by A. C. Heller
Chasca lets go of my hand and walks over to Takeo leaving me completely alone. I want to grab her and make her stay with me, but I can't will my body to act. Aiden becomes unstuck first and walks over coming to a stop directly in front of me. His position forces me to look up his body, up his sculpted chest to his beautiful masculine face. He kneels down on the floor in front of me and now we are eye to eye. He takes my hand in his and runs his thumb over the top of my hand.
“Keep staring at me like that darlin' and I'm gonna be forced to do something about it.” It had to be by the sheer will of god that I didn't faint. Due to my inexperience, or maybe it was the fact that cognitive thought was a thing of the past, I didn't stop what came out of my mouth next.
“What would you do?” The moment I said it I watched as something in his eyes flared and he leaned in closer to me. When he does, we both twist to look at the door as we hear it latch and see Chasca, Takeo and Angelo walking away. Aiden twists back to me and there's no smile on his face. His expression is something else entirely. He leans into me further and he's so close now that I can feel his sweet breath on my lips as he whispers to me.
“What do you want me to do?” Aiden replies.
I'm breathing hard now and Angelo's words pop into my head. They're consuming me, so my next actions are almost not my own. I move the small space between us and gently place my lips against his. It was a small kiss, but it quickly turned into something else. The moment my lips met his, Aiden's hand lifted to cup my cheek. He tilted his head and parted his lips, gently gliding his tongue along my bottom lip. My lips part as I gasp at the blatantly sexual maneuver. When my lips part, Aiden takes the opportunity to slide his tongue into my mouth to meet mine. Before I know it I'm on my back on the weight bench and Aiden, still kneeling, is leaning over me. His hands cup my face while both of my hands are in his hair holding him to me. When he breaks the kiss we are both panting and his eyes are on fire. He stares into my eyes for a long moment before speaking softly to me.
“I'm the first man who's ever kissed you like that, aren't I?”
I should be embarrassed that at my age the answer to that question was yes, but I'm not. Not at all. “Or at all,” is my honest answer. When the words leave my lips his eyes flare once more but this time his face changes. It's almost predatory and I know something has changed between us and it's not only because of the kiss.
“As much as I hate to do this, I gotta get back to work. And let me tell you, I fucking hate it. But I look forward to givin' you a whole lotta' first’s darlin'.” His words cause my insides to go funny as he helps me to my feet. Aiden places a soft kiss on my lips. He turns, walking out the gym leaving me smiling and for the first time in my life, I’m feeling completely alive.
Chapter Eight
“How is it that you guys are always rescuing some gorgeous damsel in distress?” Aiden heard a familiar voice ask from behind him. He turned and saw Aaron Feliciano standing behind him in the garage, grinning. Aaron had been the middle man between his unit and The Order for years. If he was here it meant something was wrong. Their interactions were usually by phone and mostly through encrypted text messaging. Aiden checked up on Aaron and found out that he was a thirty four year old Elioud. By Elioud standards that wasn't very old; Elioud aged slower them the average human. Not as slow as Nephilim, but the extra years were nothing to sneeze at.
Considering Aaron was so young Aiden found it very surprising that The Order would put him in such a pivotal place in the organization. After many hours of research it was discovered that Aaron was born without any special abilities and his parents were once agents just as Aiden was now. Aaron could never be an agent because of the obvious dangers, but his parents still taught him their ways making his knowledge vital.
After Aiden's parents were murdered, both he and his sister were moved around to various compounds learning everything they would need to know when they became agents. It was then that they met Aaron for the first time. As a child he was very quiet, an observer, always watching people. Especially Maddy. Even to this day Aaron would ask Aiden if he had heard from her even though he knew that she had been missing for years. The sad thing was Maddy had no interest in him. She was nice to him until they got older and his once childish pursuits became annoying and she couldn't take it anymore.
“Just lucky I guess” Aiden muttered in response still mostly distracted by his thoughts.
“I'm sure you've already figured out why I'm here,” Aaron said vaguely.
Aiden really had no idea why he was there. He suspected it had something to do with Dora but he wanted to know for sure. “Not a clue. Why don't you fill me in?”
Aaron stared at him for a moment, his dark brown eyes searching Aiden’s face. “I've come to make sure Al has finished the chamber for Pandora.”
“Dora!” Aiden immediately responded without even thinking.
“Pardon?” Aaron asked clearly confused.
“She doesn't like to be called that. Her name’s Dora.”
Aaron raises a skeptical eyebrow at him and carries on. “Right, well she needs to be placed in the chamber as soon as it's finished. Orders.”
Aiden's first reaction is shock, but that only lasts seconds before anger takes its place. “You've got to be shitting me!” He explodes taking a menacing step towards Aaron.
Aaron doesn't move. He stares up at Aiden with a curious expression on his face. “You know I'm not and I'm here to make sure that this order is carried out. If it is not, I will have you removed from this compound.”
Inwardly cursing Aiden uses every ounce of his self control to keep his shit together. He knew Aaron had the authority to do what he said and the idea of not being there if Dora needed him seemed even worse. Just then a loud explosion rips through the air causing both men to turn and start running towards the compound just as people are running out of the exits.
