Rouge

by Isabella Modra

  Hunter was completely speechless. Just those words were enough to send her heart into a frenzy and she could feel herself breaking out in a sweat again. She briefly glanced away, but the look in his eye was like an addictive drug; she had to turn back, or feel the cold again.

  “I am too,” she said.

  Impossibly, Eli’s eyes brightened. “So,” he continued. “Despite what it says in the relationship rulebook – which I’ve studied very thoroughly, by the way-” he laughed and cast a sly glance at her, “-I decided to hell with it. I can get past the fact that you’re a fire… wielding… Supergirl and that you never told me personally because the person I fell in love with is still there, and that’s all that matters.”

  Hunter’s heart danced. “Why are you so perfect?”

  “Me?” he murmured. “I’m just a regular guy. Sometimes I wonder how you even fell for someone like me.”

  “Hey-” She raised her hand and laid it gently on his cheek. “You had me at thumped pigs.”

  Eli smiled, closing his eyes at her touch as she traced her fingers down the line of his jaw. She leaned in and kissed him again, an eagerness overpowering her. It was as if all the love she’d ever had inside of her had suddenly banded together and was pushing at the edges of her skin, begging her to let it give itself to Eli. She worried it was the fire disguising itself as something good, just like the snake and the apple. But then Eli’s hands cupped her face in his and she was looking into his strange eyes, green with splashes of brown, ones she could usually read so well. Yet now they were bottomless with a longing so rich it almost matched her own. Hunter had no idea what she wanted, nor could she describe all the feelings whirling around inside her, only that they blurred together to form a desire she’d never experienced.

  “Eli?”

  “Yeah?”

  Her heart pounded a familiar rhythm against her chest. A driving force inside of her gave her the courage to tell him what she wanted, what she craved most; to be close to him.

  “Are you ready?” she asked.

  Eli’s eyes sparkled with intensity. For a moment she was afraid she’d moved too quickly. He had, after all, just discovered what she could do. Did she want to ruin it by suggesting they-

  “Yes,” he replied.

  Hunter blinked a few times, wondering whether she’d heard him wrong. But then a smile stretched across his mouth and he held out his hand to her.

  Hunter’s heart fluttered nervously. Was the fire controlled? She couldn’t bear the thought of setting Eli on fire like she almost had before when things got too intimate. But her desire overpowered her fear of the flame. So long as she didn’t lose her control, she had faith that everything would be fine.

  Eli lifted her to her feet and they climbed the stairs to his bedroom. The house was dead silent, a silence that was both eerie and comforting at the same time. And as they entered the bedroom, everything fell away. The strong smell of violin polish and musky cologne sent Hunter’s head whirling. The room was dimly lit by a glowing gold lamp beside the bed, and messy as always.

  Hunter looked at Eli in his jeans and T-shirt with ‘Save the Whales’ printed across it and closed the distance between them. She didn’t need to say anything more about how sorry she was, about how many questions he might have or about how much she loved him. The words were spoken in pure passion as Eli swept her off her feet and carried her to the bed.

  He placed her gently down, never leaving her gaze. Eli stood beside her and pulled his shirt over his head. His chest was a light honey tone in the lamp-glow. As he sat beside her on the bed, she removed Jack’s jumper.

  Eli let out a low whistle. “Wow. Gotta love a girl in a thin blue dress.”

  Hunter snorted and rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry I left my black lace teddy in my bedroom.”

  “Really?” Eli’s eyebrows shot up as he leant over and kissed her bandaged shoulder. “This will do.”

  Slowly - each touch of his fingers sending sparks through her body - he reached behind her and undid the ties on the back of her gown.

  The flimsy sheet floated to the floor.

  Eli kissed her with strong determination and they sunk into the bed. The feel of his skin was so delicate and she ran her hands up his back in the indentations of his muscles as he buried his hands in her hair and ran kisses down her neck to her chest, moving down. She lost herself for a moment as the fire inside her burned. Her breath caught in her throat, and even if Eli assumed it was only pleasure that made her cry out, she knew that the fire was controlled. She could feel it snaking beneath her skin, but it didn’t try to break free. It drove her mad. A wave of shivers passed through her body and the two of them became entangled.

