xamien. If anything happened to Waleron—

  Waleron changed gears, and put his hand on top of hers. His thumb rhythmically stroked back and forth across the back of her hand. It was a gesture she hadn’t anticipated out of Waleron.

  She didn’t want to pull away, but knew she had to.

  “We need to discuss a couple things, Maitagarri.”

  Here we go. Waleron was always one for complete control over every situation and she was certain this situation was more than he’d ever projected having to deal with.

  “You will never discuss where I live. Ever.” Fair enough. “A few rooms remain locked. Do not attempt to open them. For any reason.” Okay, so he had more secrets locked away. Figures. “You will not venture outside the premises.” She rolled her eyes. “And despite what I show you tonight, you will not speak of the Lilac. Do you understand me?”

  “Pez, I know your narcissistic, kaleidoscope of rules.”

  “Then you know that I will accept nothing but compliance from you in my house.”

  “I can follow a few rules, Pez. I’m a Senses. A warrior. Or have you forgotten that? Because it seems you’ve forgotten a hell of a lot lately. Like that I’m single and can fuck whoever I want and you dragging me away from him won’t stop that.”

  “You’re trying to hurt me.”

  “Damn right I am.” She had to and she hated it. But if it was the only way to protect him then she’d do it. He couldn’t lose his Taldeburu. She was hoping he’d turn the car around and change his mind after her harsh words. He didn’t.

  “How long have you been with Xamien, Delara?”

  Damn it, this is not something she wanted to discuss with him. Having him know that she went to Xamien after the bargain with Trinity, the witch-bitch—that she stayed with Xamien to heal from her emotional wounds Waleron cut into her soul. God, her pride would take a beating. He didn’t deserve to know she still was tortured.

  “Delara.”

  “A while.”

  He glanced at her and she recognized the scowl. It meant spit it out cause I’m not letting the issue go. Fine. “When you decided to sleep with Trinity, I went to Xamien.”

  More silence. The air was so thick she felt like she couldn’t breathe. Her heart was slamming against her rib cage and her hands were gripping her jeans so tight she knew there would be bruises on her thighs.

  He turned at the next corner and stopped at a red light. When he looked at her his eyes were…haunted. The steel ice-blue had dissipated to reveal a bluish-gray that was swirling with emotions. She noticed his jaw clench and the muscles in his cheeks ticked.

  “I never wanted to be with her. You know that, right? I felt nothing, Delara.”

  Maybe she did know. It had been a bargain. He sacrificed himself for Trinity’s visions, but it was still thrown in her face that night. Knowing Trinity would fuck him instead of her. And it ruined a piece of her innocence. She thought their love would overcome whatever distance Waleron had put between them because of the Lilac. Him agreeing to sleep with Trinity showed Delara how wrong she was. It had been the beginning of her men-capades, Xamien being her first.

  “I need you to stop. I am asking you to stop seeing him, Delara. I cannot… I know what I am asking you is wrong, but understand that… Jesus.” He ran his hand over top his head then pounded his fist into the steering wheel. “He can take you from me.”

  That was the issue. He saw in Xamien what was more dangerous than Liam and Edan, Xamien had the capability to make her forget him. He was the one man that could steal her away and Waleron might not be able to stop him. Her voice was soft as she said, “I’m not yours for him to take away, Pez.” A lie.

  Waleron gripped the steering with both hands, the leather crackling beneath the pressure. The light changed to green and suddenly his eyes widened. Delara sensed it at the exact same moment.

  “Delara. Down!” Waleron pushed violently on her head as a bullet came smashing through the back window, grazing Waleron’s right ear. He pressed on the gas and swerved the car through the intersection.

  “Stay down,” Waleron said as he glanced in the rearview mirror. He reeved the engine and the car jolted forward as he made a sudden turn onto the ramp for the highway.

  She peaked over her shoulder and saw a dark SUV following them. She grabbed the gun attached to her belt and rolled down her window.

  Delara’s shoulder hit the door as Waleron cranked the wheel left and they went skidding across the highway.

  “Can’t you follow instructions, damn it?”

  “Like I was saying—I can fight, remember?” Delara had already tried to track who was in the SUV, but the scent of fish and garlic was muffling them. The same as when Xamien was shot with the dart. Whoever it was knew she was a Tracker and was using other scents to hide their own. “The scent is masked.”

  She undid her seat belt and aimed out the window. She shot off two rounds at the tires, but both missed as the SUV swerved back and forth through traffic. They had to be going over a hundred and seventy kilometers an hour and the cars they passed looked like they were standing still. A shot rang back and Waleron grabbed her by the back of the jeans hauling her inside the car.