Aiden is the first to make it into the compound but Aaron is right on his heels. As Aiden rounds the corner towards the medical facility he's joined by Takeo and Angelo. The door to the medical facility is locked when they reach it, but thick black smoke is billowing out from the seams. Takeo uses his massive bulk to push through the men and he slams his boot into the door cracking it off the door frame and causing it to fall to the floor with a thud. The smoke pouring out of the room is so thick that none of the men can see an inch in front of their faces, but they still wade through it.
The room is eerily silent as Aiden calls out to any survivors. “Anyone breathing?!” To his surprise there is only one response.
“I knew I shouldn't have used four bricks of C4. Next time definitely three. Yup three... Maybe three and a half.”
Aiden follows his voice and as the smoke is just starting to clear he reaches Al and grabs him by his shoulders. “Tell me you didn't do this shit on purpose!?” Aiden roars at him.
Al's brows scrunch together and he looks genuinely confused. “You want me to lie to you?”
Angelo growls and stomps out of the room, followed by a scarily silent Takeo. Aiden opens his mouth to rip Al a new one, but he really can't be surprised. This is Al. This is what happens when he works.
“Why?” Aiden asks while taking a calming breath. Crossing his arms over his chest and planting his feet he waits for a response that will most likely piss him off all over again. “I had to test the chamber. And good news! Not a scratch.” Al turns and opens the door of the reinforced steel box behind him. The first thing Aiden notices about it is that it is bigger than the old cell she was in, though it's not going to make it any better. Al peeks his head in and mutters something to himself that is too low for Aiden to hear.
Following him, Aiden peeks his head in and his eyebrows shoot up. “Jesus fuck man, there's a thirty foot hole in the fuckin' floor.”
Al gnaws on the inside of his lip for a moment, obviously in thought, before mumbling in response. “That could be an issue.” Al walks over to his blue prints and starts working on them as if Aide
n wasn't even there. Frustrated beyond reason, Aiden wipes both hands over his face and into his hair. Unable to deal with the shit he just had to endure for another second, Aiden walks up to his room and runs into Dora in the hall.
“Aiden?” She asks with a tone and expression that tells him she’s worried.
“It's alright Dora, the explosion was nothing just Al fuckin' around as usual.”
Dora shakes her head and now it's Aiden's turn to be confused. “You're covered in black smudges; you didn't get hurt did you?” She asks speaking softly, and so fucking sweet.
Aiden wants to tell her he's fine, touch her face, kiss her pretty lips, but he's beyond sweet touches. Taking Dora by the hand he pulls her behind him into his room and closes the door, locking it behind them. Dora is standing, staring at Aiden wide eyed. Aiden tears his Henley off over his head and tosses it on the floor and stalks to Dora. He grabs the hem of her tank top and pulls it off in a 'swoosh' of fabric, dropping it at their feet. Placing one hand on the bare skin at her hip and one on her face, he places a chaste kiss on her lips and whispers, “No matter what, I won't hurt you. Trust me?”
At his words Dora's body visibly relaxes and she leans into him and nods.
Later Dora and Aiden are lying in bed. Dora is lying mostly on top of him. Aiden is rubbing her back with his finger tips. Aiden breaks their comfortable silence and whispers sweetly to her. “Sore?”
She shakes her head no and cuddles deeper into him. Aiden had never taken someone’s virginity before and he had to admit there was something carnal about it, like she was his. He was fine with that, more than fine. That didn't change the fact that he should have told her before he took her, this just wasn't right.
“Dora?
“Hm?” She replied sleepily.
“Darlin', I gotta tell you something.”
“Okay.” She sat up and turned her big blue, trusting eyes on him. Something in his chest contracted so tight it physically hurt.
“I should have told you sooner, but Al was sent here to create a chamber for you.”
Aiden knew the moment it happened, the light went out of her eyes and her face closed down. This was a blow, he knew it would be. He deserved whatever she had in store for him.
What she actually did was worse. She stood, dressed, and stared at the floor. Once finished she mumbled, “Take me to my chamber.”
Aiden slowly closed his eyes and felt the pain surge through him. “Dora...”
“Take me.”
Before Aiden could respond, or even find the strength to get to his feet there's a knock at the door. Dora walks over and opens it. Aaron is standing there and the look of satisfaction on his face tells Aiden he heard.
“Ready, Dora?” Aaron asks without a shred of sympathy in his voice. Dora nods her head once accepting her fate and they leave the room without giving Aiden a glance. Little did Aiden know Al had a crane delivered shortly after the explosion. He moved the chamber into what was now a vacant portion of the training facility. Al had to destroy a large portion of the room to lower the chamber in but a roof could be replaced much faster than an entire structure. Al wasn't very concerned with the issue of giving the chamber a floor Dora couldn’t explode, so where ever they placed the chamber should be sufficient.