  Eli’s eyes met hers. They were filled with so many things.

  “Are you nervous?” she whispered.

  He nodded. “I’ve never done this before.”

  “It’s a first for me too.”

  Pecking her on the lips, Eli paused. “One second.” She closed her eyes and listened to him fiddle around in his drawer before joining her again with a little golden square of plastic. “Can’t forget this.”

  Hunter found herself chuckling. “Jeez, you’re prepared aren’t you?”

  “There’s plenty more where that came from,” he muttered and ripped open the packet.

  She could see the deep need in his eyes. He forced his lips against hers and she arched to meet him, her heart beating so fast she thought it might leap through her skin and fly away. For so long she had waited for this moment, to find someone to share her entire self with and love so much that it felt as if her love would burst from the depths of her soul. And oh, how she loved him. It swelled inside her. It replaced all her doubt and fear and the questions that harassed her. Will it hurt? Will I be good? Will the fire overtake me? Will Eli be safe? Indeed, it was love that washed all that away so Hunter could open herself to Eli and invite him in.

  The world fell away and, after a brief moment of sharp pain that made Hunter cry out, incredible bliss overcame her. And just like that, Hunter felt happiness. In all her life she had never experienced anything like the joy she felt that night with Eli. She looked deep into his eyes and there were no secrets behind them.

  “Are you okay?” he asked softly. “Does it hurt?”

  Hunter shook her head, knowing if she opened her mouth to speak she would surely scream. The fire burned inside of her like a raging, uncontrollable blaze, giving her pleasure not pain. Her entire body glowed, the fire hot and bright through her veins. It grew angrier as the pace increased and Hunter couldn’t stop it. She had to cry out as an indescribable explosion erupted inside of her. It was hot and cold and pure ecstasy all at once. It was the same explosion she had felt in the alleyway, only it was bliss that struck her, not anger. Eli felt it too. He let out a gasp and her eyes burst open, praying to God that he wasn’t on fire.

  But he was there, staring down at her, eyes blazing brighter than the sun. Colors of gold and red and white and yellow bloomed around him in a magical mix of wonder and joy and everything that is love.

  I did it. I kept the fire in. Hunter had no energy left to wonder how on earth she had done it, but something in her heart felt confident that it was not her control that doused the flame, but the power of love.

  “I love you,” she whispered, her chest heaving and her heart beating harder than a thousand drums.

  “Shh,” he said softly and lay a gentle kiss on her lips. They tasted of the heat inside her. It was like tasting heaven. It made her forget everything, all her pain and suffering and heartache. Even the fire was no more than gentle embers, glowing peacefully in the depths of her soul.

  thirty- three

  Jack kept his head down and his mind distracted as he stalked home through the dark streets. His bus took off down the road and turned at the corner of Park Avenue and East 79th Street. The apartment was just beyond that.

  His heart was still racing from the conversation with Hunter. She could walk through
fire. He knew someone who had a superpower. With a jig in his step, Jack thought about all the comics he kept in a box under his bed, of the sketches he drew in secondary school. He used to dream about dressing up in a black suit and mask, or climbing walls and shooting web from his wrists. Now, half his dream was coming true.

  Hunter. Eli’s girlfriend. Jack could hardly contain his jealousy. How badly he wanted to be the one in her arms and not the best friend. Why Eli? What did he have that Jack didn’t?

  Parents. A nice home. A promising future. The list could go on. Jack scowled at himself, wishing his life wasn’t so miserable and he had more to offer a girl like Hunter.

  A taxi skidded past him and Jack cast a glance behind him. That was when he saw someone, about a yard back. He was shadowed, and kept a pace just a little faster than his. Jack knew this neighborhood like the back of his hand, but it wasn’t normal for someone to follow him home.