  Another bullet went through the window, this time narrowly missing Waleron’s head again. But another one hadn’t and she saw the blood on his shoulder. It looked like it passed right through him. He swerved back and forth, between cars.

  Delara rel
oaded, climbed over the back seat and kicked out the remaining back window. Her body went slamming into the door as Waleron took a hard right and the car careened onto the off ramp for the 404 highway north. She righted herself and aimed. Her shot broke their windshield and the SUV slowed for several seconds before speeding up again.

  “Delara, call the others.” Waleron went onto the shoulder to get by slow traffic. Cars honked and slammed on their brakes, narrowly missing them.

  Delara ducked in the backseat and dialed Jedrik’s number—no signal. She tried Keir’s—no signal. Oh god, they were jamming it. If it was Tarek, he knew damn well they were too far away from any of the others to speak telepathically—except Danielle. “No signal.” Tarek waited to attack them until they were far enough away from the Talde.

  The SUV gained on them and it slammed into the back bumper, sending Delara onto the floor. She grabbed the gun that went flying and tried to aim, but the SUV rammed them again. Her shot went wild, dinging the roof of the SUV.

  Another car came up beside them.

  It hammered into the passenger door, sending their BMW onto the left shoulder. “Delara—” Waleron’s words were cut off as the car jerked into them again, this time so hard that they went off the shoulder into the deep ditch and the car rolled twice times before landing on its roof.

  Delara’s temple hit the door handle in the roll, and her body had taken on a few bruises, but she held onto the gun. She righted herself, so she was crouched on what was now the roof of the car and pulled her Talwar from her boot.

  “Delara?” When he said her name, his voice sounded alarmed.

  She looked into the front seat. Waleron had blood above his right brow where he must have banged his head in the roll. “I’ll live. How many?”

  Waleron climbed over the seat. “Two cars. At least four. He brought both hands up and attempted to throw the SUV over on its side, but it remained untouched. “Some kind of shield is around it. Tarek has powerful friends.”

  “Tarek,” she whispered.

  Waleron grabbed her hand as it started to tremble. “I won’t let him hurt you. Do you hear me?”

  She nodded. Could she face Tarek again? Just the thought of seeing his face, the way his black eyes watched her every move, knowing what he’d done to her... Him being so close was throwing all her nerve right out the door. It had been twenty years and his abuse still terrifies her.

  “I’ll cover you. Head to that building over there.” Waleron nodded to the northeast. “I’ll be right behind you.”

  Delara crawled through the back broken window, her knife ready as Waleron fired off a few shots in warning. She hesitated.

  “Go!” Waleron demanded.

  Instead, she bent down beside the car and took aim over the roof at the car and SUV that had pulled over beside them. No, way was she letting Waleron take another bullet. “Got you covered.”

  He rolled out of the car and came up beside her. “Stop disobeying me.”

  “Yeah, well, I will when you start trusting me.”

  Waleron said something beneath his breath. She thought it was impossible, but with all the cars driving by she couldn’t be sure.

  She stared at the car, the tinted windows hiding who was inside. She smelled the air, and still came up with nothing except fish and garlic. Tarek knew how to disguise his scent because he was one of them.

  “Delara?” The familiar, deep baritone of Tarek’s voice made the entire world come to a stand still. Her breath sucked in and trembles coursed through her body.

  Waleron’s hand reached over and he cupped her chin, but he kept his eyes focused on the SUV. “Do not listen to him.”

  She swallowed the bile in her throat.

  Waleron’s grip tightened. “Delara! I need you here with me now.”

  She heard Waleron’s voice, yet she remained trapped to her past. In Tarek’s voice. What if she didn’t go to him this time? What if she fought? She knew what happened when she did, but could he break her like he had before? She’d already been broken.

  “Delara.” Tarek called from the other side of the car. “Do you remember what I told you would happen if you ever left me?” His voice crept across her mind, images shooting like electricity through her body and she dropped the knife from her hand. He will hurt me. He’ll hurt them.

  Waleron grabbed her by the shoulders and gave a harsh shake, meeting her eyes. “Delara!”

  Please don’t Tarek.

  “Christ!” Waleron swore under his breath.

  ****

  The sound of sirens was the distraction Waleron needed. Waleron yanked on Delara’s arm and they ran across the parking lot of a low office building. He never heard gunshots; instead, he heard the sound of squealing tires.

  He chanced a look behind him and saw the SUV pull a U-turn and disappear while the other car came after them.

  Delara stumbled. He hauled her up, wrapping his arm around her waist. She was in a daze, her limbs working, but her mind caught in the past.