Somewhere in Eastern Europe
“Sir we have reports that The Order has Pandora in their custody.” The man places a file on the desk in front of me as he spoke. Moron. Of course they had her. No one else would make such a foolish decision. There were only two true options in this situation. Either wait for the beautiful Pandora to destroy them, or force her hand and sacrifice some of his soldiers. Eventually something would cause Pandora's abilities to manifest themselves and she would eradicate every living thing within a hundred yard radius.
However, patience wasn't something I was known for. I've grown quite tired of The Order's meddling over the years and I have sought out alternative means to destroy them. The consumption of the Nephilim blood certainly gave my soldiers an edge, but it wasn't enough. We needed true Nephilim in our ranks, even if it was by force. Pandora was such a good prisoner. All it took was the slightest bit of pain and her abilities would flow from her in a beautiful cascading shroud of death and destruction. It was awe inspiring.
Sending soldiers to find her would speed things up a bit. Of course many of my own could fall in the process, but no good war has ever been won without a few casualties.
“I'm aware. Inform the men that in two weeks time we will be launching an assault on The Order to win back our precious Pandora. They have until that time to find her exact location or you will all answer to me.” The man’s face paled before he nodded in acknowledgment and quickly exited my chamber. Shifting through the file I was handed I notice that my men have already gotten quite a few pieces of vital information. The men who stole Pandora from me were three men that I have been patiently waiting to kill for years.
Aiden, Takeo and Angelo.
Over the years, both individually and together, they have become a festering thorn in my side. Now was the time to remove it.
Sitting back in my chair, something in the back of the file catches my eye. As I pull it out my jaw instantly clenches. Skimming over the paper in my hand I immediately remember why the name looks familiar. Ripley. Maddix Ripley was the only prisoner to ever single handedly escape my prison. Even the Golden Daughter would have fallen had it not been for The Order intervening. This Aiden Ripley was her brother. A small smile crosses my lips as an even better plan began forming in my mind. It was time to unleash Pandora.
Chapter Nine
Dora
The man who escorted me to my new prison remained silent the entire way. It wasn't a very long walk, but nevertheless he didn't say a word. The one time I got the chance to look at him without him noticing I saw that his lips were not smiling, but his eyes were bright like perhaps he wanted too. This left a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Not because this man was cruel enough to be seemingly enjoying locking me away, but because deep down I felt like something was wrong. Very wrong.
Looking around the cell I silently tell myself that if I'm ever given the opportunity I should thank Al. This is much nicer then the last one I was in. In fact, this is almost as nice as the room they had me in, except for the whole not being able to get out part. In the corner of the cell there is a desk. On the desk there is a laptop and a cell phone. Picking up the electronics, I see there is a note under them.
You have secured service on both devices. All the contact information you need is already set up. For what it is worth, I am sorry.
Al
PS – Keep my gift close to you at all times. You never know when an egg can come in handy.
How odd. Glancing back over at my bed I see the shiny metallic egg/kitten Al had given me when I first met him. I haven't really had a lot of time to interact with the robotic animal, but I figure I have plenty of time now. Walking over to my bed I take a seat and place the egg in my palm.
“Wake up, please.” I don't know why I said please, but it felt right. The egg twists and spins until the robotic kitten stands in my palm with her strange lifeless eyes on mine.
“Momma?”
“Um... yes?” The tiny robot sits in my palm and tilts her head as if inspecting me. I don't really know what I'm supposed to say, so I just go for it.
“Kitten, do you have a name?”
“Our creator said we are to be called AER's.”
Just as I am about to ask what that means the door to my cell opens and Liza walks in carrying a tray full of food. Moving the robot closer to my mouth, I whisper, “Sleep.” Moments later the robot is once more an egg. Turning to Liza I smile softly up at her even though it isn't a real smile. She has always been nice to me and I have no reason to take my frustrations out on her. She didn't use me and then allow me to be locked up.
“Sweet Dora...” Liza looks sad, almost as sad as I feel.
“It's okay. I'm pretty used to t
his actually. Thank you for bringing me food. This looks really good.” Liza sets the tray down on the desk and walks over to me, far closer than I expected her to get. She places a hand on my face and looks directly in my eyes.
“What I am about to say is not something you want to hear but you will listen. Aiden did not know Al was here to create this prison for you. The emotions he feels for you are as real as those you feel for him and trust me when I say, he will stop at nothing to get you out. The Order often makes decisions we do not understand and this is one of them. If Aiden had refused, Mr. Feliciano would have had him removed from the compound.” The emotional barriers I was working on building crumble at her words. Looking up at her I say the first thing that comes to my mind.
“Did he tell you this?”
“No, dear. He did not have too. I have abilities just as you do. Like you, sometimes I am incapable of controlling them. In my case, I often find my thoughts are not my own.”
“You can read peoples thoughts?”
Liza nods once and continues to explain, “If I choose it, but if the thoughts are persistent enough there are times they override my own. Since you walked out of Aiden's bedroom his thoughts are all I can hear.” She smiles and glances around the cell before smirking at me. “This room is actually quite effective at blocking them out. Perhaps I should have them build me one.” She's joking and I can't help but to laugh and smile up at her. She grins back at me and motions with her hand towards the food.