  Clutching his fears, Jack made a sharp turn down an alleyway on the opposite side of his building. If there was anyone following him, he wouldn’t let them know where he lived. Not when he couldn’t protect Clare on his own.

  He put his back against the scratchy cold wall and held his breath. The man turned the corner and Jack jumped in front of him. Light flashed haphazardly across his features. He was familiar, but not recognizable, with creepy eyes and really white teeth.

  “What do you want?” he growled.

  The man’s smile widened. “Jack Holloway, am I correct?”

  Jack eyed him suspiciously. “Yeah... who are you?”

  “That’s not important. I’d like a few words with you.” His eyes roamed over Jack as though he were an item of clothing he considered buying. The crazed look in his eyes was terrifying.

  Oh no, Jack panicked, looking around and realizing they were alone. I’m going to be raped.

  “Um, this is kind of a bad time… Sir. I need to get home and cook dinner for my sister so...”

  The man let out a cackle so manic that Jack leapt back in surprise, cursing and falling back against the sidewalk.

  “What the-”

  “Oh Jack,” he sighed, wiping a tear from his eye. “I can tell you have a sense of humor.”

  This guy is nuts, Jack panicked. A crazed look flashed in his eye. And he knows my name.

  “If this is about the rent, I promised Tony I’d pay as soon as I get the cheque from the government-”

  “It’s not about rent Jack,” he murmured in a deep, chilling tone. Fear started to leech from his skin and his limbs were becoming like Jello. “It’s about what you know.”

  “I don’t know anything, seriously!” Jack yelled. “I’m just a senior, I’m not even in the popular group at school!”

  The stranger began to laugh louder, and the air around them went cold. Jack tensed his entire body, preparing for the knife to slice into his stomach, and as he did a bitter taste came into his mouth. There was something stirring inside him, and Jack thought it might be vomit, but this was something different. Vomit was sticky and tangy and came from the pit of his stomach. This feeling was dark and toxic like poison.

  Then a loud crash came from above them, and Jack’s heads shot up as what looked like part of the fire escape was soaring down-

  -directly toward the attacker’s head. The large metal chunk collided with something solid and a burst of blue blinded him. Jack’s hand whipped up to protect his eyes, and a gust of ice-cold air hit him full-force. He waited a few seconds before opening his eyes.

  The man stood before him, his face alight with glee. The slab of metal that had fallen on top of him lay cast aside on the road, completely frozen in ice.

  “Well isn’t this intriguing!” he exclaimed, his eyes wide and bright like headlights.

  Jack glanced at the metal and couldn’t understand what just happened. Did I do that? His blood was racing. He could no longer feel the damp concrete ground beneath him or smell the pungent trash in the bin.

  “Please,” Jack begged, backing away on the sidewalk until he hit the brick wall. “Don’t kill me, I didn’t mean to-”

  The stranger raised his hand and blew against his palm directly at Jack’s face. The air passed into his airways and suddenly his throat constricted. He couldn’t speak, he couldn’t breathe. He clenched at his neck and struggled madly on the concrete until the stranger was standing over him, chuckling psychotically.

  “Oh Jack,” he whispered. “You have a lot to learn and no time to learn it in. Let’s go find a place to talk, shall we?”

  The last thing he remembered was feeling cold to the very center of his being before all was black.

  thirty- four

  Eli breathed deeply, his hair ruffled and askew, his face buried deep into the pillow. He looked different without his glasses; older and less vulnerable. Even in a peaceful slumber, Eli glowed stronger and more masculine than he ever had. Hunter smiled, watched him for a few more minutes, then decided she was hungry.

  Not wanting to wake him, Hunter gently climbed out of the bed, slipped on one of Eli’s hoodies - refusing to look at Jack’s - and crept to the door. As she glanced back at Eli with his hands under his pillow lying flat on his stomach, one foot sticking out the side of the bed, Hunter remembered last night as one of the best and the worst nights of her life.