  “Delara. I am ordering you to run. Run damn it. Do you hear me?” That did it, he noticed the pull on his hand and her eyes narrowed in on him. “Get moving.”

  They rounded the side of the building and placed their backs to the wall, while he reloaded his gun. “Cops are on our tail. We start shooting, were going to have more trouble than we can handle. I’ve contacted Danielle. Help is coming.”

  He heard the SUV stop around the corner and two car doors slamming. Waleron lowered his voice. “Do not do anything he says. Nothing.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed hard enough that she objected by punching his chest. “I need your attention on me, Delara.” He held her knife up. “Use it. No hesitation.”

  She nodded.

  Waleron clenched his jaw. She was still remembering her past. It was a leach sucking her under. Taking on Tarek wouldn’t be an issue for him; his fear was what Delara would do. She was unpredictable with Tarek so close. The last time she’d seen him, he’d nearly killed her. “I want you to stay here, Delara.” Taking on two Senses was simple enough as long as he didn’t have to worry about her.

  “Something is—” She sniffed the air and peered towards her right just as a golden rope came down around her neck. It tightened like a noose until she was struggling for air.

  Waleron grabbed the knife from her hand. He sliced at the rope that was coming from above. As soon as the metal touched the rope’s golden fibers, he was thrown back several feet and landed on his butt.

  Delara’s hands grabbed at the rope, trying desperately to loosen it. She coughed and choked on the small amount of air she managed to breathe in.

  A sound of laughter came from the right, not where the SUV had been parked. Jesus, the other car had come around in the opposite direction. A man walked out from the shadows, his tall, lean stature almost matching Waleron’s.

  Tarek.

  Waleron jumped to his feet and threw a wave of energy at Tarek. It should’ve sent him flying, instead it had no effect. He was protected by a shield just like the SUV. The question was a shield from whom?

  Tarek looked up then flicked his wrist to someone beside him and the other end of the rope flew through the air and Tarek grabbed it. He yanked, knocking Delara off her feet.

  Waleron reached in his boot, pulling out his knife.

  “Ah, I wouldn’t,” Tarek countered. He walked towards Delara and pulled her up by her noose. Someone had obviously put a spell on it. “Only I can release this rope. You would want the love of your life to have air at some point, don’t you?”

  Waleron lowered his hand. “Danielle? ETA?”

  “Balen and Damien are two minutes out.”

  Waleron sensed two men coming up behind him. He also knew that he’d never allow Tarek to take Delara without him.

  Tarek loosened the noose and Delara bent over sucking in gulps of air. “Where were you running, Delara? I told you what would happen if you ever left me, didn’t I?”

  Waleron noticed Delara’s face blanch and
her breathing stop. He fought the urge to smash his fist into Tarek’s arrogant face. One slip up and Delara was dead. He couldn’t take the risk, not with the rope still around her neck.

  “Come and give me a kiss, my love. It has been what, twenty years? I expected a warmer greeting.”

  Watching the indecision on Delara’s face was a haunting image. Disgust. Fear. Tarek left nothing to be decided as he tugged on the rope and she fell forward.

  Waleron went for her, his roar of outrage uncontrollable as he dove towards them.

  The two men tried to grab him, but with one gesture Waleron sent them flying through the air. Tarek laughed. Waleron’s pulsating energy bounced off Tarek’s shield and came back at him full force, sending him into the brick wall. As Waleron got to his feet, he saw Delara struggling against the rope as Tarek dragged her up in front of him.

  “Waleron don’t fight him. Please. I couldn’t bare it if… Go. God, just go.” She slowly leaned forward, placing a chaste kiss on his lips. Waleron saw the quiver in her hands as she placed them on Tarek’s chest. He searched her mind and heard the voices. Her words repeated over and over again proved how much Tarek how broken her spirit.

  I promise to be good. Don’t hurt them. Please.

  Waleron wanted to be sick. What had this man done to her? Who was she referring to? Why the hell hadn’t he been sent to Rest for eternity? Why had the Wraiths been so forgiving with his sentence? Even Zurina had asked for mercy on Tarek. She thought he was redeemable. But did any of them know the extent of his abuse?

  Tarek grabbed Delara around the waist and deepened the kiss, driving his lips onto hers with force. Waleron couldn’t control his rage and he flew across the alley towards them.

  Tarek tightened the rope and instantly Delara started choking. She fell to her knees just as Waleron plunged his knife straight for Tarek’s heart. It bounced off Tarek’s invisible shield and landed on the ground. Waleron’s fist came next, but when it hit Waleron heard the cracking of bones in his own hand instead of Tarek’s face.