  Gently closing the door behind her, Hunter crept downstairs. Her understanding of the morning after usually involved one of two options; sneaking out and leaving a note on the pillow or breakfast in bed - depending on the guy. Hunter couldn’t think of anything worse than leaving, so she started gathering breakfast.

  Hunter didn’t know a time when she was happier. When she was young, she used to dream of her parents mysteriously appearing at their apartment door to take her away and start a family. Hunter knew now that she couldn’t find happiness in raising her parents from the dead, but in moving forward and making a future of her own. A future she desired with Eli.

  It took her less than ten minutes to prepare a quick vegetarian breakfast and some coffee for she and Eli, having no need for a kettle, stove or toaster. She should have been more careful. Even if Mr. Akerman and Melissa wouldn’t be returning until tomorrow, this wasn’t her house. Anyone could waltz in and see her.

  But at that point in time, Hunter didn’t care. The whole world practically knows anyway, said her conscience. She held the pan above her fingers and watched her eggs fry. Hunter had come to enjoy using her powers after the long months of training. Perhaps it was her mother’s words of encouragement in the letter, or even because she had saved two lives already. Perhaps it was also because she hadn’t killed Eli, which was possibly her worst fear. On the contrary, the fire made the experience even more passionate. For it was passion that had led Hunter to believe she loved Eli so much that it had changed her, that for the first time in months she felt like she had a destiny beyond using her powers to save people. She could have a normal, real future.

  The clattering of the china woke Eli as Hunter entered the bedroom. She found herself grinning as he rolled over, revealing a distressed hairstyle and pillow creases on his cheeks.

  “Morning,” he yawned and took his glasses from the bedside table.

  “Good morning.” She gently placed the tray in the middle of the bed and crawled under the covers, pressing a kiss to his lips. “I made breakfast. It seemed fitting.”

  Eli adjusted himself and frowned, reaching beneath the duvet. When his hand came out, he was grasping Hunter’s necklace.

  “Oh no...” she muttered, fingering the broken chain delicately.

  “What is it?”

  “It’s my necklace. My mother gave it to me. I mean, she wanted to give it to me when I was younger, but didn’t get the chance to. Joshua says it means fire.”

  Eli took it out of her hands and looked at it closely. “It’s beautiful. Pretty ironic, though.”

  She smiled. “I used to think so too. But then, my mother knew about my powers. Actually, she only knew one of them. Sh
e had immunity to fire as well.”

  “Wow. How did-”

  “Hey,” she snapped, “breakfast first, questions after.”

  He smirked, inspecting the tray of steaming food. “This is great Hunter. I feel terrible that you had to make it though.”

  She rolled her eyes. “It’s fine, here have some.”

  Eli began picking at his toast as Hunter leant against the leather bed head with her coffee mug between her fingers. She closed her eyes and became aware of Eli’s arm touching hers as he ate. It seemed like only yesterday they were sitting in the theatre watching the black and white movie. How much had changed since that night. It was as if they had finally crossed the bridge to where the grass was greener, to where they were completely comfortable with each other.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, putting down his knife and fork. “You’re not saying much.”

  “Yeah. I’m a little worn out.”

  “I know,” he sighed. “I have that effect on people.”

  Hunter chuckled. “You sure do.”

  “Are you talking about your powers?”

  Hunter frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “I could just tell that it was worrying you. Was it hard… you know, not to set me on fire like you almost did last time?”

  “It was.” She stared at the steam curling from her coffee cup. “But last night was different. The fire wasn’t angry or harmful. It was… I dunno, driving. There was something new in me, and I didn’t have to worry about the fire getting out. Normally it behaves according to my emotions.”

  “So when you’re angry, it hurts people?”

  Hunter tensed, thinking for the first time in a long time of the homeless man in the alley. She’d come to terms with it a while back, but suddenly she knew that she had to tell Eli. Keeping a secret like that was worse than not telling him she had powers. She was a murderer. How would he see her now?

  “What’s wrong?” Eli frowned at the distressed look on her face and the tears welling in her eyes.